miami

Hello! We are in Miami right now, on the last day of the Best Bead Show. Azalea and I have been camped out in the hotel room, working on the last illustrations for my book. They are lookin' good! I'm using a mix of gemstone watercolors and gouche, for an ethereal quality.
Today, we are going to work at the show behind the booth, while Andrew tends the customers. This should be interesting. I have a few more days to finish, so I'm painting every chance I get! Then I will be done, so I can relax and think about what I 'm craving. Lately, the cravings are flan, sweet tea and madeliene cookies. I eat healthy so its ok to indulge! Names I like today are: Max, Jackson and maybe Forest and for girls Viola, Tiger Lily and Rose.

good news

Ok, I've been agonizing over what picture to use with this post, but didn't have any clear ones. So, here's my good news...I'm knocked up! Yay! We were going to wait till after my book was finished, but Greg got word from our best friends that THEY were pregnant, so he insisted. I know, goofy, but that's us. Azalea is, of course, beside herself with happiness. She did ask me, with big, sad eyes, if I could make her a brother or sister so she'd never have to be alone and I said yes. So here's the pertinent info: I'm now at ten weeks and a few days, due early November (that's right, a Scorpio baby) and have nauseau and heartburn.

I haven't decided on any names, but am sure it will be something interesting and powerful, like Valentine or Orlando. I know some folks prefer very traditional, soft sounding names that don't stand out, but they can have their own babies or pets or what have you. Anyway, this whole pregnancy business is very tiring and makes me puke, so you can imagine how hard working on anything is! Greg has been very helpful by juicing all kinds of interesting concoctions and making all the odd things I request. Which is cake and lots of it! I suppose this was why I had such a big baby before, but that's ok. I like a nice fat baby anyway.

atlanta

New buttons, charm and bead from Anne Choi's delightful new line.


Tiny shells, irridescent wing pearls, roman glass and the smallest turquoise, coral and pearl beads I've ever seen. Found at the American Gem Expo.


Persimmons, cacao pod chips and a long 'tango' pear found at the Buford Hwy. Farmers Market in Atlanta.

We got home last night from our long weekend trip to Atlanta, disappointed to return to such cold and snow after enjoying such beautiful weather. It was a nice little trip, Greg worked the show while Azalea and I ran around town with our good friend Anne Choi . I have to say, I am jealous of all the good food to be found in her neck of the woods! She took us to the asian farmers market and I gawked at all the goodness and weirdness that we discovered. How I would love to have a grocery store that stocked guavas, persimmons, strange pears and everything asian food you can think of...it was hard to leave. We ate Indian food for lunch and sushi for dinner, and loads of sweet tea between. We really enjoyed spending time with locals Deb and Lynn as well, it was a lot of fun riding around, looking at everything. It made me miss living in a big city, everything so accessible, with so many choices. I guess its good we travel a lot! Greg will definitely be on the road the next few months! Almost a show every weekend! He has another agenda while in those cities...to find Trader Joe's and keep me stocked in my favorite food that I can't get here! I can't help it if I'm obsessed with food! Lucky me, I think Greg is making a buttermilk pie tonight!

Check out this custom bangle from Delias Thompson on etsy! Its hammered silver with one of my favorite quotes from William Blake:
"To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wildflower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour". Its really shiny and beautiful and I love seeing the quote throughout the day, reminding me to relax.

I've had a strange week, totally opposite from the previous months of non stop work. For some reason, I couldn't make myself even step into my studio. I shifted focus, tending to the house, Azalea and myself, taking time to draw and read. I've allowed myself to drift a little, to enjoy being with my family. The big agenda yesterday consisted of a coloring book and crayons (because my girl loves to color), with a little cleaning for arriving houseguests. It was nice to visit with friends, run around town and share big plans. I'll have to get back to work now, as my break is over and I'm excited at all the new projects awaiting me. I think I might even turn early tonight!

This shot of me sculpting was taken when I just started work on my book. I feel so different from the person in the picture, like a shift happened somewhere, that changed me.

But some things never change, like my love for beautiful things. I bought this last week at a shop near Waimea Falls, thinking how good it would look on my already cluttered desk. I'm sitting at an empty desk now, at the Interweave apartment, in Colorado, thinking how much has changed in a few short months. Certainly not my obsessive collecting, but something I can't quite describe. I've been wondering at this niggling feeling all day, what about me is different? Its many things, I suppose. Its sadness that the project is coming to an end, its joy, too, for the same reason. I think there is a part of me that can no longer ignore my dreams, that they can no longer be put off, till there is more time. I've long wanted to write and illustrate childrens books and working on this project has brought that to the surface.

I suppose I'm at a crossroads. I love and hate the feeling. I am deeply uncomfortable with change, but I also embrace the idea, even though its frightening. I'm not saying I'm going to abandon Green Girl Studios (that would be like removing an eye!) but I feel like sharing the stories I've been carrying around for so long. Is this silly? Does anyone else feel pulled toward daydreams? I've always followed my intuition, trusting the universe to guide me. So, I'm going to do it. I'm going to write my stories, draw and paint the illustrtions and pray when I send them out into the world, they are worthy of printing.

Aloha!

Here's my girl, lookin' windswept and mermaidy at Diamond Head Park. She begged for her hair to be dyed blue and the stylist asked if streaks were ok and being a push over, I said yes. Look at her face. I'm in trouble.

Almost at the top! The trail is steep, winding, with lots of loose gravel and the views are breathtaking. I learned that I am not keen on heights after slogging up a narrow staircase of a hundred steps and looking back. I froze in horror at what I'd just climbed. I stumbled through the cave to the top and realized I didn't give a fig if I saw the view or not, or that I just hiked an hour to get their. I was fixating on getting down that awful staircase, which I did, one agonizing step after the other, gripping the rusty handrail with both hands. I could feel myself falling, which is sort of sickening. I never imagined myself as having phobias, but I guess I can add dangerous heights to my list. The annoying thing is no one else seemed to think it was scary. Azalea made it all the way to the top and got a certificate to prove she climbed Diamond Head.

The koi pond at Dole Plantation, a touristy spot to get fresh pineapple sorbet or to get lost in the enormous maze on the property.

One of the things I love about Hawaii is all the beautiful vegetation. I looked up and saw this intricate lacework of leaves. This pattern will certainly show up in future work!

Greg and Azalea resting on the bridge with Waimea Falls in the background.

We stumbled on this beach in Haleiwa, on the North Shore, to find sea turtles resting! Talk about serendipity! We just wanted to watch the sunset and maybe a little beachcombing before heading back. It was perfectly magical.

Before we spotted these, we saw some in the water and hoped they would come closer. We found five along that beach.

The crew posing at The Royal Birthing Stones, a ruins where ancient royalty came to have babies. Folks still leave offerings of plumeria and seed leis out of reverence.

We spent a lot of time at the beach, looking for lost treasure, sea glass and shells. It was a hard trip back, three planes and a two hour car ride home, but it was worth it. It felt good to be in my own house, but I long for the warmth and the sea. We were gone for about nine days, which went by fast. I felt a little disconnected, not doing my routine of checking email, cleaning house, working on my book or making new pieces. It was nice, but I missed going through the everyday rhythms that make up my life. I suppose I'm most comfortable in my own surroundings, doing familiar activities. I was back at it, the moment we walked in the door!

day off

Look what I painted, wooden kokeshi dolls and a cigar box.

They're painted with acrylics and sealed with matte medium.

The WoodLand doll came today! I ordered her when my gran passed, to cheer me up. She would've liked this doll, as she made a few for us.

Now this is strange. I was petting Paloma (a wild mourning dove we rescued) and she was fluffing up and puffing out her cheeks, acting weird, then I came back and there was an egg in her cage! She laid another one about an hour ago. I've had pet birds for about ten years and none of them laid eggs. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Amazed, but also weirded out. I'll have to think on this.

Well, I took a day off yesterday. I haven't done such a thing in months. Seems like everyday I've worked on my book in some way or another. I turned in the manuscript and jewelry last week, which is a huge relief. Now all that's left are the illustrations and step out photos and some editing. I'll feel all free and easy, relaxed and happy. Then I can slack really hard and paint and sew all day long! I can't wait.

Ok, now I have to pack my traveling studio (which I enjoy doing for some reason) for our show in Hawaii. I love that place. But, I'll have to draw like 'I'm mad at it' as my dad would say to get us to do something with lots of verve. I can't complain about that, making journal pages in paradise! If you're in the area and would like to see all this secret stuff I'm not allowed to show, stop by our booth! Just kidding, its only slightly secret.

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!