Rising up from the Ashes.

Hello friends,

It's been a hot second, I know. As you have read life has been pretty crazy in new ways. Re-buliding your life from the ground up takes time and LOTS of energy. So what has happened since last I posted? Well I got a "real job" in the "default world". I worked for a local bread company for a few weeks and just recently changed to a job working in a door and window warehouse a little bit closer to where I live. I work a day shift from 7:30-4, Monday- Friday with weekends off. Hellz yeah! Do you know how nice it is to get a job with weekends off and a day schedule?! Pretty amazing, not as amazing as working for yourself, but it's all good.

I also got a car, YAY and BOO. I have only driven my car long enough to use a 1/4 tank of gas. Yep, that's it. I got a '97 Nissan Maxima on Craig's list. Seemed legit, but there was a problem with the clutch. It would drive awesome for awhile and the longer I drove it(after about 30 minutes) I couldn't get the car in gear. Uh yeah.. SCARY. While driving too I might add. For those of you that don't drive stick. If you car is not in gear you can't move ANYWHERE. So my mom was kind enough to have let me borrow her car for the last 3 weeks while I try to get my car repaired. After trying to track down about 5 different people to do the work I found help in the most unlikely of places. My neighbor's son worked on my car and replaced the slave cylinder that controls the clutch and engages the clutch pedal. The damn pedal was STILL sticking. So the clutch needs to be replaced too. Ugh.. always something, huh?! But FUCK THAT. Life is not getting me DOWN! The phoenix RISES UP FROM THE ASHES. That's right. Life can SUCK IT! I will figure this out! So still working on trying to fix that problem this week.

I *DID* find a roommate to rent out my house with me as well, YAY!! Another new friend so that is really cool. What does that mean? Well first of all NO MOVING. I get to keep my studio and dogs with their fenced in yard and live in a HOUSE. Yes, life is GOOD. So Things are falling into place for sure. Life has settled down a bit, but I'm still adjusting. Still improving, still striving for greatness. I'm not done yet. I have a certain place I want to be to feel "comfortable" with my living. You know enough to pay the bills and play while having a roof over my head and a working car. Then onto what the hell else I am going to do with my life to keep this style of living. Back to school for some more life skills and a bigger pocket full of cash? I am thinking that is my direction, but what to do?? I have been an artist all my life. Unfortunately art by itself won't pay the bills with me supporting me. So what else do I do? I am not really sure honestly. Do I get a quick trade skill to make some more money an hour and have a skill and go from there? If I am going to invest 5 years or so in school and get eyeballs deep in college debt it has to be something I am kinda passionate about, yanno? Still figuring that one out while I shuffle the other crap into line. I suppose the answers will come. I am still waiting for that strike of lightning that wakes me out of a dead sleep with a very definitive answer. 

I just want to give a shout-out and some mad love to Lori Anderson for doing an auction to help raise money for me to get back on my feet and for all of the lovely people that jumped on to help. You all are so fucking amazing. Truly, you rock my socks! I am so fortunate to have you all in my life. Thank you from the very bottom of my full heart! 

So yeah, I have been featured in Stringing Magazine 2015 as well. If you have not gotten a copy, what are you waiting for?! Check it out for sure and you can find the beads and findings in my shop. 

I also have another tutorial coming out Wirework Magazine Fall 2015! That will be out in another week and it will feature my "Dusky Desert" earrings featuring my glass headpins, recycled sari silk and Wooly wire.

I have also obsessively followed Burning Man through their Radio Station and Live web feed. I am SO going next year! Here is a photo I screen shotted from the live feed. Everyone says Disney World is the happiest place on earth, but I am thinking it's probably Burning Man. Just sayin'. 

Well this about does my update to fill you all in on what life has been all about for me over the last month. Expect to hear from me more frequently as life settles in. 

xoxo Genea