year of the dragon

happy new year!

day 2: design something every day

in my shop i have a ton of half thought out projects on my work bench and inspiration i store in glass jars...but here in the woods i have nothing: no silver; no copper wire; no tools or gemstones, nothing! i bought a sketch pad at the dollar store yesterday and have found objects to incorporate into my #daily365 designs. today, a piece of driftwood became a cuff bracelet. i was going to set the wood into a bezel or prong set it, but then i found a hole perfect for setting on a spike on what i see as it's bottom. the texture of this driftwood is very beautiful and forms lovely, swirling patterns, so i want to cover up as little as possible. there are a number of holes in the driftwood which i plan on setting balled fine silver wires. so there is my idea for 01-02-2010 (happy palindrome day, btw!)...details to be worked out in the shop.

day 1: design something every day

smashing magazine recently challenged designers to design something every day: take 15-20 minutes usually spent surfing the web and use it to design something-anything-everyday. so, true to my new year's resolutions, i designed something...a ring inspired by the plastic aerator from one of my vintage watering cans and all of the lob-lolly pine needles covering my yard: it fits into my herban elements collection of nature inspired art jewelry. the ring shank will be formed from a lost wax cast tree stamen; the aerator will be replicated in domed and drilled sterling silver and real pine needles (at least for the photo) will adorn it. everything else will have to be worked out in the shop. cool...day one is done...i have to do another today, dont i?

my new year's resolution

i dont usually make actual new year's resolutions: i did a "mission statement" years ago after pestering from "seven habits of highly effective people" author steven covey. the mission statement serves as a road map for lifelong goals, and keeps my disorganized self on the correct path, according to me. i re-read it every month and update it at the new year. it works for me, so i stick with it! but, this year-2010-i am making a few short term goals and taking on some individual projects.
1. finish the construction drawings and begin construction for the renovation of my little 110-year old farm house
2. landscape design plan for same with an emphasis on edible plants/shrubs/trees
3. daily stretch
4. design something new EVERY DAY for 365 days
5. post daily to all four of my blogs
6. attend to my sad little dawanda shop
7. work on herban elements and high contrast: my two etsy shops
8. improve the master gardner app for iphone and itouch
9. improve my cooking knowledge/techniques
10. fabricate new line of jewelry monthly
so, i also have to lose a bunch of weight, but no need to actually write that one down.