Featured in Beadwork Magazine...

What a Gold Star Day! Our laser-cut wooden pendants were featured on Page 6 of Interweave Press's August/September 2020 issue of Beadwork Magazine! See our pieces along with several others in the Cool Stuff section. Be sure to grab a copy or subscribe today! There are lots of great projects by Katie Hacker, Sandra Lupo, Anne Perry, Lena Gillespie, Tracy Proctor, Cameron’s Calabrese, Debora Hodoyer, Maryann Esters Mcalpin, Evelina Palmontova, Akiko Nomura, Leslie Pope, and Kim Leahy! Such a visual treat of beady goodness!
CLICK HERE to get you copy of Beadwork Magazine.
If you're not familiar with our wooden pendants, they're made right here in Ligonier, PA. I start out by drawing in my sketchbook. When I'm happy with a design, we photograph it, edit it in Photoshop, and then convert it into a vector. The vectors are then pumped into the laser and they're cut out from sheets of wood. There's a protective film on the wood to prevent scorching and we remove that film by hand on each and every piece. It's really satisfying to see my drawings come to life in this way.
CLICK HERE to take a look at all the Allegory Gallery laser-cut Wooden Pendants.

I SAID YES...

It’s an uncertain time right now... ... BUT ... One thing is certain, LOVE IS LOVE!

Today William asked me to marry him. And I said, YES!!! Of course I did!!! We’ve built a beautiful life together and this is just another milestone in this journey. Instead of engagement rings, William had two sterling silver beads made by Anne Choi! Anne is a dear family friend and a super talented metalsmith and artist. When William and I started dating, we had an inside joke, where I told him that he could buy my love with Anne Choi beads. LOL! Like the good man that he is, he listened! Every once in awhile I’ll get a bead to mark a special occasion. (I’ve amassed quite the collection over the 12 years we’ve been together.) Anne doesn’t take custom orders, so this was extra special. She even sent the broken mold. So no other beads will be made quite like this one.
What do they say? “Petit a petit les deux oiseaux font leur nid.” It means, “little by little two birds build a nest.” If you’ve been following along with our journey with Allegory Gallery, then you know the original French saying has played a special role in our lives. The bead features a variation of the quote, one with TWO birds instead of just one.
❤️❤️ I know right now there’s a lot of anger and darkness. There’s a lot of sorrow and grief. As much as it’s a sobering reminder that there’s more work to be done, it is also a reminder that life is precious. Nothing is certain. And in the darkest hours is the time when the light is needed the most. Love will prevail! ❤️❤️
I was so happy that I ugly cried on the kitchen floor. I was so moved by the kindness and thoughtfulness William put into his proposal. He wanted to wait for a special moment, but being together now in the world that we live in is more than special enough!

Siren's Song...

Can it really be June? It seems like I blinked and MerMay was over. I don't know if it'll end for me just yet though. I think I have a few more paintings on this subject left in me. (Plus lots of mermaid-inspired jewelry!)⠀ ⠀
I call this one, "Siren's Song". It's one of the most classical stories. It's a story of otherworldly songs that lure the intended (victim) to a watery grave. The sirens are said to be beautiful creatures, but are deadly. ⠀ ⠀
I sometimes wonder about the old myths. While I love mythology, a lot of the Greek ones were about raping women and conquering monsters... who were usually women. Of course, the demonization of women is a useful tool if you're trying to control them. Ancient Greece was not so big on women empowerment. I think I'd drown them too! ⠀ ⠀
I'd like to transcend the ancient click bait symbolism, and instead promote messages of freedom, self-expression, wonder, and mystery. I don't know if these things are communicated with my paintings or not. Maybe they are? Maybe they aren't? I can't control that. All I can do is know that it's there. I thought about these things while I made this thing.
Want to add, "Siren's Song" to your collection? You can find out more on the Allegory Gallery website.