Wine Cork Jewelry and Succulent Mini Magnets

I've had a growing collection of wine corks sitting around the house for quite some time and decided to try out a couple of crafts that I had seen others post on various blogs in the past.

First I made some succulent mini planters by hollowing out the center of the cork about 2/3 the way down with a regular steak knife. (If you try this,  proceed with caution).

Then I added a tiny bit of sand, pearlite, and dirt. Then I placed a small succulent in carefully and topped it off with a little more of the soil mixture.

Lastly, glue a magnet to the back and enjoy!

The next craft I made were some wine cork charm pendants. I started by twisting eye hook screws at the top and bottom of the wine corks. 

Then I rummaged through my jewelry findings, beads, and charms and attached a variety of items either directly to the eye hook with jump rings or with a varying length of chain to mix up the length of the charms.

This is one that I made for my friend Amber. I made us matching ones for our upcoming travels through New Mexico and Colorado. The most fun I had with this project was using the various charms to tell a story.

This 2 faced charm with a key dangling from it means to always listen to your inner, higher, true self above your ego. This is your key to happiness.

The jar is empty now, but can be filled during our trip with spices, cornmeal (an important symbol in Native American Pueblo culture), or even with dirt from a special location or hiking trail. The glass bead of a chile that hangs from the top of the bottle represents New Mexican culture and cuisine and reminds you to "spice up your life!"

The mini book represents how everyone has a story to tell and that you, no one else, hold the pen that empowers you to "write" or create the life you want to live.  I wholeheartedly feel that one of the highest functions we have as human beings is to tell our story, feel that our voice is heard and to become more compassionate by really listening and hearing the story of others. (The book is small and filled with tiny blank pages...so our story is not finished. I wonder what will fill the pages of the books?)

The bells create a light jingle reminding you to listen to the song in your heart. Music is so powerful.

Farmer Folk Paintings

During the cultural revolution in China, the intellectuals were cast out and sent to the countryside to work in the fields.  Many began to teach their artistry to the local peasants to pass the time.  Because the peasants were idolized as examples of the hard working everyday citizen of Mao's ideal of communist China, the folk paintings that came out of this time became popular.  Eventually individual stylized paintings and abstract touches started showing up. We visited the home of a folk artist and had the opportunity to see his process, his gallery in his home and many of us purchased some of his original paintings and prints to bring home with us!

His studio table with his materIals...

Our guide, Tiger, explains to us that this artist studied under the man who created the drawing of Mao Zedong that is used on the Chinese Yuan currency.

A small and quick first sketch...

Under drawing...

A print of the finished piece

This one shows people bringing bundles of lanterns, in the snow, for the New Year celebration.

CAFA-China Academy of Fine Arts

We visited the Central Academy of Fine Arts exemplary works art exhibition. On exhibit were some of the best works chosen from both this year's undergraduate and graduate graduating class.

Teahouse Variety Show

We visited the Laoshe Teahouse for an evening show. We got to experience Chinese opera, theatrical dances, Sichuan opera face changing,  puppet show and more. At this Teahouse you get an old 

glimpse into "Old Beijing" before the cultural revolution and even in some instances performances that incorporate traditional garb and themes from Imperial times; yet many of the lyrics or topics in songs sing or poems recited hit on more modern lifestyles (the picture above is of my roommate Leah and I standing out front of the Teahouse.  She teaches music at a K-8 school in Chicago).

The loose leaf tea here was very potent!

A snapshot of the playful hand shadow puppet show.

A woman sings a story about the village in the Chinese Opera style

A giant Chinese zodiac style rabbit lights the lobby when you enter the Teahouse.

Clara smiles as Erin responds to the cloyingly sweet treat she just experienced!

A variety of lanterns light the room

A theatrical sword show...

A man performs the traditional Sichuan mask changing or face changing opera act

Dashanzi 798 Art District

This area of Beijing used to house rows of factories in an industrial park. The 50+ year old decommissioned factory buildings were turned into contemporary art galleries and studios in the mid 1990's and continue to be home to many unique art exhibitions, shops, street vendors, murals, performers and more!

When we arrived our group broke into smaller groups to explore...the place is so big we never ran into anyone else in our larger party. I could spend days weaving in and out of the maze of galleries...getting lost again and again!

San Francisco Street Art

So much awesome street art here. Took a stroll down Clarion Alley in the Mission...