When in doubt check it out!

You know, just 10 years ago, when I didn't have a cell phone, or the Internet, I was running around, looking up info in libraries (Oh how I miss spending HOURS each day at the 2 NYC public libraries on 5th Ave in Manhattan *sigh*) and looking in phone books to find people, businesses and manufacturers.
12 years ago, I started my design business for "real" (although I had been in the art business virtually since I was 4 or 5 years of age! Yes, even then, I was making art and selling it!). It took me a few months to actually learn about all of the things that I needed to know as far as banking, keeping records, laws, rules, guidelines etc.
It took me a while to find out how to get the right kind of business license, where and how to file my taxes, etc.

I did a LOT of talking on the phone.
A LOT of calls daily.

It was quite expensive to call out of state or even out of our local area code, and I had to set time limits with whomever I was speaking with.

These days, cell phone usage plans help to make all of the old toll call fees a thing of the past.

Having the Internet also cuts down on time spent looking up info and finding out details.

I was always told that we were not allowed to deface money. I was lectured once about gluing pennies together with crazy glue.

Since then, I have steered clear of using money in my art work.
However, many people wanted to use coinage in the swaps that I have been hosting.
Thinking that it was illegal, I asked people not to use it.

After looking into it on the Internet, I found this link-
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=426715

HOWEVER-even though it was still worded in a way that kept me thinking that it was not OK, 3 people emailed me saying that it was.
Yesterday, I needed to find out what the *truth* was about using money in art work. SO, I used the PHONE to call *Washington*, and spoke to 4 VERY kind and helpful people, all in different departments of the US treasury and US Mint.
When in doubt, check it out!
And the calls were not something I had to worry about paying for, and the info I learned while on the phone was relieving.
Yes, we can mutilate coins! However, we may not cut up paper money.
If we create copies of paper money, it must be at least 25 percent in size, OR 150 times the size if we enlarge it.
Working with people is SO much easier for me than it was just 10 years ago!
I am really looking forward to what will be in the next 10 years.

~*HAPPY BIRTHDAY!*~

One of the best gifts, is waking up on my birthday, knowing I have *true* friends who are SO AWESOME!
Friends who I have had for SO many years, and new friends too.
You can always tell a true friend from a false one. Watch how they treat others not just yourself. It is in their way of giving and taking. The way they talk about others.
If they offer to give more than they take, share more than they expect to be given, and love you when your life is dark and depressing. All despite you being a miserable boring person during your darkest times...
You know you have found the rare friends that can relate to you and lift you up when you need it.
I have some of THE best friends anyone could ever dream of asking for.
My friends are loyal, kind, patient, true, funny, cool, artistic, loving, generous, self sacrificing, encouraging, talented, strong and brave.
*Smiles*
Thank you friends, for being there with me through the years. When I look back at all I/we have been through... I find myself appreciating you even more than I could ever possibly put into words.
Through my times at home, through losing friends and family to death and sad circumstances, through raising my sister, through being injured and stuck in bed for months,
through the days of when New York City was falling apart. When I needed you the most, you were there. And you listened, to my endless phone calls, emails and instant messages of blah blah blah.
Thank you for supporting me, in all of the ways that I needed it most at any given time.
Without you, my life would not be as wonderful and hopeful as it is *today*.

Thank you for making *today* so much better.

I really do deeply appreciate you.

Love,
Amber

Everyone was a winner!!! ALL 22 of you!

Guess what everyone else who left a comment here.... You get a gift too!!!!
To the 22 ladies including Cat (the grand prize winner), I would like to send you a little gift.

I believe I have the address to most of you already.
But if you think that I do not yet have it... email me please!

*Smiles*
SURPRISE!!!!

Amber Dawn
ON MONDAY 4/23--- I will be picking a name from the list of people who leave me a comment on this post. I will be picking the name in the late evening, so check back Tuesday morning to see the winner!

The person who wins, will be getting a teeny book cover charm.
It will not have pages in it, so the person who gets it can do with it as they please.
I will also include a teeny starter pack of papers and other goodies to help you embellish the inside of the book cover.

To leave a comment, just click on comments under this post.

Hosting another mini book charm exchange!

I decided to take another chance and host an artistic mini book charm exchange again!
This time though, I will be asking to see the entries in advance, as I had some books come to me in unswappable condition.

The deadline will be in July ... so if you would like to join in, please leave a comment, or email me inventivesouls@yahoo.com ... Do not email me any pictures of your books please. I will contact you back with more info about joining and swap guidelines.The swaps I host are for your BEST work. Please do not join if you don't plan on sending in really artistic or innovative design work.

The materials you can use are endless. However all organic materials are banned as this is an international exchange. Also, no silicon based glues such as Goop, or E6000 should be used.
It will be a 5 for 5 or a 10 for 9. (yes if you send 10, you will only get 9 in return) I will keep one to photograph, and use it for the blog gallery. If you wish to make 5 and be included in the gallery, then you can send an extra one along, but it is up to you and not mandatory.

If you are a smoker, I request that you air out your books in a smoke and mildew free environment for *1* month prior to mailing them.

MINI BOOK CHARMS by, ME, Amber Dawn :o) All of these are less than 2 inches tall.

The Past!

For anyone who read the interview I did in the FAZ, here is a picture of the motorcycle/cowboy I was talking about! Or for those who know his art work in my 'zine, this is 'Cisco. He is also the one building me that COOL piece of furniture that he designed. I believe I posted it in October, or November here on the blog.
It's so cool to see the past through another person's eyes!
We just got this picture today from an old friend who was away in the navy for a while. The picture is 16 or so years old. I think he is much cuter *now* he gets better with age!

I watched the sun rise today. A new start each day.

Although it is raining out, it is SO nice and spring like here. (actually it is cold, I am talking about the visual look of Spring)
Flowers are blooming from bulbs, trees are budding and blooming... I've missed ~*flowers*~ and have been waiting so patiently for this season!

I watched the sun rise.

It is amazing how each day starts a new beginning. Starts out dark, ends with light, starts out light, ends with dark (whichever way you like to see it)
It makes life so much more interesting to be given a start and a finish to each day.
Speaking of new starts, I reformatted the computer (I had to, it was not working right) and lost some art files, my saved email, and a bunch of images that I wanted to post to the blog. I lost anything and everything that I did not copy/save to a disk.

I promise to post some really fun pictures soon.
It may take me a few more days to install the art programs and get the images from disk to the computer and edit them etc.

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a FUN day!!!

My entry for the SPRING Gleaner Zine Swap. ~*~ Sorry, there are none to sell, I only made 7, just for the swap.

Someone asked where I got the boot charms. They were custom cast. I do not know where to get more.
These are heavier than the stock model you may find in a jewelry parts catalog.

Faith

Faith is fun!
Believing in things with your heart and spirit rather than just your eyes.

I believe that all good things are foretold, and will come to pass.
I believe that the truth is not what you want it to be, but the truth is what it is.
I believe in black and white, I believe in color, I believe in nature, and science, I believe in imagination.

I believe that belief is fun!

I celebrate freedom.
I celebrate life, and I certainly enjoy this day and age!

The mysterious beauty of prayer...

If you have ever been one to feel the healing power or peace that can be felt through prayer, and prayers being said for you, then you know how warm and fuzzy it can make you feel inside.
Like a nice intoxication in your heart. Like a warm blanket protecting you from harm.

I am feeling that right now.

After a long week of crazy deadlines, and very little sleep, situations came up that set me on edge. I had a major headache yesterday (Friday) because I didn't get to sleep until 10:30 am being awake most of Thursday as well.
I still have a ton of work I need to get done for today (Saturday) so that I can mail a few dozen parcels and run some errands...
Running on close to empty I was starting to feel frustrated...
I asked for some of my friends, and family to say a prayer, and all I can say is, wow.

Why don't I remember to do this more often?

It's like pain killers and Xanax combined.
Who needs meds and aspirin, when you can have prayer instead?

If however you don't believe in the power or point of prayer, maybe you can try it some time.

My Blog Title Image-

OK- So, I have gotten 3 requests for help in placing a title picture/header on people's blogs this week....So I figured there may be more of you wanting help to do your own too.
You must have the new version of blogger for it to work.
Go here-
http://betabloggerfordummies.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-add-picture-to-beta-blog-header.html

I will pick a winner in the evening.

Because I am still up (4am) doing my work, I am not ready to print out all of the names of entrants for the TEENY zine charm.I will get around to it Sunday evening.For the time being-Here are some metal heart charms that I made for Becky New's ARTED UP METAL CHARMS in the charms2007 ICE group.






















The charms are casted, then plated (metal). I painted the bezel section of it red, waited till it was dry, then filled the interior with a mix of red glitter and Triple Thick.When it was dry, I flipped them over and applied a generous coating of Triple Thick.While it was still wet, I placed a black tin flower that I punched with a mini punch and used florists foil that I got from Gayle at a Stamper's Touch in Canada.I topped it all of with a silver star, and some glitter mix.Let it dry, and voila, a totally ROCKIN' METAL CHARM!



















I also took a quick picture of the choker being worn.
The choker is NOT finished, so I used metal twist ties to hold it on while I took the picture. It is not easy taking a good picture of one's own neck without looking!

EYE CANDY? YES!!! CHARMS2007ICE DESIGNERS UNITED!























Judy Nuebert, Denice O'Heron, Cris Peacock, Tammie Moore!




















Jan Meyers, Heather Bluhm, Tina Holden, Kathi Parker!

Clarissa Sharp!

Kate Webster, Sharie Meyers!

Lori Anderson composed this ADORABLE lampwork and bali silver bead dangle!
























Sharie Meyers designed the cool polymer clay framed sketches!

Caren Cohen made the purple beaded ball, and Ann Marie Hodrick made the Swarovski crystal with pansy enamel dangle.

I took a few minutes out of my day to make something for *myself*

I used charms from the Charms2007swap from January.
The charms are made by-Listed from left to right, starting with the SUN-Tina Holden, Carolyn Young, Gillian Allen, Tracy Webster, Denice O'Heron, Jan Bartlett, Judy Nuebert, Sharon Birzvilkis, Gina Louthian-Stanley, Kate Webster & Margie Fenney

WHAT FUN!
This is a bib style necklace.


Mind you, I do NOT preplan my work.
I just start fiddling with the components, an' whatever happens - happens.
I was actually cleaning my art room when I found the mini scrabble pieces and knew they would look cute on the copper chain.
What do you think?
It took me less than 1 hour to do.
AND it hangs nicely on the neck.

Kelly Snelling! - if you are reading this- I do not have dainty fingers!
AT ALL!
*laughing*
I just got used to working with what I have and found a way to get what I wanted/needed done.
That is a key to a HAPPY life!

*Smiles*


Tina Holden, Carolyn Young
Gillian Allen, Tracy Webster, Denice O'Heron

Jan Bartlett, Judy Nuebert, Sharon Birzvilkis

Gina Louthian-Stanley, Kate Webster & Margie Fenney

A lot of people think that the items on the dime below, are the secret charm... They are the INSERTS to the secret charm!!!
The secret charm is a TEENY magazine!!! Full of other goodies too!
Just wanted to share that!
ALSO- you can leave me as many comments on my entire blog as you want! BUT I will only add your name to the drawing once a day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I got an AWESOME bunch of gifts today from some of my friends!!!

Lori sent me a set of 4 darling and delicious lampworked (Handmade glass beads made by using a blow torch) bead charms accented by Bali sterling, and Swarovski crystals... I LOVE the way they feel! She makes and composes such *BEAUTIFUL* work!

Thank you Lori!!!

A person who I adore, sent me *3* Comic style books, "for review and to keep".
"Pride of Baghdad" by Brian K. Vaughan- Art by, Niko Henrichon.
This is a lovely book published by Vertigo. (mmm yummy!) The story line and graphics are a bit on the edge, but it has a warmth and glow to it as well.
The ending is a bit chilling, and left me with a heavy heart,,, but hey, all in all, I LOVE the colors and the graphics!
It is a war/military/animal theme, and involves talking animals.
It's not for little kids at all.

"The Best American Series" The Best American Comics 2006 by, Harvey Pekar and Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Published by, Houghton Mifflin Co.
I love the variety in this book.
I read just one of the comics, but will need to look at the book some more before actually saying anything "deep" about it.
I can say that I LOVE the variety it offers!

*An ADVANCE* copy of "Re-Gifters" by, Mike Carey, Sonny Liew and Marc Hempel.
I love this... I am not allowed to write any solid opinions on it as this is the advance copy, and so all I can tell you about is my opinion of some of the art work.
This is more my speed, kind of like Korean comics.
I opened up to a page that has an image of a girl in her room and on the wall is the artists interpretation of Orlando Bloom as Legolas in Lord of the Rings.
*laughing*

Coming in May 2007 there will be a comic called "The Plain Janes"
Looks like fun.
July 2007 "Clubbing" gothy and cool!
"Good As Lily" Looks interesting....


OH! I also got 90+ wooden scrabble tiles from Donna B.
Thank you DONNA!!!
I will be making some FUN and off the wall bits of art to wear with these!!!

Are you a Vin Diesel fan?
Well, I am not so much a fan of him as I am of his character Riddick. And xXx.
I am patiently waiting for CR2 to come out.
I am such a sci fi geek.
I have seen the Chronicles maybe 3 times this year...That includes Pitch Black and the cartoon one.
There is something cool about the way his movies make me feel that works well in my art. Must be the NYC in his voice! *laughing*
I also watched xXx but I cannot stand the cheesy over the top stuff.

Joss Stone made a music video at one of my FAVORITE hang out spots.
If you have seen her latest video, with a LOT of Graf in it, then you know what I am talking about!

It is such a GREAT place to be.
If I had a need for a studio space, I would hook myself up with one in that building.
They are not expensive at all.

The ENTIRE facade of the former factory building is engulfed in aerosol spray!
Next month I will take some pictures of it when it is sunny out.
It is a hop skip and a jump away from the P.S. 1 art museum in L.I.C. NY
The architecture on that building is also worth a look too.

Well, back to the other topic, sci fi-
I am eagerly waiting for "them" to make a few movies.
I KNOW they can pull in a ton of money so they should go for it-
HYPERION. If they film it right, this would definitely be a great series on film.
I strongly suggest though, that they do NOT drag out all of the political mumbo jumbo, and focus on the ACTION!

I think that Ender's Game would also make a great film, if they didn't get too far into the future. Maybe just make a film of the first book.

Tammie Moore sent me some goodies,,, I am sitting here admiring them.
She sent me vintage items, metals, pressed glass buttons with a bit of gold foil, a resin heart with a bird image, a bunch of colorful birds that will make FUN charms, assorted plastic goodies, some lampwork, and some silver pearl beads. THANK YOU TAMMIE!!

I have been enjoying the comments that people have been leaving for me, on the post "If we have never met in person----" from March 20th.
It is fun to imagine!!

I am jumping from topic to topic,I am sitting here having had only 3 and a half hours of sleep, and I think I better try and get some more!
OK-------
Nice talking to you!
*grins*

Small things thrill me! I love to make miniatures!
OK, so here is an example of something tiny I worked on while embellishing issue #3.5 of my art magaZine Beau Ideal. These are tiny replicas of 2 of the inserts in my 'zine.
The mini book, is a mini version of an already mini zine. I call them zinelettes. Well this is a micro version.
The mini purse is also a micro version. Do you know how SMALL these are???
Look at the following picture of them ON A DIME! YES! A DIME!!!!

*I am so thrilled!* I used my big fingers, and was able to do this and many other goodies by hand!
They fit inside the mini charm version of my zine. The mini zine is 1 and a half by 15/16ths of an inch!

Would you like to enter to win a bit of AMBER DAWN ART?

I would like to offer a *little* bit of handmade art to wear.
Nothing too fancy, just a little something that I made last week.
A little mixed media charm.
It will be kept a secret until someone wins it.

All you have to do, is leave me a comment, anything you want to say. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR NAME PLEASE!

I will draw a winner on April first.

Enter as many times as you wish, up to one comment a day.
*Smiles*

Amber

If we have never met in person----
Keep it clean!
Laughing....

This question is for anyone who wants to give an answer.
Don't be shy!

If you could hang out with me for a day, what would you ask me to do?


I am SO interested in your answers!



Amber

No,,, I don't want your 70??? day old batter

There is a CRAZY myth bread going around that is TOO scary for me!

It is a chain letter type thing, that actually involves cooking.
Hemin bread, is what this stuff is, is more like a science experiment if you ask me!!!
The roots of the bread were said to be from the Vatican, but from what I have learned it is an Amish custom that someone thought would be fun to convert to another religion!
(what's new in the world?)
My landlord was at my door holding a slice of Padre Pio bread....She believed it would bring our house "luck"
She wouldn't leave until I tasted it... I did not swallow it though!~!!
*ugh* I couldn't swallow it, the "bread" that is.
So here I am after washing my mouth out with *salt*

WHY WOULD PEOPLE WANT TO EAT THIS?

Everyone, passes their starter on, and it this can be over 200 or more days old, eggs, milk, and sugar!!!!!!!!
*(does centers for disease control know about this? How about the food and drug administration?)*

Well, the dough itself, is passed on to someone else, and then they use it to grow MORE of the moldy bread.

CHAIN LETTER STYLE!

Please if you are the victim of this, just throw the stuff out.
IT IS NOT HEALTHY and if you are really a believer in spiritual matters then eating old moldy bread batter is NOT going to bring you good luck.
It is fermented gross batter.... THROW IT AWAY!


Say a prayer for yourself instead!

This is one of my favorite pictures that I took the day I met Alma Stoller in Manhattan last summer.

These houses are off of Park Ave. by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I cannot even imagine what they would look like in the interior, but could you imagine having ALL OF THAT SPACE??? I would love to see what is inside! These just look so OLD and BIG! Any idea how old these are? Late 170os? Mid 1800s? The cost of living there is too much for me to even imagine myself trying for!
In that area, must be at least 3 BIG bills. (Millions)


OK, end of blog!

5x 5 7 5
Each line is 5 syllables or 7 of them... so it is a line of 5 then 7 then 5 again.
It was just a way for me to catch a rhythm of words and making sense at the same time
My name is Amber
I went to school in New York
I grew up too fast

Writing a good song
Takes lots of time and practice
Enjoy the process!

Breathing in the air
Taking in the Oxygen
Enjoying my life

Basically done
This form of writing is good
I'm having some fun

After all!

Me in 2005 taking a picture to use as a model for a sketch.

That Bailey Fedora that I am wearing is SO nice in person.
It is not mine though... But the tie is. *Smiles* The tie is a VERY pretty pink, magenta and black tie that I bought to sew on a jean skirt... I have it hanging in my room.... I MUST sew it on already!!! The T-Shirt that I am wearing, is one of my favorite Ecko T's... An artist just trying to keep his head above the water. It has a good dose of reflective glass beads all over it. It lights up when a car's headlight shines on it.

WARNING

I will be bashing a form of poetry.
No poets were hurt during the writing of this blog.

Well, maybe just the little poet inside of me, as I forced her to face HAIKU!

The truth is, the following is NOT true Haiku, although the rhythm is the same.

Pick up the phone now
Because I am calling you
So you can talk too


I really don't know why it is. But since I was in the 3rd or 5th grade, one of those years, I was forced to write too many haiku poems.

I STRONGLY dislike it!

Do you have a favorite Haiku that may change my mind?

Recently I was invited to join a Haiku book swap.
NO THANK YOU!!!!

*Smiles*

An awesome array of wool from Glenda Bailey, so I can learn how to needle felt. She also sent me a needle, and some other yummy looking supplies! I will keep you updated on what I make!

My fun inch art returns from Angie!

A gift from Ronda, that she sent with her AWESOME shrink plastic charms!

I LOVE this piece! THANK YOU Ronda!~

AWESOME MAIL TODAY!
I just got a parcel that the mail man brought, it is a bunch of fabric charms, and a set of mini charm books made by Jan B.
Also, earlier today, I went to the PO to pick up swaps and gifts!
Ninfa sent me resin art and some ephemera, game pieces and images. Thanks NINFA!
Glenda Bailey sent me a WONDERFUL box full of colorful Merino wool, a felting needle, a card of fancy fibers and some wool felt so that I can learn how to needle felt. She also sent a package full of the images that she uses in her GORGEOUS felted pieces.
THANK YOU GLENDA! I will post pictures of whatever I make!

Last but not least, Angie Hall H. sent me 25 mini collages from the inch swap.
WOW!
I got two that I REALLY wanted and I am THRILLED!
As soon as the battery to my camera is done charging, I will post some pictures.

It was just snowing like a blizzard, and now the sky is blue and the sun bright.
It has been doing that for over 2 hours now. On and off.
VERY unusual and fun weather!

Just finished gluing on 22 labels to parcels I have to ship @ 2:30 pm today.
While I did that-
Was watching Queer Eye for the straight guy, and saw they were making over someone I knew in H.S.

*giggling!*

Philip Rojas, was being featured and it was *SO* much fun for me to see him.

He went to the same college as my husband, and in HS they looked like they could have been brothers.
The last time I saw him was at Lincoln Center at their College Graduation. (1997?)

I love his hot car! WOW!
I didn't see it really well though I was too distracted with what I was doing!
A Mustang?
This was the episode with the guy from Brooklyn and he had a knee injury,,, I didn't see the show from the start, so I do not even know what happened to him.) :o(

Anyway, Phil aka PR PR (YinYangStyle )if you happen upon this post... just know I think you look great, and you are still as sweet as ever.

Hey! I too am on TV, although I don't have cable so I cannot even see myself on it.

So, I gotta go. I don't even have this time to spare!

Catching up with friends and family.

OK to say that I have been busy is an understatement!
I am here now blogging about thoughts and recent events, and posting a BEAUTIFUL planter designed by the AMAZING and wonderfully talented Sonji Hunt.
I have just finished wrapping-1080 charms in the last 4 days! I am SO in need of some NON art related fun!
It would be so wonderful to have a bouquet of fresh and colorful flowers to stick my face into right about now
.
While out this week, I visited a LOVELY florist who had some very unusual and wonderfully colored florals.
WOW. I MISS blooming flowers!!!!

It is a stone gray day outside of my window and I have a pounding headache.
*pouts*

Just a few more weeks until the blooming begins, I have to hang in there!!!
Then, mid April will be here and there will be a riot of color outside and I REALLY look forward to it!!!
*YAY*



Hope you are all having fun, or staying safe.
I have been trying my best to pace myself with the charm swap, zine, and other chores etc.
Email me, I have a few hours to catch up if you want to chat!
Or leave me a comment, if I know you, I probably miss you!
Hi Amy, Patti, Regina, Fran, Nikki, Alma, Sonji, Sammy, Debi, Ruth, Carla, Melanie, Lisa, Glenda, Linda, Carlotta, Elsie, Ethel, Margie, Michelle, Erica, Nancy, Kate, Kathy, Cathi, Suze, John, Gabriel, Susan, Gina, Grace, Peg, Pat, & *you too*!

Amber

This is actually a bracelet, but is being modeled as a necklace.
It was designed by me as a *thank you* to a very special patron of mine.
*Smiles*
Dr. Susanne Wichert