new things

Hello! Today was a good day. Sometimes you have strings of good days, where jewelry almost strings itself, all the food you order is perfect and you run into old friends. We started off by getting brunch at the Rise and Shine Cafe, I ordered the blt and it was decadent, with avocado and thick slices of bacon. Then we climbed the stairs to see the new pastisserie Creme, I picked up the rosewater meringue (pictured above) and a couple bottles of local honey, poured into charming bottles. After that we headed to Green Life, our local fancy food grocery store and I bought the owl tote and two solid perfumes. In the parking lot we saw our friends Meg and Alisa and chatted with them about this and that. Meg is a well known photographer (she also did our wedding) and I asked her if she'd have time to shoot a portrait of me, for the back of my book. I tried a few times to get a good shot, but I think I'm just not photogenic! Well, we shall see what happens! I'm off to work again, happy and contented that I got out of the studio for awhile.

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!

Look at this tiny monocular from optics planet! Its really good for spotting birds and has a close up range of 13 inches and magnifies 7 times. Its not super powerful, but its a useful pocket scope, for folks who like to look at everything closely. like me.
I just got this pretty little sake set from Korin. We are using it for strawberry white tea and some snacks, but imagine it with asian pear sake and sea weed salad. Love the tumbled sea glass look.
Yessir, I got another Ellowyne! When will the madness stop? It won't. I'm a doll junky and this one wears wigs. I ordered a bunch of wigs and shoes. Hmmm, I love wigs and shoes. Perhaps I'm living vicariously through my dolls, watching them lounge around in expensive gowns and jewel-like stilettos, with absolutely no responsibilities. I should be jealous, but I'm not. Its love. I can't help it. Greggy is so nice, letting me order three dolls because I couldn't go to Tucson. Talk about retail therapy.

Greggy and Andrew arrive home tomorrow after being gone for two weeks! It seems like months! Azalea and I will be pleased, it'll be nice to have someone else to talk to. I can't wait. I've been working on jewelry, but not much since the little one needs me to do my job of procuring interesting snacks and playing dolls. We have staged hundreds of weddings, why that girl is so into them, I will never know. Sigh. To break up the monotony of my studio, we went to the playground a lot and went to see a couple of movies.

Coraline is freakin' amazing! Go see it. I listened to a recording read by the author, Neil Gaiman, (my all time favorite). The book is strange and creepy, good for small children like my bean. The movie is just as good, better because every doll and prop, is completely handmade. Its also a stop animation. Yet another reason to see it. My girl nearly lost her mind she loved it so much. Ok, people, more updates on the book coming soon!

Hey everybody! Look what Azalea and I did, we set up Pansy (Azalea named her) for a photo shoot, displaying a necklace that I made. Andrew made me the pearl one. We arranged the food we made awhile back, so it looked more like something we'd enjoy. You know, feasting. Anyway, back to work on that book!

Chocolate mousse and sketching at Filo, a cafe in town that makes the best desserts.



Greg, Azalea, me, Aveesh, Andrew and Vic finishing brunch at The Madison Inn, in Black Mountain. Very yummy.

Greg and Andrew left for Tucson today and I'm highly envious. I always look forward to the shows, but since its so close to my deadline, I had to sit this one out. So I'm bummed out, the shopping is sooooo good! Plus all my friends go. Yep, that's me, sounding like a teenager. Aside from moping around wishing I was on the road, I've kept busy working on my book. It's coming along really well and looking fabulous- I think. Anyway, its busy, busy around here! I've been working on some very interesting polymer techniques, which I can't show here, but its pretty cool and I'm bursting to share! I wish I could post everything here, to get feedback, but that's not allowed, so I have to settle for hints. Well, that's it for now!

Here's my girl, overlooking our playmobil world. We love the amazing toys from the german toy company, playmobil. Its detailed, sturdy and inspires imagination. Its also good for boys and girls. Its also good for me. I really enjoy making up stories and adventures for our cast of characters. Its very useful for moments when you can't make yourself sit at a desk for another ten hours. Which is why Andrew and I decided to recreate our little world by removing all the pieces, separating them into categories, reassembling the figures, then setting the whole thing up into a beautiful scene. We created an enchanted forest where wizard rabbits concoct magical elixers and lovely mermaids swim in lagoons. Sometimes my girl will tell me elaborate stories, with subplots and exciting endings, where the dragon wins.

I decided to take a break from my rigorous routine to relax. So, I set aside the piles of pmc components, the drawings and everything. I was tempted to get in the car and drive to the coast, just for a day. But I stayed here, thought about my story, which is turning into something bigger than I expected and read and drew in my sketchbook. It was nice. I also felt like a slacker, with my book due in less than a month and Tucson only two weeks away! I just won't sleep tonight. Wish me luck.

“The boundaries are always there—between the graveyard and the world beyond, between life and death, and the crossing of them.” - Neil Gaiman

I just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and I have to say, its one of the best stories I've read in a long time. Its beautifully written, darkly humorous and really memorable. I found myself thinking of the hero, Nobody Owens, fairly often, wondering about him as though he were a friend I hadn't seen in a while. I hope there's more.

I'm always reading half a dozen books at any given time, there are books by the bed, a stack (well, actually there are many stacks ) by my desk and around the house. I love books and reading, so they are anywhere I might sit for a few minutes. You can imagine the dining room. Yes, stacks there, too. I've read a little more the last week, allowing myself a little luxury.

I've also indulged in some t.v.! Andrew and I got Long Way Down from netflix, a documentary about Ewan McGregor riding a motorcycle from Scotland down to Cape Town, S.Africa. We've only watched the first episode, and I think its pretty interesting, especially all the survival training and Ewan being charming and nice.

I once entertained dreams of riding across the country on a motorcycle, but realized my uncoordinated self needs serious practice before I get back on to anything two wheeled. This is after an incident in Key West, involving a Vespa and the back of a vintage Jaguar. Nothing hurt but my pride. All I need is practice. Maybe I could get a dirt bike....

Last week was so depressing, with Grandma's passing, but we've made an effort, at what I'm not sure. Not happy, just comforting I guess. It was nice to have both Andrew and Sheila here, we talked about it, told our favorite stories and then had a party. We invited a bunch of our friends over and Andrew made a huge pot of amazing chili and cornbread, then we drank beer and honey mead. It was perfect. We also enjoyed some American Idol and laughed at the thought of me shaming myself on t.v. We agreed it would be an embarrassment for my family on an epic scale, generations shaking there heads in horror. Its like the time I sang in front of a crowd in a blues bar in Chicago...my face still burns at the memory...ugh. Ah well, that's life, isn't it? I'm chock full of remincing tonight/this morning! I'd like to thank everyone again for the comments and cards that were sent our way, it was really nice and I felt loved. How could I not appreaciate that? Thanks, y'all, you're the best.

a sad day

Look at this cute and cuddly creature! It's made by Holly Stanway, a very talented toy artist. I've asked her to make me one, we shall see what she makes this spring!

I slept most of the day and spent the rest of it distracting myself from being sad, like thinking happy thoughts (like of my dolly that's coming) and drawing in my sketchbook. I wasn't focused enough to do anything useful, because today my Grandmother died. We found out this morning and I responded by staying in bed. It just seemed easier. I went through the rest of the day, trying for normal, but always having a lump hitched in my throat, threatening to spring forth with gallons of tears. We knew it was coming, so I suppose that makes it easier, but it seems strange and unreal. Its hard to imagine her still, when she was always busy, always working on something beautiful, cooking the best pumpkin pie youv'e ever tasted or sassing a complete stranger (or me!). She was a spry country lady, full of energy and always ready for a game of cards or fishing for perch. I learned how to quilt, fry fish, make chicken and dumplins, grow roses and a whole assortment of useful things. I will miss her laugh, which was always close and her hillarious stories that never ceased to cheer me up. Today has seemed grey and colorless, which fit my mood exactly. I imagine she wouldn't have liked all that laying about and moping, preferring that I at least clean the house or make a cake in her honor (she did not approve of languishing, no matter what your excuse). So tomorrow we will feast and toast in her honor, make food she wouldv'e loved and we will tell her stories.

still working

Hey folks! Here I am, posing with my scarf, because I couldn't talk Azalea or Sheila into standing around while I took pictures. This soft and cuddly scarf was cranked out on the fabulous knitting machine using a pima cotton and silk yarn. I need to make a cacoon out of that stuff and hibernate for a week when this book is done. I'm dreaming of a long trip, on a tropical beach, with my art supplies and lap top.....paradise. I'm making lists: of places i want to go, doll clothes I want to make, dolls I want to paint, doll houses I'm going to build, all before starting my next project, which is a secret. And its not that I'm knocked up.

That hollow-eyed look I'm sporting in the pic is due to either my new diet of coffee, saltines and dried strawberries or from sniffing shrink film fumes as its coming out of the oven. Its a toss up. I hope Andew gets here soon, I need some of that filipino mothering he was talking about.

I just finished the introduction and started the chapter on inspiration and design. The writing is coming easily, although its mostly scrawled all over drawing paper and I have to type it out. I hate typing as much as I hate folding clothes. I'd rather clean toilets or the kitchen three times rather than tackle my laundry. Anyway, this pile on my desk and surrounding me on all sides is beginning to look like a book! I like writing and will probably be sad when it's finished. I better have something lined up, it won't do to have too much free time!

amazing!

Hello! Look at the fun being had by my sis Sheila and our good friend Laura (of Talisman)! Laura brought this cool knitting machine for Azalea (who can be heard singing the theme song of Scooby Doo in the background) and its been in motion non stop! It takes like 20 minutes to make a scarf! Unbelievable! My love for A.C Moore grows everyday, such amazing finds. Today I picked up more yarn and a doll trunk for my Ellowynes for only 20 bucks! I know, awesome. I can't wait to customize it with fabric and some painting. Of course, I have to go back tomorrow to get one for Azalea!

That was my break from working my buns off! I mustv'e fooled with a hinge to a locket last night for hours, trying to design one that moved smoothly and was easy to make. Finally, after struggling all night with flawed designs, I came up with the perfect solution as the sun was just peeking over the mountain. Such relief. Anyway, it's really good and will make my book worth the money with that bit of usefulness. O.k. I think its my turn to crank out a scarf!