Hello! Here's a little sketch I made while thinking of Jane Austen. I'm obsessed with her lately, reading Sense and Sensibility and watching the BBC movies. I'm sure she would have thought this image completely improper. Oh well.

We went to Michael's today and picked up new pens from Martha's collection (made drawing with them). I love both Martha and Michael's and could spend hours there, but today I was tired so Greg took me home and took Azalea to the Fun Depot. I needed the quiet to work on a few projects, so it was really nice. I'm still sick which is supremely annoying and worst of all I can't smell anything. It also means I can't taste much. I had a caprese sandwich earlier and I couldv'e been eating lunchmeat for all I could tell. I may freak out if this continues tomorrow, I can't bear the thought of not tasting my dark chocolate covered macademia nuts.

It's weird around here, lately. We took Bob to the airport so he could get back to SanFran and check on his boat and Sheila's STILL in L.A. (she must have fallen in - something my grandma would say) so it feels sort of quiet. I like having company. It works out since I hate to leave the house. I only leave if its necessary, like for food or to a show. So how am I supposed to go the Phillipines? Well, I've been working up to the idea for along time, considering it carefully. Thinking of shots and what to take (this alone could take months, what bag? what shoes? can I bring food? books? art supplies?) nerve wracking, I know.

It's puppy time tomorrow! We pick her up at 4pm in Charlotte! Yay! We are so excited! Hopefully, Frick doesn't lose his mind and poop right on the spot. He is extremely sensitive, he doesn't like change, or anyone to leave or anyone to call him 'fat' - he's just big boned at 20lbs. I measured him from nose to base of tail 21in. tail length 13 in. see? Just a big boy who is spoiled and poops on my stuff when he doesn't get his way. We think that he will accept the puppy as its a girl dog and he usually hates boys. I will update the situation as it unfolds. Well, we are getting ready! Good night!

Baby Shiba Inu.

Baby Lineolated Parrakeet.

This is my girl constructing stories for me while I work. She has an extensive collection of playmobile (from pirates to fairies to Noahs Ark...) and comes up with the most entertaining stories. I should record her. Right now she's saving the penguins and rabbits from the wicked sasquatch (today he's bad). When I'm done with this were going to make some miniature food from polymer clay. I made a few things at 1/12 scale some months ago and they came out looking rather piddly and unconvincing. My sis brought some mini food at 1/6 scale and they are easier to see and play with. I think we will make some more cakes.

We are getting a puppy and a baby bird this weekend. I've been really nervous trying to get everything ready ( more for the puppy than the bird) so i've been extra weird. I've never had a dog before and am expecting chaos. I've watched all the reruns of the Dog Whisperer I could find and I think I understand dog logic. It put me in mind of wolves, all this business about pack leaders and who's top dog. That should be easy. I like being a leader, sometimes. I liked the idea of her watching out for Azalea. The dog we've chosen is called a Shiba Inu, a Japanese breed that looks like a fox. The bird is a Lineolated Parrakeet, known for being one of the friendliest birds. It will be nice to have this new energy in the house. Well we are ready to make little cupcakes and then back to puppy proofing!

sketches

Hello! Here are some new sketches from a freshly started sketchbook. They are practice pieces painted in gouche after techniques from Stephanie Pui Mun Law 's book called Dreamscapes. I'm an avid collector of art instructional books, they are taking over my house. I have loads on jewelry making and journaling and I find it utterly relaxing to do projects from them. This may seem like a frivolous waste of time (considering I already have a degree in art) and that the house needs cleaning, but I believe in the merit of trying new techniques. How can one sustain themselves as an artist without the occasional bout of trial and error? Granted the projects in Stephanie's book are close to my own (yet they are decidedly different - much more detailed and layered, way more complex) I love it and want to adopt more of this craziness into my own work. Which is only slightly counterproductive, the trend for over simplified sweet paintings is at an all time high and its nice to be different, even if it takes longer to make one painting (thus being counterproductive). Anyway, its fun to paint, or plan to paint as I do with these sketches. So, I've been sniffling and sketching, plotting away at new projects, wondering where the day goes.

It occured to me that I spend a good chunk of time picking up toys and putting them away. I looked around and realized just how many toys my girl has and how few she actually plays with and I felt sort of disgusted. I thought about the story my sister told me of our family in the Philipines, of the one toy shared by a half dozen kids- an old flip flop they threw in the air. I thought of my mom fondly remembering her toy, a small hammerhead shark bone. So, I packed up her mountain of toys and intend on giving them to our family. Now that sounds harsh, but the playmobile stays along with her favorites (which is still a lot! no joke people, she didn't even notice the stuff was gone), so its not like she'll have to toss a flip flop for fun. I'm weeding out things I've held onto, I'm a collector so I want to try and keep only my favorite things. I have to do this once and awhile, or I will turn into my folks.

We are tentatively planning to go to the Phillipines in June, with my mom and my sis. I'm optimistic, but it always seems like our travel plans get nixed at the last minute for business reasons. When you own your own business its hard to take time off, there never seems to be a good time. Well, this time I think I must insist. The island atmosphere would be a perfect place to finish my story and finally meet a family I've only heard stories of. That and I can bring some toys and books and clothes to all those kids. We can't wait to play with them.

more goods

Hi! We've been sick, so I haven't done anything useful in days. Pretty much sleeping and reading and playing with playmobile all day. Which is fine, because I am still wore out from all that driving and shopping in Tucson. Here are some more treasures: top three drilled and carved stones are from Pat Jordan and the polymer pendant with the quote is from the lovely Heather Wynn. The drawing is of Azalea in her new cowgirl boots found in Nashville. I also got boots, mine in gator hide, which I felt drawn to (I grew up in Florida, always keeping an eye out for gators along shorelines- its my payback for all the missing kitties). Speaking of Florida, Greg and Bob Burkett will be in Jacksonville this weekend for the Bead Mercantile show. I think I'm going to sit this one out, I'm too sick to go on another roadtrip, which is a bummer because I could use some sea air. So, I think I'll work on new pieces and drawings. Its time to start a new sketchbook, I'm on my last page. Its always exciting to open a new book, wondering what experiances and ideas will be documented with ink, graphite and watercolor.

New goods

Tide pool pendant made by Jeremy Sinkus.

Owl collection.

Spiny oyster shell.

Herkimer diamonds (large crystals), rough diamonds (pale gold strand) and sapphires.

Old owl carving.

Gorgeous glass bead by Yuka Kawakita.

Hello! Finally recovering from Tucson. It seemed like I'd never get home. It was a lot of fun seeing all of my friends and favorite customers (who've become friends!) and shopping. Here are some of the highlights from my shopping excursions. Its weird to be away for two weeks, I felt all out of whack without having my daily rituals to attend to. I really am a hermit. It was fun, but I was looking forward to not standing all day long. I'm glad to be home.

portraits

These are some one of a kind pieces by me and Lisa Blackwell. She makes the gorgeous pmc boxes (intricately detailed on the sides and backs) and I fill them with clay and paint. The smallest (mushroom bezel) is 3/4" from top of bail to bottom-its tiny. I nearly went blind carving it. Now I'm completely smitten by their cuteness and don't want to sell them. Typical of me. They need to be encased in resin, to protect them, but this is like putting something in water, it flattens the space and diffuses the light, which can be cool, but lessens the depth. I'm thinking of floating a thin sheet of mica over the next batch. I'm so tired and so determined to finish 5 more tonight. I like a good challenge.

woodland charms

Ok, here are some new masters that just came out of a mold. I will only have a handfull for Tucson, so get there early! They are small, about an inch tall, including the bail. I love them. I think I'll make an acorn to go with this series. I lost a piece in the last casting that bummed me out big time- a clasp that took two days to carve, lost! I loved it so much, it was a bird toggle flying on a round disc (with a hole) with clouds carved on it. That was a sucky casting, lots of masters didn't make it. Thats the trouble with this stuff, there are no guarantees, no matter how experianced. So we just carve more and learn from our mistakes. I feel really behind, kind of bogged down and tired. I know its just nerves- this always happens, I go into robot mode and work my butt off to combat the stress. Or, I look on the internet at lineolated parrakeets and wonder which one looks like we are made for each other. I'm not in the habit of replacing a pet right after it dies, I'm usually in a bitter sort of mood, like my heart can't take losing another, but I feel different right now. Like I need to nurture or be surrounded by life. I feel like I'm in a transitional state, like something is going to change and I'm only half aware of it. I thought it might be a shift to making finished jewelry into a business but I think I'm actually not doing it because I'm actually growing away from that idea. I generally follow my intuition to lead me and have learned to do so after a long time of doing what I thought was expected of me. I love what we do, but deep down I'm a storyteller, its part of what I do- everything I've made has a story and I think its this part that needs to be tended. Maybe writing down these 'histories' or actually finishing my story and stop being such a sissy would stop this sneaking feeling that something I need to do isn't done. Like now, for instance, 12 portraits in bezels down, and only 9 to go. I will finish them after I look at more birds.

Kokeshi

I made this little bead last night, its inspired by the kokeshi dolls of Japan. Kokeshi were usually made from wood and laquer paint and were for children to play with. This one is about an inch tall and will be cast in pewter. I'm going to stay up and make a snail charm to go with my mushrooms. I have this fantasy that I'm going to start making my silver pieces into finished jewelry and having 'collections' and be in galleries. Although appealing, and not terribly difficult, I don't I have the energy. Maybe if I had an assistant, to string the designs, then I could do it. I am the slowest stringer, ever. I'll just contemplate it some more, maybe add it to my things to do list. Well, the work is going good, we've been casting like crazy and buffing till dawn.

Bob and Greg casting shibuichi in the studio!

new pieces

Silver master, 1 1/4" the back is engraved with "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. -Rumi" all time fave quote.

This highly detailed bead is 3/4" tall (or small, I should say) and is made of polymer. I dearly hope this one survives the molding process and makes it into production for pewter.

This little silver charm (1")didn't turn out, the backside got all melty looking so it won't go into production. It was lots of fun to make so I made three more mushrooms, they are in the kiln now.

This polymer master (1 5/8") says "Bathe in all the tides of nature, in all her streams and oceans at all seasons. -Thoreau" one of my favorite quotes.
Back to work, its a frenzied mad house around here, most wouldn't believe the hours we've been keeping! It will all be worth it when we get to Tucson. It always feels like I'm saying that like its Oz or someplace equally magical...it sort of is.