Gratitude

Recently, my yoga instructor suggested practicing with an intention of Gratitude. I sure do have a lot to be grateful for in my life! Good health, beautiful home, great partner, wonderful feline companions, a rewarding job....

Woodturning is my "job". It continually offers me opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Probably Woodturning is even more therapeutic than yoga. They go together well.

"Gratitude"
Lidded Bowl made from Moose Antler, with African Blackwood,
14K Gold, 4pt Chocolate Diamond, and 24K Gold Leaf

I have been inspired by Kip Christensen's work for decades. In the 80s, when I was a cabinet/furniture maker, he wrote some articles for Fine Woodworking magazine about Woodturning. I totally fell in love with his elegant forms! My attempts to copy his work were primitive, to say the least. With lots of practice, and inspiration from many others in the field of Woodturning, I have grown and developed my signature style of artwork.

This piece offers gratitude to Kip, for his delightful antler bowls and for being a teacher of so many of us. Gratitude goes out, also, to all of the Woodturners who have inspired me over the decades. And profound gratitude to Mother Nature for the materials that inspire me to creativity. Especially to the Moose who grew this antler. Oh, yes, and not to forget: gratitude to the Canadian Woodturner who gave me the piece of antler. If it weren't for the sharing community of Woodturners worldwide, we would all still be in the Dark Ages. Thank you all. Special thanks to Shareshten and Melissa for bringing spirituality and gratitude into my awareness through yoga practice.

What and who inspire you? Leave a comment and let me know!

Sue's Blue Waterfall

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Often it comes from unexpected places. In my last post, I talked about my sister Sue's suggestion that I make a blue piece that looked like a waterfall. Her suggestion got me excited! Here is the result:

Sue's Blue Waterfall

I named it "Sue's Blue Waterfall", for obvious reasons. Sue's suggestion also nudged me gently into a direction that has been on my list for awhile. Now this style has gone from "I'd like to explore that further" to the top of my list.

My sister Sue is inspirational in other ways, too. Last week brought me a very rewarding experience of how great it is to have adult sisters. And of how much I can learn from them, and from Sue in particular. Though we have made different choices in our lives, we have very similar values.

(l-r) Karen, Sue, Cindy

Our middle sister, Karen, lives in San Francisco, I'm in Colorado, Sue's in Connecticut. The three of us got together at Sue's place for her 50th birthday.

We have all been in the same place at the same time a few times in our adult lives, but always in a bigger group. This time it was just the 3 of us for Sue's birthday.

We had the most interesting conversations!

Sue using the Pruney Chairs

 

On her actual birthday, we baked a flourless chocolate cake, and pruned the rose bush. Well, Karen and Sue did the pruning. I took pictures.

How lucky I am!

Thank you, Sue for having a birthday so we could get together.

Thank you, Sue and Karen, for being my sisters!

American Craft Council Baltimore Art Show

The ACC Baltimore Show is one of the best places in the USA to see and buy Decorative Art Work. There are over 700 artists featured, with some incredibly creative work. At this show, there is truly something for everyone. You owe it to yourself to go, and to treat yourself to a new addition to your home or art collection!

It is also the only show that I plan to do on the East Coast this year. I will be in Booth #3501, at the Baltimore Convention Center, from February 24th at 10:00am through February 26th at 5:00pm. Come by and visit! I'd love to meet you!



For me, a show is a great motivator to get out to the workshop and follow some new ideas. Or maybe try to do justice to that delicious piece of burl that has been waiting for me. The weeks right before a show are usually my most creative.

Ideas come from all different places. My sister saw this picture on the ACC website, and suggested that I make one like it in blue (her favorite color), because that shape looks like water flowing. Great idea! I had been planning to make a piece in that style again. Maybe I can get it finished in time.
 
Here's a piece that I just finished, one of my first for 2012. This color scheme would look good on the flowing water design. 

Now I'm all excited to get out to the shop and start working! Hope to see you all at the Baltimore ACC show next month. Here are the details:

Baltimore Convention Center
1 West Pratt Street
Baltimore MD
(in the Inner Harbor area)
February 24 - 26, 2012
Booth #3501
Website: http://shows.craftcouncil.org/baltimore

Keep an eye on my website, www.cindydrozda.com, and my Facebook page to see what comes out of my workshop in the next few weeks.

Bye for now!