I made this basket last May in a workshop taught by the wonderful basket maker Judy Zugish. She has great designs and amazing willow that she has grown and prepared herself. But what I loved the most was how she encouraged creativity in all the students. No two baskets were alike, and you’d never know they were even made in the same class.

Originally, I left all the spokes at the top uncut and they completely obscured the opening. I thought of it as mysterious and liked it as a design element without quite knowing why. Then I got a critique from another wonderful basket maker Marilyn Moore who juried a show I entered the basket in. She thought that the top didn’t fit the rest of the basket which was more refined and almost classical. I did see that clearly and resolved to trim all the spokes to a uniform length. But something kept stopping me.

Then last night it finally came to me.  I started clipping random spokes at less than uniform length and only clipped the ones that seemed not to fit, or stuck out too much, or were too twisted, or just “asked” to be cut.  Here is the result of that.  It may not be finished yet.  As I looked at the photo, I could see a few more things that I wanted to do.  But it is getting close to where I want it to be.  Still a bit wild and unruly.  But with some light getting into the belly of the basket, the sense of mystery has really only increased.  As you go around the perimeter, some spaces are more open, some are more dense.  There is no regularity, and that is what I am liking about it.

What made me really happy about this process was that it was one of the first times I felt that I was able to make artistic decisions about a basket in much the same way I would about a painting.  Whether it works or not, whether I like it as much in a week as I do today, whether anyone else likes it, none of that matters.  I had fun with the process.  Taking thirty minutes to clip fifteen spokes.  Time well spent, I say!

pendant by Marci Molina Designs

“Learn from yesterday,
live for today,
hope for tomorrow.”

- Albert Einstein

I am fortunate that I was able to spend three weeks in England in November. My boyfriend’s mother has a home in a beautiful little town called Padstow in Cornwall, England.  This was my forth visit there and this time we went over to work on the 300 year old house … it was a working vacation! I was still able to do my freelance design work and our manual work included scraping, painting, caulking, wallpapering, tiling, grouting, weatherproofing, cleaning, plastering, roofing, repairing, cementing, etc.. We even managed to go for a walk or jog almost every day. I am smitten with the variety of beauty in the landscape including the rolling farmland, ocean views, steep rock cliffs, sandy beaches, and flowers blooming everywhere (even in November).

wine glass charms by marci molina

Cheers!

Sláinte! (Irish)
Nastrovya! (Russian/Polish)
À Votre Santé! (French)
Salute! (Italian)
Skål! (Swedish)
Salud! (Spanish)
Prost! (German)
Saúde! (Portuguese)
Okole Maluna! (Hawaiian)
Kippis! (Finnish)
Proost! (Dutch)
Oogy Wawa! (African Zulu)
Kampai! (Japanese)
Chock-tee! (Thai)
Konbei! (Korean)
Gan Bei! (Chinese)
Stin Eyiassou! (Greek)

And the list goes on …

photo jewelry by Anita and Marci

“Twenty years from now
you will be more disappointed
by the things you didn’t do
than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Mark Twain

I am now back home after a really nice three weeks in DWG, though I did manage to bring a cold back with me.  So I’ve been resting and laying low. But yesterday I had some energy, so I began sketching out a possible design for a mandala commission that I’m just starting to work on.

Here’s the sketch I did.  I know that it doesn’t look like much now, but just wait.

And because, yes…it’s that time of year again, I will spend at least part of the day today sitting on the couch with Dennis watching football, but not necessarily listening to it. He, reading news on the computer or playing music.  Me, using the time to catch up on old issues of Bon Appetit, knit, play with baskets, or draw.

Today I will spend the time working on which colors to use for the new mandala.

Football and art!  Who would have thought?

I was sick this week but managed to create four e-newsletters for Natural Awakenings Magazine, start building my new and improved website, and make some new earrings. Looking back on the week, I’m happy I managed to make the most of my sick days.

It’s been a while since I’ve played with Shrinky Dinks. As a kid, I remember having a kit to make Smurfs. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are still Shrinky Dink Smurfs cavorting in a box in my parent’s attic.

I recently started playing with shrink film again, and it’s been a blast. I’ve printed some of my photos on the sheets and have also drawn and written on them. It truly is amazing to watch the images shrink in the oven, and since I am still experimenting, it’s quite a surprise to see the final result. I have so many ideas … jewelry, wine glass charms, mobiles, ornaments, perhaps even Smurfs … the possibilities are endless.

If all goes well with my shrink film creations, I may be adding some items ‘hot out of the oven’ to the Mandala Design Works’ shop in the coming weeks.

My boyfriend recently gifted me with a shiny jewel from somewhere other than Tiffany’s or Mandala Design Works. I have actually never received anything from Tiffany’s but I doubt it could compare with this beauty. I like the color and the way it feels. It even smells good. You see, I LOVE to mow the lawn! It’s exercise, I love the smell of the freshly cut grass, and enjoy the isolating thrum of the motor. I find myself in a meditative bubble, which allows me the time to think about nothing and everything. It is a creative time.

I am heading outside right now to take it for a spin!

Being in Delaware Water Gap is not about making art, and I need to remember that. I always have high hopes of feeling creative while I’m here, hanging out in the space where I used to paint for so many years. There is a small area that I keep carved out in the room where I spent so many happy hours and that now functions mostly for storage. I always imagine that I will feel enticed to spend time in that room sitting at the drafting table drawing and painting small things. I keep paints, pencils, charcoal, paper at hand just in case, but it never seems to happen. So accept it, Susan, and release the feelings of self-doubt and guilt that go along with not creating for two or three whole weeks at a time.

Remember that being in Delaware Water Gap is about doing lots of Reiki, selling mandalas, showing paintings, seeing friends, listening to music at the Deer Head, taking walks, and having fun. It’s about reconnecting with my history, staying connected to so many people that I love, keeping my East coast energy alive and well. And that’s more than enough.

Seven years into this process, still loving the art of being bi-coastal.