rhythm

Polymer pendants for 'Enchanted Adornments'.

The last few weeks have streaked by, unnoticed by myself as I've settled into a rhythm of sorts. It seems like one never ending evening, since I work all night, sometimes till dawn. I work better at night, listening intermittenly between books on tape and the wind rustling through the many trees. Its nice. I'm loving this strange cycle and I'm getting a lot done in the process. I feel slightly panicked as the deadline is rushing toward me, focusing my attention all the more sharply. The only drag is not spending the usual amount of time with my family and friends. I'm glad they are patient and undemanding.

I just finished listening to the 'Twilight' series by Stephanie Meyers, caving after hearing all the hype. I think they are o.k., but not amazing. I had difficulty relating to the young heroine, smitten beyond reasoning, ready to give up everything for a 'beautiful' boy. Maybe its just me, but I couldn't wrap my brain around the concept of being that entirely dependant, ready to die, ready to give up my family for a dude. Ok, I'm well over the intended age group, but I can still remember being an angst ridden teen, staring wide eyed at the local pretty boy. I think I may have thrown a tangerine at him. I liked to show affection by tormenting the object of my admiration , if they stuck it out, well then there you go. I was a tomboy, hopelessly disheveled from hanging out in orange groves and lake sides, hunting for interesting objects. Yep, I can't relate. I prefer a more rambunctious heroine, not afraid, not completely sissyfied (said sis-a- fied!). Anyway, it was o.k., I was entertained and annoyed (I hate figuring out the mystery too easily) and some of the characters are really funny. I'm going to listen to Susanna Clarkes 'Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell' and Neil Gaiman's 'Anansi Boys' again, because those are really darn good and they have a nice magical quality that I love. Ok, time to get back to work!

found by the sea

These are some little studies in watercolor and gouche of specimens one might find out on an excursion by the sea. They remind me of a time when we went to St. Pete a long time ago, we cut through a neighborhood of beach cottages and one had the most beautiful garden of potted plants. I seem to recall columbines and bleeding hearts...but not the fritallaria (tall bulb in the middle) those are grow in the valley's of Turkey and have to be brought here. I used to grow them, along with any other rare or unusual plant - my garden looked as if it were from some other world, tended by witches. Anyway, these little sketches are also for my book, to lay on top of backgrounds and look like they were made while overlooking the ocean. I think I'm enjoying the backgrounds and drawings more than I should. Its an escape, a luxury, a delightful excuse to do what I love. The jewelry is nice to make, but it comes with so much pressure to make something new, interesting and totally original. While the art is comfortable and easy to get lost in, like a cooking a recipe you've made hundreds of times and need no directions. Maybe because its my first love, one I've had since I was young, it still gives me the same pleasure it did then as it does now. I feel like I'm still getting to know this many sided craft that is jewelry, even though I've worked at it and studied it, taken years of classes, have been guided by pros and have made my living from...but it still remains mysterious to me. It feels as though there is always more to learn, new ways to make the same forms. Which is exciting, but daunting. I suppose I should be saying how easy and effortless it is to make, since I'm writing a book on it and I want loads to sell, not blabbing about how intimidating it can be to make samples! I guess its that i know these tips and tricks backward and forward, but its so hard to make pieces to showcase that formula, because it has to be amazing, its going to be in a book with my name on it, so I better make the best work I'm capable of. See, that is how to drive yourself crazy.

The title is...

Enchanted Adornments: Creating Mixed-Media Jewelry with Metal Clay, Wire, Resin, and More. What do you think? Thanks to everyone who strained their brains to help me name this book, especially Gaea who came up with the first part and Andrew for the dozens of options! That was fun, stressful, but fun. So, I'm part way through the beginning stages, I've made props (see my girl holding that apple house that used to be a gourd?and the bust behind her, that was dark brown in previous pics) and jewelry and drawings. Not as much jewelry, yet. I've laid loads of things out, then rearranged them over and over. I have to be the slowest beader of all time! The problem is how long it takes me to pick things out, my collection is quite large, so sorting through just labradorite takes ages.
The creative process for this is really intuitive. I made an outline and I know exactly what projects I have to make, but designing everything so the colors coordinate with the backgrounds and props is a challenge. I am now very aware of how much work it takes to complete a book and can hardly believe how much is left to do! I won't be sleeping or leaving the house, or my studio, because I never leave. I've only left when necessary and then its like I'm creeping out of a warm cocoon, into the cold, windy and bright outdoors. I get seriously bundled up to face it. We went to the mall the other day so Azalea could play on the playset and I felt like I was going to go into some sort of sensory overload induced seizure. I'm shocked I forgot what chaos the holidays are. Ick. I am not into holiday shopping. I suppose I should start thinking of presents, so far all I've bought are things for my dolls. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

more progress

Hi! Here are some props to set up with the jewelry. This doll is based on antique mannequins. She's made out of polymer and wire and still needs her skirt - that piece of gauze is not it.
I thought this little snail would look neat sliding by a bracelet or something. I used a toy snail and doctored it up with polymer and acrylics.

This is a polymer and aluminum foil bust, sanded and sculpted to look like an antique wooden angel head. It needs paint and maybe hair, or painted hair. My mom has loads of Madonnas, cherubs and angels all through her house. I guess being surrounded by all the glittering wings and sad eyes soaked into my brain and manifested itself finally. Anyway, I thought she'd look good sporting a necklace, once she's finished.

Ok, that's what I've been up to, along with staring out the window, trying to think up the best, most awesome title the world has ever known. I like the input, keep it up! It's close, I can feel it.

Also, don't forget about Andrew's Fabulous Studio Sale! He's got owl's! He is giving away an artist card to winning bidders! That in and of itself is a good time. They are really nice, lots of layers of paint and paper, with swirly ink on top. Here's the link: http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/ardenttie/

progress report

Hello! I've been hard at work, making these ink drawings....
and these watercolor backgrounds for my book. The ink drawings will be dropped on top of the backgrounds in different colors to look like a sketchbook page. There are so many layers to making a book! It's not just making pieces and directions - its creating an atmosphere with loads of other elements, like photos, quotes, props and half a dozen of each project. Its fun work and I'm not tired of it at all! I just wish I had another year to create all the props! Silliness, I know.

Ok, I'm hung up on the title and would love some input on this. Its tentatively called 'Magical Mixed Media Jewelry' and it will feature pmc, polymer, resin and wire. So, I'm looking for a title that totally sums it up, sounds enchanting, but not cheesy or too sweet. Part of me likes the straight forwardness of the original title and I wish I could stop agonizing, constantly debating over more poetic versions. Any suggestions out there?

I fell in

I know, people, I fell in a monster amount of work and couldn't get out. These are a few things that kept me from going glassy-eyed and slumped over my desk, but not in any particular order. One, my girls! Andrew got me the strapless dress for my birthday and Greg surprised me with the blond doll and the other outfits. I'm feeling mighty spoiled. Note: I repainted the red wig doll's make up, fancying myself a 'professinal' since I know my way around paint and brushes. Its much harder than it looks.

Two, Paloma, a Mourning Dove we rescued from death by Paddy (our loving, yet murderous gentleman cat). We found this bird on our back porch, freshly hatched and looking scraggly. We took pity on her and brought her in and proceeded to try and figure out what kind of bird she was. At that point, she had a few pin feathers and was mostly covered with fluffy down. Our detective work included comparing beak shapes and local bird varieties and sizes, till we finally agreed on 'dove'. Sheila fed her baby bird food for weeks until she could eat seed. Now look at how she has filled out! We moved her out of quarantine to join the other birds and now she is very happy and makes the sweetest cooing sound. She is also remarkably soft, so much so that it is tempting to squeeze her little body hard like Lenny, from Mice and Men.

Ok, here is three! I took my sister-in-law Jenny shopping downtown and we stopped in at Tops (a delightfully well-stocked shoe store) and I found these lovelies! They are from Seychelles and remind me of something a pirate queen, or steampunk girl might wear....yes, its love. And yes, they hurt after a few hours.

The last and best, would be the awesome visit with Jenny (Greg's sis) and Anne (his mom) who came for Thanksgiving. It was nice to catch up, feast and run around town. We went to the Grove Park fancy pants spa and hotel to look at an exhibit of gingerbread houses. It was really amazing what folks can do with dough and sugar.

It was nice to relax and watch some t.v., we picked up Hancock and watched food network mostly. I really liked Hancock, it surprised me and made me love Will Smith even more. I really want to see Twilight and Secret Life of Bees, but I'll have to put in more hours before I earn it. Now the house feels a little bleak with Jenny and Anne back in Cincinatti. Azalea is running around chatting up a storm about when is grandma coming, where is Aunt Jenny, why is it just YOU and daddy? Yep, its back to the grind.

dang...its getting cold!

It's unpleasantly chilly outside, but toasty in my studio! Look how nice I cleaned it! Yes, that's organized for me. I long for a japanese minimalism, but its the same kind of wishful thinking that gets pitch black-haired girls like me, goin' blond....a little unnatural, you might say. I've been home for a couple of days and I have to admit its slow getting back in the swing of things. We ran around town, checked out all the new buildings that are being raised in the Biltmore area (a new Barnes and Noble! Stadium seating theaters! Restaurants! Maybe an Anthropologie! ok, pushing it) Then we drove over to the new Wal-Mart, which I proceeded to look at everything and come out with just milk. After all that excitement, I parked my butt on the couch and continued my reading marathon, only stopping to get something for Azalea. I count my lucky stars that she has days when she feels like crafting and is too busy for mama.

Well, I finished the whole Sookie Stackhouse Series (only 8) in about a week. I'm very depressed now. I know I should have paced myself, but I couldn't stop. Now I have to wait till MAY of 2009 for the next one! Perhaps I could implore Charlaine Harris to get me a copy if I made her something, anything that she might like. Kidding. I know no amount of groveling ever made me do anything faster. So, in my agitation I decided to go through a pile of junk that had been in the trunk of the Mustang, which proved to be an unwise decision.

The box in question was a collection of bits and pieces from high school to my days in Ohio, so it had the stink of teen anguish, disappointment and finally, apathy on it. Yikes! The box was filled with many smaller boxes, so I could open one and remember the things within (or not) and move on to the next. The majority of the lot was papers and receipts, reminding me of foolish purchases and just how inexpensive things used to be. The big prize of the batch was old sketchbooks that I thought were lost, a nice thing to come across. I found a list of goals written in one and on it were the following things: 1. Move to L.A. to work at Lucas Films ( I longed to work on Star Wars) 2. If 1. doesn't work out, move to N.Y. to become a painter 3. Go to store and get pistachios, chocolate and dr.pepper 4. Finish painting. Well, well looks like only managed to get the last things on the list! I did move to L.A. but I didn't go to work for George Lucas, by then all the special effects were done on the computer and my sculpting abilities were pretty much useless. Some things don't change though, I still have pistachios, chocolate and dr.pepper on the list. I no longer have the desire to make movie props or to move to N.Y. I remember being so passionate, so on fire, so ready to challenge anyone who said it would be too hard for a girl. I am now content to make things peacefully, procrastinating only for as long as I can get away with it, which in my case, isn't long. So, I walked most of the pile to the trash, wanting to be free of the 'old' me, a person I don't know anymore. It was nice to get rid of it, like weeding a garden. I think I'll do a little more of that tomorrow.

photoshoot

Hello folks! Here is a sneak peek of a texture technique that I will be sharing in my book.








Darlene D'Agostino (my editor) and Joe Coca (photographer) setting up a shot.













That's me, grinning like fool. It is so wonderful to see everything coming together!












This is a bezel encasing a pearlecent moonsnail. Its super tiny, less than an inch long. I will also be sharing this fun technique.

Ok! Today we worked hard to finish up photographing the technique section of the book. There was a lot to cover. I'm not being stingey here! The projects will have step outs to show exactly how everything is made, but don't get scared into thinking its all complicated and overly time consuming. I have lots of tricks to make the projects go fast. I hate dawdling and like instant gratification (thus my dislike of seed beading) which is why I love the immediacy of polymer clay and pmc (most of the book features pmc, followed by a good helping of polymer and then resin). So it should be useful. I've also been working on a section about finding and harnessing inspiration and how to develop your own symbols. This section will be full of drawings, paintings and pics, demonstrating a few methods to kick start your creativity. Sound fun?

Well, I am so wiped out, all I can do is curl up and read my books. It is quite a luxury to spend an evening just reading! I read a couple chapters every day, any more and I'm filled with guilt. I just finished Diana Wynn Jones 'House of Many Ways' a kind of sequel to 'Howl's Moving Castle' - both of which are very good. I started Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book' a week or so ago and its really quite dark and mesmerizing. I should be doing some line drawings or working on text, but my brain is soft and fuzzy and needs the escape of my current obsession, the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, which are as addictive as sweet tea ( I think that's how my bro put it). I feel like if my eyes are open they should be staring at a project! Anyway, this book making business is quite exhausting. I have to say, I am very glad Andrew and I worked so hard to organize everything for the pics, otherwise I'd be crying. It is a lot of work! I'm slightly horrified that this is just the first section and there are many more to go. I feel like I did when I was a young and ambitious freelance artist, working all hours of the night and always saying 'You need it when? No problem.' Those were the days. Well, its easier now, I know how to budget my time, which was my biggest problem back then. The trick is to start as early as possible, because its never enough time. Well, its meetings tomorrow to talk about the cover and design of the book. I may get a chance to drive to a doll shop outside of town that carries ball jointed dolls. I've never seen any in person and would love to take a peek. We shall see!

Here we go! A few pieces for my book! Blood red heart with golden bird caught within, polymer crystals and resin.







Magic egg, polymer, crystals, gold wire and drops.










Chained heart, polymer, crystals, acrylic, glass and chain.

These are for fun, more bird girls, one from the owl family, the other decended from rare pink doves.

Hi! I'm in Colorado now, at Interweave, working on photographing basic techniques for my book. There is a lot to cover, hopefully we can finish it all in two days! I spent today with my editor, the charming Darlene D'agostino and we sorted through the loads of pieces and step outs, organizing it all. It was fun. I was so nervous this past week, worried I'd forget something, or not have enough to show. I'd carried so much anxiety that my shoulders are knotted like a macrame planter! So, after a day of hard work, I decided to go to Barnes and Noble, thinking it would be nice to roam around undisturbed for awhile.

I was mistaken. I went to look for the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris (I knew I'd finish the first one within a few hours and would want the next, and the next...) and found them and began flipping through them absently. I became really annoyed when I didn't see any mention of my favorite vampire in book three and began to wonder what the heck happened and why did I have to go around snooping so far ahead. Now, i will have to read non-stop for a week to find out what happened to him. I really like Bill, the tall, dark and handsome 1860's vampire. I will have issues with this Charlaine, if she kills him off. Or writes him into a jerk. No me gusta. I got so aggravated I went to Target next door to take my mind off it and bought a couple of t-shirts, aspercream, the next two Sookie books and Midol. I went back to my hotel and got into the hot tub and began reading like it was my life's work. I think I got cooked and had to drag myself out, weak and bright red. I now know it is not wise to take a riveting book into the hot tub. I can be a real wing nut.

Interestingly, I'm no longer nervous about my book. I feel like I'm ahead, with new ideas on how to make it even better. I can't wait to get home and start right up on more projects! One of the ideas is to write it like its an artists sketchbook, an artist that encounters magical beings and makes things inspired by her experiances. I'm really excited by the concept and have been sketching up a storm! I think I may include an encounter with a certain magical creature that only comes out at night...ok, enough about vampire's! I can't help it if I have a natural obsession with mythical beings, especially ones that horrify me. I'm one of those folks that can't stand the sight of blood. I get really lightheaded and dizzy at the thought. See, now isn't it obvious why I can't get enough of vampires? Used to love Anne Rice till she got weird. Same thing with mermaids, I am terrified of deep water, can't swim, can't stand being on a boat out in open water. Anyway, back to the book, its coming along swimmingly, with loads of techniques already, so you get your money's worth. Ok, I think my new favorite show is coming on, gotta go.

anniversary

Hey there! Today is our 4th anniversary! We were married at the Botanical Gardens here in Asheville. It was the most perfect day, we had a fairy procession up tho the gazebo, while Greg played his guitar as I walked up. That was the best day.












Azalea and daddy, having a rest from searching for water fairies. You have to be very quiet, or the pixies won't show themselves!






That's me, staring at my doll with love in my heart, while Andrew digs around in the bank. I think he was hunting for what he colorfully referred to as 'frat kid glass' (the garden is next to a college), lovely, tumbled glass pebbles from broken boro pipes. We deduced this from partially intact specimens laying nearby.










I love this picture, it reminds me of something on a cd cover. Everyone looking off into the distance, slightly bored, except the lead singer, who always gazes right into the lens. I could be just that I'm really tired and everything looks good in this light.
















This is my darling, Eva. We named her that because are bestest buddy by the same name, came immediately to mind when I opened the box. She is from Wilde Imaginations new line for fall. Look at the trouble maker heading for a hole in the tree.









Another view (because I know you can't get enough) looking gothic and overdressed in the warm sunshine. I have to say, I love her clothes and shoes and wouldn't mind being 16" tall so I could try them on. Although being any shorter than I am right now doesn't sound that great.

What a day! We went to 'our' garden, visited the place where we said 'forever' and wished our happiness would last another 40 years. We drove the mustang around, praised her purring engine, then promptly ran out of gas. Not surprising in a gas guzzler. We went across the street and filled her up and continued the adventure. I can't count how many times I've run out of gas. In that car especially, the gauge is off, so even if its running on fumes, it shows as having half a tank. It used to not work at all when I was in college and had to gather some art school boys to help me remove the tank from under the trunk. That was an amusing sight. Skinny girl getting dirty under the car with six guys standing around looking blank. Eventually one read the manual and helped. Those were the days I could fix my own car, 'cause I was too broke to take it in to the shop!

Anyway, we got back and worked on the book, Andrew wire wrapping crystals and me writing away. I love the process, so many layers to work on. I've painted backgrounds with jewel toned watercolors, inked decorative borders and made transparencies to lay over backgrounds, to add texture. we are really having fun laying out the pallette of beads to use. Goods are coming out that I didn't even know I had, vintage swarovski's, baby blue kyanite strands, faceted pearls....Andrew jokes that folks are going to get annoyed if I use too many hard to find beads! I can't help it, I'm a collector and my collection is vast. So, I'm dying to post pics of our progress, but its all unfinished and I don't want folks to see before its done- pieces can change so quickly. We shall see what I have the nerve to show.....