Commitment: 3. The state of being bound emotionally or intellectually to a course of action or to another person or persons: a deep commitment to liberal policies; a profound commitment to the family.
Commitment rules my life.
I made a commitment in 1974 to Jim Foley. We married in 1977, and my commitment to him and our life together still rules today, 33 years later. Little did I know when I made the pledge “in sickness and in health” that Parkinson’s disease would crop its ugly head and test my vow time, and time and time again. Jim was diagnosed with PD in 1991, shortly after we moved aboard a 40 foot sailboat to sail around the world. (Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative neuorological disorder. More info here). PD challenged us then and each day PD continues to challenge us to keep and meet our commitment to live full, active, meaningful, and useful lives.
As we set sail, and Jim’s physical abilities began to deteriorate and sometimes fail, we were tempted to despair, yet rose above the easy way out, the out that could have said “I quit.” If I handed him a cup and he couldn’t grip it because of PD, and it dropped and broke, we swept up the pieces and started over. If his balance was unreliable, and he couldn’t go out on the deck of the boat without falling, we gave him a job in the cockpit, and I learned how to reef the sails as he would have done had he been physically able. The circumnavigation took us 10 years. We did make it around the world, and were both the better for fulfilling our commitment. We are enlivened by another vow, our declaration to “Accommodate without surrender.” We will not let PD stop us from realizing our dreams.
Back on land in 2002 after our circumnavigation we decided to re-create the lives we’d led as artists and jewelers before we set sail. In the midst of that process, I unexpectedly fell in love with glass. We shifted gears, and made a new commitment, that of making me a star in the glass jewelry world. We needed to accommodate the limitations that PD put on Jim’s jewelry making techniques anyway. When his hands shake, and he can’t solder because of it, then he picks up the pieces and starts over again. Since I’m making the glass beads, he doesn’t have to set gemstones anymore if PD won’t let him. If the beads I make don’t seem good enough to me, I keep making more until I’m satisfied with my creations. When PD imbalance and freezing knocks Jim to the floor, he picks himself up and starts over. If because of PD Jim can’t do much at all physically, I take up the slack. Together we realize our dreams. We accommodate, we do not surrender.
Commitment rules: a commitment to each other, a commitment to continuing creativity, a commitment to self-expression, a commitment to love.
Thanks to Art Bead Scene for providing the challenge to write a post on the topic of commitment.
Follow the link, and see what other bead artists have written on this topic.
”Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the live you have imagined.” Henry David Thoreau
Posted in Jewelry, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, Parkinson's disease, art, sailing around the world
Tags: ABS blog, handmade glass jewelry, Inspiration, Lyn Foley
We’ve recently returned from Dallas, and are now looking forwardto our next show, the Texas Arts and Crafts Fair in Kerrville. I took a much needed break yesterday, catching up on grocery shopping, house cleaning, reading, etc. And good grief, I needed it too, since as I walked back in the front door, my arms full of groceries, a scorpion struck! OWW, did that hurt. It stung me right on my ankle. I kicked off my sandals, killed the culprit, only to discover through out the rest of the afternoon, 7, yes SEVEN, more of the nasty creatures. They must have a nest right by our front door, and they seem to be sneaking in through a little gap in the weather stripping. Got to fix that!
Well, life in Texas I suppose – yet we have never had this type of invsion before. I am cautiously checking everywhere I walk, especially since I pad around barefooted.
My sketchbook is overflowing with ideas. I’ll be back on the torch today – and if I can just get those scorpions out of my mind ……………….
Posted in Art Festivals, Jewelry, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Tags: handmade glass jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley
Written on April 23, 2010
We enjoyed our recent show in Lubbock, Texas. It came and went so quickly I didn’t even write a post about it. Now Fayetteville Art Walk is in the near future (May 1st & 2nd). and ….Dallas City Arts will be the weekend after that, on May 7th, 8th and 9th. Whew! Am I busy?
So all I have time for is a copy of the City Arts e-mail reminder. If you make it to any of my shows, please introduce yourself.
Posted in Art Festivals, Beads, Jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Tags: Glass jewelry, handmade glass jewelry, Jewelry, Lyn Foley
Written on April 13, 2010
Posted in Art Festivals, Jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Tags: Glass jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley
Written on March 27, 2010
One days' Beads Fresh out of the Kiln
As soon as I heard the word, anticipation, for April’s Art Bead Scene blog, I thought of the song by Carly Simon. Listen to “Anticipation” here if you don’t remember it. Even though I can’t get the tune out of my head the lyrics don’t all ring true for me. My take on anticipation revolves more around trust and excitement. Trust that what I believe to be true will produce a positive outcome – and excitement in looking forward to the realization I anticipate.
As a glass beadmaker, I am constantly anticipating. After all, I don’t see the results of what I create today until the next morning. No matter what else is going on in my life, I wake up excited when I know there are beads waiting to come out of the kiln. How great is that – like Christmas or a birthday every day!
Flowers in the Arboretum Before the Snow
I also experience anticipation when scheduling shows in which to sell my creations. This past week the anticipation didn’t pan out as imagined, since the weather in Dallas was wet, freezing, and it snowed! The show was cancelled on Sunday, so all that anticipation and expectation of a really good first show of 2010 froze along with the snow flakes. In the case of Artscape, a line from Carly’s song did ring true “I’m no prophet, I don’t know natures way.”
The Arboretum and Tents In the Snow on Sunday
I’m blessed with a loyal following, and customers tell me how how much they anticipate my being back in their town with all my goodies. Thanks to them, we did fine in Dallas is spite of the weather, and I took some orders too. Another example of trust and anticipation. These fabulous customers (and you know who you are) - trust me to make something they will love, and are willing to wait a week or two to receive their treasures. I love doing the orders. I anticipate making the beads, and the jewelry especially for them. So here’s a little sneak preview of one of the orders I just finished. This fun bracelet will go out to its owner on Monday. Thank you, and all the other customers who allow me to have the best job in the world!
A true circle of trust, anticipation, and love.
Special Order Bracelet for a Customer
Posted in Art Festivals, Beads, Jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Tags: ABS blog, ABS Carnival Bloggers, Glass jewelry, handmade glass jewelry, Lampworking
Written on March 14, 2010
Art Bead Scene has a challenge every month. For March, a painting by Van Gogh was chosen. I LOVE this painting, and went to work right away making the glass beads. I didn’t have the exact color blue that I wanted, so I used a transparent blue I had on hand, and then rolled each bead in a deep blue enamel. That gave the base bead a nice painterly feeling. The branches are applied stringer, made with silvered ivory glass. And the blossoms from a mixture of white and very pale pink glass. Two flowers made from clear glass rolled in frit completed the glass beads.
The finished beads hung out on my bead board for a while until I found a little branch Jim cast in silver. Perfect! I pulled out some bits of antique chain, some links Jim made, and others, arranged and rearranged them all, and my “Branches with Almond Blossoms” burst into bloom. Ah, welcome spring.
Meanwhile, Saturday Beads for Sale slid by without a nod. We went to Houston on Friday (always a challenge for us, we are no longer city traffic friendly). However, we did our medical chores, and afterwards, I enjoyed shopping at Rings and Things. I buy a lot of my findings from them, and gemstones as well. I love to pick out the beads I purchase in person, so I enjoy their once a year hotel show in Houston. Therefore, no torch work on Friday this week, nor Saturday either, as I spent most of yesterday re-painting all my booth displays for my first show of 2010, coming up in Dallas next week.
Posted in Beads, Inspiration, Jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Posted in Art Festivals, Jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Tags: artist, artists, Glass jewelry, handmade glass jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley
Written on February 14, 2010
I fnished my first sculptural piece, entitled: “Memories; Aegean Tideline”
Memories: Aegean Tideline
I changed it a fair amount from the first photo I showed you here. I totally cut apart the first crocheted “net” I made, and redid it using a smaller fishing line. I learned alot about shadow boxes (I’ve never used one before) – and am sure my second piece will be even better. “Tideline’ will be for sale beginning March 6, 2010 at The Gallery at Round Top. All proceeds will benefit ACT. Contact the Gallery if you would like to bid.
Posted in Goals, Inspiration, Lampworking, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Tags: ABS blog, artist, artists, handmade glass jewelry, Inspiration, Lampworking, Lyn Foley
Written on February 12, 2010
Luna Park by Vestie Davis
I still haven’t finished looking at all the Bead Soup websites. Have you? My post and info about what I made for the Bead Soup Party is here. Meanwhile, I have been working on yet another challenge – The Art Bead Scene challenge for February based on a painting entitled “Luna Park” by Vestie Davis. Read the ABS challenge blog here. Garnering inspiration from this painting really did challenge me, since I don’t like the paintings’ colors, don’t like the paintings’ style of painting, in fact, just plain don’t like it. How negative is that? Hey, that’s the challenge part of it, eh? So, scratching my head, I blinked at those pinwheel things in the center, and thought “Murrini.”
Yep, murrini, those little intricate jewels that we lampworkers make by combining lots of colors of glass together into patterns, then pull out into a smaller glass cane. Afterwards, we chop the cane into little bits, and melt the bits into a bead. I forgot to take pictures of the murrini I made in Luna Park colors, however, here is a picture of other murrini I made and is leftover from other projects. You’ll get the idea. So, anyway, I made murrini in Luna Park colors, and was off and running.
Murrini
I made some hollow and flats beads, applied the murrini, and added decorations in other colors from the painting. Made some solid color beads. After all the beads were annealed, cooled, and cleaned, I strung a long necklace using them.
Bingo – a winner. All inspired by something I initally didn’t think was inspiring. How’s that for fun? ( and Luna Park does look like a fun place, I admit).
Here is the February Art Bead Scene challenge necklace I made -entitled, what else, “Luna Park Necklace.” Look closely and you’ll see the pinwheel murrinis. Enjoy!
Long Necklace Inspired by the painting "Luna Park"
Posted in Inspiration, Jewelry, Lampworking, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, Uncategorized, art
Tags: ABSFEB, Art Bead Scene, Luna Park, Lyn Foley
Written on February 9, 2010
Remember the Bead Soup Party? Each of us Party Players were given a partner by hostess Lori Anderson. (Thanks Lori, for setting up the party – go on over and follow the links to see what we all created). We exchanged beads, and then made something out of the beads our partner sent us. I had a ball!
See the picture of the beads my partner Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio, made for me out of copper. Aren’t they great? Cindy writes for several books and magazines about making wire beads. Check out her web site to see what she does, and learn how she makes them. (And find out what she did with the beads I sent her!).
Look at the necklace I made with her beads! I love it. I decided early on to use some of my glass disks. I just didn’t know exactly how I would connect them with Cindy’s links. Eureka! I decided to let her intricate links stand out, and made some simple assorted sized circles out of brass wire, some of the copper wire she sent me, and some black steel wire. I used all sorts of jars and bottles to wrap the wire into circles, cut it, hammered it, and Jim taught me how to solder. I then slightly oxidized the cicles, buffing off part of the oxidation by hand. I think the three metals look great together with the glass disks. The copper focal bead sets everything off perfectly. I stepped way out of my usual design style thanks to Cindy, and I am thrilled with the result. Hope you like it!!
Posted in Inspiration, Jewelry, Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog, art
Tags: ABS blog, ABS Carnival Bloggers, handmade glass jewelry, Inspiration, Jewelry, Lyn Foley
Nicki: Thank you for this post. It makes me think. You guys are incredibly strong together. And your jewelry is so much more than a piece of components put together. I wish you lots of luck and strength. And I am sure you have it.
Jeannie: You two have a beautiful life together. We should all have to committ each and every day like you two do. The beads are bursting with beauty. Jim's setting is stunning and a great reminder to never give up. God Bless you two.
Melissa M: Amazing post, Lyn...a true testament to "commitment" :)
D Lynne Bowland: Very interesting post! My husband would love to sail around the world... Or at least to the Caribbean ... however I would go nuts without my art/torch on our 29 foot boat!
Cindy: Such a beautiful post...you and Jim make such a wonderful team...and the jewelry you create together is just beautiful!
Lori Anderson: This made me cry. You two are truly amazing, and I'm proud to know you.
Michelle Mach: What a lovely story about commitment! Your jointly created pieces are beautiful.
Christine Hansen: Lyn, WOW! I love your post - so thoughtful and inspirational, and encouraging too. The pieces you posted are truly lovely, and demonstrate the power of commitment, and accomodation without surrender. I hope that you and Jim enjoy many more years of loving and creating with each other.
Shannon: Thank you for sharing this. It was so close to my own thoughts and I am moved to tears by the commitment you have for each other.