Tree House

Today we worked outside on the tree house that Tony started a couple days ago. We watched for the Sasquatch and Grass Dog (from Lady in the Water) and we tried to spot all the fairy dwellings around the fort. I counted three. We searched for acorn caps that were interestingly shaped so we could use them for doll hats, but we didn't find any. We had lots of fun today, my girl pretending to be a benevolent queen and I, the trusty pony to pull her chariot (wheel barrow).

When I was a kid, I played in the deserts of New Mexico with my sister under a huge, upturned tree; it was like a shallow cave with the roots dangling down for a roof. We used to tie pieces of glass to the roots as sun catchers and line up busted open 'thunder eggs' (we didn't know they were called geodes-we opened them by banging them on the sidewalk) around the tree, like a sparkly fence. I hadn't thought of our fort and all the days we spent fixing it up, for years. I felt small again and full of wonder.

Pixie Girl

Hello! I made my girl a tutu and flower garland so she could get into character as the pixie princess. We went to the store to get pickles (we can't get enough pickles-dill, bread and butter, dilly beans, love, love,love) and I spotted this pretty tulle, and being a fabric addict, I grabbed some in three colors and some fake fur in cheetah and seal. And some really good cotton twill for dolls. I am Captain Craft O'Matic today! A tutu, garland, and a sprite (made from wire and polymer) since yesterday. I meant to organize, but that is, as we all know, a complete drag. So, with complete abandon, we watched movie after movie and stitched and sculpted (my girls a whiz with play-doh) with no thought if it would make money. This sounds terrible, but when your self employed, everything you make is for sale. Or in my case, it needs to be castable. So its a luxury to make fun, one of a kind pieces. I need to do this at least once a month or become 'hard to get along with' as my mama says. No one likes a cranky artist, so here I am with nothing done for the BABE! show next week, but I'm pleased as punch. I'm almost finished with the sprite that will live in my new cabinet, she needs a face, hair and wings. I bought directions online on how to make fairy wings, hopefully I'll do it right. I'm determined to finish everthing except the wings tonight, or I won't sleep. So, I guess I have to announce a winner for the contest, I know, I know, its been like two weeks and everybody thinks I'm trying to keep the necklace Andrew made (I would never do anything like that! Also, its green and I have loads of green necklaces) but the truth is, I hate picking one person, its like eating truffles in front of everybody and not sharing. But theres one necklace! I will do another contest then, so no one is mad at me. Ok, the winner is.......MELISSA! Mellisa, contact me with your address. Thanks to all who participated and check back soon for the next contest.

Halloween

Look at my woodland creature! She had so much fun running around with her buddies in Greenville. We did something different, Trunk or Treat, which is held in a parking lot with cars trunks popped open and folks giving out candy. The concept is less fun than beggars night (waiting in a long line to collect candy as opposed to running from house to house). I think its for saftey. Maybe next year I'll get a bunch of people together to make a 'creepy village' or 'spooky woods'. I did like the pony quite a bit.

We worked on rearranging and organizing, which is always refreshing. I love how it looks! We had a few friends over to taste some cheeses and good wines, something I never tire of doing. I suppose paradise would include a massive cheese selection (including all the aged, funky goaty ones) and no headache inducing wines. Well, I'm back on schedule tomorrow, ready to make loads of new goods.

New Books

Jane Wynn's new book is so good! I usually flip through books in this genre, look at the similar work and go on to the next one. This one has mold making techniques! Bezel making! Patinas! If you have any interest in jewelry or collage, this is a must for your collection. I've looked at it a dozen times since I got it.

I bought this for Azalea, I thought she'd enjoy the bright pictures and extremely cute characters. We both love it! This girl is good!


I met Holly Black at Faery Con a couple weeks ago and was completely charmed by her wit and friendliness. I found this latest installment in the Spiderwick Chronicles very convincing, so much so that Azalea and I went sprite hunting. The illustrations and text are so inspiring!

This wordless graphic novel is gorgeous. I am not exaggerating. Go to the bookstore and see for yourself, absolutely stunning. Its a story about immigration, told through a series of illustrations that has a magical quality emmanating throughout.

We got home late Sunday night, exhausted and happy to get out of the van. New York is about 11 hours away which was rough because baby girl had a high fever, making the trip seem so much longer. We had such a good time running around the city, going to our favorite places, shopping and eating. I think all the exertion (and the rain) wiped us all out. My girl is tough, she was better by morning.
Its always inspiring to travel, people watch and for me, shopping. I love checking out packaging, displays and new fashions. I've been working on organizing, basically nesting so the place I hate to leave is more comfortable. I think a studio should be an artists most favorite and comfortable place, a haven for dreaming and a safe place to make work. Mine is in a large attic with windows across one wall, overlooking trees and our porch, but it is far from organized. I have a plan that involves a big cabinet, to hide my goods. I'm on the hunt for the perfect one. If you have any suggestions, let me know! Thanks and good night!

autumn days

Hello! I've spent the day playing with my girl, looking for red leaves, twisty sticks and acorns (building materials for fairy houses). Asheville is downright heavenly in the fall! The sky is a perfect turquoise blue, so magical seen through a maze of red and gold leaves. We played for a long time, enjoying the sun on our faces and imitating bird songs. The house feels empty, Greg is at the Minneapolis show (The Twin Cities Bead Bazaar) and Andrew is back in NY, showing our goods at the Big Apple Glass Arts & Bead Festival and Sheila left for L.A. (to draw?paint?we always wonder what she gets up to). So being left to our own devices, we cleaned house, played, organized, relaxed and put off doing a custom job. My studio is a wreck, absolutely miserable. I dread putting away the mountainous piles acrylics, polymer and wax. Tomorrow I'll just have to grit my teeth and do it. I said that yesterday and got sucked into Etsy.com when my girl went to sleep, blowing any chances of work. I did find the cutest reversible pinnafores (dress/top) that I can't wait to put on my girl, check them out here.

Return from Faery

Greg as Gelfling.



New favorite source for prints: Stepanie Pui-Mun Law.


We arrived from our trip today totally wiped out. The show was different than I expected. I've never done anything like Faery Con, so I was surprised by all the rampant silliness. People gallavanting down the aisles with wings, knocking down merchandise, skipping around my booth. I longed for a taser. Ok, I love faeries, mermaids, all manner fantasy, but I do not love silliness when I'm trying to work. I suppose I expected folks to goof off at the Faery Ball (which they did) but not while shopping. So, I like a more subdued shopping experience (I despise the schoom- doom noise blasting out of Abercrombie and Finch - give me Anthropologie any day) but thats alright.

The best part of the show for us was meeting the amazing Brian and Wendy Froud. I have loved their work since I saw The Dark Crystal and the book Faeries. They were gracious and charming, exactly how I imagined them. We also had the pleasure of befriending the talented Holly Black (of Spiderwick fame) and her husband Theo Black. They are very cool people. They also used one of my fairies on her website.

All in all we had a great time, my best buddy Jessica Weisel flew in for the festivities, adding to the fun. I wish we had longer to check out Philadelphia. We took Andrew back to NY last night and I was sad to leave. It will be weird not to spend some 12 hours a day working in the same studio. Its always so strange after a big show, I focus so much energy on an event, that when its over I feel depleted. Although it is nice to relax. Andrew has all the pics on his camera, so hopefully he will post them soon. I made a neat set of antlers to wear (too bad I didn't make more!) they were a hit. More pics coming soon!

resin portraits

Hello! Here in Philadelphia after a long ride. Here are the resin portraits that I've been working on. They are little polymer sculptures in sterling silver boxes that have been painted and coated over with resin. We're beat. Good night! Hope to see you tomorrow at Faery Con.

Contest

Hi! We've been working really hard and now we're at the home-stretch. It's about an hour before we leave and we are looking forward to seeing all the happy faery folk at Faery Con in Philadelphia.

To celebrate, we're having a contest! Here's all you have to do:

Leave a comment in response to THIS posting or Andrew's POSTING with your name and the FOUR names listed as examples of the special guest artists and writers who will be appearing at Faery Con. Look in the most current issue of From the Beach of All Things Lost (the Green Girl Studios newsletter) for the article with the names in it. All correct responses will be entered in a randomly selected drawing once Faery Con is over on Sunday night.

Good luck! For an extra chance to enter your name, leave another comment with your name and the quote that's on the back of the sphinx bead.

Well, the road is calling and I have to much to do! See everyone there!

fairies and sphinxes

Hello! Here are a couple new pieces. The silver fairy came about because the first version I made was a right pain the ass to cast (thin arms, thin neck) it was hard to get good casts, so I made this lovely lady and I love her. My wax skills are so much better now! I have Bob Burkett to thank for my vast improvement, he is a master at metalsmithing. He is battling some pretty nasty health problems right now and we are worried about him. Hopefully, he will have a quick recovery.

The sphinx painting is another collaboration Andrew and I are working on, part of the Oracle Card series. This is the obstacles card, a card symbolizing constraints or delays. She looks like she knows a secret, perhaps its in knowing there are obstacles you have an advantage to overcome them. Andrew is doing a great job with the backgrounds, he has a good sense of atmospheric light. I enjoyed painting this card, I felt like I was channeling the old fantasy illustrators like Frazetta, while blocking it out. It was fun. I can't really believe how much work we've made for ourselves. I stayed up all night finishing the castle for our garden art line. Working towards new products for Faery Con has been really fun and challenging. I'm not expecting it to be a bead show, so we're trying to make more finished pieces (our new silver fairies are destined for necklaces,) plus the prints and cards so all bases are covered. Im so tired! I can't wait for the show and wish I had more time! Well, my castle cracked all over the place after firing, so I have alot of patching up to do!