Big News

Hi there! Look at this fabulous handbag that Anne Choi sent to me! She knew that Ellowyne would love it. Yes I'm obsessed. While I'm carving, I'm thinking of handbeading a dress, or sewing a miniature corset. I'm considering designing a line of tiny charms, so she can wear GGS! That would be a real trick, carving a tiny version of something already small.

Ok, here is the news.......I'm writing a book on mixed media jewelry and I just signed the contracts! Yay! The good folks at Interweave Press will be publishing it and I couldn't be happier, because I love their books and magazines. They produce some of the best stuff: Stringing, Beadwork and Fiber Art (just to name a few).

The book will be presented like an artists journal, with watercolors and drawings, loads of useful tips and overflowing with magical looking examples. I will go over techniques using polymer, pmc (like creating your own ojime, making a bezel to fill, creating your own stamps, bead caps, chain and more!) I'm adamant that it will be worth the money (which is important to me, something you'd know if you took one of my classes- no one leaves until they are satisfied). This is partly because I hate to feel gypped and don't want anyone else to feel that way and I'm a perfectionist and can't abide the thought of doing something half-assed. So, it will be a lot of work, but I'm determined to make something useful and inspiring. I've been dying to put up pictures of the projects and of the sketchbook I submitted, but I wanted to sign first then show the goods. I'm so excited! I feel really fortunate to have this opportunity to share my knowledge of these materials. I've spent the past 12 years learning, making mistakes, experimenting and discovering ways to make beautiful things. It makes me happy to share.

Hi! This is a tiny watercolor and gouche art card. I've made loads of the swirly, bubbly backgrounds to paint on and this is the first one to get finished. I love painting the patterns and creating the watermarks with the gemstone paint, they settle into a shimmery, miniscule design. I really like the size as well, they lend themselves to constant shuffling. I also gilded the edges, which adds to the preciousness of the small size.

It would seem like all we do is eat and make tiny things (that's almost true) but we also love movies. Our dvd collection is good sized and I'm always on the lookout for 'background' films that we can have on while we work. While I painted the girl on the card, Forbidden Kingdom (a kung fu movie with Jackie Chan and Jet Li) was on , which was visually delightful, with the best girl villain sporting magical hair. Its a new favorite, along with Practical Magic, Sense and Sensibility and Star Dust.

The other day I spotted Hot Fuzz and immediately put in the cart, pleased I found it for 8 bucks. When I got to check out, the cashier asked to see my i.d. and said I had to be 17 to buy the movie (its graphic) and you can imagine how pleased I was! Andrew was like 'What, did you get a new eye cream?' to which I replied 'nope-dr.Bronners water drops!'. That stuff is good, made from fruit juice and green tea, it totally cleared up my skin and its easy to drink, a dropper full in juice has the same amount of antioxidants as 15 cups of green tea. I know, awesome. Well, its time to get back to it, I have a lot to do to get ready for the Hawaii show! I can't wait!

Hi there! Here is my new doll, Ellowyne Wilde displaying two shrink film drawings. Yes, we are obsessed! And why not? It is a fun and portable craft that is extremely satisfying to shrink. Andrew has made tons of charms and we've gotten our friends involved in the 'madness' so everyone around us is making them.

I've been cooking a lot, making slow cooked beef over parmesan polenta and my tasty chocolate gravy over biscuits for breakfast. The GGS team pretty much loves to eat and craft. If you come for a visit, plan on feasting then making stuff till the wee hours of the morning. Bob brought a fancy 1000 dollar espresso machine so we've been jacked up and slap happy while making art. Always a good combination.

I can't stop staring at my new dolls. They look nice with my Blythes. I am a smitten kitten, I just got another on ebay, like some sort of addict. Everyone is so tired of listening to me go on and on about the quality of the resin, how beautiful her clothes are and how gorgeous her face is. I also ordered books so I can make clothes for her, I might just turn into a doll artist!

Of course, that would be dreamy, but unlikely, as we have bead shows to do! The Central California Bead Society hosts a show in Fresno this Sunday and Greg will be there along with our friends from Bead Trust. I wish I could go, because I love that part of the country and wouldn't mind visiting my buddies! I will be attending The Soft Flex Honolulu Show with most of the gang (Andrew, Greg and Azalea), so if your lucky and live on Oahu, stop by and say hello! Also, if you mention this blog (at either show), you get a free pewter bead! Ok, back to work!

Flower fairy pins, unpainted and needing some hair.

Ball jointed dolls wearing silk dresses my mom made. I'm totally obsessed!

Baby Belle enjoying a cream soda at Izzy's during the Lexington Festival.

Mom pleased as can be with our blueberry yield at Graveyard Fields.

I've had a great week - my folks came up for a visit, then Andrew and I went down to Atlanta to see our good friends Anne Choi and Lynn. I really enjoy that city, so much to do and see, although our favorite thing to do by far, was going through Anne's amazing studio and witnessing where all the magic happens. She has neat stuff everywhere and my favorite things (besides the beads) were her vast array of ball jointed dolls. They are like tiny mannequins, posable in a very naturalistic and somewhat creepy way. I love them and have spent hours researching them, their clothes, shoes and also on how to make all that stuff (because I ordered more dolls and they need sassy outfits). It brought back my deep desire to make dolls and produce my own line. Maybe someday I'll get lucky and find a manufacturer.

Saturday we hosted a party for our artist buddies, then went out for drinks afterward a the Flying Frog and new wine bar Vault ( I don't recommend it, terrible service). The next day we went to a picnic and I learned why it is never a good idea to poke a stick into what I thought was a groundhog hole, but turned out to be a bee hive. After getting stung on the hand and taking a fair amount antihistamines, we went to the festival downtown. Folks in Asheville tend to get funky and weird when they get together, sporting unusal ensembles, many including wings, tails and the occasional space helmet. The people watching during an Asheville festival is unrivaled, I think it beats Venice Beach.

We've been crafting like crazy, making art cards, beaded jewelry, flower pins and t-shirts decorated from instructions in Alabama Stitch. We have been having fun and it doesn't look like that trend will be slowing down soon, there's still a lot left on our things to do list.

Look at Paddy doing a fine job as a pillow prop! Greg and Azalea passed out on the couch while watching 'Children of Dune' while Andrew and I stared transfixed at the t.v. - I love Dune. We've been crafting and making plans, drinking lots of good coffee and watching fun movies. Ok, my secret news is still under wraps, but I can assure you I am not pregnant. Greg wants five babies, but I'm not that productive! I have been busy making horns, because we are headed back to Philly in October for Faery Con and I need more costumey goods on my table. Maybe I'll make wings out of paper. Ok, back to work!

*Does anyone know the rules of freeze tag? We are arguing like crazy and running around demonstrating how we think it should be played. I know, we're dorks.

Another shibuichi bezel filled with a tiny sculpture. I used lots of sparkly pigments and foils in this one and they will really pop when its filled with resin.

This glass necklace was made by Stephanie Maddalena, a charming glass artist we were set up near at the Interweave Bead Fest in Philadelphia. Azalea made fast friends with her daughters and they played all day long behind the tables. The show was a success and loads of fun to shop, many of my favorite vendors and artists were there, like Joanne Zekowski and Gail Crosman Moore. We had a lot of fun in Philly, but its nice to be home. Andrew rode home with us and will be making stuff like crazy until he has to go back to NY in a couple of weeks. We have been planning projects and working on dolls out of polymer. Sheila arrived yesterday from LA and it has been so nice to have a full house. Today we went downtown to get lunch at The Green Sage, then picked up some chocolates at The Chocolate Fetish. So its been busy around here, but relaxed. I have some big news...but I have to wait before I can share it. Stay tuned to find out what it is!

small things

New bezels. The heart shape was made by Candace Wakumoto - my job is to fill it with something nice. Its still in progress. The bird girl and centaur lady just need resin to protect them. The centaur is for Jean, because she is so good at making my day. So far that means one new one for the show in Philadelphia this weekend. I can't believe how slow I am- these tiny things take a long time make.

I made this polymer baby turtle bead for Azalea, she loves them and was deeply saddened when I told her how few survive to adulthood. She is pleased with her prize. I have so much to do tomorrow! Yet I feel like baking madeleines and reading my books ( treehouse manuals, Jane Austin's complete works and The Alchemyst). I have no desire to pack up the van and get things ready to go. I'm in nesting mode and haven't left the house in days, except to walk the dog or plant toad lillies. I for one am happy that way, Azalea on the hand gets cabin fever and can't wait to go on a walk and talk to people. She is so outgoing and I'm almost a hermit, what a pair we are! Thankfully, both of us love to be in the studio making things and spend hours working (she on her paintings and clay roller and me on my small things) its happiness.

Look at my girls panda drawing! Already an artist.














That baby enjoying ice cream after a hard day of playing. Well, I'd like to say that I've been hard at work on new designs or sketching the new catalog, but...I've spent the past few days playing. We have made feasts and stayed up late watching movies, reading books and dressing dolls- with the occasional break to clean. I did try out my new gemstone watercolors and I love them. They are subtle, glimmery- exactly how one would think paint made of powdered semi-precious stones would be. The pallette I chose is limited, so I will be using them with regular watercolors and gouache. There is something special about them, the colors seem so different, even if the turquoise is only a little lighter than cerulean blue and the equivalent of burnt sienna, bronzite, shimmers beautifully.

Another thing I adore, the movie 'Penelope', with Christina Ricci and James McAvoy. Its a charming retelling of beauty and the beast, with the roles reversed. I loved her clothes, her green mary janes and especially her room! The best thing about the film was the message of accepting yourself and embracing who you are as an individual, rather than focusing on trivialities like image. A nice concept for a world obsessed with botox and perpetual youth. Azalea also really enjoyed it and remained interested throughout, which was nice; sometimes she doesn't always like mama's choice of tv (Bizaare Foods, Iron Chef or Project Runway). I'll get to work tomorrow, hopefully finishing up some news bezels for the Philadelphia show.

Flower girls

Hi! Look how sweet these flower girls are! We just returned from Fayetteville, WV after enjoying a beautiful wedding. My girl had the best time wearing her dress and crown and playing with her new friends. The crowns came out nicely- I was going to buy them and realized I could make them myself, using better materials and cheaper. I used vintage glass pearls, swarovski crystals,wire, silk flowers and loads of floral tape. Everyone was pleased.

We were happy to get out of the house and take a road trip to enjoy the last days of summer. I found the drive up really beautiful and slightly scary in some places, especially where it seemed super high up with only a little railing between us and a sharp drop. Luckily I was jacked up on lots of Red Bull, so my eyes barely blinked. I rode up with some friends and the drive seemed short, what with all our stories and jokes!
We had a great time, but I wished Greg could have been there with us. He has been in California the last few days doing the glass convention in Oakland and will be staying until next for the show in Pasadena. He is staying with our friends from Bead Trust so it will be fun for him. Me and Azalea have been occupying ourselves by walking Kitsune down the street to pester our neighbors who have a really sweet treehouse (I want one) and a trampoline. I haven't done anything on my things-to-do list except vacuum and that list is mighty long. Its also probably unrealistic, with things like: landscape the yard, carve a new bead everyday, re-design the porch to include a japanese soaking tub and teach Kitsune to balance 200 dog biscuits on her nose like those pooches on you tube. Well, better get to it.

New Clasp!

Hello! Here is a new clasp cast in shibuichi (will also be available in silver) its about 1 1/4" across. This piece was sculpted twice, once out of wax, which was ruined in the mold and second out of pmc - which is awesome for masters, since its already metal, it can't be messed up. I like this clasp, it feels sturdy and secure and I don't mind if it flips to the front of a bracelet, its so fancy. I've spent the weekend working on Stringing submissions. The deadlines always seem to sneak up on me, luckily most of the hard part was finished last week, so all I had to do was string. It takes me forever to come up with projects I'm happy with, I'll have half a dozen possibilities laid out, then they are agonized over for a long time. Half the problem is I like imagining who would wear the piece and make up stories about them and how the jewelry is magical (like a teleportation device, or the power of being amazingly charming). I've been reading The Mistress of Spices and Howl's Moving Castle, so magic and fairy tales are on my mind. Well, its time to write instructions!