FOR WHOM THE BELL(S) TOLL . . .

“I had an inheritance from my father,
It was the moon and the sun.
And though I roam all over the world,
The spending of it’s never done.” 

Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls

NJUGA ZA LOVE  (Bells of Love)

A Fun Piece for work or play.

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

**************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

A Friend saw this and cut it out of the paper for me.  I thought it would be fun to include it this time instead of a 'real cloud' conversation.  Sorry the clarity is not better ... :(

Charleen

A MOON OF MANY COLORS ...

IN THIS CASE, A MOON OF YELLOW TURQUOISE.

SAGUARO MOON

I love these stones, probably because this color green is one of my favorites. The color is a little deeper than the photo shows. 

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

************************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

'TAKING A PEEK'

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. ~  Jonathan Swift

Have a great Weekend!

CHARLEEN

SUMMERTIME, PICNICS, AND BACKYARD BARBECUES ...

WHAT ARE THEY WITHOUT A LITTLE BIT OF WATERMELON?!!

'WATERMELON SWEETIE'

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

'WHEN ONE HAS TASTED WATERMELON,
HE KNOWS WHAT THE ANGELS EAT.'  ~  Mark Twain

*****************************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

Beautiful Evening Sky over the small town of Wallace, Idaho.  We were suppose to attend the annual Wallace Blues Festival this past weekend but it rained.  Last year we did sit through it in the cold and rain (and got drenched despite umbrellas and wearing big black garbage bags!)  :/  The music was great and we did have a good time, but this year we opted not to do that to ourselves.  It cleared in the evening so we went down for a while, had dinner (for the locals ... we went to a tiny, new little restaurant called 'The Blackboard Café' ~ I recommend it :), walked around, listened to the Music from outside the gate, had an ice cream from the 'Red Light Garage' and then headed home.  Nice evening.

This old sign (Motel still in operation) sits out in front of the Red Light Garage.  The evening light on it just caught me.

CHARLEEN

I FEEL WE ARE ALL ISLANDS ...

   ... IN A COMMON SEA.
                                 ~  Anne Morrow Lindbergh

ISLAND SEA

A great Piece to go with those Summer Outfits.

For more information on this Please Click HERE

*****************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see a myriad of things in these clouds ... Baby chick, lots of faces (especially down in the lower right, A Pig, a Tiger, and maybe there's an old Steam Engine hidden behind those trees chugging away making those puffy white clouds.  Busy day up there ...

'Little Engine That Could'  -
"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.”
                                        ~ Watty Piper, The Little Engine That Could

CHARLEEN

A LITTLE RAIN NEVER HURT ANYONE ...

ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENING.

EVENING RAIN

This is made from large Chunks of Chalcedony, a really Beautiful Stone.  I wish the colors showed up better in the above photo so you could see the depth of the color. 

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

(Colors show up better on my Website :)

***********************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

THE PONY EXPRESS  :)

You who live your lives in cities or among peaceful ways cannot always tell whether your friends are the kind who would go through fire for you. But on the Plains one's friends have an opportunity to prove their mettle.

~  Buffalo Bill

CHARLEEN

FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY ...

NOT THE MOVIE ... THE NECKLACE!

FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY

This one can be worn long or doubled (above) for a completely different look. 

(Obviously I need a little taller 'Bust' to display these long ones ... )

For more information on 'FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY' Please click HERE

**********************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

ME AND MY SHADOW

That was the first thing I thought of when I looked at this photo. Too obvious not to take you to the song ...   Here's Frank and Sammy.  The original singer of this song though was 'Whispering Jack Smith' back in 1927.  It sounds VERY different from the above version as you can well imagine.  (Think Tiny Tim for those of you that remember him :)  Like a lot of music, it has been covered many times.

 I have to say that I am forever randomly shooting photos of the sky and most times don't really know what I have until I get home and put them on my computer.  A LOT of photos get deleted!   :/    

Have a great Day!

Charleen

PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON

DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THIS ...  !

'THE HAPPY DRAGON'

The Gemstones are called 'Dragons Blood 'Jasper ... thus the name.  :)

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

“Puff, the Magic Dragon, lived by the sea,

and frolicked in the Autumn Mist in a land called Honah Lee,

little Jacky Paper loved that rascal Puff, and gave him strings and sealing wax

and other fancy stuff.” 
― Peter Yarrow, Puff, The Magic Dragon

*********************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

With some imagination I can see a Happy Dragons Head (with a 'Puff' of smoke!) peering out over the top of the Clouds.  :)   I can also decipher a caricature of a Blackbird walking through the top of the Clouds.  'Man with a Purpose'  :)

Have a Great Day!

Charleen

NINA ... WHERE ARE YOU?

That's Nina Simone ... often called 'The High Priestess of Soul'.  I love her music, which was often very controversial.  She was considered a Musical Storyteller.

'SIMONE'

In 1968, an interviewer for New York public television asked the singer and pianist Nina Simone what freedom meant to her. “It’s just a feeling,” she replied, seemingly flustered by the question. Then, suddenly, an answer occurred to her. “I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean really, no fear!”

I would have to say, that that is one of the best definitions of Freedom I have heard.

To hear Nina Simone sing "Don't let me be Misunderstood" Please click HERE

For more information about 'Simone' (the Necklace :) Please click  HERE

********************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

Ohhh ... I see a Puppy dogs face!  Actually, it reminds me of our two dogs ... another Mutt and Jeff situation (one big and one small).  Big dog on the right and little dog on the left ... licking the big dogs face.  That goes on constantly here.  I asked the Vet about it and she said it was a form of submission and respect on the little guys part towards the big guy.  Sounds good, but in this house the little guy rules the roost!

Have a Great Day!

Charleen

LET'S DANCE!

"HEY BABY, WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE ...

SAY YOU'LL LET ME HAVE THIS DANCE ."

J'RANA'S DANCE

(The Frogs Dance)

For more information on this Piece Please click HERE

It would be interesting to know how many of you actually picked up on that tune above and started humming it!  :)  I think it was 1962/63.  (yes, I'm dating myself again! :)  and Chris Montez came out with the song 'Let's Dance'.  It was a great dance tune. To see it in action just click HERE  (You have to get past the three second ad)

************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

'CONVERGENCE'

No relationship to anything, I just liked the quote ...

Never trust any complicated cocktail that remains perfectly clear until the last ingredient goes in, and then immediately clouds.
~  Terry Pratchett

Charleen

WWW.CHARLEENMARTIN.COM

BUSY. BUSY. BUSY.

And, I'm sure, we are just like everyone else is at this time of year!  We have out of town company for a week and a half, Two Grandsons graduating High School and both Graduation Celebrations are being held at our home (on consecutive weekends!) Having access to Mountain Trails just a block away, along with two ATV's, evidentially makes our home a fun place to celebrate an occasion.  :)  (Personally, I Love it!  :)

It's easier to work on Jewelry when we have company because I can just walk away if there is an interruption.  So here are the first of several new Pieces I've done ...

ORANGE LACE

ORANGE LACE with HALOMA (Happy Fortune)

I added HALOMA in the photo above for a little extra Drama but they are two separate pieces  !  :)

For more information Please go to my Website at  WWW.CHARLEENMARTIN.COM

****************************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

Today was the Memorial for Mohammad Ali.  It was televised on CNN and I watched parts of it while working. What I knew about the man was primarily what the News had provided over the years.  What I learned today painted a much more Human picture.  He was a man of very deep faith,  loved and admired by many.  He believed in himself and he believed in the goodness of others.  Evidently, he often talked about the fact that he was  'just tying to get to get Heaven.'  :)  I will let you decide what you see in the cloud photo above, but for me personally, I think it is a completely apropos moment for remembering a man that was a Hero to many.

I know where I'm going and I know the truth,

and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.

~ Muhammad Ali

Charleen

TODAY YOU ARE SHOWERED WITH GOOD LUCK ...

'THEY' SAY IF YOU WALK PAST AN ELEPHANT WHILE HIS TRUNK IS UP YOU WILL BE SHOWERED WITH GOOD LUCK.'

You'll probably get tired of these Front closing Toggle Pieces but it's been fun to see how many different Pieces I can come up with using the same design base.  A point my daughter brought up was how nice they are with long hair.  Your hair doesn't get caught in the Toggle when you are trying to close it.  A point I knew from experience but hadn't thought about out loud.  (make sense?) 

BONATINIEMA  (GOOD LUCK)

Close up showing the Hand Carved Carnelian Elephant
that is part of the Focal.

******

'God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on trying other things.'
~ Pablo Picasso

*******************

I have a wonderful Client who has bought many of my Pieces ~ both Jewelry and Paintings.  She recently saw the Miniature Bunny painting I did and asked if I could also do a small Turtle.  She has two young granddaughters ~ one loves rabbits, the other turtles ~ and she wanted to give each one a small painting for their Birthday.  I thought it was great she was giving them each a piece of Art.  (and of course I would think that!:)  I will tell you though, for some reason I had a hard time with the Turtle.  I had Turtles when I was little and loved them.  But, it was hard (for me) to try and make a reptile fun in a painting for a child. Maybe I need more cloud practice to get my child-like imagination back where it needs to be! 

  

             TRIXIE A. TURTLE                 "WHO ATE MY JELLYBEANS?"

************************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see an alligator getting ready to devour a small fish who is oblivious to the danger.  :(  But then, there is another fish swimming past the other way with a most horrified look on his face!  He knows ...  (I think I need to get past this reptile thing ...)

Charleen

NO PINK ELEPHANTS HERE ...

RED.  JUST RED ...

'THE ELEPHANTS MUSE'

Another Front closing Piece.  More information can be found HERE

********************************************************************

CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see Geppetto... Pinocchio's kindly old Woodcarver Father.  He's up in the right hand corner and he's busily working away.  No Pinocchio, but are those Crickets down by the water ...?

To learn a little more about Pinocchio Please Click HERE to go to the April Newsletter

'IF YOUR HEART IS IN YOUR DREAM,  NO REQUEST IS TOO EXTREME'

~  Pinocchio

(it's fun going back to our childhood, isn't it!)

Charleen

SURE YOU DID ...!

MORE FUN FROM THE FAMILY TREE SERIES ...

THE MARRIED COUPLE:  "I'M TELLIN' YA ... I TOLD THEM 6'OCLOCK."

6 x 8" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

  

YUYMA

Here is another Piece I did during my little siege getting ready for the Studio Tour.  This Piece is still available through my Website.

To see either of these Pieces Please click HERE

THE SECRET OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE REMAINS A SECRET

                  ~ Henny Youngman

Have a great day !  

Charleen

ASLEEP. UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS.

ASLEEP. UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS.

6 x 6"  Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel.

I have been very fortunate to have seen the Northern Lights, actually, more than several times.  They are truly magnificent.  Since I have seen them more than once I was very surprised some years back when my Hubby and I were on an Alaskan Cruise, and the Captain, in the middle of an Evening Stage show, came on stage, stopped the show, and made everyone get up and go outside to see the lights.  He said that in all the years he had been at Sea he had never seen the Northern Lights.  He was so excited to share the event.  :)  And I have to say, that seeing them while semi-surrounded by massive Icebergs did give the whole experience a surreal feel to it.

EVENING KISS

Here is another piece I did for the Studio Tour recently.  Those are large, beautiful chunks of Chalcedony that make up the front focal point of this Necklace.  Chalcedony is considered by many to be a nuturing stone.  It absorbs negative energy and is said to bring the Mind, Body and Spirit into Harmony along with many other positive traits.   What more can you ask for!

THEN THAT'S WHAT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ARE.  

ALL THE LIVES WE ARE NOT LIVING.

~ Adi Alsaid

Happy Monday!

CHARLEEN