BTW::Weary & Wise

"Rest when you`re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work." ~Ralph Marston

I'm pooped. Draggin'. Tuckered out. But I am also like a vessel that is filled to overflowing. I am trying my best to keep from tipping and spilling out the precious things that I have learned. It has been an incredible week.

{my bezels...and my chain}

• I spent the past few days in Virginia soaking up as much information as I could from a gracious and kind soul who was quite possibly the best instructor in metalsmithing I have every had.Yes. She is that good.
• I am delighted that I had the opportunity to meet Stephanie Lee. She makes you feel so comfortable, as if you are pulling up a chair at her kitchen table while you make unbelievably pretty things. It always makes me giddy to meet someone whose work I admire so very much. And I feel so much wiser than before.
 

{view from my seat... next to the very adorable Ryan with the chocolate chip eyes ;-}

• I get tired of flying, and weary of transportation to and from the airport (especially when it is an hour later than promised which lead to the uncertainty of perhaps missing my flight home). But it was amazing to find a former 7th grade student (my favorite) sitting next to me on the plane. That made the 2 hour flight just fly by!
• I am emotionally spent from the thrill of meeting so many people that I have only read about online... Lori Anderson, Cindy Wimmer, Jeanette Ryan... and meeting new friendly faces like Sandi Volpe, Melissa Meman, Cynthia of Cynful Creations (who flew in from Canada!), and Tracy Statler who wasn't taking the class, but decided to come over and meet us for dinner! Having that real live connection is so important and makes me long for the day when I can come back for another visit.
• I am overwhelmed by the things happening at my job. I moved into a new office in the days before I left. And you know what it is like when you come back to find out what was done in your absence. I am still sorting that out... and trying to find a place for everything in my new office space. 
• I am saddened by the events that are happening in my own state and in the world at large. It makes me think that maybe what I am doing is not really helping or making a difference... but then again, channeling your passion and giving your life purpose and making artful things is a way to plug the gaping holes that are threatening to widen in our cultural and emotional ozone layer. So I keep on plugging away!
• I am over-extended a bit in the custom creating department. For my pendants that I love but have not had the time to complete the process... for the deadlines that I am trying my best to meet... for the new gallery exhibit that is consuming my best self... But there are people counting on me so I must keep going, even if it seems to be taking me forever.
• I am amazed that I was allowed to play with fire. Me. The Klutz. And I, and my fellow classmates, lived to tell about it! But I am a bit concerned that I will be able to find my torch, and have the courage to use it, and be able to convince my family that I will be super careful and open all the kitchen windows when I do. But not late at night. 

{yes, i am able to torch a pipe and take photographs at the same time}

• I am tapped out a bit creatively. Gathering all the new knowledge that I now have and allowing it to settle in my soul, to gel and morph into the cracks in my brain and trying to devise where this information will lead me is a bit draining. But I will get right back up on that horse. Soon. I promise.

I am oh-so-glad to be back at home. I have a renewed sense of purpose and direction. I am excited that I have found some new tools and supplies to acquire. I am grateful for the friendship and support I have been shown. ArtBliss truly recharged my spirit and refreshed my soul. Thank you Cindy and Jeanette for being the most wonderful hostesses and to Stephanie for sharing of yourself so willingly!

{my sweet little pipe bezels...stephanie challenged me to try to make a crown on the top and i did it!}

My Bead Table Wednesday is a few shots of what I was working on in the class with Stephanie Lee last weekend at ArtBliss. I will write more of the process when I can. Cross my heart. But for now I am off to bed.

What makes you weary? Are there things that make your soul tired? Have you ever been in a slump so bad that you felt your energy would not return and you would not be able to function? How did you get over that? Do tell!