by Kathleen O'Brien | Nov 12, 2014 | Open Studio, talismans
My biggest pleasure is connecting a person with the art they need in their life. When I create something there is an inner knowing that it is for a certain person. This is my purpose as an artist, to bring happiness. I think happiness shows on the lovely Lauren Higdon‘s face. She chose “Talisman for Centering” for some personal reasons, and some that make perfect sense. Like the fact that she is the founder of Centered, Lexington Kentucky’ s Holistic Community Center, dedicated to inspiring, educating and supporting our world through the moving, visual and healing arts.
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Nov 5, 2014 | Open Studio, videos
Despite an unseasonable snow storm, the turnout for the 6th Annual Open Studio ARTTOUR was wonderful. Thank you all for coming to my and the other studios. There was a steady stream of tourists, a validation of the need for art events in rural areas. As promised, I made a short video that you can see on the event page. It was shot in haste Friday evening just as the sun was setting, the only sun beam we saw that day. It took longer than usual to set up.
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 29, 2014 | Open Studio
Follow these signs through the countryside to the 11 destinations of the Annual Open Studios ARTTOUR this weekend.
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 26, 2014 | mediums, talismans
At the famous “127 Yard Sale” one year I bought some brass horse bridle decorations, knowing someday I would figure out a way to create something, just because I liked them. Do you ever make impulse buys, then much later be glad you followed your intuition? When I started in earnest using beads again, I pulled bridle decorations out to embellish as wall hangings, showing for the first time at Open Studios. I took photos as I went through the process making this first one, “Talisman for Beachcombers.”
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 22, 2014 | mediums, talismans
Every now and then it’s fun to expand into dimensions with collage. WOW, a whole 1 inch deep! These are 10 x 10″ wood panels that have different mediums and objects on them. This first one, “Talsiman for Artists” has drawing, copper leaf, watercolor, linen on the side, not too visible, copper wire and tacks mounted on wood, with hand made watercolor beads with copper, Turquoise, Dalmatian Jasper, Chinese Millefiori, Handmade Furnace Glass, Peridot, and Shell Heishi. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 19, 2014 | talismans, works in progress
These two cuffs indulged my love of hand stitching. I recommend it for anyone who needs or wants to slow down. Especially if you can accomplish this in the bright sunlight, inside or out. For “Talisman for Honey Bees” I began as I did with “Talisman for Ageing Gracefully”, by choosing the beads and starting the design. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 15, 2014 | Open Studio, talismans
As a practitioner of Transformational Healing and Shamanic Healing for 25 years, I strive to always reference my heart chakra. It is my space where all things of essence can enter from spirit and give me fundamental strength; soul force, vital energy, knowing, compassion, gratitude, joy. As I write this Kahiliapua, a lovely Kahuna comes to mind & I smile. She traveled tirelessly transmitting heart healing. There were many more wonderful indigenous teachers I had the honor of learning from, Grandfather Wallace Black Elk, Rolling Thunder, Brook Medicine Eagle, Allegra Ahlquist, Sandra Ingerman to name a few. One thing they all had in common were the teachings of the heart. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 12, 2014 | 4 seasons, Open Studio, videos
Last weekend was the time to take down our Morning Glory Wall on the east side of the porch. It is always a shock, first to say good bye to some of my favorite flowers, and the feeling of shelter they provide, second to experience how much light comes into the house, light that is welcome this time of year. We balance that shock by decorating the outdoors with beads of all sizes, beads in surprise places, fun preparations for the Open Studio, fun things for you to see and find. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 7, 2014 | mediums, talismans
Continuing with the story line of buying beads from Jacob March it was really an honor to acquire these Nila beads from Djenne I wrote about in this post. It was an even bigger honor to handle them and restring them into this necklace, “Talisman for the Earth”. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 5, 2014 | artists, inspiration
As I was saying in my last post, I love visiting Jacob March at his Nomad Beads in Boulder, Colorado. I love to buy beads from him whenever I can. He travels and finds the most unusual beads and artifacts and knows more about them than anyone else I know. He loves to share his knowledge. I can trust him, which is important when buying old beads. He is always busy either making an extraordinary necklace with Tibetan or Roman beads or helping his many loyal customers fix a project. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Oct 1, 2014 | mediums, talismans
The idea to create Talismans for Grounding, 2 separate necklaces that I designed to potentially be worn together, began when I acquired the very specail collection of beads on the strand shown below. It’s always a favorite errand when I visit Boulder to shop at Nomad Beads. Jacob March, who I will be writing about next time, is a trusted merchant and friend. He steers me toward special beads that you don’t find elsewhere. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Sep 27, 2014 | Open Studio, talismans
Luckily we enjoy preparing for our big event of the year – Annual Open Studios ARTTOUR – here at Sunwise Farm and Sanctuary, especially when the weather is as superlative as it has been. That’s because there are just so many items on the list that we can do outside! First and foremost for me is producing the best art I can so you can see the very latest from the studio.
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Sep 24, 2014 | art shows, artists
Last Friday we attended the reception for Slices of Life: A candid look at the people and places of Mercer County, KY, Photography by Nick Lacy. Nick had visited the studio one day to photograph Collis Marshall and I busy at beadwork. He made us feel like celebrities, it was so much fun. Seeing us in the collection of other photos from around Mercer County made me feel proud.
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Sep 16, 2014 | art shows, mediums, talismans
Talismans, bead jewelry & artifacts are premiering for this year’s Open Studio, first weekend in November. I’m excited to reveal what I’ve been creating this summer, revisiting my life-long love of beads. I consider these Talismans to be 3-D collage, a layering of materials held together with cord, instead of glue. It is an honor to handle the beads in my collection- ancient, antique, vintage, handmade, semi-precious stone and just plain pretty new ones. They are assembled together into power objects, Talismans, to adorn your body or the wall of your cozy home. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Sep 4, 2014 | mediums, talismans
We found out at the Sunwise Celebrations Bead Party that while beading is our passion, it is even more fun to gather together to progress with our projects. For one thing it takes such a long time to work with them, if you are using seed beads for weaving or loom work, or designing a variety that will be collaged together into jewelry or wall art. (more…)
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by Kathleen O'Brien | Aug 11, 2014 | 4 seasons
Secrets from the Studio
I’m getting ready to reveal secrets I’ve been developing in the studio this summer, just waiting for the right time.
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