Analogy

You have been driving a car down a one-way dead end laneway that narrows so that there is no turning around, and then you discover that the car does not have reverse. That stuck feeling sets in. That realization that you have spent so much time driving down the road, not taking turns, making decisions that could have taken you down other lanes. You have stayed the chosen course only to discover that you have dead-ended yourself and there does not seem to be a way out of it.

Unfortunately, this is how we sometimes live our lives. This is what seems to happen to us and we reach that dead-end in a job, a relationship, indebtedness, and a combination of the normal and mundane. We suddenly realize we are trapped and feel that we have no recourse, no way out, no answers, and no rescue.

What are you going to do when you find yourself there?

Some people seem to give up and stay with the car, stuck and complaining and accepting that there is no way out. Some people get out and push the car backwards until they can turn at the last turning point. Some people listen and realize that there are lanes that run parallel to the one they are on, and scramble through the pucker brush to the other road and hitch a ride.

The worst thing that we can do is give up. Pushing backwards to the last turning point or making the effort to push through the brambles and shambles to another road is the most progressive. Either of the two latter choices will net a change in the circumstances. Neither is easy, but neither is change.

What would you do, face down the challenge and the fear of the unknown roadway or sit at the dead-end?

Brave Moment...

...And it was fun too.

For the first time in years I put a brush to canvas. It was not easy.

I have had the paint, brushes and canvases for well over a year and I have periodically ranted about wanting to try painting again. It was good to play in the paint - acrylic - cheap but very functional when you know that this isn't your main gig.

I learned something that helped today too.

The reason that I shied away from visual art, since I could draw OK and could use oils OK was that in my mind, my mother was better, but she didn't paint much and often voiced disatisfaction with some branch or other of the family tree in regards to art. I got turned off and also I didn't want to appear to be competing with her - and maybe that's an only child/daughter hang-up. My mother liked to work on landscapes and painted in a realistic but not photographic fashion. I am very uncomfortable with realism, besides I have a lot of doubt in my ability and I am hung-up on all of this.

But what I learned is that if I pick really contrary colours to work in: green and blue for flesh for example, that the whole activity becomes a lot more fun; after all it is hard to take a green/blue nude seriously.

The three small canvases, I think they are the standard 5x7, will be signed and dated, probably tacked up on the studio wall and will be replaced with several more blanks.

I know that the 'paintings' are NOT gallery quality, at least in my humble and self-detrimental opinion, but I'm still pretty proud of them because it's real progress. It took a lot of time and a good bit of bravery to try something that I gave up on 20 years ago.

Now I wonder what else I can rediscover and try again?

From our latest press release

JEWELRY ARTISANS WIN "BEST IN SHOW AWARD"

During a brief presentation on Saturday May 10th. Cynthia and David Ryder were given the Best In Show award for Woodstock's 3rd Annual Women's Show. Miss Woodstock 2008, Caitlin Doucette, and show organizer and promoter Tanya Dixon presented the trophy.

The Ryder's have been participating in the growing Women's Show event since Ms. Dixon introduced the show in Woodstock, NB in May 2005. This year, over 100 exhibitors were present, promoting everything from real estate sales to motor scooters to salon hairstyling, so the annual competition for Best in Show, an award that recognizes a nice looking booth presentation and a good product, is stiff.

The Ryder's stated that they "are really delighted to win this award as our booth has undergone a lot of redesign work since Christmas and this does let us know that we are headed in a good direction. Also, this show has been growing in success for us as well as Tanya, and as it becomes established, a regular clientele is forming for us. The ladies here in Woodstock are very accepting of our handcrafted jewelry style and now we are finally getting a "look" with our booth that suits the quality of work we are doing."

Making Progress

It is a great feeling to know that something is happening and it is better still when it is all good.
Kid 1 of 2 has graduated high school, and has already left for a good paying summer job. The paint & wallpaper job in our bedroom is all done. Looks great! Kid 2 of 2 is getting ready to leave for a trip this weekend with her Pathfinders group. We start our new market in St. Stephen on Friday and the long range forecast is promising sun - at least for the moment.
The new studio space is finally taking shape. The work benches are in and we have the lapidary gear in place. It is still a tight space but it looks like the space will flow OK. This is real progress to move into a space that is available and usable 12 months of the year. It is also good that this is a bit ahead of schedule as July looks like a busy month and we do a lot of stock to build for the Originals Show as well and a solo exhibit to plan for in December and a couple of group shows and competitions to build for this fall.
I know that I am impatient about getting the job done and that this produces some frustration for me - I like instant gratification - so jobs that take a few days or weeks drive me near crazy and inturn I drive David near crazy too but we are making progress.