Back on track for Tina's Sedona

Well the Levy's have left St. George and landed for at least nine months, this time in La Verkin, Utah. We're hoping this might be the place to settle down for a year or more. Having no furniture, we have scoured local consignment shops and Facebook marketplace to furnish our compact, yet lovely, two story abode. High up on a hill, overlooking a valley of neighbors, we can see nearby mountain ranges and crisp night stars on a regular basis. The sunsets are also heavenly...

La Verkin, Utah, at sundown...

Viking Knit for future wearable art jewelry projects

My new studio, while still coming together, is getting back into action and I'm chomping at the bit to make artistic jewelry one of a kind for upcoming holiday shopping. That said, and as many jewelry artists can attest, there is no toggle switch on one's creative flow. When that flow gets disrupted by life--especially involving a move of one's work space-- it's not always easy to flip the switch "on". I tend to be one of those artists so I've started busying myself by knitting wire for future wearable art jewelry projects, working my hands--and eventually my creativity-- towards "the zone". That night sky is definitely working on me... and here is my studio--still in transformation--along with a view that will continue to inspire. So much fresh air too!

Tina's Sedona studio in transition

View from my second story studio

In the midst of our move, I stumbled into a lovely gallery--Gallery 873-- in Ivins, Utah, that prides itself on selling eclectic art in Utah. They have taken about a quarter of my collection on consignment. I feel very fortunate to have found a proprietor who sees me as a unique jewelry artist and is willing to price my earth tone organic jewelry accordingly. Two pieces have already sold! I have been envisioning a gallery setting for the past few years. At last, a setting that promotes artistic-crafted and southwestern-inspired jewelry like mine! Amen.

Gallery 873 in Ivans, Utah

So if Tina's Sedona online jewelry looks a bit "light" right now, it is because, in addition to the consignment arrangement, today (9/30/19) I am attending a gallery event and selling additional pieces taken from the website. After that the unsold pieces will re-appear. Poof!

I hope you are enjoying my jewelry store blog. Thank you!

Tina Levy,

Blogging Jewelry Artist @ www.tinassedona.com

Receiving with ease

I learned about the phrase "receive with ease" as a Unity truth student in the mid-90's. My interpretation of it has meant to accept the goodness that comes my way and not question whether or not I deserve it.  It also tells me not to wonder if there is "a catch" to such good fortune.  For me, that has meant learning to "relax into" the gifts I receive and savor the good feelings they invoke within my being.  In other words, let my self feel the love. Without going into detail, let's just say that I was very often disappointed growing up and learned not to expect people to keep their promises or build hope that what was promised would actually happen (for me).  So the importance of learning this concept has helped me to expect that good is always intended for me, that I deserve to have all the goodness (gifts) that come my way, and that if I am -- for any reason -- disappointed in the outcome of my expectations then that gift was not intended for me. "Don't take anything personally" -from chapter two of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel- contributed to my understanding of this concept. This is a comforting concept to embrace!

All this comes to my mind this morning as I experience all the good feelings and unexpected gifts from having moved across country from Florida, the verdant humid paradise, to Utah, the arid extremity of red rock, black lava and peeping greens that pop!  My heart is so grateful for the gift that Nathan and I have given ourselves with our life decision to purge and play for this indefinite period.  We have set the stage for new adventures, all of which will come wrapped in western sunrises and sunsets, vistas of red and orange and rust and black.  The energy of the mountains is the most powerful gift of all, to contribute to our spirits, our physical energy and youth, and the depth of our relationship.

Are we tired yet? Absolutely! We are somewhat exhausted by months of preparation that went into making this move.  The funny thing is that we agree the 11 day journey here felt more like a 4 day journey. Why? We don't care why. We accept the gift. We know it was just another sign that we are Supported in taking this step.  So now we rest and revel in our new surroundings, getting back to home cooking, sleeping without having to get up and attend to anything other than resting and eating and taking a walk. Our new home --for the next 4 months--has turned out to be a place for a perfect retreat from everything!  We haven't heard one siren. Instead, we hear absolute silence, and outside just the birds and an occasional golf cart drifting by on batteries. THANK YOU is all we can say!

We're "not in Kansas anymore"

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Enjoy a little video I took this morning in GA...

Our two night stay in Mableton, Georgia was comfortable and relaxing yet our excitement for getting to the mountains got us up early this morning and on the road. Nathan and I were captivated by the roadside fields of wild flowers that adorn the highways through Alabama and Mississippi. Within sight of these fields, lone Confederate flags appear here and there to remind us that we don't all think alike. When we crossed the state line into Mississippi, the shock was palpable when the road surface and color changed abruptly from the smooth charcoal grey pavement of Alabama to a rougher surface of creamy colored coffee entering Mississippi.  We had lunch at a roadside diner that didn't taste "normal" to us.

It's clear that we have abandoned our comfort zone and are starting to sound like Ma and Pa Kettle on a Road Trip. Tomorrow we head to Conway, Arkansas!

Moving to another planet at 65

I've moved from Maine to Illinois to Florida to New Jersey and back to Florida in my life time. I was thirty-something the last time. At sixty-five, here are my thoughts about moving...

• A large part of my identity is tied up in this house: steward of the land, hostess with the mostest, chef extraordinaire, hearty parties, welcome wagon, etc., and most recently, artist.
• It's almost like dying, leaving "this life".  Having to say goodbye to people you know you won't see again. Giving away precious possessions you hope will retain some meaning for those who receive them. 
• There are memories encased in the "physical stuff" you have carried since you set up housekeeping after high school graduation.
• Yes, I got a little "homesick" but I was so much less attached to the importance of community. I didn't value friendships the way I do today. We think we have "forever"...
• There were no social media or cell phones for any of my interstate moves so it was much harder to stay in touch. You had to pay by the minute to talk to anyone you knew! Can you imagine?
• How do you make friends and develop community when you drop in unannounced? You can't expect people to know you are coming and welcome you.

This time around...

• I have managed to get blessed with the best partner possible to go with me on this new leg of life.
• The artist in me is going to help me transition to other spaces. I have been known to make jewelry on other road trips.  My jewelry also opens doors with people who admire what I wear.
• Friends are excited and authentically happy for us, telling us that we are brave. No one has dared to tell us that we must be crazy! They are just smiling and wishing us the best.  Some are secretly wishing they could come with us...
• 
  We are literally free to go, mobile, root-less, and unencumbered, for the most part.
• Social media and cell phones exist. Amen!
• We have some old and new friends out West that we can visit when we feel an urge to nest with our past and relax in shared history 
• We have new friends we have never met who waiting for us to visit them north of our initial stop.  Thank you, Facebook.
• It's going to be a fulfilling adventure!