Roughed in design for "Andros" the largest villa of a new resort being built here on the cay.

Custom pieces for a client. Currently these are the only two like this. These were very labor-intensive glasses. There are two more that I'm working on right now with a Staniel Cay area theme. I will put them up tomorrow.

A while back a talented writer friend of mine sent me one of his poems accompanied by a challenge. "Illustrate this." I am ashamed to say it sat in my inbox for days, then weeks, then months. It slipped my mind, pushed to the back by more aggressive issues that elbowed their way to the front of Life. A couple of weeks ago he reminded me of The Challenge, curious what I'd come up with for his poem. Determined to stop allowing the pushy issues in Life rule me, I took the first step in Creating (for me), wrote the poem out on a piece of scrap paper, and taped it to my drafting table in the studio. A few days ago I re-read the poem, and an image popped into my head. More than an image, a scenario, I guess.

I'm like anyone else, and when bad things happen to people I care about, I hurt for them. Where most people will find a way to let that hurt out, like talking to others or helping the unfortunate people for whom they are hurting, I couldn't do that for the person I was hurting for. Circumstances are out of my hands, and I have no way to fix the situation or make it better. I just keep imagining the worst happening to this person about whom I care so much, feeling the sadness and frustration welling up in me, and promptly squashing it back down into the ball of lava it's formed in my stomach. I couldn't let IT out, because I didn't know if I let IT out, could I get IT back under control again. I could just see myself letting out a few tears to take off the pressure, and then laying in a puddle of tears all day.

As I said, though, a few days ago, I sat back down at the drafting table, re-read Steve's poem, and felt IT responding. IT wanted out, but didn't want to tear me apart anymore. It wanted to find a way to heal and to channel the hurt into something else. IT wanted to help my Loved One and send an image of The View to them. As I've worked on "The View From In There", I've felt the same tears threaten to spill from my eyes, but I've used them as fuel to feed a fire of Creativity. I am channeling the hurt into a moment of Peace that I hope with all my heart the Loved One receives.
 
Steve, my friend, I doubt that this is what you had in mind when you said, "Illustrate this", but with each new layer of wash that I apply in watercolor, another layer of IT flows out of me into the painting. I've never let the negative out in a painting before, but I don't think the end piece will be negative. I think it will show a moment of Peace and a view of Home for the Loved One even when all that surrounds them is cold stone and uncertainty. Thank you for the opportunity to Heal, Steve. Thanks for helping to transform IT from something that was eating away at me to a gift of Spirit I hope reaches the Loved One.

The painting should be finished today, and I will post the picture when it is complete. I'll be sending it to you after that. 

Bright Blessings of Love and Light to you all during this season.

Sometimes it feels like the Earth is awash in a sea of negativity. Dirty politics, civil unrest, war, mass starvation, abuses against animals, children, women, hate crimes against people who don't believe the way others think they should or love someone who others don't think they should, Tsunamis, Monster Storms, Earth Quakes...Some days it's just too much.

I wake up in the morning and the tv is already on, spouting hate and whatever rhetoric that morning's personality has on their agenda. In the afternoon the radio blares across the shimmering sand with yet more news of unrest across the world. If it's a "liberal" station, then it's all the conservative's fault. If it's a "conservative" station, then it's all the "liberals'" fault.

I'm the first one to admit that I'm overly sensitive. I know that. I'd rather turn all the electronics off and have no sound (other than the sounds of the waves) than to listen to Republicans & Democrats bash each other or FNM & PLP do the same. I have friends who say, "You can't just bury your head in the sand. You have to stay informed to effect the changes that must be made..."
I'm one person. I'm one person who doesn't even live in the country of my birth. I am not going to effect any sort of change except in my blood pressure by listening to Bill O'Reilly or Bill Maher bash the "left" or the "right". My one vote doesn't change a damn thing, and the election is over.  

Why can't people just work together to fix what's wrong? Quit telling your neighbors who they can or cannot marry (with the exception of children and animals), which god they should or should not worship, and what they have to do when they get sick. Grow up and quit bickering, dammit! Quit spending so bloody much on idiot stuff and borrowing so much from other countries....and don't tell me I have to buy something. I'm all for healthcare reform, but don't try to force me to buy something. The only thing that does is piss me off. So, um...yeah, you political types quit bickering and fix that stuff, please.

One of the people closest to me in the world often points out my unreasonable idealism. He says that things don't happen in the Real World the way they do in Sarah's Little World. Well, no shit. I'm over-sensitive and an idealist, not stupid. Sometimes I just need a break from the constant barrage of CRAP that cascades over the airwaves, though, and (to quote a song Dad used to sing)..."fortunately, I have the key to escape reality!"

Yep, when all of the toxins oozing from the tv, radio, or internet become too much, I have a key to escape into Sarah's Little World.
A paintbrush.
I can't always turn the tv/radio/computer off, since someone else is content to lap up the poison, but I can paint.
I retreat to my little corner studio, and begin to plan the journey to My Little World.
I empty old water from the brush tub & fill it with fresh water, and feel myself Slow.
I determine which type of paint I need for my project, & the cackling of Fox & Friends begins to fade. I select the paint colors, and a Stillness trickles down around me. My paintbrush fits into my hand as though it's grown from it, the brush tip almost quivers with expectancy. It dips into the puddle of color, touches the surface and I'm transported into Sarah's Little World.
My own deserted island of peace amidst an over-full sea hate and despair.

This most recent trip to Sarah's Little World was routed along Custom Wine Glass Lane. You may recall a post called Spring Time Rush that mentioned the completion of several custom Adirondack Chairs while Hubby and I were still in Virginia. The client who commissioned those pieces recently emailed me with a request for "Nautically-Themed" wine glasses. With that much flexibility in their design, I decided to create a set that would echo the themes of his chairs. Lighthouses, Pelicans, Blue Crabs, Steamed Crabs, and, of course his boat's very colorful design. A flirty mermaid and general nautical images round out the set of glasses.
Uh oh, Mitt, there are only 4 chairs and 6 glasses...just kidding! Until Hubby and I have a permanent U.S. base again there will be no more chairs rolling off the Sarah H. (and Hubby) assembly line. 

I hope you all enjoyed this quick trip to Sarah's Little World. I'd love to hear how you escape the craziness of the world. How do you get to your Perfect Little World? What's it look like?
Until the next time, friends, Love, Laugh & Create!

A friend of mine from Long Island stopped by to hail me and also bring me some bubble wrap for shipping glasses. Hooray. While here she asked me if I thought I could paint two wine glasses with a "Long Island Theme" for her to give as wedding gifts. I thought about it, and ticked off several of the most notable L.I. landmarks/events/items of note, Dean's Blue Hole, St. Paul's Anglican Church, The L.I. Regatta, Sheep, Goat, and Pig Farms... I needed to do more research. After poring through web page after web page and numerous explorer books and pamphlets, my friend wanted to know if I could paints goats or sheep, since her husband's family raises both. *Huge Sigh of Relief* Yes, yes, and yes, I can paint goats and sheep...never mind that I hadn't up to that point. Goats and sheep had to be easier to immortalize on glass than a huge church with soaring turrets and mountainous steps or a 600 ft deep chasm in the sea. I had my doubts at first as to whether or not I truly could bring to life those wooly, bleating, cloven-hooved food staples of the islands. As is so often the case when I give myself over to Self-Doubt, though, Hubby reminded me of previous successes and renewed my enthusiasm for the project. What really cinched the creations, though was finding pictures of my friend's actual herds on the travel blog of another friend. Yay! The finished pieces featured a map of Long Island on one side and Sheep & Goats on the the other. I love how they turned out, and, more importantly, my friend loved them too...so much so that she kept them! Enjoy, girlie!

Well Dears, it's been nearly two months since last I took the time to sit down and write for the Sarah H. blog. That doesn't mean Life hasn't been busy around here, though. It has!
This year has presented Husband and I with more projects, household demands, & visitors (Yay!) than any year previously.
A mere couple of weeks after arriving in April Husband and I were delighted to welcome a dear friend back to The Den. Friend has been coming down for many years, and he is always an absolute dear. This year Friend decided to introduce his nephew to this tiny jewel of an island, and we were blessed with two avid fishermen. A definite boon for me since I can't get enough fish! More importantly, we were able to treat an overworked, stressed out soul to a laid back, rejuvenating week in Paradise. I'd like to think he learned how to chill a little bit while he was here.

My own Paradise came not long after their visit in the form of a new range for the kitchen, AND a new washing machine. Hooray! My old range had been installed in the house before Hubby bought it, same with the washer. When using the oven, I've had to brace a broom against the door to keep it shut all the way, and only one burner on top worked. It the last few weeks before the new arrival, even that burner began to fade away. The washer was in no better shape when we pulled the old one out. We discovered a very large land crab that had wedged itself into the bottom of the washer and been unable to escape. (Hmm...that explains that smell we endured for several weeks.) Aside from serving as a wildlife graveyard, the contraption that is supposed to clean our clothes had decided to start depositing bits and pieces of itself along with rust stains onto our lightest apparel. As loyal and hardworking as it had been, it was time to lay it to rest. The new stove and washer, Wonder of Wonders, function perfectly. Let me tell you, that has been an absolute luxury!

June & July brought with them adventure of a whole new sort. Hubby's 13 year old grandson came down and stayed with us for a whole month! I can tell you we were nervous at first, but we soon discovered that on an island like this, a 13 year old boy pretty much manages himself. We enjoyed snorkeling with him, beach combing, and cooking over the outside fire. He made friends in the village and had fun learning how to sail, jumping on visiting yachts for day excursions with the owners, and learning to use the Hawaiian Sling. (A slingshot-driven spear used for procuring fish, lobster, & crabs.) Grandson also helped us to install a 250 hp Yamaha outboard onto our boat, and I'm pleased to say that she is back in the water after a 2 year hiatus. Hooray! Hubby, Doggy & I all look forward to next summer, when Grandson will return to visit again.

There has been no shortage of painting projects this summer either. I received a commission for a "whole set" of wine glasses with an "Exuma Theme". Sea Creatures actually found locally with text that says "Exuma, Bahamas". Hooray! My favorite things to paint: Sea Creatures! I was running low on stock, so I could only do a partial set, but I did what I could with what I had. Below you will find pictures of the Exuma glasses. Although things fell through with the original client, I had two (separate) other clients asking to buy them, so they will soon be on their way to the U.S.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this quick catch up on a few things in the past couple of months. There are lots more pics of artsy stuff to post and write about, but that's all for now. It's time to go glass float hunting. Seas for the next few days are 0 - 3', and winds almost non-existent. Gotta take advantage of the weather while we have it!
Brightest Blessings to you all!

Well, Little Layna, I could keep working on your chair forever. Brainstorming, refining, perfecting, restarting, redoing...seriously: forever. You've been without your beloved chair for far too long, though, Boss Lady, and it's time to declare it "Done As It Ever Will Be" (as opposed to "Finished"...a status rarely bestowed upon any of my creations), and get it back to you. It has as many pretty pictures as I could fit onto it in the time I had it. I hope you use it to stand on and get into stuff you shouldn't. Momma's makeup is a good start, as are sugar bowls, cookies, plants, and perfume bottles.

I keep meaning to post more In-Progress pics, but it seems I rarely remember to do so when I am immersed in a project. Today, though, I remembered...Hooray!
This seat goes to the cutest, sweetest little child's chair (the child AND the chair!). The clients live on-island here, and requested mermaids, sea turtles, sea horses...sea related stuff. YAY!!! My favorite subject matter and back in my comfort zone. (A relief after the majority of my last project's subject matter.)
Despite the relief of being back within my subject matter comfort zone, I am still pressing myself to finish this quickly. I've already had it longer than I'd hoped as I finished projects that were already in-progress before starting this one. I feel quite badly about that, as Little Layna uses this chair every day is emotionally attached to it. She cried when they left the chair here! (Sniffle Sniffle) Don't worry, sweet Ly

The above glasses were quite a challenge, but I did it. I am finally learning to stop selling myself short, and stop doubting my own capabilities. When I hit a wall with the Wood Duck and thought about admitting that I couldn't do it, "Self" came out from where ever It hides in psyche. After a proverbial slap to the back of the head, "Self" said: You don't have time to be self-conscious or to question your own abilities. You've got too much to do! Quit whining and JUST DO IT! ("Self" is not known for being very snuggly or sweet...It usually comes out when "tough love" is needed. Well, to make a long story short, I quit mentally whining about not being able to do it and just did it. I'm pretty happy with the whole set, and am absolutely IN LOVE with the froggy.

Now comes the stressful part...waiting to see if the USPS gets them to my client intact.
Keep your fingers, toes, and eyes crossed for me, Lovies!
 
Until the next post and project, here's wishing you all Sunshine and Bright Blessings.
Sara