A Ponderance of Things

If you love sparklies you’ll love today’s blog hop hosted by Sarah at Saturday Sequins. Sarah has gathered together thirty eight blogger friends to show off their handmade treasures. The only requirement was to include sequins. Go ahead! Grab a cuppa and treat your inner dragon to a virtual treasure tour!

My entry: Stillness
Sequins between glass

True to my usual nature I jumped right into working with mediums I had not yet tried. Stillness was an experiment; my first experience with both sequins and glass paint. Using two panes of glass, I painted on both inner surfaces. The sequins are glued to the back pane. Since the sequins were not completely flat the panes could not be glued together so I used a type of caulking.

Okay, so up close it doesn’t look like much; it looks much better from a distance, especially in dim light when the sequins shimmer 🙂

You might be wondering why I would post an experimental piece as part of a blog hop where all the other bloggers will be showing beautiful jewelry and other items of perfection. The answer is, to encourage others to jump right in and try something. Too many people hold themselves back from creative play. Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect or if you don’t know “how” to do something. The point is to play, to explore, and to interact with other creative people.

Below is the listing of other Sequintastic participants; please enjoy your tour. Oh, and be sure to visit Sarah at Saturday Sequins. I heard she will be hosting another blog hop soon; perhaps you will join in the fun!

Participants!!!!

Host: Sarah… http://saturdaysequins.com

Dita… http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

Ambra… http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com

Audrey… http://hotpinkquilts.blogspot.com

Stacy… http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk

Karen W…  http://baublicious.blogspot.com

Lori…  http://www.prettythingsblog.com

Lisa… http://lisabinkley.typepad.com

Carmi… http://resincrafts.blogspot.com

Dawn Marie…  http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com

Jeannie… http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Shirlee… http://www.shirleestuff.blogspot.com

Linda… http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewerly.blogspot.com

Corrine… http://www.sparkledaysstudio.com

Gutukas… http://atradimutakeliais.blogspot.com

Shannon… http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com

Mallory… http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Cyndi… http://www.beading-arts.com

Maneki… http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com

Maryanne… http://zingalasworkshop.blogspot.com

Ine… http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com

Karen… http://www.overthemoon-design.com

Kepi… http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com

Jennifer… http://jenniferstumpf.blogspot.com

Misty…  http://thejollyfatelf.blogspot.com

Dot… http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com

Hope… http://craftyhope.blogspot.com

Cynthia… http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Micheladas… http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Shirley…  http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Karla… http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Eleanor… http://eleanorpigman.blogspot.com

Therese… http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Rita… http://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com

Stepha… http://skwds.blogspot.com

Sue… http://suebeads.blogspot.com

Cate… http://fulgorine.wordpress.com

Amy… http://loraamyjames.com/

Destiny Allison was living an all-too-common existence as a wife and mother who had lost her sense of self, and yet, she felt a stirring underneath. One frustrating evening she took up a handful of hobby clay and molded a figure. In this figure she recognized the chasm between the lives we bear and the lives we desire.

What lies beneath the personae we don each day? How do we uncover our masked face? Where can we find a reflection of our true self and the courage to exchange living for existence? Destiny Allison found her answers at the intersection of art and life.

Shaping Destiny: A Quest for Meaning in Art and Life isn’t just a book on transformation; it includes studies in form, structure, and vision. It isn’t just a book about art; in it the author candidly shares personal philosophies and life changes. This is a book with a holistic view of the mergence of art and life.

Destiny begins each chapter with an art lesson followed by her autobiographical narrative bringing us along as she discovers her passion for art, uncovers her abilities, and sculpts a new life. I found the author’s writing to be intelligent and candid; she drew me in immediately and kept my attention throughout the book.

If you are a creative or artistic person, if you enjoy memoirs, or if you are at a crossroads and need a bit of encouragement I highly recommend Shaping Destiny: A Quest for Meaning in Art and Life by Destiny Allison. This book made my Top 5 list!