winged creatures

Isn't this fun? Carved by my best buddy Jessica Wiesel the last time she came to visit. It has a nice feel to it and seems pretty secure (they get tested, of course). I think it would make a fantastic bracelet clasp. It will be available in pewter.

Here's another design by Jessica Wiesel. This is my favorite of her's and I can't wait to use it in a piece with poppy colored beads! It will also be available in pewter.

My bird clasp came out nice, I thought. Its cast in shibuichi and the hooks and loops are in the back. It will be available in silver and shibuichi.

Finally, the bird carving from forever ago! I want this in bronze, since gold is too pricey right now. Its a good size, perfect for a pendant or a nice link. I may have to add this to my talisman necklace, it feels magical, somehow. This is the first batch of pieces, the next group is sea life.

sleepytime

This is heaven....I could snuggle and snoodle him forever. He's also the reason everything else is on the backburner. I could talk about happiness and how napping with a dreamy baby is the best restorative, but I think the picture says all that. So, between cuddling sessions, I've been making lots of goodies and have only been lightly distracted. Usually, whenever there is an impending deadline, I find I have a burning desire to make something unrelated, like doll clothes or something for Azalea (like painted kokeshi or nesting dolls). I've been good, I've only thought about the distracting projects, (this time its miniature hairpins for my dolls- imagine them in silver!). Ok, back to work!

sprouts

My little sprouts, relaxing together on the couch. Max is a very expressive baby, always smiling, but here he looks rather pensive. Azalea is wearing a poseable snake around her neck, one of her many 'babies'. She is such the little mama.

It occurred to me that our work follows the seasons a little, like planting a garden. In winter, we are dormant, our days slow and sleepy. In early spring we begin sketching and designing, like sprinkling seeds into the earth. Our carvings are the sprouts, that will eventually 'grow' to what we take to 'market'. Thinking of our work this way is sort of satisfying, in a simple, uncomplicated way. This small clasp has evolved a long way from the drawing, which started as a pair of wings. That piece looked rather alot like a mustache, so a few adjustments were made. Its just shy of two inches across and about 3/4 of an inch high, a nice size for a chunky bracelet and hefty enough for a double strand of faceted stones. It will shrink a bit, rendering it a touch dainty, but still strong. I have my fingers crossed that it comes out.

I've long wanted to make a koi pond clasp and I believe this to be the first in (hopefully) a long series of them. I still may add more to this piece, perhaps some leaves floating on the surface or more pebbles. The pond part is about the size of a quarter right now. Wouldn't this be perfect with some smooth kyanite beads, or better yet, a delicate spray of round labradorites.

This beautiful ring, fresh from casting, is a new piece from the master of wax, Bob Burkett. He flew in last week to join in on the frenzied fun that precedes the gigantic Bead and Button Show. His pile of master waxes on the table is high, a heap of tentacles and tails, waiting to be transformed into silver. I have to say, this is my favorite batch of goods, heavy on the sea life. I want all of it! You should see the jointed sea turtles...so dang cute! I'm working on my own little dime store slider turtle, using for reference the tiny, perfectly intact skeleton my sister Sheila found on her way home from school. That sounds weird, but she's got a sharp eye for finding things she'd know I'd like ( a golden coin comes to mind, with the nude bust of a pin up girl on one side and a shapely rear end on the other- it said 'heads' or 'tails'). She's also good at finding Bob stacks of pictures of things he carve next, from articulated columbine blossoms to various creatures one never sees in silver, like jackaloupes and El Chupacabra. We're still waiting for the goat sucker, but if your into critters of the sea, you'll be happy with his next offerings.

mothers day

The day was spent relaxing, tending my plants, perusing the stalls at the Downtown Market and encountering smiling strangers wishing me a happy mothers day. All the attention brought me to a somewhat pensive mood, thinking about my own mama and grandmother and how surprising it is to realize that I AM a mother. I know I am, of course, but its so abstract an idea, to have this title shared by countless millions, to have this important job. I have a ritual of documenting some of the days events in my sketchbook, capturing little moments with ink and watercolors, so one day, when my children are grown, they can see exactly how much I loved them.
This page was drawn after the International Doll Show in Orlando. The snippet of text above the drawing of me and Max pertains to the fact that he was the only real baby among all the dolls. The kokeshi design is one I'm planning to paint for Azalea's collection.

Plans for cloth dolls with porcelain faces, painting idea, tree patterns (i love looking up into branches and sketching the lacework) and a sketch of a tiny turtle.

This was drawn on Azalea's first day of school, a day I spent holding back tears and sighing a lot. I'll never forget how she looked, so small and brialliantly clothed against the gray light (one day I'll color in the drawing, but for now it sort of matches how I felt). I sketched the flowers Greg brought home to cheer me up, losing myself in the intricasies.

When I'm pregnant, my belly gets huge. I get folks stopping me in the streets, asking if I'm having a litter, or if I'm ready to pop at that moment. So, the drawing might be an exaggeration, or true to life, it seemed that big to me. The festive critters are designs for some stuffed toys for Max and Azalea, which I will make for Christmas.

The thought of my children grown is a bittersweet one, at once intriguing (who will they be? what will they look like? ) and enormously sad, because I won't be able to hold them to me forever. I think of my mom and how she used to look at us with such an indescribable expression, one I never really understood as a child. Now, I understand completely. I'll try each day to remember the advice that she and so many others have given me, to enjoy this ephemeral sweetness while it lasts.

lucky gal

My boy wore himself out with the baby jumper. I can't believe how big he is. I need to figure out how to slow the passage of time.


Max loves to jump! He looks so cute, he often gets kissed and cuddled, mid leap. Greg couldn't resist and gave in to his sweetness.

Azalea practiced her first performance for days, going over her 'astronaut' lines so she wouldn't forget. I thought the whole kindergarten show was pretty cute.

Once and awhile I get frustrated with myself, like an odd stone in a paved path. I read an email recently praising up a storm about my perfect life and perfect family and how easy my life must be. I suppose it would seem that way and in truth, my life is pretty close to perfect (if only I had more land for chickens and miniature donkeys....). I am a lucky girl in so many ways, but perfect I am not. For instance, I have a bad habit of expecting everyone to be a busy body because I am. We were told from an early age that 'Idle hands are the Devil's playground', so I am always doing something, even when I watch t.v. my sketchbook is open....just in case. So its really hard for me to go to social gatherings with new people because I'm afraid they'll think I'm rude if I pop open my bag and pull out knitting. Its very frustrating for Greg, who is so patient with my wacky ways. Add to that my irrational annoyance with folks who don't get my ticks and you have the makings of a hermit. Actually, hermit may be the wrong word, what do you call a person that really likes to stay in their studio, joined only by other crafty people? Hmm. Anyway, the 'easy' part nearly made my eyes bug. I realize not everyone would know that I worked 3 jobs at one point and freelanced for years to get this perfect life I'm living. I wonder sometimes at the ease of other peoples lives, but don't envy them. I believe that all the work I've done, all the bad times, the life lessons that have proven deeply unpleasant have contributed to the mostly strange, occasionally good natured and sometimes cranky person I am today.

tiny paintings

I made this miniature egg tempera painting (2"x 1 3/4") a couple days ago, after feeling a little disconnected from myself, or rather who I perceive myself to be. Oddly, I still consider myself a painter whenever I'm asked what I do, even though I haven't made a painting in forever. It's something I enjoy immensely, even though its tedious, makes my neck, back and eyes hurt. Not to mention the pigments are extremely toxic to breathe. So I don't do it very often, because when I get to paint, its ALL I want to do and any interruption is vastly annoying. Anyway, I was feeling as though I had no business even thinking i was once a painter. So I ordered some tube egg tempera from The Art Supply Warehouse (solves the pigment dust issue) so I wouldn't have to mix my own paint from powdered pigments and egg yolks. I have to say, I'm enjoying it! I started with tiny oak panels I prepped by applying layers of gesso and sanding between coats, so the surface is satiny smooth, a process I like because I feel like I'm inacting a process that is unchanged since Botticelli. It felt satisfying, building the surface with hundreds of brushstrokes, attaining colors the same way one embroiders.

I finished this little baby bird who looks like Max, this evening, just as the sun set. The untidy nest is woven through with threads and bits of paper, to make it cozy. You might be wondering why I'm so obsessed with the whole bird/human hybrid creature. The short answer is that I've always thought it looked cute, ever since I first saw images from King Tut's tomb when I was a kid. The facination continued when I discovered that almost every culture has some version of this creature: the Egyptians called it Ba, the symbol of the soul flying to the afterlife, the Native Americans used the symbol as a Bringer of Storms, the Greeks called them Harpies or Sirens. The symbol has an interesting history that appeals to me.... I'm always drawing or sculpting it. So, I now feel like i deserve to call myself a painter. Time to be a sculptor and start bustin' it for Bead and Button!

spring

It is perfectly beautiful in Asheville right now, so much that we've spent most of our time outside. This was taken at the Bird Sanctuary, a few minutes north of where we live. It was a nice adventure, Max and Azalea were in manageable moods and allowed me to sketch for awhile.

My girl looking lovely under a flowering tree, the name of which has escaped me.

Here's a peek of my outdoor studio, the back porch. Its a high vantage point overlooking dogwoods and in the distance, mountains. Its really pleasant to work outside here, with a nice breeze and all the birds singing away (we have the usual crowd of chickadees, finches, sparrows and crows, along with more unusual broadwing hawks, pileated woodpeckers and eastern bluebirds).

This is a shot of the new bronze, silver and shibuichi pieces that finally made it onto the website. Some items have been around for awhile, but never make it to the site because they get snatched up too quickly at the shows. Greg put up about 30 pieces that haven't made it to the shop before. We celebrated by enjoying a fire on the porch and sipping wine.

In my efforts to discover the mysteries of porcelain, I was, yet again, set back. Our local shop was all out of it! Can you believe my luck? I've attempted to try this clay out for years - since high school, but was always intimidated away. Anyway, I bought white stoneware, so I could make something until I got the real stuff. These little faces have holes on the sides so they can be attached to doll bodies. They are about an 1 1/2" across and will shrink a little more after firing. I can't wait to paint them. *I recieved a package from Melanie today! It contained underglazes and porcelain! Yay! Thwarted no more!

This is my new 'necklace of power' as I like to call them. Basically, its a piece made with my favorite beads, chosen very carefully. This one was inspired by the treasures of earth and sky, carved birds and suns, opalized ammonites and star sapphires. I made the chain from fine silver and carved the ruby, labradorite (next to the fossil) and the moldavite dangle with a lapidary grinder. The three silvery beads at the top are made by Basha (and available in my brother Andrew's store). The carved crow and two star sapphires are from Pat Jordan. The tiny rainbow sapphires dangling on the chain and the tourmaline points are from Beads Forever. I'm pretty happy with how this necklace is coming along, although its not quite done, as I like to keep adding or changing it, to get it just right.

spring break

Hi! We just returned home from Cincinnatti, where we decided to spend Azalea's spring break. The picture above (with Max in the stroller, Greg and his mom Ann and Azalea) was taken at the Newport Aquarium in a giant tube, with sharks and grouper. I love aquariums and could spend all day surrounded by the peaceful blue light and the graceful undulations of the sea creatures.

My girl was facinated by this primitive catfish. She seemed most interested in either the miniscule (like baby jellyfish smaller than a dime) or the enormous (like the ancient alligator snapping turtle with a head the size of a basketball).

Lately, she's very interested in looking very lady like. She carried that sequined bag everywhere, of course it did contain her necessary equipment: a 20 color hello kitty pen, blank index cards and stickers.

I love this picture! That girl is not afraid to get dirty.

This is funny, just moments before she was preparing to pitch a fit, then I told her if she made a nice face I'd give her some chocolate. As you can see, she wanted that chocolate!

Here's Azalea taking a break from chasing her Uncle Mike (Greg's brother) who was also visiting Cin. from Memphis. While I was there, I researched porcelain on my new laptop, which was a nice way to relax and recover from a cold. Since I've been staring at those Enchanted Dolls so much, the idea of trying out porcelain hasn't left my head. Although I studied ceramics in art school, I never explored the intimidating medium. It was reserved for the serious potters and I was by no means one of those. My pots were heavy, thick and impossible to break, hallmarks of poor throwing skills. Now handbuilding I could do and that was all I did, which in retrospect, was a bad idea. So now I must teach myself how to mold doll parts, miniature sculptures and to paint and draw on pebble-like forms. I've asked the lovely Melanie Brooks from EarthenWoods for advice and she has been very helpful and generously informative. I think she should write a book, since there are so few just about porcelain. I'm imagining carved faces, with watercolor washes and delicately drawn details, unglazed and matte smooth, for sewing onto rag doll bodies. I'm excited and can't wait to begin.

baby teeth

My girl lost her first tooth the other day! It's odd seeing her new gap tooth smile. I asked her if she wanted to leave the tooth for the Tooth Fairy, or give it to me, to put in my tooth box and she gave it to me. Of course, I offered a Zhu Zhu Pet. When she saw inside my box of collected teeth she picked out one of my enormous wisdom teeth (that had to be surgically removed it was so large) and asked if was real. She seemed deeply impressed that it was mine and real and promptly told my sister all about it.


Ok, Max does have more than this one orange sweater, but its for 'town' and he always seems to be smiling when he's in it, either because he knows were going out or the sweater, I don't know. He really likes getting out and seeing the world, look how happy he is. Anyway, he has two little white nubs protruding from his lower gums already! Can you believe it? Seems like I just birthed him.


I made this bracelet for my neighbor, who is really nice. She rescued me a couple weeks back when I locked my keys in the house when I was taking Azalea to school. I was certainly happy I didn't have to sit out on the porch long, it was such a cold day. I used peridot and green tourmaline on fine silver wire and one owl pendant from our line. I think that piece would look great in bronze.

We are gearing up for the Bead and Button Show, so that means its busy times for this crew. We have two new clasps in the works and my bird link will probably be finished by then. I'm also hoping to have more one of a kind pieces available, like my bezels. I'm saving for an Enchanted Doll, a doll of rare and unique beauty that I must have! I'm completely obsessed and have been squirrelling away my pennies so I can get one. Look at them, you'll see why I want one so bad.

Fish