tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571173735129621812024-03-04T20:47:34.979-08:00Mystica Art and DesignMystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-51542185885728410682019-05-09T09:22:00.000-07:002019-05-09T09:22:18.285-07:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thursday at Mystica - art and sadness</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning I woke up with sadness. One of my favorite writers, Jonathan Safran Foer, in one of his novels, calls this state of mind 'heavy boots'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My morning solution for heaviness of heart is to jump in the pool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather is cooling down, fans are off, the pool is cold. Nevertheless, I like to jump in in the morning to help wake me up. (I am not a morning person). Nothing like cold water to make you feel alive and ready for the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a morning pottery class, with a really nice group of people. I floated around, feeling heavy, which sounds like a contradiction, but that's how it feels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the afternoon I went to meet an old friend, who is especially good for lifting the spirit. I love this friend because she always makes me laugh, even if the conversation is laden with comparing frustrating obstacles. We laugh at ourselves, at our successes and failures, at our sadness and joy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I paint, I listen to music. Depending on my state of mind, I choose the music. Sometimes its Ben Howard.....a beautiful sadness. Yes, sadness can be beautiful. Radiohead is one of my favorite bands for painting. It's powerful and deep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to work on my unfinished painting... but cannot get started. Self-doubt keeps creeping in. I like this painting so far and am so afraid I will mess it up. I tried to express river stones, like the ones we had while living by the river in Africa. It was a dark river, surrounded by wild vegetation and many tall trees. If you stand in the river and place your hand just under the surface, it disappears into the darkness. In the shallows, you can see the river stones, brown, green, beige, the color of autumn leaves. I painted a wash of color and then started on the stones. I need to continue with the stones and then try to capture the reflection of the water. Here is a picture of the stones so far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe I will feel better tomorrow. More capable. For now, I feel like this painting of an abandoned room:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just floating in space.</span><br />
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Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-8508948690803812692019-05-08T01:32:00.001-07:002019-05-08T02:14:41.154-07:00<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today at Mystica Art Studio</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, I decided to keep you all in the loop. Many things happen at Mystica and I thought I would share some things with you.I will try to be more consistent from now on and share some of our journey. I hope you can relate to at least some experiences, funny and sad, up and down, struggles and successes, but always trying to focus on the beautiful things in life. There are many. Sometimes the world seems to be completely upside down. The priorities are are muddled up. How do we keep creative and inspired?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last night we had a great class with quite a few new students. The ambiance was warm and positive and very calm. The evening classes always seem to be soft and relaxed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning we are working on a proposal for a mosaic wall. We need to depict a story that begun in the 1940's and continues today. It's a long and mostly tragic story condensed into 2 x 1.5m (approximately). This is a huge challenge. I won't tell you the story yet. We were requested to end the story with some light, expressing a feeling of hope for the future, so we are debating how to express this in the most effective way. When working as a team, a couple who both have ideas about how to express a story, it's quite a process to agree on a final decision. We always start with a direction and let it develop from there as we work. Somehow we always end up with a similar vision. Then there are technical challenges, which are almost easier to solve as there is always a 'best' way of doing something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the weekend we had the privilege of attended a life cycle event. It was very meaningful and beautifully expressed. A child's passage to adulthood. The facilitator is a special person who has assisted us with our family journey over the years. We presented him with a small token of appreciation, a symbolic gift from our studio.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ceramic pomegranates: symbolizing fruitfulness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, let us continue planning this large mosaic wall surface, and I will keep you updated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love from Mystica.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-75255868842216925772016-05-26T10:50:00.001-07:002016-05-26T10:50:44.148-07:00SimplicityYes, I haven't visited my blog for a very long time. I've been kind of lost for words.<br />
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In the search for simplicity I find much complexity.<br />
I long for the basics.<br />
The distance is too far between the food on my table and the source of it.<br />
I want to go fishing, to plant our own vegetables, to spend free time doing art.<br />
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Instead, we spend our time running after cash.<br />
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Here are some pictures of our attempts at simplicity.........far from perfect, but closer to the source......I miss those times.......I dream about these times and try to find a way to do it again......even better, with everything we have learned.........<br />
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The paradox.......the simplest things are hardest to achieve, in the context of today.<br />
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Let me know your thoughts......about this paradox........is there anyone out there thinking the same?<br />
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Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-4431971340426886142015-11-21T09:21:00.003-08:002015-11-21T09:21:58.609-08:00<h2>
October 'Animal Raku ' workshop</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations to Natacha, Stephanie, Stephanie 2, Julie, Simon, Tessa and Torin for their exceptionally beautiful creations. We had a great atmosphere and the firing evening was a night to remember.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The November workshop firing falls on a full moon, so there is a good chance of getting amazing color effects. Watch this space for the results of the full moon fire after the 26th November.</span><br />
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Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-59116567194455745502015-08-03T11:01:00.002-07:002015-08-03T11:01:35.325-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">Baby hand and footprints in ceramics:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZLPgmnfSi-oaxkMNTPro-bZ8DA6IyyHi50CUjRvxtEtTVRbWTOB78Ae0tVN6Qz_D_USpVfbOwsFinYFONKobo9H1J0poFrHF5F4BO4ZZA0PkFOdWiE7yR3XTHO8q0fzLtb02xRdPyYh7/s1600/for+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZLPgmnfSi-oaxkMNTPro-bZ8DA6IyyHi50CUjRvxtEtTVRbWTOB78Ae0tVN6Qz_D_USpVfbOwsFinYFONKobo9H1J0poFrHF5F4BO4ZZA0PkFOdWiE7yR3XTHO8q0fzLtb02xRdPyYh7/s320/for+sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our second request from new parents for something to keep and remember forever. I think they came out great, with the ancient look that was requested. We enjoyed being part of this memory. This set was for baby Sienna.<br />
Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-50801548684382016872015-06-10T12:51:00.002-07:002015-06-10T12:51:45.099-07:00Made in MauritiusFunky teapots at the Mystica studio, Mauritius.<br />
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A range of funky teapots, made to order. Individually hand made, no two are the same.<br />
Come to the studio for a visit and choose your favorite teapot.<br />
<br />Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-72144094267146395822015-06-06T10:03:00.001-07:002015-06-06T10:03:06.262-07:00Tribal Harmony – The Way of the Fijian<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Eighteen degrees South of the
equator in the East Pacific ocean lie the three hundred and thirty three island
nation of Fiji.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Fijians are different from other
Pacific nations in that they are the only Pacific people descended from
Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are renowned for their
navigational skills till today which makes sense when you think of the
incredible distance they had to travel by boat in ancient times to get to Fiji
from Tanganyika (the modern Tanzania). The legend of their mysterious journey
is another story for another day because for now, I would like to tell you
about their inherent synchronicity with nature.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A tribal people who still own their
land, the Fijians live simply, surrounded by immaculate gardens of coconut
palms, hibiscus and banana trees in tidy traditional huts devoid of clutter.
The traditional ‘sulu’ or sarong is still worn by everyone and they will greet
you with a friendly and open ‘bula’ smile which represents a welcoming peace
and harmony. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kava ceremony</span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Originally used only by the Chief, it has
become an almost every day occasion or at least every weekend on the
mainland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the outer, more remote
islands, it is more traditional and just as often. Joining our tribe at a Kava
ceremony we present a ‘sevu sevu’ - an authentic Kava root to the honorable
Chief.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Most late afternoons, one can hear
the sound of the Kava root being pounded with a large metal pestle and mortar
type apparatus, a friendly clanging sound in the distance. The powdered root is
squeezed with water in a cloth and poured into a Kava bowl, carved from the Wesi
tree.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We are all invited to sit in a
circle on a natural woven mat. The ‘bilo’ (coconut shell)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is filled, low-tide, high-tide or tsunami and
is passed around. </span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The diluted, powdered root tastes
like bark. Our tongues instantly go numb. A few members play the ukulele
between rounds. The laughter comes as naturally as the deep blue waves in the
nearby lagoon. The kava ceremony exudes a certain tranquility and everyone is free
to tease, to laugh out loud and everyone does, for hours and hours.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We laugh from our bellies, a deep,
loud, satisfying laugh, full of substance (excuse the pun). We giggle, chuckle,
fall down laughing. We laugh at each other’s shortcomings and make fun of each
other’s mistakes. It is an intelligent laugh, a knowing laugh, a kind laugh, a
laugh that symbolizes acceptance and respect for the natural world.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In spite of the many hardships
around their daily existence, the Fijian demonstrate a certain grace. Their
attitude and way of life is to be admired and their ancient traditions to be
cherished. We can learn a great deal from these gentle and strong people and
should grant them the utmost respect.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To make things all the more
intriguing, to be angry in Fijian culture is taboo. Imagine that………to be angry
is taboo. This is the way of the tribal Fijian.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://lynfuchs.blogspot.com/2013/01/primal-wilderness-rambling-from-pacific.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">http://lynfuchs.blogspot.com/2013/01/primal-wilderness-rambling-from-pacific.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">By Maiyan Karidi @ </span><a href="http://www.mysticaartdesign.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">www.mysticaartdesign.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></div>
Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-62746061367965679682015-05-31T09:42:00.000-07:002015-05-31T09:42:14.647-07:00Lucky shots<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven't been around my blog for a while and have decided to try to share at least one post each week from now on. Although I have been 'away' from cyberspace, I have been very present on the ground! We have had great Raku workshops and many interesting art sessions with some new students.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I thought I would share some pictures I took around Mauritius with my silly little half-dead camera, who sometimes surprises me with an interesting shot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This series I named "reflections".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe you have some lucky shots to share? I love those spontaneous moments when we just catch something in the moment, without thought, without planning. As I drove past an average shop on an average day, I caught those mannequins before being dressed up, beside the Hindu statue...........so surreal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-55233250176772319222014-12-01T10:16:00.001-08:002014-12-01T10:16:52.245-08:00Color Journeys<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Color Journeys – A Turquoise Adventure</span></u><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Wherever I go, I search for beautiful colors.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">They jump
out at me from all kinds of places. From forests and oceans, infinite open
skies and deserts at twilight to local markets full of mysterious fruits and
strange vegetables, rich spices and playful people.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sometimes I
search for what I need. The color to calm me down or liven me up, to stimulate
my mind or touch my heart.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">I am writing
this for you, to give you the color you need.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">So, I will
begin with turquoise, just because it’s special. It’s a blend. An exotic
mixture of emerald green and clear-sky blue.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Are you a turquoise person?</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Turquoise
people are communicative, well-adjusted and optimistic. They are capable,
child-like and dreamy. Turquoise people have awareness. They are calm,
introspective and self-reliant. Turquoise people say what they feel and place
most of their energies on personal relationships.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">When do we need turquoise?</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">We need
turquoise when we are feeling stressed or suffering from tension and anxiety.
Turquoise supports us, refreshes and stimulates. Turquoise revives our soul and
reconnects us with nature.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">So, on my
search for turquoise the most beautiful I found on my travels was the deep
turquoise of the coral reef lagoons in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">On a voyage
in a small (and I mean tiny) fishing vessel in the vast, open Pacific, the
mesmerizing color helps me to ignore the fact that we have no GPS, no mobile
phone, possibly not enough diesel, not enough drinking water and no food at all.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘Oh look,
flying fish!’ leaping out of the blue. No land in site. I wonder, how does this
nonchalant Fijian fisherman know where he is?</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">I ask him
and he replies with a grin ‘the color of the water’. I nod, as though I
understand and it explains everything. We continue, slowly, very slowly. The
sun is approaching the horizon.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘How much
longer to the island’? I ask, trying not to look concerned.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘No worries’
he shouts. ‘Senganalenga.’</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Well, OK
then. I stare at the colors and they comfort me. Then the engine cuts. Silence.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘What happened?’ I ask<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">calmly.</span></em></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘Oh nothing’
he says, ‘there are Wahloo over there’.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘Wahloo?’</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘Yes Wahloo’
he says. ‘Very good fish – for dinner – we do some fishing’.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘Ahh’ I
sigh. ‘No rush’?</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘No rush’ he
answers.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">I focus on
the turquoise and try to shut out the voice in my head.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">They are
fishing. They are content. They are totally in the present.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">I decide
that the best thing for me would be to join them in the now.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">So I stare
at the blue eternity, watch the sun touch the horizon and smile.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">We all need
a little healing. We are all a little battered and bruised by life and while we
are on this incredible journey we need a little help from the rainbow – it’s a
free gift from the never-ending cosmos.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypL0bNPEOVnwGyuQEmrLIQcDwLKIj3eoRei2drPJjLn4Ck6f1vZ4YCG1FOPNBNnlt4p_3wh2uHvk5K41o88LCJmoR77VNaPVWMOijJ09wSHhUHnEaZARVGB10vzjE05F9FLyxtGNd7UVW/s1600/first+day+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypL0bNPEOVnwGyuQEmrLIQcDwLKIj3eoRei2drPJjLn4Ck6f1vZ4YCG1FOPNBNnlt4p_3wh2uHvk5K41o88LCJmoR77VNaPVWMOijJ09wSHhUHnEaZARVGB10vzjE05F9FLyxtGNd7UVW/s1600/first+day+006.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.45pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-42269067049850211342014-12-01T10:10:00.000-08:002014-12-01T10:12:15.051-08:00The Last Tree<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FN1Sa6IZcLO_oCHcUMx0Nnmip2BkeOFXmSu_rDRHqdJ1HeVIOp7btRB7omF5ttj1bCNgO3Gcv_elvNmuHej17nSmf21bLMIfXLgfzBTRj7aqul0TDM1eb9SzCMiVkUlTtVf_zDLBftc3/s1600/selected+kayak+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FN1Sa6IZcLO_oCHcUMx0Nnmip2BkeOFXmSu_rDRHqdJ1HeVIOp7btRB7omF5ttj1bCNgO3Gcv_elvNmuHej17nSmf21bLMIfXLgfzBTRj7aqul0TDM1eb9SzCMiVkUlTtVf_zDLBftc3/s1600/selected+kayak+006.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-86000983442522641402014-11-11T08:13:00.000-08:002014-11-11T08:13:52.385-08:00Omada dance show at Beau PlanOn Saturday evening we were super inspired by the magnificent dance show at Beau Plan ........Cecile Gonzales' creation.<br />
Her personal power just blows me away every time and I feel privileged to know such a talented and dedicated artist. She is a master of her craft and the artist I most admire and appreciate. Her energy and vibration really touches my heart.<br />
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The dancers showed us their personal styles, their individuality and their versatility in a short space of magnificent time. Here are a few pics just to get an idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dr_F68LmRkcG-a1tejZvE3xnmQ5YwFJPHGnJo0QwEwzmXQq4zlS5hva__8aYd6NJGQdec5HrYM3YgXM-N6lrCx87njfbC-QNUsVcYq0fcH3ASeyQfE6EcF_Ab_Vq1aMPslxkQ4B1JQ3a/s1600/cecile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dr_F68LmRkcG-a1tejZvE3xnmQ5YwFJPHGnJo0QwEwzmXQq4zlS5hva__8aYd6NJGQdec5HrYM3YgXM-N6lrCx87njfbC-QNUsVcYq0fcH3ASeyQfE6EcF_Ab_Vq1aMPslxkQ4B1JQ3a/s320/cecile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, on Sunday evening after Torin's violin lesson, Tovi and Skander piled a bunch of Udu's into the car and went to join a little jam session at Le Phare Kiltir Loft. Skander enjoyed joining in with the violin. Thank you Menwar, Eddy and friends for the special jazzy evening of improvisation and chilled out musical magic. Sorry I don't have pics to share yet, but in the meantime, here is a picture of Torin and Skander at her violin lesson at Mystica Art studio and Tovi's latest crazy Udu.......'The Pipe Dream'.......<br />
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So, it was a weekend full of beautiful and creative people just doing their thing, with great passion!<br />
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<br />Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-7280541435895689102014-11-03T05:37:00.000-08:002014-11-03T05:37:24.925-08:00The Art of living in our Environment - the natural manToday, I just have to share this beautiful story.<br />
A simple man and his family are living so directly with their resources.<br />
With our modern life-style we have moved so far away from the essence, so far away from the simple things that sustain us. We have no idea where most of the food on our table comes from, or the furniture in our houses, or virtually anything we own. Imagine if we could trace each one of our possessions to where they originate? Who made them, harvested them, cut, sewed, sorted, picked, built them? What do their lives look like?<br />
The coffee we drink each morning, the clothes we put on, the toothpaste, the cereal, the medications, the shoes? We have absolutely no connection with the source of anything we use anymore.<br />
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But maybe I am a little off the subject.......although it is <b>all connected.</b><br />
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What I really want to share is this little story, or BIG story I should say.<br />
A simple man, who did not need to go to university and earn a degree, attend conferences and summits, to know what the environment needs.<br />
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Watch for yourself and let me know what you think. To me, it is SUPER inspiring. It makes me happy and sad at the same time. Why can't we all be busy with nurturing rather than destroying?<br />
We are mostly unaware of the destruction we are supporting by feeding our every day habits.<br />
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Take a look:<br />
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<br />Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-69395834058882947082014-10-27T05:56:00.000-07:002014-10-27T05:56:11.198-07:00Ceramic drums continued......music, art, sounds from clayHere is a picture of one of the 'Musical Mud' series - Bells.<br />
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This is a more decorative piece.....rather than a real instrument, it is a ceramic design piece.<br />
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Below is so far the largest of all. I pictured it with a coffee cup to give an idea of the size.<br />
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We named it the 'Dwong' - it has a lovely hollow sound, almost an under water beat.<br />
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Congratulations to Eddy on a wonderful night at Le Phar.<br />
Happy birthday to Menwar, our favorite singer and percussionist.<br />
Here is a picture of a little jamming at Le Phar.......may there be many more musical evenings like this one!<br />
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Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-27081530960943232962014-10-26T12:26:00.000-07:002014-10-26T12:26:52.143-07:00Ceramic drums and mosaic fish!Well, we have been away........not really.<br />
Away from cyberspace and busy on the ground!<br />
Tovi has been creating some crazy Africa drums. A Nigerian ceramic drum called an 'Udu'.<br />
He seems to love the process and is continuing to make another and another. Each one has it's own sound.<br />
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We call this series 'Musical Mud'.<br />
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Lets give names to them, to make them easier to remember: This one is the 'Bubble'.<br />
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The 'Menwar' - because Menwar liked it so Tovi gave it to him as a gift on his birthday. Menwar, our much loved percussionist and singer.<br />
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The 'neck' has a special sound and is larger than it looks on the picture.<br />
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The 'double-doo' is a two- in -one with copper glaze.<br />
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Than there is the 'wugnu' and the 'dwong', which I will have to post tomorrow, as I have no pictures yet. But, you get the idea......they are fun. We will experiment with a drum circle........or Udu circle jam and see what happens. <br />
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Also, we completed the 'fish' mosaic motif mosaic for a private client's beach villa in the West.<br />
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It was a lot of work and a lot of fun. I think its a happy mosaic and the feel is more simple than our usual work.........although it is quite complex to create.<br />
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So, more tomorrow, and news of the next workshops for November.........<br />
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<br />Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-36692215314260500942014-08-12T02:21:00.002-07:002014-08-12T02:21:20.964-07:00<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Collective madness <span style="font-size: xx-small;">12/08/14</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, the 6th Raku workshop and its just getting crazier and more beautiful.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We coincided with a mega full moon (yes it was intentional), which made everything even more magical. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started at 2pm, with finishing and glazing while listening to good music to get us into the groove.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The atmosphere was really good and positive with vibrations of excitement and anticipation. We are aware that the result is unknown and always unexpected and we need to be prepared for cracks, breaks and explosions!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the twilight entered, so did some friends, who made the evening extra special with their presence.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you Eva and Thabo, Diego and Matisse for participating and contributing to the harmonious ambience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then came the fire.....or fires I should say as we managed to complete 4 firings with the amount of work the students produced. You were all so prolific!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We made pizza and I think we succeeded in devouring about twenty between all of us...... the woman in the kitchen shifting between grating, slicing, cutting, mixing, talking, laughing, nibbling and spreading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the creations were lifted out of the fire, glowing hot at 1000 degrees, with the huge moon staring down at us, I really think one could sense the magic and mysterious all around us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The results were extraordinary. But we will have to wait for some good pictures (thanks to Stephanie), to show you all. In the meantime, I have one close up of a beautiful effect on Natacha's piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next workshop starts on the 27th August...........</span><br />
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<br />Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-83297093318414712442014-06-28T09:19:00.001-07:002014-06-28T09:23:35.878-07:00<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Raku fire and a rainbow</span></span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">28/06/14</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, it's Saturday evening and I look back at the week which passed so fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it was Thursday night Tovi did a Raku fire:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and this is what came out:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday evening I saw a lovely rainbow which felt like a symbolic ending of a relaxing day, the one day we purposely do absolutely nothing except eat, sleep and contemplate the universe:</span><br />
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Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2657117373512962181.post-34106233728245810542014-06-23T08:49:00.001-07:002014-06-28T09:05:56.812-07:00<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear friends of Mystica 23/06/14</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We decided to start a blog so we can share with you all the happenings at Mystica.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For some reason, we feel that time is going faster than usual, like some cosmic turbo boost and we are getting confused because it feels like we just start the week and then its already the next Monday. Does anyone feel the same way? It also seems like we just begin planning the week and its over......it kind of happens on its own......and then we begin a new week with a new plan which falls away while we are creating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, let me share some of the plans and maybe you could help us to make them happen!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As those of you who are with us every week know by now........we love experimenting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tovi is into the alchemy of glazes and loves to improvise just like with his cooking (a little of this and a little of that and a lot of spices and piment)! The best part of the firing process is to open the kiln after an all night firing session and see the surprises. The most unexpected results are the most enjoyed and appreciated. Of course, we have to find the balance - it takes years of experience and knowledge to be able to get a beautiful surprise! A paradox maybe?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, so we were thinking about another way to experiment so we can enjoy unexpected results. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, we are thinking about glass. We have collected hundreds of bottles and we begin experimenting with re-cycled glass. Our first attempt was interesting:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7jvPKNicucZHdeS7SKkNtOn1tmBIHn64yQDXwbfSdebH7mFTkJQLr4FE_VOG_OBZh0pdlKmc5tqxcVU0Mi73F4NSpkD9c9bZMtyxJQuTfCC80XmJhXivGkxhEOrud71uuVw14fPX_28A/s1600/still+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7jvPKNicucZHdeS7SKkNtOn1tmBIHn64yQDXwbfSdebH7mFTkJQLr4FE_VOG_OBZh0pdlKmc5tqxcVU0Mi73F4NSpkD9c9bZMtyxJQuTfCC80XmJhXivGkxhEOrud71uuVw14fPX_28A/s1600/still+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shown here together with a ceramic goblet called 'Pisa', the effect was rather funky!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, our plan is to take this further and experiment together with crushed glass, broken glass, colored glass, glass and clay together, slumping, inlay and more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are two pictures of a lovely result which Tovi succeeded to get from a wood-fire series in Africa:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge55a_gsSAg1Oul_sxQyoRAnXj90grdhdmTTxX2yAMLMLeHFoSTB6_EIby0l0dVRpFFlxw30x1QNlG4V7WETVIUixvjoQAbh9oiyyP1zgk50g-hjIbbFtCUVb6kS_dM1JGDrVbEwoEEWzE/s1600/Maiyan_work-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge55a_gsSAg1Oul_sxQyoRAnXj90grdhdmTTxX2yAMLMLeHFoSTB6_EIby0l0dVRpFFlxw30x1QNlG4V7WETVIUixvjoQAbh9oiyyP1zgk50g-hjIbbFtCUVb6kS_dM1JGDrVbEwoEEWzE/s1600/Maiyan_work-21.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuH9v_H5RHvVUH5vlidAiwti7qPZzJEzCROBIgwGtrwkCs1mcSc3vsBnUlh1XNeBw-jG5hwz7RMlrrgvNrEqG2bgzX86YRIFbBy3UZfkNHm4uEWT_JbH7FOISka3STRV2-5ZmwRazLA-P/s1600/Maiyan_work-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuH9v_H5RHvVUH5vlidAiwti7qPZzJEzCROBIgwGtrwkCs1mcSc3vsBnUlh1XNeBw-jG5hwz7RMlrrgvNrEqG2bgzX86YRIFbBy3UZfkNHm4uEWT_JbH7FOISka3STRV2-5ZmwRazLA-P/s1600/Maiyan_work-34.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That said, our aim is to carefully create a special environment, taking all the elements into account, which will bring out the best results for the melted materials. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other than this, I thought I would post a picture of last week Wednesday's session, which was kind of magical and we all got so carried away we continued till 10 pm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lets see what surprises we get from this project called '<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The Joints Project</span></span> '. The objective is to show the Joint, rather than to hide it. Thank you to Natacha for bringing her box of car parts........you are such a good sport. Stephanie's table was filled with work as she took the challenge to its fullest and Lynn, showing her skills, working around a cone with as many joints as she can create. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you for a beautiful evening. </span><br />
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Mystica Art Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832666661007353522noreply@blogger.com2