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Dear
Ornament Reader,
We have just gone through an emotionally wrenching election; we are mired in yet another difficult foreign war; and Nature shows its astonishing power by striking a large part of the world with an enormous earthquake and the resultant devastating tsunamis. Somehow, the end of each year and the beginning of a new one evoke strong emotions, conditioned as they are by singular events in our personal lives and affected by the complex, greater universe in which we form a minute but intricate part. We often wonder whether our now three decades-long mission to document the world of personal adornment is still meaningful, given what happens in our world. Are the confines within our office reality, or is it the world outside? What is separate; what blends? We hesitate, with some trepidation, and consider: Was enough done in the closing year and what awaits us with the birth of another? In magazine publishing so much is dictated by constant and ongoing deadlines—and we seem to be simultaneously living in the past, present and future of its particular world, a kind of ever-expanding universe—to the exclusion of much else. We regret not choosing more time for what is desirable and lovely in the course of human life—being with family, friends and other relationships not directly connected to work—as well as the luxury to create, think and contemplate, to dream, to drift, to stir the senses, without the pressure of time-sensitive issues. But we also realize that one of the best ways to honor our passage on Earth is to draw from our soul that which ultimately enriches in myriad ways—and for the two of us it is still the gift of Ornament. Although not noticeable to most, we have been undergoing small but significant changes. Installation of a wi-fi network and the resulting changes in hardware and software, a move to more digital imagery, scanning inhouse, and additions to the Ornament staff have required demands on our time and funds, but these enhancements position us well for our change to five issues a year, books from both of us, and to yes, finally, the Ornament website. Having a son going to college in the Midwest also means we visit this area more frequently and can cover craftspeople, galleries and museums from this vital part of our country. We hope that what we do benefits both our readers and ourselves. We wish you the very best for the 2005 New Year and truly appreciate our relationship with you.
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Art & Craft of Personal Adornment © 1974-2008
Ornament Magazine. All rights reserved.
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