Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Time Enough at Last

Time enough at last, a short story/ show from the Twilight Zone series. A man survives a tremendous calamity in which he is the only survivor. He was so frustrated with his life before and the rush of all things that he gets very overjoyed at the thought of having time enough to read any book he so chooses.
I am reminded in some ways of this character, I have been given time to do some things which I have put off because of this virus looming over us all like a dangerous war we cannot see. It has lead me to think myself into an optimistic state of mind to survive these long hours of solitude with my children. Which only momentarily provide me with comfort before turning on each other and becoming hostile as many siblings do.
Some of my friends on Facebook suggest different activities to try with them to keep them entertained and one I have found to be really rewarding is painting with watercolor and salt which my friend Gladys sent me a tutorial on.
It took me several days to find the time to do an activity with my kids. I have always wanted this painting, which is very saturated on the internet, I adore it none the less. So I decided since I have the time to try and perfect my own version of this piece.

While it's going to take me a little time to learn different techniques with this new medium I am really excited to see where this is going! :)
Namaste,
Nova Leigh

Social Distancing as a Poem

It's been a few days but I wanted to share my newest poem with the world. Many of us are still trying to process social distancing. I wanted to write something to help me get some of the heaviness of this time off my mind and onto paper.
I really encourage others to do art or draw (even if you don't think you are good at it)

The Void
---------------------------
The world has sent us away
tucked like corners of a bed
never to touch
to remain distant
distant distractions
lifestyle rearranged
scattered into pieces
to protect
to bind the helpless
into life itself
and allow more breath to fill lungs
to take time to contemplate
absorb
without the distraction
of each other
to understand
what life is
beyond
green paper
beyond the hurry
I'm sure to some it's like they were just escorted
off the spinning axis of life
fast New York pace
Temptation to break from four walls
to break from thoughts
But you are in a Southern Slow now...
southern lull
sipping tea
sipping lemonade
and watching the grey skies roll
and rain make the understanding
it too drums with your heart
that you insist on ignoring
For night life,
for parties
for clubs
We are given this curse
this gift
by mother nature
as if she didn't have a voice
pitiful humans
you are blaming animals
blaming God
Looking but you were quiet
smoke and factory
Industrial Age
Melting and burning her
Extinct
Extinct
Extinct
like they only matter
when they become a collectible stamp
blame millennials
blame boomers
but don't forget
your own hands
your own voices
silent .....
thinking....
a product of social distancing .....

-By Nova Leigh Walker
       3/26/20

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Pandemic day one....

3/30/2020

Connecting us globally we have the gift of the world wide web...
I was advised that since I am going through this moment in history I should submit my account of the situation from my point of view.
I have fiddled with the idea of blogging for some time now but never really committed to it. I am not in my own opinion a very interesting person but some may say I am "something". I would like to apologize in advanced if I make errors in my grammar and plead with those to read past my shortcomings to take on the full intent of what I would like to say.
March 8th was my birthday, in the year 2020, I truthfully thought for the longest time that the Aztecs were right and the world would end in 2012. My children would have been new born and two years of age. I am so grateful that I have been gifted this time with my children being 7 and 9.
With all this being said I honestly don't know what is going to happen. In January there was talk about a new virus sweeping through Wuhan, China that had started claiming many lives. At first the talks said that it would only affect the very elderly and the terminally ill, as it made landfall into the United States which is where I live I quickly understood that was not always the case. This virus is called Covid 19 or Coronavirus. It is vicious and taking many lives.
No real truth has surfaced on the origin of this deadly virus but there are many speculations, involving animals, labs, and bio warfare. We as citizens have no clue what the governments are doing and what these superpowers hold. I am so concerned right now because I am immune compromised and I am trying to be very careful not to travel or expose myself by interacting with too many people. I am told social distancing is one way to protect yourself from exposure so the last 3 weeks I have spent with my children at home.
I am not the only mother, parent or guardian at home and at risk of losing my job. I am trying so very hard to be careful not to be infected. I only venture out when I absolutely have to, when I return I have to sanitize all the groceries I buy and change my clothes and shoes.
On Saturday, March 28th we received our first confirmed infected person in Alexander County. I intend to follow this pattern in climax and hopefully its downfall.  I am praying that the people of this county will start being very serious about this epidemic. I feel like up to this point even though they see it on the news they have lived in a bubble of  "this can't happen here" I have lived a life of what I thought was a foundational reality only to be shook to changes beyond my control.
On March 30th our state governor Roy Cooper issued a stay at home order. I really hope people take this seriously.
I am worried. Worried because no one seems to be wearing a mask, worried they are mocking this virus. Worried they are hoarding supplies like Toilet Paper, Cleaning supplies and soap.
I am currently schooling the kids from home which is not something I have ever thought I would do as an adult. I am going most days to the school to pick up food for the kids as I am only working one day a week at my job.
My name is Nova Leigh, I am an artist, mother, manager, and wife....



Currently North Carolina has :

NC Cases*

NC Deaths**

NC Completed Tests***

Currently Hospitalized

1,498

8

23,106

157

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Put That Phone Down!

The Truth of Photography
 

When I first became a presence online I didn't know the importance of taking good photos, it seemed so convenient to whip out the smart phone, point and shoot. What was wrong with me?
I admit I have posted my fair share of out of focus pictures, but it didn't take long before I saw how important it was to get the right pictures. Especially when I started breaking away from boutiques and establishing more of a presence online.
Social Media is the #1 way to market online, seriously! I have paid to promote my listings online, I have tried my own website. Maybe I am going about it all in a wrong way or outlook but I have found the best way to engage with your audience is to post crisp clean amazing photos.
The other day, while I finished a project I started to whip out the smart phone, I only had three items to post and that was it. Surely I can just take them with my phone and get it right? Right?
No!
I went to snap the photos, and noticed the difference immediately.
If you don't have a somewhat professional camera and you want to be serious about this business please I urge you to make the investment.
I have seen radical growth in my business just from taking the time to get some good professional photos.
It will not come overnight, but with practice you will learn what "feels" right. Don't forget to play with props, get good lighting. All these factor in. My favorite time of day to capture my work is either in the morning light before the harsh sun starts its blanching, or in the evening when the sun is dipping down just above the tree lines. These are the easiest photos to edit. These will make you a better photo. Trust me.

The ever creative,
Nova Leigh

I went from this:
(Taken with my phone)
 
 
To this!
(taken with a cannon Power Shot camera)
 
 
 

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Creativity in Loss

Finding peace in my art after losing my roots.
 
 
     This past year in August I lost someone very dear to me, my father, and while it was a difficult moment to process at the time I had no idea the ripples in my creativity it would rupture.
You see, ever since I was a small child my Dad would always tease me saying, ''Are you ever going to amount to anything?" and always some words in between and then end it with, "Little Girl". So I always wanted to prove to him that whatever I did with my work would be good.
 
 The whole, "I will show him!!" bit.
 
     Even as a small child the arts in all its various mediums and forms interested me. In fact when I got to high school it was the one subject I looked forward to each day as a time to relax. My Dad always funded my projects with brushes, paints, papers, and I even remember one Christmas being gifted a really nice easel and my first semi-professional paint bottles. I was elated.
 
     As the years moved on, and my Dad retired he took up photography, at that point I was starting to explore a different less common route than most were at the time for creating income, I took up jewelry making. At first it was a hobby, I confess, not the best. I had no formal schooling like I did with fine arts but there was something about it that I found really relaxing, and also the fact of having a finished piece that did not belong on a wall but rather could be worn for all the world to see! I allowed myself to really study the subject on what few books were out there and what few resources I was able to acquire since I did not have access to the internet or a computer. I was self taught.
 
Learning my voice.  
 

     Fast forward to last year, in the highlight of a blossoming Etsy business, no I don't have a thousand sales, but I do have a following. Something to show my Dad to be proud of, but you see, his heart condition took a turn for the worse. Even after being admitted to the hospital I told myself he would be okay. Deep down I had my doubts, Daddy didn't seem much like himself. I was not sure what I was going to face, and we never know what it will be like until it hits us personally. My loss was really deep, hard to cope (I confess it still is) and I feel like half of me is gone. You see, all these years of proving and having that drive to be better. The seeds that made me try to doubt myself, question my motives, grow and prove that jewelry could be more than just to wear, that it indeed could be art.

All of that, was silenced.

     It was in that silence that I had to reach deep within myself, and to find something in this pain. At first I just made myself busy, for the sake of being busy. Some people clean, some people write. I did a little writing too, but it was so personal and aching that I find it hard to reveal. When  I finally was able to sit down, and really pull that darkness, tug on its fibers and call it out for what it was.

The Truth is...

Art jewelry does not always have to come from a happy place to be beautiful, to be a treasure. It can sometimes come from the worst imaginable pain. A child who will never be held by her father again, who's conversations turn into rambling because the questions are never answered. This is all okay. This is what makes us grow, and find that creativity in loss.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/488673653/queen-of-embers-captivating-czech-glass?ref=shop_home_active_46

So hear is to rebirth, to finding my voice again.
Because sometimes, it's with you all along, even when you doubt yourself.

-Nova Leigh

Monday, March 7, 2016

Getting Stuck

I find sometimes I fall in love and buy beads without thinking the whole thing through; the result is sitting (hoarding) beads until I find something that will compliment and suit the project. I have held on to things sometimes for years. I have in the worst cases lost interest and decided to do a destash.
A Beader's destash is defined as having so many beads one must literally let go of some of the hoard or stash. Some choose to sell them, gift them, or donate them. I know last year I sold over 30 pounds of beads ( if it was that easy to lose 30 pounds from my body I would be tiny ). It's a good feeling I tell you, freeing up the work space and allowing more space for things that won't pose for such a difficult task. I really love working with odd things.
Last year I started really trying to find unique items often handmade and working with them. I felt like anything that was unusual would sell well. Be easy to work with, I was wrong; most bead creators don't often take in whether or no their work will compliment other beads and often times do not sell them in kits of beads but singles or small 3-5 piece sets. This posed for a difficult challenge I had never faced before. Shopping online also I didn't always check the millimeters of what the dimensions were, often finding myself stuck with petite beads or even worse, giant oversized beads that will be hard for me to pair anything with. I am not one for Baubles, nor am I one to do intricate detailed projects that require small petite beads.
I have some beads I have been saving from this first initial collecting, I am still sorting through them. Some colors still don't want to match any of the beads I have, which means  I am really going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat (so to speak). Here are a few designs I have finally got around to. I will say if you love a bead or a finding, don't give up. It might just be that the right complementing beads have not shown themselves to you just yet.
The ever creative mess,
Nova Leigh
These key charms I held on to for over a year...... worth it

This pendant and complimenting beads had to be reworked twice before I made my final decision on this as the final product.....

Thanks for checking out my Blog <3

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Fever for the Blues

Lately I have been in this strange blue mood. It's like I had forgotten how much I loved this color up until recently. I find it to be so calming; although I have a deep rooted passion toward browns, and rusty colors.
Here are some of the hues I have been working on and attracted to lately!

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                                                         I call these "Mermaid Thorns"

                                                                    "Kindred Spirit"
                                       These hoops are more of a periwinkle color but still so pretty