I live in a rose colored double wide with a 3 legged dog

I live in a community with several names. It is known as Mayer by the postal service. Cordes Junction by the people who stop at the truck stop on I 17 heading north or south between Phoenix and Flagstaff, Cordes Lakes by the developer who created this community back in the 60s. It is a community best seen by moonlight.

The community is unincorporated by choice. There are a lot of people who live here who want to remain anonomous and untaxed by such things as a town hall, mayer, city council, etc. Some are world reknown artists.

After 40 years of existence we have dining at the truck stop which includes a McDonalds, Subway, Noble Pizza and a cafe at the RV park/Motel. We have a small public library, a fire station, two small corner markets, paved roads, some stop signs and no street lights. We border a national monument and a couple of ranches - one of which raises deer.

There is poverty here, most of the children under 18 receive assistance. There is wealth here - you can see it in some vehicles and homes. The air is incredibly clear and it is quiet except for occasional vehicles that pass or the sound the children passing.

North of us is a very famous place called Arcosanti. It was founded in the 1970s by Paolo Soleri who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright for a while after coming to the USA from Italy. He is now in his 90s and just retired. Onsite is a bronze foundry where beautiful bells are created that support Arcosanti, a conference/educational center, restaurant and places to stay. There is a two mile dirt road that visitors need to take to get to this place. Several times a year there are musical and cultural events held at Arcosanti. I have met people from all over the world that at some time took training courses or student internships there.

Out of the thousands of cars that pass our community every day, few stop for anything more than a bathroom break, McDonalds or gasoline. Arcosanti, the wilderness and our community pretty much remain unknown. Some of us like it that way.

Fiber Optic in the Wilderness

I live in an unincorporated community by the side of I17 in central Arizona. I did not know this community existed until the month before I bought here. Surrounding this community is a national monument, Arcosanti and a highway. Recently I have noticed trucks with no labels digging trenches along our main road - aptly named Stagecoach. I stopped today and asked workers what was going on - FIBER OPTICS!!!

Technology is my friend. Without it I would not be able to live in this small community. I would be living in New York, Chicago, San Francisco or Los Angeles. With it I get to live on the edge of a wilderness because I have a telephone, fast internet connection, heat and air conditioning and a roof over my head. I have a computer and CAD (computer aided design), a bench, a torch and piles of stuff to make.

I can communicate with my customers a number of wonderful ways. There is even a shuttle down at the truck stop 2 miles from my home that will take me to the airport when I need to go.

I love living in a community where no more than 2 vehicles are usually to be found at an intersection and where I can really see the stars at night. That is my non-technical side.

But my geeky side is all excited about FIBER OPTICS coming to my little home in the wilderness.

Melted or Marketed? That is the question

I have created items that have never been marketed. They sit in my drawers where I look at them occasionally. If there is no hope - then they are melted down if there is inherent metal value.

Every designer in the world would like to win 100% - we don't. Sometimes the economy changes the game. When silver went from $8 an ounce to close to $50 some of my designs looked like door stops not inventory. The thing is designers like to design and it is a compulsion that can't be stopped.

This is all an introduction to the fact that I have designed some things that are new that may be melted or marketed. The pieces I have created should be able to be used in many ways. Swarovski flat backs, cabachon gemstones, chain maille, wire wrapping, beading and even more. I have renderings of them to show and no examples of how to use them yet. My mind has come up with options that could be included in other versions and as of yet I have not yet held the solid evidence of my imagination in my hand. It is what I do.

The pieces in the renderings are 1 1/2 inches and 3 inches left to right and can be hooked together easily or used individually. The rendering show cabachon stones and open. One side has seating for stones or crystals and the other side is round so the pieces are two sided.

I will have these components for Tucson - my customer will let me know how they think they should be used or that I should add to the collection in my drawer.