A dear friend of mine sent me the link to TED, a site that appeals to geeks of every stripe. TED is a one-stop bonanza for video lectures on all sorts of topics and themes. The presentations are both instructional and entertaining. There's something for everyone here, whether you glean inspiration from the areas of technology, science, culture, global issues, arts, design, entertainment, or business. I'm as likely to check out the site's nature and science talks as I am to click on the arts topics. (Somehow, I take comfort knowing that there are thousands of other people out there who are equally mesmerized by the camouflage skills of cephalopods). As one of my college art profs used to say -- "everything is painter's fodder." Many years later, I understand better what he meant -- that artisans will make better work if they it infuse it with their personal experiences. As much as I love my home studio and the studio here at AJ, it's what I see, who I meet, and what I learn outside of the workroom that influences what I make. Thanks for stopping in to check the AJ blog.  

Let us know if there's a topic or project you'd like us to blog about, or write about in the magazine. Have a great weekend, Jill