Hi! Sitting at the GSP airport waiting to go to Hawaii. Whew! Made it! Worked like a dog getting ready: fixing waxes, making jewelry, and loads of finishing (my fingers are black!) Look at my girl! I miss her already!

Azalea Belle in her new dress! She was good today, she let me work on my outline and notes, happy in some independent play. Just finished a couple books 'The Stolen Child' by John? Donohue? (I seem to have misplaced it already) it was pretty good. The fairies of the story were like grubby kids wandering in the woods for all time. I've been reading whenever I get the chance, mostly kids books, dissecting style and plot. I really liked 'FableHaven' by Brandon Mull, lots of magic and funny dialogue. I wouldv'e been all over it as a kid. Greg has been reading 'The Witches Boy' to Azalea and I right before we go to sleep, we are really enjoying it.

Hello! This is my entry for the annual Saul Bell Jewelry Contest. I hope they give me the go-ahead to create my design. I actually started the pmc chain, and its nearly done. What a pain! It would be far easier in wax, but the challenge is for precious metal clay. The cage is the hardest part, I'm building it on a cork clay armature. I like the cage concept, even if it does't get picked I'm still going to produce it.

I make lists continuously in my sketchbook, here are a few:

favorite shows:
Project Runway
Avatar:The Last Air Bender
Extreme Makeover
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
Top Chef

things to do:
laundry
dishes
carve new waxes
work on story
prepare for Hawaii show

food eaten today:
cocoa puffs/cheerios mix
hot dog
fried chicken
dried strawberries
coffee w/ kahlua
chocolate
beef jerky
peanut butter oreos

goals:
write book
create new line of mini charms
learn to use my serger
make Azalea new dolls

Hi! Spent the day with our good friend Jeremiah and his son Arata at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Today was perfect, great weather, minimal traffic,good food (Wishbone Cafe). We always think 'Why don't we move here? Then we'd be neighbors!' but I always remember the time I came here in November for a doll show and froze my butt off. The BSGC Bead and Book sale is tommorow, and we are very prepared (just spent a week making finished jewelry in cincinnati),plenty of shibuichi castings and lots of new silver. I have a feeling its going to be good. We are getting delivery from Penny's Thai Food, I can't wait! Just enjoying good food and playing with the kids tonight.

Hello! Finally recovering from a scary week. I was feeling really tired and had trouble breathing, but didn't really think anything of it. We had three shows in one weekend that we were preparing for, so I wasn't focused on how I felt. It hurt to breathe and I couldn't sleep because of the pain, I thought it would go away, but after two days Greg took me to the ER to find out what was wrong. After loads of morphine and vicodine and a dozen tests (x-rays, cat scan, ultrasound,ekg...)they thought I might have a blood clot in my left lung. After more tests, they did away with that theory and sent me home with painkillers and no answers. So I went home,sick as a dog and worried how I was going to take care of Azalea (everyones at a show or on vacation). I went to my family doctor to get his advice and he thinks I have a disease in my esophogus and stomach (acids building up in stomach causing the area to expand and push against my lung, restricting air). He doesn't know what's in my lung, so that's an interesting mystery, but I'm feeling much better. My in-laws drove from cincinnati to pick up Azalea and I to look after us while I get better. Which is nice. Being messed up certainly made watching Project Runway a challenge to watch! Even though I was doubled over in agony I still cheered when Vincent got sent home. Anyway, I'm still in Cincinnati, waiting for Greg to come pick us up on the way to Chicago for a show and a visit to our good friends Jeremiah and Hitomi (and their sweetie pie son Arata!). I am looking forward to that trip!