Last week, some friends and I went to Two Buttons, an import store in Frenchtown, NJ owned by Liz Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, and her husband.  We had been a few times before, always enjoying wandering the store which was packed with unique, handmade items they had found on their travels.  We were sad that this is probably our last trip, since the store is closing at the end of March, but we were excited to see there were still a number of beautiful things left, including this lovely marble Buddha who I felt needed to be a part of my studio.  Initially I wanted a larger one to place outside in my yard but I decided I would get to spend more time with him if he sat on my desk while I was sketching, doing paperwork, or working on my computer.  It wasn't until I got him home that I looked at his ears and noticed that his lobes don't match.  After learning that earlobes were symbolic of wisdom and compassion of the "Enlightened One," I have to admit, I felt a little disappointed.  My Buddha was, at best, half-wise and half-compassionate.  And that's when it occurred to me, none of us is perfect.  Nothing we make by hand is without a flaw,  not even my Buddha.  He's doing a pretty good job and manages to look serene all the time; even with just one good earlobe. It  makes him even more special to me is that he reflects what I believe: what makes handmade goods beautiful are the unique quirks that come from the makers' hands.