Where have I been?! + EtsyMetal Blog Carnival

So I totally missed last month's group blogging efforts. And considering that the 'blog carnivals' and 'talk about blogs' have been pretty much the only blogging I've done in the past few months - well... my blog has been sorely neglected. But I'm back, at least for today! haha! I'll post the blog carnival topic first for those of you that just want to read that - and then a longer update will follow :)

This month's topic is:
Tell us about other kinds of art and craft you do. What other media do you work and play with? How often do you get to create? Does it relate to or inspire your metalworking?

Recently, jewelry has pretty much taken up all my time. There are other things here and there that pop up, but for the most part I haven't been making the time. When I'm not working on jewelry orders, I do those 'adult' things like cleaning the house, paying bills/trying to keep up with my business 'books', showering... you know, the usual things.

I do sometimes knit - but not very seriously. just a scarf here or there. I do some screenprinting - which is really fun, but I don't do it very often now either. I do enjoy photography and will often go out and take a mini nature walk with my camera. Painting is my most missed 'hobby'. It has honestly been a few years since I've actually done any. I use the excuse of not having a space to paint, but maybe it is just laziness. I like using oil paints, so painting in an enclosed space w/ no ventilation is not a great idea. My studio is soooo dirty, that isn't a great idea either. And I like painting BIG. Which is also an issue of space. I did a series of large 4' x 6' paintings when I had my jewelry exit show and that size was just perfect. Smaller is okay, but just not quite as fun or therapeutic. I dream of having a separate painting studio so I can keep things set up all the time and have a little 'escape'. Maybe some day.

The photograph of the painting I posted has an interesting story. I used to work at a local coffee shop and managed the artists each month - about once a year or so I would have my work up. The last month I worked there, I had this painting up and it sold the same morning I turned in my notice. It was a wonderful sign to have a nice big check coming to me right as I was quitting my job! I guess the interesting thing was that I was quitting to make jewelry - and my painting helped me to do that!

So... I guess to answer the other questions... kind of hypothetically since I haven't been painting recently... the painting I've done does totally relate to my jewelry. Very nature themed - particularly lots of trees. Just like my rings. haha!

Anyway, I'm going to wrap this up and send you off to read everyone else's answers to this months' topic. And my update will be below.

kate jones - www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
kathryn cole - www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com
2Roses - www.JewelryTutorial.blogspot.com
Twigs and Heather - www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
Erin Austin - www.metalmusing.blogspot.com
Thomasin Durgin - metalriot.blogspot.com
Nodeform - nodeform.blogspot.com
stacey hansen - wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com
Nina Gibson - ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com
elizabeth scott - esdesignsjewelry.com/blog
Evelyn Markasky - markasky.blogspot.com
Amanda Conley - amandaconley.blogspot.com
Jenny Baughman - ridgeschool.blogspot.com
Catherine Chandler - catherinechandler.blogspot.com

Now for the update!

Winter is particularly difficult for me. I really want to just hibernate. When nature is asleep it whispers.... "beeetthhhh, gooo to sleeeeeep" The sun isn't up as much - often when it is, it is still cloudy and gray. So it takes most of my energy to try to stay focused on actually working and making things people want. Lots of other things (like blogs and facebook, etc) get put aside until the days grow longer and more sunny and the trees are once again vibrant.

But...

The big news is that I am now officially a yoga teacher! Yay! For two weeks in January I finished up the final session of the Beginner Intergral Yoga Teacher Training. It was an amazing life changing experience with a group of fantastic individuals and incredible teachers. I don't have any specific plans for teaching yet. I'm open to whatever might come along. Right now, I'm mostly trying to get back in to 'work mode' and getting caught up on wedding ring orders. I do have some ideas brewing as far as doing some youtube videos - on the topic of "Yoga for Jewelers". So... we'll see! Stay tuned and I'll try to update a bit more often than once a month. Even though its been about 2 since I last posted!

Hope you have a lovely day! And seriously - go read the other participating bloggers (many may not be posted til later today/tonight)