Day of Work, Night of Party...

Here are some snapshots from Tucson at the Best Bead Show and the Swarovski Party. I'll update captions later as time permits.

Postcards from the Show...

There is something thrilling about the buzz of a show. I think that there is something very primal about the exchange of beads. The practice goes back as the earliest marker of civilization – before written language, before ceramic pots... before almost anything. Body adornment transcends all cultures. Here, in this place, it feels right. Set against a backdrop of mountains both ancient and new, atop a land drawn up from the sands... it just feels right.

I am constantly being impressed by the work I've seen, both from the vendors and the customers alike. This is truly a convergence of creative energies. I love this. I love meeting all the new people and talking with them, if only for a moment. I am always surprised to hear it, but very appreciative when I do, when someone says that they've stopped by this little corner in the great big world wide web and have spent time with my pictures, my words and my art.

For now... I'll leave you with pictures from the show and from our party. I'll update the captions as time permits, but wanted to share this, my world, with you.

Jill MacKay

Joyce Rooks

Marcy and Eleanor of Ellie Mac

"Kalbach Corner"

Author Emma Bull.

Regal, Marcia DeCoster.

Melinda Barta with Ask Sara.

Jean Campbell skewering shrimp. (I think I've made it a goal to rope at least one bead celebrity into doing something unusual as far as food prep goes for our parties since we first started these annual get-togethers. One year I got Sherri Haab to fill lemon curd filo shells.)

Deb and Melissa of Chevron.

Ask Sara, Andrew Brown, and Jamie Hogsett with Bryan Kitson.

Patti, Sydney, and Joyce Rooks.

Busy Days...

The show was very busy yesterday. I barely had time to raise my head up from counting beads. Unfortunately this resulted in only a few pictures snapped.

Sak and Liz of Saki Silver dropped by the booth. Aren't they adorable? I think they are just the cutest couple ever! Did you also happen to check out their new bronze line? It's killer.

Another friendly face emerged at the show: Lisa Kan, author of Bead Romantique: Elegant Beadweaving Designs. Lisa complains of not being photogenic and dreads having her picture taken, but isn't she lovely? Lisa's not showing this year in Tucson, but she is taking classes and has stuff with Pamela of Bello Modo.

You know, over the years, Julie Young of TierraCast has become a lovely friend. Most people would think that we wouldn't get along, since they are also makers and manufactures of pewter components, but that's totally NOT true and we get along like peas and carrots. They are all lovely people! (They even featured us in their catalogue!)

After a day at the show, we headed over to the Interweave Party at the Tucson Museum of Art.

Fellow housemate, Jeannette Cook (a seed bead tour de force) poses next to the lovely and enchanting Marlene Blessing.

Sunyoung Park and her sister of Ezel Bezel strike a pose for the camera. I love their colorful laser-cut filigree, bezel wire, and CZ studded goodies! Sun was set up next to us at a show in New York and became fast friends with Azalea.

Is it possible for anyone to look more regal each time you see them? Well, every time I see Marcia DeCoaster, author of Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence: Elegant Jewelry Projects with Right Angle Weave (Lark Books Beadweaving Master Class) and a supreme talent with seed beads and crystals, I think she looks more and more like an empress.

Christan Humphries and Marilyn Koponen of Interweave always look so lovely. It's a treat to see them, because like many of the other people at the party, I only see them once or twice a year.

The West Coast represented at the party with Kate Richbourg of Beaducation and Jess Imports. (I know that Jess has a real name, but I can't help calling her "Jess Imports".) The next time I'm in San Francisco, I'm totally going to try and hit up Jess Imports' wine bar and art gallery, the Hotel Biron.

Sporting a Swarovski Steampunk necklace, author, editor, and designer extraordinaire, Jean Campbell looks absolutely adorable. She's one of the most prolific and busy people I know. You might know her from her new book, Steampunk Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings. She has so much energy and is always working on HUGE projects. I feel like a slacker and am considering carrying a picture of her in my wallet to keep me motivated.

Another of the housemates and a wonderful person and bead-maker, Joyce Rooks always looks so pretty. Not only does she make amazing beads, but she is also an incredible musician. I can't wait to hear some of her new work.

The evening would not be complete without seeing the Fusion Girls of Fusion Beads. They are so much fun and I am utterly and completely smitten with them. I said that they were tattooed on my heart. They really are a great company that supports artists and beaders.

Notice how the background is not as populated with people. We closed down the party with co-authors of Mixed Metals: Creating Contemporary Jewelry with Silver, Gold, Copper, Brass, and More, Melinda Barta (editor of Beadwork magazine) and Danielle Fox (editor of Stringing magazine).

What a fun evening! It was great seeing so many people. I really do love Tucson and feel fortunate to be involved in such a supportive and artistic community.

Bronze Age...

Surprise! Debuting here in Tucson are some of the Green Girl Studios pieces cast in bronze. I love bronze. I adore the warmth of the color and the richness of the gold-tones. I think they look just phenomenal. The pieces will be available here in Tucson at one of the three shows were at: To Bead True Blue, The Best Bead Show, and The Tucson Bead Show.

A Wynn-Wynn Situation...

I almost forgot to post this preview of the polymer components that arrived from Heather Wynn-Millican and her mom, Pam Wynn. They make such beautiful work. I love all of Heather's heartfelt poetry pieces and all of the new shapes. We'll have Heather and Pam's work on our table at the To Bead True Blue show. They won't have their own booth this year in Tucson, but will drop by later in the week for a whirlwind shopping trip. Heather wasn't originally planning on coming, but her husband surprised her with a plane ticket! Perhaps it was to celebrate the good news that Heather is expecting a baby!

Above is a picture of Pam's polymer beads. Aren't they fantastic? The colors are so rich and the patterns absolutely lovely. Jamie Hogsett used some of Pam's polymer beads for her gallery submission, Jungle Fever, in Cynthia's book. Definitely swing by the show and check these lovelies out!

Glorious Tucson...

I have been enjoying myself here in Tucson most ardently. The weather is amazing and everyone has been just awesome! It has definitely been a nice trip so far and it is the perfect way to escape the cold of the North.

Last night we went out with the Fusion girls and it was such a blast. I love spending time with them and hearing about all the new things about Fusion Beads. We ate at a swank suishi bar called, Ra in the foothills and it was most enjoyable. We even squeezed in a little bit of dancing at Pearl. It was an off night for the venue, which meant that we had the entire place to ourselves.

Staying with Kate McKinnon has been absolutely perfection. I have so much love in my heart for Kate McKinnon. She made us breakfast this morning and it was stunning. The pear pancakes were fluffy, sweet, and totally delectable. I drenched mine in maple syrup. The eggs, sprinkled with fresh chives from her backyard, were yellow clouds of deliciousness. And certainly worthy of recognition, the andouille sausage was a spicy and simply put, a flavor explosion. Now that's a great way to start the day!

Another reason why I love Tucson is that I get to see the amazingly talented Candice Wakumoto and her husband, Paul. They are so sweet. Both of them have a knack for making me giggle. Not only are they stellar people, but Candice is a wizard with PMC and makes some really unique pieces. For Christmas, I sent Candice the Skull King necklace. The necklace features a ceramic focal by Lisa Peters Art. Candice loved his "gimpy" eye and was inspired to make her own masterpiece, entitled: The Mumu King! Isn't it awesome? I covet it so hard.

Above is one of her spiky hearts. The fine silver heart is embellished with 24 karat gold. I love how edgy and sculptural this piece is.

Here's another piece that Candice made. Aren't the cut-outs and the egg-like shape wonderful? It's just gorgeous.

This piece is killer! I love the color she's incorporating into her work. The flower looks like an encrusted antique jewel and I am just a smitten kitten with the sweet honey bee flying off. It's another favorite of mine.

Also at the To Bead True Blue show are the newlywed couple, Carter and Aveesh of Bead Trust. They've got some really juicy strands that I can't wait to get my hands on some. I am especially enamored with their pink opalite. You can just barely see it off of Aveesh's right shoulder. I love how it looks in the light. I'm thinking of making one of THESE necklaces, but in the pink opalescent glass.

Tonya Davidson of A Whole Lotta Whimsy dropped by. It was good to see her and meet one of the behind the scenes people, Sarah. Tonya is based out of Tucson and her shop is loaded with all kinds of jewelry-making goodness.

Two authors of helpful and totally inspirational books just happened to drop by the booth at the same time: Liz Jones of Beaducation, author of Jewelry Studio: Silver Wire Fusing and Denise Peck who's the editor of Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry magazine and also penned Wire Style: 50 Unique Jewelry Designs. They are just delightful!

The new editor of Beading Daily, Leslie Rogalski, stopped by as well. It was nice to see her and learn about her new DoodleBeads DVD.

Sassing it up for the camera, Lisa Niven Kelly and Kate Richbourg of Beaducation pose for a picture. They were really sweet and made sure that I had plenty of water (in a handy Beaducation stainless steel water-bottle), French fries, and headache medicine. We joked around about making a clay-mation commercial of me saying, "When you're looking for inspiration, hop on Beaducation!"

Ask Sara of Soft Flex Company swung by the booth. Sara is an absolute gem and is just the sweetest thing! She told me all about the new colors of Soft Flex that are coming out and how they'll correspond with the seasons. That's so clever! (She also gave me the scoop on finding really awesome succulents while I'm in town.)

I'm looking forward to the show tomorrow! I'm sure there will be many opportunities to see more lovely people and find more incredible goodies.

To end the evening, Greg broke out the grill and cooked up some tilapia and asparagus. I used one of the meyers lemons from the yard to add a little sweet-and-sour-tangy goodness to the smoky flavors. He served grilled dishes with a fresh mozzarella and tomato salad drizzled with some lip-smacking-good balsamic vinaigrette. Yum! We sat around with Kate McKinnon, laughing, enjoying our meal, and talking about gem show hijinks and it was just glorious.

To Tucson...

We are finally here in Tucson and all set up. I had hopes to blog from the road, but we hit some ice storms and the thought of capturing such misery was beyond my capabilities.

Luckily before we hit the ice storm, we were able to spend time with Greg's sister-in-law, Stacie. She lives with his brother Mike in Memphis. We had a wonderful time hanging out with her. She took us to The 5 Spot which is a small, neighborhood restaurant behind what used to be an old brothel called Ernestine and Hazel's. The meal was delicious. My scallops with sun-dried tomatoes over pasta was tangy and good, but I'll know for next time to get the shrimp and grits. I had a bite of Stacie's and the grits were supremely creamy, smooth, and the perfect accompaniment to the supremely tasty seafood. The cool thing was that we were given a tour of the entire place, including the ghost-invested upstairs.

Across the way was The Cheesecake Corner. It was delicious. I got a slice of rum-soaked coconut cheesecake that was divine. We hung out and stuff ourselves silly with cheesecake while watch the State of the Union Address.

While Greg was driving, I was able to finish up wire-wrapping some special, one-of-a-kind pieces for the shows. The glass baubles were featured in Cynthia's book, Enchanted Adornments: Creating Mixed-Media Jewelry with Metal, Clay, Wire, Resin & More, and were made by the talented Shannon Hill, who passed away last year. They are like time-capsules, preserving an original drawing by Cynthia with bits of stones, mica, and twigs. I adore these sweet baubles capped with PMC.

I wasn't able to work much though on the road. As I mentioned earlier, we eventually hit an ice storm and had to drive through snow, freezing rain, ice and all manner of unpleasantries. We spun off the road, got stuck and had to be rescued by passing by trucks, and dealt with the slow going 15 mile per hour trudge. We got stranded in Amarillo, Texas the weather was so bad.

Eventually when the snow stopped the next day, we took the some-what clearer roads south through Texas. As we came up to Odessa, Texas, most of the signs of the horrible weather were behind us and it was clear skies with a warm sun – just what I needed!

We arrived in Tucson at Kate McKinnon's groovy house just after the sunset. I am smitten with her house. She appreciates well-made things and that's represented in its furnishings and decor. It is sprinkled with all kinds of vintage goodness and many owl friends. Not to mention, Kate resides here and I have determined that she is one of my favorite people.

Kate and I made lunch yesterday and it was phenomenal. She sauteed a fillet mignon steak, whipped up a fresh salad, and toasted some crostini. I made a homemade béarnaise sauce and a quick lemon dressing made from meyers lemons right off the tree. Kate is efficient in the kitchen and I can appreciate that after having worked in a restaurant. Things get done! We ate out on the deck, and I admired her succulents and her view of the pool. It is such a delightful treat to eat OUTSIDE with the sun on my face. Back in Bolivar, this would be an impossibility unless you were looking to get frostbite.

After lunch, Kate took me on some errands and shopping in her sporty car for wooden bowls and unique planters. I plan to stock up on succulents for my window garden while I'm here. The planters were just what I wanted. I felt very effective, crossing things off my list.

When we were done running around, she dropped me off at The Doubletree Hotel to help set up the booth at the To Bead True Blue show that opens in a couple of hours. It was interesting to set up a booth after having not done it for a month. Eventually the old patterns fell into place. Above is a picture of the new pewter pieces. They look fabulous! We'll also be getting a bunch clasps done in cast bronze on Tuesday! The table is laden with all kinds of treasures – lots of pewter, shibuichi, silver, bronze and copper from my family at Green Girl Studios, lampwork glass by Basha, books by my sister Cynthia and Kate McKinnon (who is having a sale on her books only during the Gem Show), ceramics by Off Center Production, and we'll have polymer goodies from Heather Wynn on Monday. I am so excited about our shows!

Goodies for Tucson...

Cynthia and I were working until the wee hours of the morning, suffering with burning red eyes and exhaustion, but it all paid off! We finished up some treats just for the Tucson show!

Above are three new charms. Aren't they cute? They are made out of pressed PMC and are TINY! The owl is smaller than a dime. They'd be perfect for earrings or for doll jewelry or used on a charm bracelet. The pressed out pieces have been patinated with liver of sulfur and all hand-buffed to bring out some of the silver and add a little contrast. They'll be retailing at $6 each.

You might know Barbara "Basha" from her beautiful, ethereal lampwork glass beads, but she also created this hand-colored ball chain. Isn't it lovely? I love the rich colors and saturated hues. It definitely adds a little spice to regular ball chain. She's sending a bunch and I'll be selling them out in Tucson. They retail between $10 and $12 depending on size.

We'll also be having new pewter designs. CLICK HERE to go to Cynthia's blog to see the masters of the new pewter designs sculpted by her and Greg.

AND! We'll be featuring work on our table by Off Center Productions, Kelly Russell, Barbara "Basha" and Heather Wynn! So definitely stop by to say hello and to check out ALL of the lovely little goodies.

Jill MacKay Bezel Experimentations...

The delightful, Jill MacKay sent me some bezels from her new line from Darice Inc. to experiment with. I was really impressed with the craftsmanship and how nice the sterling silver bezels were. One of the distinguishable perks is that these bezels have nice, high walls. This is perfect for all manner of goodies to be embedded or to have multiple layers of resin poured.

Below are a few of my experimentations.

I wanted to add a little bit of color, but still retain the arabesque lattice-work design in the background. I used vintage sequins from Gail Crosman Moore. Since the sequins are slightly cupped in shape, it's tricky to get them embedded without trapping a lot of air-bubbles. The secret is pouring a layer first, then sprinkling the sequins in, and then topping it off with another layer. Using a tooth pick, I was able to flip around the sequins in the resin, releasing any air-bubbles.

I like how this turned out, even though it turned over very different than I had imagined. I sprinkled in vintage simulated pearls and some Swarovski crystals. You might ask yourself, "Where are the Swarovski crystals?" Good question. Apparently after being submerged in the resin, the crystals seem to disappear. I imagine it has something to do with the refraction of light and how the facets are embedded in resin, but I'm not sure. If you look really closely, you can see the most subtle color differences sprinkled throughout from the black diamond Swarovski crystals. I'm going to try to half-way embed the crystals next time. Even though it didn't turn out quite how I imagined, I do like how the pearls look like some kind of enchanted fruit on the vine of a magical plant.

For those that love Steampunk, these are perfect! I could stack and layer watch gears and cogs all day. Ideally I would have had some of the underlying design motif to come through a little more, but unfortunately knocked my carefully stacked parts over while pouring the resin. Really, the possibilities are endless!

The earrings are some of my favorites! I love the studded sides and how even for a substantial sized set of bezels, they are surprisingly lightweight. For these I scanned in a butterfly from a field-guide and printed it out on a white background. I then went to my local copy shop and color-copied them onto wet media acetate. It's important to use a heat-set or laser printer, because an inkjet's ink will lift in the resin. Once I had the copies on the wet-media acetate, I trimmed them and submerged them in the resin. Since the wet media acetate doesn't breathe and isn't porous, it's necessary to remove the air-bubbles trapped underneath the plastic. I think these came out fantastic! I love how the pattern of the butterfly's wings were overlaid on top of Jill's design. It adds color and personalizes them. (An added bonus is that the resin causes the ink to seem brighter and more saturated.)

I definitely recommend Jill MacKay's new line of bezels. They're a versatile set of components perfect for customization.

Required FTC Disclosure: These items came free of charge. I was not paid by Jill MacKay or Darice INC. for my honest review of their products.

An Unexpected Treat...

Yesterday, the delightful Kathy Van Kleeck stopped by for a quick visit. It is always nice to see her. I love her sense of humor and admire her talents. Kathy came by bearing gifts! Ever since my last trip down to Asheville, I was thinking of a way to get one of her pieces. I adore their heartfelt sentiments and all the tiny personal touches that go into her jewelry.

Above is a picture of the piece she made just for me! Aren't the luckiest kid on the block? It's hand-braided silk with a blessing rolled up on the side with amethyst and cyanite and a hand-stamped fine silver charm.

The charm reads, "Simplicity Always". If you've ever received correspondence from me, then you know that this is how I sign my letters. I've signed all my letters and emails like this for over a decade. It's a mantra I like to live by and doesn't necessarily mean exactly what it overtly implies. To me, "simplicity" is like a state of grace – it's not necessarily simple or easy, but done in a manner which seems effortless and natural. A tight-rope walker makes it seem so easy to balance on a thin wire, but we all know it takes a great deal of concentration and effort not to come tumbling off. It is my affirmation to live gracefully and with purpose each day – each moment.

Redesigning Jewelry...

I was fortunate enough to participate in a "jewelry redux" assignment that will appear in the next issue of Stringing Magazine. The article was penned by Michelle Mach. CLICK HERE to check out her Beading Daily post, where she reveals seven tips for redesigning jewelry.

A Small Rant...

You might have noticed that at the end of my last blog post, I included a "Required FTC Disclosure". Let me start of by saying that I'm completely against this. I think it's a violation of personal civil liberties outlined in the First Amendment. Any dilution of the Freedom of Speech is bad news. Not only does it violate Freedom of Speech, but it also invades privacy, presupposes jurisdiction over the world wide web and personal opinion, and is a huge waste of time to have the government monitor who's being naughty and who's being nice. The only reason why I'm in compliance with the new FTC Regulations is that I don't want to have the sponsors of the products I review penalized or fined. And really... I don't want to be fined either. Keep in mind, if you don't play nice, you could get an $11,000 fine!

If you'd like to find out more about the new FTC guidelines CLICK HERE.

Not Without...

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and the fine folks over at Artbeads.com sent over some goodies to play with. The result is my humble offering, "Not Without".

I was asked, what does "Not Without" mean. In essence, this double-negative means that you are always loved. You are not without love. In making this piece I used 8mm Swarovski crystal rounds, 12mm Swarovski crystal margarita sequins, 6mm Siam Swarovski crystal margarita sequins, an elongated heart-shaped copper-plated bezel, copper chain, natural brass filigree, gunmetal chain, and a sweet heart lobster clasp.

When I was working on the focal, I knew that the proportions of the heart were too large for a single butterfly filigree piece, so I used two. The lacy pattern of the stamped out brass adds a touch of delicacy and "light-hearted" romance. To do this, I carefully removed the excess and brought out the power tools, attaching the filigree pieces to the heart bezel. I then added a collage I did using painted vintage papers. Once the glue was dry, I filled the bezel in with ICE resin.

I wanted the piece to have a lot of movement, so I made a bunch of copper headpins and used those to create wire-wrapped dangles with the Swarovski crystal sequins. The crystals were perfect to add sparkle and bright, ruby red color. These were attached to various links of chain. I think the dark gray-black of the gunmetal chain gives this heart piece a little bit of an edge to it.

I'm pleased with the way these Valentine's Day components came together and created a piece that is not without a lot of my love. (Oh, and if you act quickly, you can save 15% off all Valentine's Day themed items!)

Required FTC Disclosure: These items came free of charge. I was not paid by Artbeads.com for my honest review of their products.

Beaded Links...

A Bead in Time
Is there such a thing as social networking jewelry? Lisa dug through a bag of Necco valentine candy hearts to create a one of a kind "twittery" necklace.

About.com Jewelry Making
Catch up on the latest jewelry related podcasts. Tammy found some excellent ones for you to listen to.

Art Bead Scene
Do You Rock? Here's your chance to show others that you do!

Carmi's Art Life World
Carmi has an easy idea to thank a sponsor.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
An Emily Dickinson poem describes Cindy's newest piece of jewelry.

Jean Campbell
Jean reviews Kerry Bogert's wonderfully whimsical new wirework book, Totally Twisted.

Jewelry & Beading
How do you feel about using inexpensive materials in your designs? Chime in and let your voice be heard!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Want to know what rubber duckies and Autism Awareness jewelry have to do with each other? Check Jean's site out!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off a new earring design made from beautiful cubic zirconia from Artbeads.com

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares the new additions to his bead stash - goodies from Cindy Gimbrone, Diane Hawkey, and Nancy Schindler.

Yank...

A big thank you goes out to everyone who has already placed an order during this sale. THANK YOU! I'm including extra goodies in each order to express my gratitude. Also, for the last five hours of the 36 Hour Tooth Fairy Sale, receive 10% off all items in my shop using the promotional code, "YANK". Remember the sale ends TONIGHT at 2 AM (EST)!

Phantoms of an Imagined Self...

Earlier today, I was cleaning out the studio. It seems like this is one task that I am always doing. I am always trying to find the perfect space to freely create. With this particular new space, I think I need to edit down the visuals. In my last studio, it was crazy small and somehow it felt right that I should make it into a nest of images, art, and warmth. The new space dictates that I remove a lot of what I had crammed in before.

While I was working to get rid of things, I came across a box filled with pictures and books and various mementos from my past. I realized that one of the books was actually my journal. I had cleverly removed the binding off of a random book and put my own pages inside. I thought this would deter any prying eyes and protect my most valuable ideas.

You know, I'm nothing like I thought I'd be. I found a map I drew out of my future and realized that I've pretty much ignored it completely. In this imagined timeline, I already own my own gallery. At the time I wrote that, I was throwing art parties in lofts in Brooklyn with Indie bands and local artists. If I had kept the momentum up, maybe I would have... who knows?

I found a book of matches tucked in between some of the pages. It had the name of a deli in SoHo. I remember this book of matches well. At one point, one of my biggest aspirations was to become the world's next biggest Art Star. Whatever that means, I don't know, but I wanted it. I even auditioned to be on a reality television show called, "Art Star." The show never really took off. Although it was in the vein of Project Runway, it was a Deitch Project and the focus on the artists seemed to be diverted towards the gallerist and his achievements. After standing in line for hours in the cold, my portfolio was briefly flipped through without much consideration. I could hear them whispering about their lunch orders. I was so disappointed and angry that I had wasted so much time that I marched over to the deli and got a book of matches and tried to set my portfolio on fire in front of the gallery as a sign of protest. I figured that if they wanted sensationalism, then I would give them SENSATIONALISM! It was too cold and slightly drizzly and the portfolio never caught. Each time I struck a match, it just went out. I look back on that moment and count myself lucky. What would have happened if I had gotten on the show? Or if my portfolio had gone up in flames and caused me to be arrested? 15 seconds of fame? 15 years of prison for arson?

In the book, I found a lot of ghosts of what could have been. A list of baby names... an itinerary for my trip to Europe... postcards of shows I wanted to see... leaves from trees now gone and long fallen... a drawing of a future that never happened.

Things didn't turn out the way I had imagined them. I could be haunted by the ghosts of things that never were, but I'm happy in my own way. Things are far from perfect, but I've found my peace in this struggle.

36 Hour Tooth Fairy Sale...

I've just uploaded a bunch of new stuff to the sale section of my shop. I've got a bunch of loose components AND finally some finished jewelry all at drastically reduced prices. Many of the items are going for a pittance of what they were originally acquired for. Today at 2PM (EST) the 36 Hour Tooth Fairy Sale begins! I had thought about calling it the 36 Hour Exploding Tooth Sale (like Kate's Exploding Pipe Sale), but thought that it had too many negative-KGB-cyanide-suicide-tooth-capsule connotations. Instead I'm focusing on the whimsy of the Tooth Fairy image to carry me through this funk. In any event, the items in the sale section of my shop will only be available until Friday evening (or rather Saturday early in the morning) at 2 AM (EST). I will then take them down and pack the orders up with wild abandon to drop them in the post before my afternoon flight. CLICK HERE to visit the sale section and take a look.

Save on top of the savings by using the promotional code "TOOTHFAIRY" at the time of checkout to receive an additional 5% off of everything in the shop. This code will also expire at 2 AM Saturday morning. Make sure to drop by the shop, because I've added lots of goodies – the kind of goodies that won't rot your teeth and require the services of the "real" Tooth Fairy.

Four New Bracelet Designs...

In these four bracelet designs, I've used a wide variety of materials. I used clasps and spacers from my family at Green Girl Studios, polymer from Pam Wynn and Christi Friesen, ceramic from Keith O'Connor, resin from Natural Touch Beads, lampwork glass from Patti Cahill of Dyed in the Fire, Leila Garras of Maebeads, Debbe Hull of Coast to Coast Beads, and Bronwen Heilman of Ghostcow, chain from Ornamentea, Swarovski crystal pearls from Fusion Beads, stones and pearls from Talisman Associates Inc. and Bead Trust, and silver and bronze from Saki Silver.

Secret Art Project...

Determined to beat this funk, I've decided that I'm finally going to do an art project that I've had scribbled in my sketchbook for years. The details will remain vague until it actually happens. For now, I need twelve volunteers. Please leave a comment to this post and then send me an EMAIL with your snail mail address. Don't forget to do both steps; the former because it helps everyone keep track of how many people at any given moment are participating and the latter because it's essential to the project. If you're uncomfortable giving out your snail mail address, then I'm sure that I'll do another project in the future that won't require it, but for this particular project it's a must. Thanks so much in advance!

News from the Trenches...

Time is flying by and it's not necessarily because I'm having fun. Most of my time recently has been spent in a funk. I'm in a rut. No, more like a trench. I've tried not to spread this around, because really, it doesn't do anything. I'd rather be positive and focused on making things, but it's difficult.

The biggest source of my funk is, of course, the issue with the banks and Yury the Ukrainian. It is taking a tremendous amount of effort to get things straightened out. The most I can do is to wait. I have to wait for pending charges to post, for customer service to pick up, for new cards to arrive, for money to go out, for money to go in... it is just frustrating... waiting.

I don't know if it's a result of all the scowling faces and gritted teeth of late, but one of my teeth in the back needs plucking. The nerve is exposed and it makes eating an ordeal. My tooth cracked years ago on the day Reagan died. Coincidentally I cracked it on a jelly bean. I should have gotten it fixed then, but I didn't have time then. I was always too busy. I can't ignore it anymore though, but now a trip to the dentist isn't in the budget and I don't have dental insurance. Sure, the tooth hurts, but what really hurts is the foreknowledge that if something serious were to happen, I'd be up the creek without a paddle.

I guess that's the price one pays for the freedom of a freelancer.

On Saturday I take off for Asheville. I am worried that I won't get everything finished that I had planned to, but I guess you just have to make allowances. I am only human. I can only do so much without wearing myself out. And as I've recently discovered, I'm more fragile than I thought. One false move and I could tumble this precariously stacked house of cards.

After a few days in Asheville spent with the babies, packing for the shows and hopefully doing some bronze and copper clay pressings, Greg and I are driving across country to Tucson. It's the only way we can get everything we need for the shows there without having to spend a fortune on shipping and worrying that something might not show up. It'll be good to get away for awhile, step back and just lose myself in the pace of the shows. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather, Kate McKinnon, shopping, and spending time with my creative friends who I only get to see a handful of times a year. While there, we'll be featuring the work of some excellent people who can't make it this year, like Kelly Russell, Off Center Productions, Heather Wynn, and Barbara Basha. I'm excited about these additions to our table. I think the work of all of these artists goes marvelously with Green Girl Studios merchandise. While in Tucson, I'm also hoping to meet up with Ellen Steiber, author of A Rumor of Gems. I became acquainted with her work while I was doing research for one of my articles on gemlore and faeries. Hopefully we'll get to sit down and meet face to face.

Back to work for me. There is still yet a mountain of work to do before I can go and I've still got a couple more hours of solid work before rest.

Comfort Food...

It's been chilly and drizzly here lately. (This is an improvement over the snow and ice.) To keep warm and feel comforted, I decided to whip up a quick midwinter meal.

I first started by boiling the potatoes in salted water. Next, I fried up some bacon and used the pan drippings and bacon fat to brown some seasoned boneless chicken breasts. I placed them in a baking dish. I then caramelized some onions and layered them overtop the chicken breasts. I deglazed the pan with some apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, soy sauce, and apple juice, added the liquid to the baking dish, and popped it in the oven (covered) for 45 minutes. While the chicken was in the oven, I drained the potatoes and smashed them. Once they were smashed, I added some milk, butter and the bacon. The chicken came out perfectly tender, juicy and flavorful. The potatoes were great because they helped soak up some of that beautiful liquid that reduced a bit in the oven. It was a great meal on a cold winter night.

Not All Bad...

A couple of packages found their way to me on Friday, but with the whole debacle with Yury the Ukrainian, I haven't had an opportunity to dig into them until today. Opening up these packages was definitely a bright spot in a couple of dreary days.

The first package came from Cindy Gimbrone AKA the Lampwork Diva. Inside were five lampwork glass beads that look very much like juicy cherries. I can't wait to use these. I picked them up from Cindy during her sale for a song.

I met Diane Hawkey in Milwaukee at a Bead Blogger Breakfast. It was a good time and it was great to come face to face with a lot of folks that I only communicate with over the net. I just love how quirky and sassy Diane was. She had me giggling the whole time. Later, at the show I had been meaning to drop by her table, but couldn't really leave the booth, so I missed my opportunity to stock up on her goods there. Luckily she has a website and I placed an order with her. The owl, raven, forest spirit and bird are apart of her current line, but the skull tube at the top of the picture is new. I have been on a skull kick and requested one from her. She had sadly just lost a friend and had oddly enough been working on designs from old New England grave stones. The result is her new Memento Mori line. Isn't it great? I think I'm going to string up a necklace for myself using this lovely.

I love ceramics. I especially like using them in my jewelry. There's something primal about it. I guess it's the idea that these items are formed from earth and water and tempered with fire. Certainly it is a very elemental material that is diverse in its application and execution. These heart pendants from Nancy Schindler of Round Rabbit are no exception. Aren't they darling? I love the faded denim color of the glaze and the sweet motifs. (I also got a pair of ceramic filigree type drops, but already have conscripted them for earrings.)

Speaking of ceramics, I also have a package from Gaea that I'm looking forward to getting into.

So, not all has been bad lately. These little things have brought me a little bit of happiness. Not so much because they are objects to add to my horde (which would be excuse enough), but because these artist made goods are full of potential and are totally inspiring. My hands itch to create as I hold them in my hands.

Beaded Links...

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
I really think Barb Switzer is a super person and editor! I was thrilled when she interviewed me last year for the online newsletter, Simply Beads!

Art Bead Scene

January's Art Bead Scene Challenge is a snowy landscape with a solitary magpie painted by Monet.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a special Paris post on photographing jewelry.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei tests the waters with some new bead elements from Pork Chop Show.

Cindy Gimbrone, the Lampwork Diva
Rewind: Cindy's Art Noveau inspired Stile Floreal bronze clay pendants.

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi wants to know, wanna be facebook friends?

Katie's Beading Blog
See pix of Katie's workshop offerings for the Bead & Button Show in June. Registration opened this week and classes are already filling up!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe will be tooting Jean's horn for her new book Steampunk Style at CHA.

A Bead A Day
Unraveled star beads become springy coils in Lisa's wintery white dangly earring project.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has developed a quick link list to help you find the jewelry info you need.

Jean Campbell
Oh, geez. Jean's tooting her horn again about her new book, Steampunk Style Jewelry...

Strands of Beads
Melissa has a fun time exchanging bead stashes with a friend to create a new bracelet.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Inspired by a lampwork glass champagne-hued Basha Bead and a shibuichi mermaid pendant, Andrew creates a whimsical and sophisticated necklace.

And The Winner Is...

A big THANK YOU goes out to everyone who participated in my little giveaway to generate support for my friend and fellow artist, Iviva Olenick. She makes the most beautiful work and I wish her the very best of luck in the competition.

The randomly selected winner of the necklace is: Mel Mel. Please send me an EMAIL with your snail mail address and I'll drop it in the post. Thank you for your support!

For those of you who were not lucky enough to win the necklace, I still want to thank you for your support and for your votes. Please also send me your snail mail addresses and I'll drop a little present in the post for each of you to show my gratitude. Thank you!

OH! Although this giveaway is completed, the competition is not over yet. Hopefully you love Iviva's work as much as I do and will continue to vote daily! CLICK HERE to vote.

Bad Day...

Today has been a pretty nasty day. All day I've been trying to deal with the bank and with the lovely merchants who I've bought from or have automatic transfers with who can't get their money. I'm the one that feels like a criminal even though I didn't do anything! To top it off with a cherry, the bank has been less than helpful! All day I've been transfered around, bounced from one unhelpful person to the next. I happened to finally get help, but it was during their maintenance hour and they couldn't access my files. Call back later, they said. And when I did end up talking with someone again... apparently I have to sign and return an affidavit stating that the charges Yury the Ukrainian made were not mine. One snag... the file format that they sent it over in is one commonly used for phishing! My computer won't access it. Isn't it ironic that the bank is trying to use the same format as Yury the Ukrainian probably used to steal my information in the first place?

I was also told today that I needed to go to the local police department and file charges against Yury the Ukrainian, but not to expect anything to happen since he's overseas. He will probably continue stealing people's credit card numbers and buying hoochie clothes.

Needless to say, I've been having one heck of a bad day. I've tried to stay positive, focus on my work, and really made an effort to be as cheerful as possible through this ordeal. But I'm worn out. Right now the only thing that is giving me some semblance of peace is the idea of going to the Ukraine, finding Yury the Ukrainian, tasering him in the gonads and then going antique shopping. Right now, that thought is the only thing keeping my eyebrow from twitching off my face – justice and finding good deals. I would happily indulge in retail therapy, but wait, oh that's right... I can't... because my account is still over-withdrawn and I canceled my credit cards.

Sorry to complain and whine. I'm just venting. But, if you'd like to take advantage of my bad day, feel free to stop by my shop and use the coupon code "BADDAY" and receive 5% off your order. I'm taking down all of the current items in the sale section tonight. I'm in need of a good purging. So if you want something from there and at the drastically reduced prices that they are now, make sure to swing by before I take it all down.

Champagne Waves Necklace...

Here's my latest necklace. I've titled it, "Champagne Waves". I was deeply inspired by the Champagne colored Basha Bead and the shibuichi Forever Beautiful Mermaid coin from my family at Green Girl Studios.

I wanted to capture the warmth of color, but retain a light effervescent feeling. I've done this by using a Swarovsky crystal and crystallized pearls from Fusion Beads, chain from Ornamentea, pearls from Talisman Associates, a toggle from my family, a glittering and beautiful Basha Bead, and a shibuichi link from Saki Silver.

Above are a couple different images of the piece. I think it's whimsical and fun, but still is pretty elegant and sophisticated.

Speaking of Basha Beads, I've updated the shop with restocked items AND I listed eight new shapes and colors. I love all the different colors and their luminous ability to seemingly shine throug CLICK HERE to drop by the shop and take a look at all these goodies!

Crystal Caterpillar Bracelet Update...

Time for some good news...

I was just notified that I am a semi-finalist for my Crystal Caterpillar Bracelet in the KGI Worldwide Design Contest! What a lovely surprise! I've entered the contest every year since its inception and have had the honor of making it to the semifinalist round each time. Who knows, maybe this year I might win big? If you're in Tucson this year for the gem shows, drop by the K. Gottfried booth at the Tucson Bead Show to vote. The votes taken there will go towards selecting a winner.

Frustration...

I am so completely beyond frustrated right now. Earlier this evening I tried to make a donation to the earthquake relief fund for the current situation in Haiti. Out of curiosity, I checked my bank account before I made my donation. What I saw made my eyes bleed. Somehow I was negative a thousand dollars!!! ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS NEGATIVE!

Apparently Yury Chumak Zaporizka of Chernivtsi, Ukraine (whose phone number is 380 508 580 440) decided to go on a spending spree on my dime! Multiple charges for luxury clothing were made plus some suspicious ones from Nevada and a spa supply company in Florida! This stranger stole my identity and my money!!!

My entire evening has been spent trying to sort through this mess... sending out fraud alerts, talking with bank representatives, changing passwords, canceling credit cards, and trying not to lose my mind in the process. UGH!

Candice Wakumoto Charms...

I'm a big fan of my friend, Candice Wakumoto, and her work! Candice is an artist based out of Hawaii who combines fabrication with metal clay to create one-of-a-kind fine art jewelry pieces. Her work is sophisticated and polished, truly provocative and edgy. She also makes the most phenomenal cast charms, which I carry in my Shop.

I've just restocked the shop with some of my favorites and added eight NEW designs. Some of the new additions are made of sterling silver and the others are made of bronze. One day I hope to provide the entire collection and am slowly working on that. CLICK HERE to take a trip over to the shop to peruse these mighty fine charms.

Mailbox Goodies...

I don't leave the house very much these days. The thought of going out into the frosty air and trudge through the snow is violence against my psyche and mind that I simply cannot commit. I don't mind though. I like being being huddled up with my work. Some are prone to cabin fever; I'm not. I could be holed up for months, never leaving, and be perfectly content.

This is not as solitary as it may sound. Being connected to the internet enables me to keep in touch with nearly everyone I need to. I've also gotten some goodies in the mail.

I wrote on my Twitter and Facebook account that I thought "Santa forgot my carnivorous plant jungle." Not long after, I received an unexpected package in the mail! Looks like Santa didn't forget after-all! I got a plastic terrarium filled with a Venus Flytrap, a Sundew, and a Sarracenia. Unfortunately one of the plants leaked a little and the muddy water combined with the "snowman pooh" packing peanuts and the invoice was almost completely indecipherable. All I could make out was, "I enjoy reading your blog." Thank you, Mysterious Blog Reader! Please EMAIL me if you were the one to send me the present and I'll drop a thank you gift in the post for you.

Another thing that has made me feel more at home was a housewarming gift sent by the talented Kate McKinnon. After being on the road so long, I am now finally settling in. Kate being sensitive to my new adjustments, sent a musical ceramic owl friend by the amazing Allison Shock! Not only is it a work of art, but if you blow on the tail it makes various "hooing" sounds. What a lucky boy I am! I've been coveting Allison's work for a long time now, but have never met her or been at one of the shows she sells at. I thought I might be destined never to own my own piece, ever admiring the collections of others. Thanks Kate for making my dream come true! (I placed my new owl friend next to the succulents so that he feels more at home.)

After the End of the Year Super Sale, I decided to treat myself to a little present of my own. I got a Brown Violet butterfly print from the skilled, Greenville, SC-based artist, Annie Koelle. I believe that when you make money off of the work of your hands, part of it should go back to other artists. It's good karma and promotes synergy in the creative community. Annie and her husband's work is striking and beautiful AND budget friendly! Although I believe in supporting other artists, I have to be realistic and can't go hog wild. Luckily there are options for collecting their work without having to illegally sell off vital organs on the black market. I highly recommend their work! Don't forget to check out their blog!

Speaking of sales, I'm trying to liquidate all of the remaining items in the Sale Section to make room for new items (BigCartel has a limit of 100 products, even with the best plan). That means that I've slashed the prices even more! Some of the items are over 75% off their original price tags and there are several items up for grabs that are less than a dollar. CLICK HERE to check out the Sale Section.