cacoon

Andrew made this necklace for me, using the lovely skull bead the talented Anne Choi sent as a gift. He used two star rubies, several faceted labradorites and a mysterious stone that looks like rutilated quartz, except the threads are deep red and blue. There are also a few herkimer diamonds thrown in for their properties in enhancing creativity.

I've been carrying this stone in my pocket since the lovely Nina Bagley gave it to me. I think its lucky.

I opened a package from Jean Yates, expecting her submission for the gallery and look what she put in for gifts! I felt mighty pleased with the ancient looking polymer box and sparkly earrings!

My baby loves a good milkshake and the ones served at the Asheville Pizza and Brewery are very good! She especially loves the game room that we usually eat in, thronged with kids and cartoons playing on the big screen.

Look how happy Greggy is to be back home with his family! He just arrived from Jacksonville, FL in time to go with us to the airport, to see Andrew off.

So I've been holed up in my studio with Andrew and Azalea, all of us working hard to get things done. The days have run into each other, so that I found myself surprised by the passing of time. It seemed like one long afternoon. The monotony of our routine was broken up by a visit from Nina Bagley, fellow artist and NC resident. I met her a long time ago at Art Fest and I think we traded goods and chatted about our mutual friends during one of the bon fire journaling evenings on the Sound, in Pt. Townsend. I recall that as being one of the best times I'd ever had, surrounded by all the artists and creativity! Anyway, Andrew and I fixed a feast, I made slow cooked beef brisket and Andrew cooked the parmesan polenta, strawberry and cream panncottas and the carmelized bacon, which was dang good. I could eat a lot of that business. We discussed all manner of interesting things, told funny stories and I showed her my studio, which I was nervous about. It looks as though we never leave it, beads everywhere, clay and paint at every station and loads of books piled by desks. I got over my embarrassment to show the jewelry for my book and refrained from making Nina look at my doll collection. Even I know that can creep folks out! So the day was passed with lots of laughter and eating and sifting through my beads. I really can't think of a better way to spend the day.

Andrew left yesterday and I've puttered around the house looking lost and disgruntled. He is such a useful and creative person! I found myself saying absently ' what do you think of this?' forgetting he wasn't in the chair opposite mine. Yep, pitiful. He knows it. So, we went out to eat at Azalea Cafe today, to have a bowl of the lobster bisque and squash soup. I felt a little better, but still unhappy my craft buddy is in NY. Yeah, I know that's selfish, but that's how it is. well, bacl to work!