One more thing to worry about.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Welp, guess who spent the night in the house last night?

Yeah, it's not a good picture, but that's Little Bent Beak again. She was limping late yesterday, isolating herself, trying to hide, and of course that attracts the bully in the other chickens like the proverbial red flag. We made her her own little safe nest in the larger coop, but when we checked on her last night, she was colder than she should've been, so we brought her in in hopes that we wouldn't lose her.

She's fine. But it's going to get dangerously cold over the next three or four nights, so we'll be bringing her back indoors until it warms up again. The dogs will be locked up while they're inside, just as they were last night.

::Sigh:: and it's one more set of logistical chores, and one more thing to worry about.

I'm getting to the point where I hate January just on principle. It's always terrible. This one has been spectacularly awful, and I'll be glad to see it go. Of course, on this last day of the month, I woke up barely able to move; it was hours before I could stand up straight, and I still feel like something is trying to tear my joints apart by force. And there's rest of the pain, the contracture issue, the insomnia, the chest pain and breathing difficulties, and the worries about organ damage. Oh, and money. There's always that worry. And I have two expensive appointments coming up in the next five weeks.

As I said, a lot of these are newish concerns now, and they're adding to my already considerable stress. This is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And to top it all off, Wings thought to check the propane tank over the weekend (it fires our hot water heater and oven/stove; it's a big tank, so we only need to refill every couple of years, usually, which means I forget to monitor it): We're in the red zone, which means we've got about a week, a little less now, before we need to get them out here to refill it. The problem with that is that locally, all forms of heating gas have skyrocketed, tripling in cost over last year. Literally tripled. And no, propane is NOT covered by LIHEAP. You'l have to ask the state pols which interests paid them off to make sure they didn't include it. But guess what heats most Indigenous homes (and lots of other poor rural ones)? Of course it does.

And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help. I can't do this alone; hell, I can barely walk most of the time right now. But there are ten new pieces since last weekend: the new trio in his gemstone-bead series yesterday, here; Saturday night's all new vintage-style cuff, here; a new hook bracelet the other day, with a fabulous flame-red Rosarita heart, here; you can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here (and the last of the Winter series, this one Water, coming tomorrow, if all goes well, plus the two bracelets I've shown here the last couple of days); the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including another hook bracelet and a pair of earrings. And we urgently need to sell them all. Please share, and buy if you can.

Links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the elliptical);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Monday Photo Meditation: Water As Diamonds

Photo copyright Aji, 2022;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for the last Monday, and last day, of January, while we await the arrival of another forecast storm. It's a contemplation of the relative merits of hoarfrost, and of jewels beyond price: water as diamonds, and the work of restoration that awaits.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner. 

Farther and farther behind.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Wings's new bench pin that he made himself yesterday, larger and sturdier than his old one, with a new work in progress on it today.

As you can tell, he's actually catching up. I'm still falling farther and farther behind, even as my workload keeps piling up higher by the day. I've written lately about what lupus (that's in addition to inflammatory arthritis [possibly rheumatoid, but the specific form is really irrelevant at this point], chronic EBV post-viral syndrome, hypermobility, asthma and all the fallout from nearly dying twice a few years ago, and the at least three tumors throughout my body plus the lymph-channel obstruction in one breast). I am in a lot of constant pain, and the lupus part of this autoimmune complex is busy damaging the tendons and ligaments in my left leg and foot, and I'm busy trying to prevent contracture while simultaneously being unable to put much weight on that foot at all.

Then there's the chest pain and attendant breathing problems, the other body-wide pain, the insomnia it causes and the constant fatigue and brain fog, and everything else. And life doesn't let up.

As I said, a lot of these are newish concerns now, and they're adding to my already considerable stress. This is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And to top it all off, Wings thought to check the propane tank yesterday (fires our hot water heater and oven/stove; it's a big tank, so we only need to refill every couple of years, usually, which means I forget to monitor it): We're in the red zone, which means we've got about a week before we need to get them out here to refill it. The problem with that is that locally, all forms of heating gas have skyrocketed, tripling in cost over last year. Literally tripled. And no, propane is NOT covered by LIHEAP. You'l have to ask the state pols which interests paid them off to make sure they didn't include it. But guess what heats most Indigenous homes (and lots of other poor rural ones)? Of course it does.

And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help. I can't do this alone; hell, I can barely walk most of the time right now. But there are ten new pieces since last weekend: the new trio in his gemstone-bead series today, here; last night's all new vintage-style cuff, here; a new hook bracelet the other day, with a fabulous flame-red Rosarita heart, here; you can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here (and the last of the Winter series, this one Water, coming tomorrow, if all goes well, plus the two bracelets I've shown here the last couple of days); the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including another hook bracelet and a pair of earrings. And we urgently need to sell them all. Please share, and buy if you can.

Links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the elliptical);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Life, Breath, Love, and the First Medicine of Winter

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's Wings's newest works, completed only this afternoon, and the fourth and final trio in his limited signature series, The Winter Elementals:  Water. It's the imagery of this season and place as you've never seen before, bead jewels as life, breath, love, and the first medicine of winter.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We URGENTLY need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

Earlier than anticipated: Wings's newest.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

I said this morning that Wings had two new bracelets in the works, but I didn't think we'd see them this soon. With regard to the non-heart version, I was wrong. Here it is, earlier than anticipated: Wings's newest, and it's fabulous.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's called Ecliptic, for the name of the arc of the sun that it seems to travel overhead [when in reality it's us moving around it]. It's a path important to a lot of traditional cultures, who sing and pray Father Sun across the sky, especially this time of year. It's a vintage-style cuff, with incredible deep stampwork, and seriously, go look up a diagram of the sun's path and compare it to the suns in that top photo. You can read the full description here.

As always, Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And we URGENTLY need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

If only there were more hours in the day.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Yet another one in the works. He always has half a dozen or so in the pipeline at any given today, in varying stages of the creative process. This one is going to be beautiful, with a lot of precision stampwork and scorework that produces a simple, spare, shimmering design.

If only there were more hours in the day.

He's actually catching up. I'm falling farther and farther behind. I've written lately about what lupus (that's in addition to inflammatory arthritis [possibly rheumatoid, but the specific form is really irrelevant at this point], chronic EBV post-viral syndrome, hypermobility, asthma and all the fallout from nearly dying twice a few years ago, and the at least three tumors throughout my body plus the lymph-channel obstruction in one breast). I am in a lot of constant pain, and the lupus part of this autoimmune complex is busy damaging the tendons and ligaments in my left leg and foot, and I'm busy trying to prevent contracture while simultaneously being unable to put much weight on that foot at all.

Then there's the chest pain and attendant breathing problems, the other body-wide pain, the insomnia it causes and the constant fatigue and brain fog, and everything else. And life doesn't let up.

As I said, a lot of these are newish concerns now, and they're adding to my already considerable stress. This is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And to top it all off, Wings thought to check the propane tank yesterday (fires our hot water heater and oven/stove; it's a big tank, so we only need to refill every couple of years, usually, which means I forget to monitor it): We're in the red zone, which means we've got about a week before we need to get them out here to refill it. The problem with that is that locally, all forms of heating gas have skyrocketed, tripling in cost over last year. Literally tripled. And no, propane is NOT covered by LIHEAP. You'l have to ask the state pols which interests paid them off to make sure they didn't include it. But guess what heats most Indigenous homes (and lots of other poor rural ones)? Of course it does.

And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help. I can't do this alone; hell, I can barely walk most of the time right now. But there are six new pieces since the weekend: A new hook bracelet the other day, with a fabulous flame-red Rosarita heart, here; you can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here (and the last of the Winter series, this one Water, coming tomorrow, if all goes well, plus the two bracelets I've shown here the last couple of days); the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including another hook bracelet and a pair of earrings. And we urgently need to sell them all. Please share, and buy if you can.

Links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the elliptical);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

The Cold Morning Fire of Renewal

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's newest works, completed only a week ago today and infused with all the magic at the dewdrop heart of this day's extraordinary dawn. It's a necklace manifest as those sacred early moments, when you can feel the Earth breathe as she awakens once more into the cold morning fire of renewal.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We URGENTLY need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

The next one up.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

That's in the works now. It's not [at least at the moment] intended to be a cuff; it's a hook bracelet, with the loose stone just sitting on top of it right now. But this is the next one up. 

I wish I could sell some of all this fabulous new work. We've got a big, big bill due on Monday, and I haven't been able to bring in enough to cover it. I haven't been able to do much of anything, for that matter, because lupus is kicking my ass so hard I can't get back up again. Unfortunately, this is probably not a flare; it's a progression. And I am having a hard time getting my head around that in any constructive way. Why? See below.

I'm leaving up what I wrote the other day about my worsening illness, because most folks don't understand what it is I'm dealing with on a daily basis, and they need to. Because as I said, I'm struggling more by the day. Lupus does a variety of nasty things to the human body besides just chronic pain and fatigue, and mine, of course, went perpetually undiagnosed and therefore untreated for a full quarter-century. There's a lot of residual damage already, I have no doubt. But lupus can affect both the smaller connective tissues like those in the hands (and my thumb joints are constantly slipping now, which means I'm dropping things just as constantly and losing fine-motor-skill function), and also the longer muscles, tendons, and ligaments. I've been battling plantar's fasciitis for years, but nobody could be bothered to investigate WHY. Turns out, it's a common effect of SLE, and so, unfortunately, is damage to the longer tissues like the hamstring. I'm now dealing with both: contractures in my left hamstring trying to form, and pain so bad in the ankle, heel, and side of the sole of that foot that walking is becoming a serious problem. To that end, Wings suggested I put a good-quality under-desk exercise machine on the wishlist, and thank you from the bottom of my heart (and feet) to whomever already bought it, because right now? I can barely walk to the studio. Sometimes I can't even do that.

On top of that, I'm dealing with severe chest pain, which is not my heart, but pleurisy and constochondritic pain, both of which are rampant in SLE. I do, though, have a lot of other chest pain and breathing problems from it, and those seem to be worsening. I also have to worry about organ damage, and the big concern at the moment is kidneys, because the meds can also affect them. But kidneys, eyes, lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, etc., etc., etc. — I am now officially at risk for organ damage and failure, and it's one reason why I'm SO determined not to come down with COVID; it will indeed kill me. And the chest pain this week has been more constant than not. So have the breathing difficulties. And that's not even getting at all of the other kinds of pain wracking my body constantly.

These are newish concerns now, and they're adding to my already considerable stress. This is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help. I can't do this alone; hell, I can barely walk most of the time right now. I have three days left in which to sell enough to cover about a grand worth of expenses due before then, never mind shop for groceries and supplies.

Six new pieces since the weekend: A new hook bracelet the other day, with a fabulous flame-red Rosarita heart, here; you can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here (and the last of the Winter series, this one Water, coming Sunday, if all goes well); the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including another hook bracelet and a pair of earrings. And we urgently need to sell them all. Please share, and buy if you can.

Links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the elliptical);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Friday Feature: Elemental Medicine and Eternal Flame

Photo copyright Aji, 2022;
all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a masterwork in all the shapes and shades of a love ancient and eternal, of earth and wood and water and sky, of light and fire and sacred hoops. It's a reminder, too, of the work that lies ahead for our Mother Earth, still a being of elemental medicine and eternal flame, one of love for her children that keeps her fighting for her own survival, and ours.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We URGENTLY need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.   

It's pretty, but it doesn't produce anything.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Yesterday's so-called "weather," and today, thus far anyway, it's more of the same. It's pretty, but it doesn't produce anything. And that is getting more dangerous by the day.

I had such high hopes for the new year, in defiance of all evidence to the contrary, but January wins again. We're not going to make it out of this month in one piece, not without some really good sales today and tomorrow. My stress levels are back off the charts, and I'm so mad at so many different causes of this mess that I can't see straight. 

I'm also leaving up what I wrote yesterday about my worsening illness, because most folks don't understand what it is I'm dealing with on a daily basis, and they need to. Because as I said, I'm struggling more by the day. Lupus does a variety of nasty things to the human body besides just chronic pain and fatigue, and mine, of course, went perpetually undiagnosed and therefore untreated for a full quarter-century. There's a lot of residual damage already, I have no doubt. But lupus can affect both the smaller connective tissues like those in the hands (and my thumb joints are constantly slipping now, which means I'm dropping things just as constantly and losing fine-motor-skill function), and also the longer muscles, tendons, and ligaments. I've been battling plantar's fasciitis for years, but nobody could be bothered to investigate WHY. Turns out, it's a common effect of SLE, and so, unfortunately, is damage to the longer tissues like the hamstring. I'm now dealing with both: contractures in my left hamstring trying to form, and pain so bad in the ankle, heel, and side of the sole of that foot that walking is becoming a serious problem. To that end, Wings suggested I put a good-quality under-desk exercise machine on the wishlist, and thank you from the bottom of my heart (and feet) to whomever already bought it, because right now? I can barely walk to the studio. Sometimes I can't even do that.

On top of that, I'm dealing with severe chest pain, which is not my heart, but pleurisy and constochondritic pain, both of which are rampant in SLE. I do, though, have a lot of other chest pain and breathing problems from it, and those seem to be worsening. I also have to worry about organ damage, and the big concern at the moment is kidneys, because the meds can also affect them. But kidneys, eyes, lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, etc., etc., etc. — I am now officially at risk for organ damage and failure, and it's one reason why I'm SO determined not to come down with COVID; it will indeed kill me.

These are newish concerns now, and they're adding to my already considerable stress. This is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help. I can't do this alone; hell, I can barely walk most of the time right now. I have three days left in which to sell enough to cover about a grand worth of expenses due before then, never mind shop for groceries and supplies.

Six new pieces since the weekend: A new hook bracelet yesterday, with a fabulous flame-red Rosarita heart, here; you can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here; the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including another hook bracelet and a pair of earrings. And we urgently need to sell them all. Please share, and buy if you can.

Links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the elliptical);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

#ThrowbackThursday: Fires of Soul and Sky

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a #ThrowbackThursday feature that dates back only to mid-December, and a very special commission. It's a work created for a very dear friend to replace an earlier version that went missing, one to reflect the rainbow of color that flows from the heart of the light, manifest as the midwinter fires of soul and sky.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work obviously will never be duplicated, but if the style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. We still urgently need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

Everything's hideous right now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's a bitch of a day, and I've gotten exactly nothing accomplished. 

This morning, sitting here trying to work, I saw Stormy and Sunny come flying within my line of sight outside the window. They had something pinned, which I at first thought was . . . what, a prairie dog? too early and too big anyway, and then they flipped it, and I saw the feet. So I took off out into the snow, no boots, no coat, screaming at them to get away. They had packed up on Little Bent Beak, as though she hasn't been through enough in her life already.

Wings got them away and set her uprightf while he locked the monsters up in the dog run, where they remain to this moment. I went to retrieve the chicken, and I could hear her crying and all I could think was the absolute worst. It's true that they pulled out clumps of feathers, and they drew some blood from her comb on wattles, but she's fine. She spent the ret of the morning in with us, in a box a few feet from the fire, and was absolutely fascinated by the woodbox under the stairs. She's back outside now with her sisters, happily scarfing down dog kibble, which is her very favorite thing in the world.

And now Wings has to take time out this week to extend the back of the coop even further and fence it, because now we can't trust the dogs anymore. Goddammit.

Everything's hideous right now.

I don't even think it started off as predation; Stormy's been burying her bones against the inner wall of the small stall, which is next to the coop and also where the chickens like to congregate when the weather's bad. I think she thought Bent Beak was going to find her bone. But SHE KNOWS BETTER. They both do. It's telling that Cricket absented himself from this entirely, because they all know the chickens are completely off-limits.

Meanwhile, I'm struggling more by the day. Lupus does a variety of nasty thing to the human body besides just chronic pain and fatigue, and mine, of course, went perpetually undiagnosed and therefore untreated for a full quarter-century. There's a lot of residual damage already, I have no doubt. But lupus can affect both the smaller connective tissues like those in the hands (and my thumb joints are constantly slipping now, which means I'm dropping things just as constantly and losing fine-motor-skill function), and also the longer muscles, tendons, and ligaments. I've been battling plantar's fasciitis for years, but nobody could be bothered to investigate WHY. Turns out, it's a common effect of SLE, and so, unfortunately, is damage to the longer tissue like the hamstring. I'm now dealing with both: contractures in my left hamstring trying to form, and pain so bad in the ankle, heel, and side of the sole of that foot that walking is becoming a serious problem. To that end, Wings suggested I put a good-quality under-desk exercise machine on the wishlist, because right now? I can barely walk to the studio. Sometimes I can't even do that.

On top of that, I'm dealing with severe chest pain, which is not my heart, but pleurisy and constochondritic pain, both of which are rampant in SLE. I do, though, have a lot of other chest pain and breathing problems from it, and those seem to be worsening. I also have to worry about organ damage, and the big concern at the moment is kidneys, because the meds can also affect them. But kidneys, eyes, lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, etc., etc., etc. — I am now officially at risk for organ damage and failure, and it's one reason why I'm SO determined not to come down with COVID; it will indeed kill me.

These are newish concerns now, and they're adding to my already considerable stress. This is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help. I can't do this alone; hell, I can barely walk most of the time right now. I have four days left in which to sell enough to cover about a grand worth of expenses due before then, never mind shop for groceries and supplies.

Six new pieces since the weekend: A new hook bracelet yesterday, with a fabulous flame-red Rosarita heart, here; you can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here; the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including a couple of hook bracelets and a pair of earrings (the photos above is of the elements for one of the hook bracelets, actually, which will have an absolutely stupendous Rosarita heart cab). And we badly need to sell them all.

So, since we have to continue to make sales, links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the elliptical);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

A Luminous Love

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's all-new masterworks, completed only days ago and manifest as the gift of the winter light in its most otherworldly form. It's the aurora's heart as you've never seen it before, with the cold fire of a luminous love that keeps our world alive.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.   

No longer just "in the works": Wings's latest.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

All right, I promised that something new was on the way. And unlike I hinted at earlier, this one is no longer just in the works:  Wings's latest, the hook bracelet. This one is called An Elemental Love, and wow, is that an accurate descriptor for that focal cab. It's Rosarita, otherwise known as gold slag, and it's frankly a particularly extraordinary specimen of it. You can read the full description here.

Hook bracelets run small compared to cuffs; you don't have the gap for adjustment. This is no exception; if you have a wrist like mine, roughly 6" or smaller, it should fit. If not, you'll need a bigger band; there's a $125 fee for creating a whole new band to size for it, but it can be done. The fee is essentially just materials and labor, and doesn't even cover that fully.

This one is special, and just in time for Valentine's Day, too. You can order it via the site's Contact form. And since we will still need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, shares of the site links are much appreciated. Also, there's a ton of new work up, a lot of it perfect for February 14th, so go check it out; it starts with Wings's main page, here.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.   

They all think they own it.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Little tough guy in the red willows late yesterday, feathers all puffed up and sitting there like he owns the joint.

Of course, they all think they own it: wild birds, including colonizer birds; elk, horses; dogs; chickens; even a stray coyote or perhaps a bear the other night.

More new work coming, possibly as early as this evening; if not, then tomorrow. I'm struggling to keep up, because I'm facing increasing physical limitations entirely apart from the insomnia and resultant fatigue and the usual chronic pain. I'm having difficulty walking, sometimes even standing, and the pain and other problems in my ligaments and long muscles is worsening significantly. There's also the chest pain (mostly pleurisy and costochondritic pain, both common side effects of lupus, but they're scary as hell), and there's also always the lurking fear of organ impairment from this thing. But this is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help.

Five new pieces over the weekend: You can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here; the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including a couple of hook bracelets and a pair of earrings (the photos above is of the elements for one of the hook bracelets, actually, which will have an absolutely stupendous Rosarita heart cab). And we badly need to sell them all.

So, since we have to continue to make sales, links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder, but I've added a pitcher and juicer, because our old one crapped out yesterday, and the pitcher that goes with it cracked apart last year; to be fair, we used the hell out of them for years);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.          

Red Willow Spirit: The Love of Elemental Spirits

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for a day just cold enough for a fire in the woodstove, and with snow in the forecast, too. It's a set of three images and two works of wearable art, all manifest as the gifts that are expressions of the love of elemental spirits: for the Earth and for us, and of our own for them as well.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.  

In the works now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

That Rosarita cab I mention below? That's it. The piece that comes out of it is gong to be incredible. It's in the works now; he's out in the studio at this moment.

I, on the other hand, don't have time to have anything in the works, because I'm too busy trying to keep up with everything else, all while falling further behind by the day. It's complicated by the fact that I am facing increasing physical limitations entirely apart from the insomnia and resultant fatigue and the usual chronic pain. I'm having difficulty walking, sometimes even standing, and the pain and other problems in my ligaments and long muscles is worsening significantly. But this is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). And there are still bills yet to pay to get us out of this month in one piece, never mind the rest of the year, so I have GOT to make some sales this week. I need help.

Five new pieces over the weekend: You can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here; the really phenomenal big works from Saturday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including a couple of hook bracelets and a pair of earrings (the photos above is of the elements for one of the hook bracelets, actually, which will have an absolutely stupendous Rosarita heart cab). And we badly need to sell them all.

So, since we have to continue to make sales, links are here, and there's new work up, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder, but I've added a pitcher and juicer, because our old one crapped out yesterday, and the pitcher that goes with it cracked apart last year; to be fair, we used the hell out of them for years);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.          

Monday Photo Meditation: Winter In Its Elemental Form

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for a Monday in what should be midwinter but bears all the hallmarks of the latter half of spring. It's a contemplation of what the ancient and timeless spirits of this season bring us, and a reminder that while winter in its elemental form is changing still, the work of reclamation, renewal, and rebirth remains.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to cover upcoming new medical costs and other expenses in this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

And the next one is cued up.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

And the next one is cued up. It's also queued up, but in a different way.

Wings is on a roll. Now, if only I could sell some of them, because this is the most expensive month of the year, and there are still bills we need to pay.

Five pieces between yesterday and today: You can see the new gemstone beadwork set, the next in his Elementals series, here; the really phenomenal big works from yesterday are here. Those other two new pieces I mentioned last Monday night are both up at NDN Silver finally, and they are gorgeous; you can see them here and here. More hearts are in the works for Valentine's Day including a couple of hook bracelets and a pair of earrings (the photos above is of the elements for one of the hook bracelets, actually, which will have an absolutely stupendous Rosarita heart cab). And we badly need to sell them all.

This is our most expensive month of the year (followed very closely by July, and that's not even counting April, which is tax month, in this). So while we had a far better holiday sales season than I could ever have hoped, we still have to keep the cycle going. This is our livelihood, after all, and there's a lot of expense ahead, medical and otherwise (and this has to be the year the drill the well because there's no other option at this point; "first thing," indeed). It's a twelve-hundred-year drought, with the very literal possibility of no more winter snows here, and it's killing everything.

It always comes back to that one thing: more sales. A lot more, because we have two years' worth of a shattered pandemic economy to make up for, by which I mean we need to gain more ground ourselves financially to be able to be sure of making it through the winter and the rest of the year. If I could sell one of the big works, like the belt, maybe I could get us on the drill list for the well that is the only thing that's going to keep this land alive. Selling these new works wouldn't cover the drilling, but it would get us out of January in one piece, so to speak, and cover February. Unfortunately, I've got way too much to do and too few hours and other resources to do it. Which means that I'll be stepping back significantly in terms of my online presence, because there's just too much else to do, and I am no longer well enough to maintain the kind of pace I once did. I'm not even able to walk properly at the moment, thanks to the Achilles damage in my left foot.

So, since we have to continue to make sales, links are here, and there's new work up today, with more to come this week:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the ladders);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through twelve whole months of a new year, plus put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring. And there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.