MTA Accident Update...

This how the MTA replied to me trying to track down the woman who fell into the train:

Response (Melissa Glasgow) - 02/28/2007 02:49 PM
This is in response to your recent e-mail message to MTA New York City Transit
regarding an incident which occurred at the 14th Street station on the F line.

With regard to your inquiry, while we understand that you are concerned for this fellow passenger that you assisted, we are prohibited from releasing personal information contained in an accident report and/or the accident report itself to persons, without an official Court Order or mandate from our Law Department. While we regret that you forgot to exchange information with the injured party so you may keep in touch with regard to her well-being, we are unable to assist you further with your worthy endeavor.

Thank you for having taken the time to contact us.

Melissa Glasgow
Associate Staff Analyst

It was a little hard to "exchange information with the injured party" when she was slipping in and out of consciousness and blood was gushing from her head. I'm going to try and create something called a FOIL report to see if I can get any more information.

Pinkalicious: The Musical...

If you haven't heard yet, Pinkalicious: The Musical has been extended and moved to a new location. It's an entertaining musical for children and all those young at heart. The amazing artist and illustrator, Victoria Kann, created the children's book, Pinkalicious with her sister. It was then adapted into a live musical.

The new venue will be at the Soho Playhouse and shows start March 3rd.

Owl Clicks...

Only a few people know about my obsession with owls. I've been collecting (consciously and unconsciously) since I was 3 years old! Hard to imagine, but it's true. My latest addition to the collection is this series of four owl magnets by Amy Ruppel from Parkside Papers. I love their simple, bold design.

Get your's by CLICKING HERE!

Stringing: Spring 2007...

The latest spring 2007 issue of Stringing Magazine (presented by Interweave Press's Beadwork) has just hit the newsstands! It is wonderful as usual, with the addition of some new helpful departments.
Stringing is full of creative and inventive design ideas for everyone. The magazine includes techniques and tips for the beginner and loads of inspiration for the advanced armchair stringer!

I totally support the ambitious minds behind the magazine. The staff really devotes themselves to presenting a consistently quality publication that expresses diverse approaches to jewelry design. Everyone should run out and buy their very own copy or get a subscription NOW!

Right: Here is my project called, Treasure Net. The original idea arose from a trip to Coney Island with my sister, Sheila. Someone cast out a net and pulled up an assortment of interesting objects. What nets are used for, I asked myself. To capture. Perhaps to capture a little romance, attention or whatever the heart treasures. I incorporated a really delightful lampwork tube made by Maria of Lost Marbles Lampwork, a fanciful small lampwork rondelle by Patti Cahill of Dyed in the Fire Designs, and an etched shell ring from Lillypilly Designs.

Left: Don't forget to check out my necklace design, Smile Rising under the FREE online projects! The title of the piece is taken from a song by The Weepies called, Take It From Me. What I was trying to do with this necklace is capture that particular feeling shared between two would-be lovers. The warmth comes not only of a spring day... but the awkward sunlight radiating from within as well.

Mercury in Retrograde - I hate you...

Here's a quick note to Mercury in Retrograde:

Dear Mercury in Retrograde,

I hate you.

Simplicity Always,
Andrew


Here's why:
Earlier today, I got an email saying that my piece up in a group show needed to be taken down. I had fully expected to un-install the piece tomorrow, as it stated in my original contract. Needless to say, as soon as I got the email, I rushed over to the gallery.

When I got there, a new show was being put up and my piece was no where to be found. I asked the attendant, who had not the slightest clue. She had to make several phone calls before she informed me that my collage (which isn't really easy to misplace as it's 4 foot by 7 foot) had been loaded on a transit truck and had been dropped off at the school.

This was the only information I had. I missed my Professional Practices class as I had to run in circles to find out that it (what was referred to as, "that big red thing") had been placed in the conference room next to my studio.

Double ugh!

The Long Arm of the Armory Show...

Just as I got to the Armory Show at Pier 94 at 55th Street, I discovered that the batteries in my camera were dead. Very unfortunate, as I always like to snap a couple of images of what's up in the Fairs.

I personally don't like the feeling that the BIG art fairs give off. Too much is there a sense of urgency to BUY BUY BUY! I saw someone looking through a stack of drawings, just throwing them around, almost as if they were trying to find the best deal or the one that they could re-sell the easiest. It made me cringe a little.

However, I did see some really awesome oil paintings by Katy Moran, about a billion drawings by Zak Smith, and some wonderful little pieces by Lucas Samaras.

It was a little over-whelming with so much work up!

Going Postal...

Had to go to the post office to send off some packages and pick others up. All I have to say about that is, "Lines. Lines. And more lines." Seems like going to the post office is always an ordeal these days. It's very frustrating. I think in a perfect world, I would never have to stand in line again (and be able to wear PJs all the time and never have to ride the subway during rush hour).

Side-Project...

While cleaning, I found an old chandelier packed away. But I quickly came to my senses. (When am I ever going to have time to re-wire and hang chandeliers?) Instead, I cannibalized the crystals and created a window treatment that looked like an icicle beaded curtain (almost).

Purge: Part Two...

Still early in the morning and I haven't slept yet. I'm not nearly finished with the cleaning process, but am becoming satisfied with the slow progress.

Left: A small pile of trash ready to be taken downstairs.

Purge...

Instead of getting snowed in at the studio (where I had much work to complete), I decided to go home after work. Sleeping on a hard wooden floor in the freezing cold is so not appealing after a long day.

I also figured out that the reason for my slump could be the fact that I've just got too much junk! So, I'm going through the apartment and removing as much clutter, crust, and crap as possible.

It's a much bigger project than I thought to tackle this evening, but it has proven thus far to be very rewarding.

Illustration Friday: Communication...

She spoke the quiet language, words made of wind and water, of sand and stone.

This is a pretty quick illustration for this week's theme. I wanted to create an image of a woman who was communicating to nature. To begin, I first built up a couple layers of collage to create the background. From there, I created a collage figure, which I painted on and added more collage. I really like giving pieces depth by adding and altering multiple layers.

Catfish, Collard Greens, and Sweet Iced Tea...

Earlier this evening, I had the pleasure of having dinner with my new friend, Ryan. We had plans of going to one of my favorite NYC restaurants, Milon in the East Village. Milon is an Indian restaurant with the wildest, seizure-inducing atmosphere ever! In addition to its fun-house interior, Milon has great inexpensive dishes.

Unfortunately, Milon was packed and Ryan and I had to find an alternative. We stopped in on this place called, Vanel's on First, which serves "Southern Soul Food."

I was really looking forward to indulging in some authentic Soul Food, but found that the over-priced watered down versions of Southern cuisine just didn't hit the mark. If it weren't for the two-for-one drink special and the fine company, Vanel's would be completely unworthy of mentioning. To be completely fair, the service was pretty good, but did little to warm up the literally icy interior. (Don't believe the pictures on their website!)

Strange Daze...

In a strange mood today. It's a mixture of exhaustion, excessive sentimentality, and fierce hermetic solitude. Could it be the cold? Or that I haven't been able to spend quality time in the studio lately? Perhaps, it's the fact that I've been single for an extended period of time. Maybe it's that I miss my family and miss Baby One? I don't know. I just know that things feel off-centered.

I have dinner plans with a friend tonight. Maybe that will help break me out of this strange stupor.

Sweet Politics...

I tend to talk more about chocolate and sweets on this blog than politics. (And for many good reasons.) But, here is a funny link that humorously illustrates (with cookies) budget solutions.

Click on the link or copy and paste it into your browser:

http://www.truemajority.org/oreos/

The Rape of the Sabine Women...

After class, I got a quick bite to eat and then headed straight over to the IFC Center to get tickets to see Eve Sussman and the Rufus Corporation's The Rape of the Sabine Women. The art video is an 82 minute long reinterpretation of the myth and dives off of the Jacques-Louis David's 1799 painting. The video is set in the 1960's and has no spoken word, but has a haunting operatic score.

I have mixed feelings about it. Moments occur within the film that are truly stunning and visually remarkable. Combined with the haunting music in surround-sound, there are some very moving sections. I am still shocked and stunned and a little bit on edge from the movie. However, I felt as though the editing could have been tighter. I know it is an art film, but does it have to be overtly arty? Could it not be just as effective without showing all the means of the making or certain very dragged out scenes, like the 25 minute cough choir?

I definitely think it is worth checking out. When I got out of the theater and went into the subway, it was almost as if the movie hadn't ended. The sounds of the trains and people singing as well as passed out drunks and crowds of people... it was almost as if the movie had manifested into reality. Be forewarned though that most of the shows are already sold out and that it is best to pre-purchase your tickets via www.movietickets.com. However, you might be like me and make it by standing in the stand-by line, but chances are slim. Tickets are free at the box office or there is a nominal $1 fee per ticket via online purchase.

Indications of Civilization...

I can't sleep and am doing some light reading. Here is an article about beads and civilization:

Tiny African Shells May Be Oldest Beads
by John Noble Wilford

It was a long time ago and far away from Tiffany. But even then, 75,000 years ago in a cave in southern Africa, people apparently had a mind to make a statement about themselves with jewelry, some 30,000 years earlier than any previously identified personal ornaments used by human ancestors.

At least that is what archaeologists have concluded after finding an array of tiny shells pierced with holes, as if prepared for stringing as primeval beads. The 41 pea-size shell beads were uncovered in clusters arranged by their similar sizes and shades, each cluster probably representing a single piece of jewelry.

If these are indeed remains of strings of beads, the discoverers reported last week in the journal Science, they represent the oldest well-dated examples of people making and wearing jewelry. This is further evidence, they said, that these people had a language capable of sharing the symbolic meanings of these objects.

In short, people may have been thinking and acting long before it has been generally supposed.
The shell beads were described in the report by a team of scientists led by Dr. Christopher S. Henshilwood, a South African archaeologist affiliated with the University of Bergen in Norway and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. The discovery was made at Blombos Cave on the shore of Cape Town.

Two years ago, Dr. Henshilwood reported finding other evidence of possibly complex symbolic thinking by the inhabitants of Blombos Cave, including abstract engravings and finely worked bone tools and weapon points.

Not all scholars agreed with the interpretation that these first artifacts were expressions of a modern type of creativity. The recent discovery also has cautious skeptics. Several archaeologists said they were not convinced that the shells were actually beads.

Until now, the earliest undisputed African personal ornaments were 13 ostrich eggshell beads from Kenya, dated at 40,000 to 45,000 years ago. Other evidence includes 43,000 year old perforated teeth from Blugaria and 41,000-year-old marine beads from Turkey.

Last month, scientists reported finding more ostrich eggshell beads in the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania. Their bead like nature is widely accepted, but their age is undetermined. One tentative estimate of 70,000 years for the eggshell beads appears to strengthen the case for emergent modern behavior among Africans well before the burst of artistic and creativity that swept Europe, beginning about 40,000 years ago.

From the cave art evidence, scholars have usually inferred that the transition to modern human behavior occurred late and rather abruptly. Dr. Richard G. Klein, a Stanford paleoanthropologist, has proposed that this "creative explosion" probably stemmed from a genetic change that also enhanced human speech.

The shell beads of Blombos Cave were from a small snail-like mollusk, Nassarius kraussianus. The people must have brought them from rivers more than 10 miles away. They were too tiny to be dinner leftovers, Dr. Henshilwood's team said, and could not have been brought there by animals. Their only known predators could not leave water.
In their report, the archaeologists said a microscopic analysis showed the use-wear pattern of the shells to be "consistent with friction from rubbing against thread, clothes or other beads."

So the Blombos people, it seems, invested in the shell of a common snail something of their mind and spirit, perhaps to project relationships, status and self-image. It was their pearl and their gold.

Red...

The day started off like any other. I was making my way to class, listening to some music, glancing at strangers as they passed, and then something truly horrific happened. As I was walking down the platform, about to board the on-coming train, a woman fell into the moving train. Her hand snapped backward and sent her watch flying. Her head smashed into and bounced off of the moving exterior of the train. Then, in an instant, she disappeared. Her leg had been caught in between the platform edge and train, and it dropped her down to the ground behind the strangers next to her.

My heart stopped. WHAT WAS HAPPENING!?!?!!? All I could do was exclaim, "OH MY GOODNESS!" Some of the fellow commuters didn't notice the woman go down and only then realized what had happened as I frantically pulled out my cell phone. No signal. I ran to the pay phone and jabbed the numbers, "9-1-1" in. The phone was dead. Another woman and I ran up the stairs and over to the attendant. Others had joined us.

"A woman is bleeding from the head!" "A woman fell!" "GET HELP NOW!" "Call an ambulance!" It was a blur. I distinctly remember the woman sluggishly call for help. She didn't seem in a hurry at all. Would she have hesitated were it one of her own family members?

We ran back downstairs. The woman seemed to regain consciousness and started stirring on the edge of the platform. Would she try to stand, she'd surely fall into the track. The woman who ran up with me was trying to comfort her along with another young woman. One of them had taken off their white jacket and tucked it under her head. A large pool of bright red blood had formed around her head while we were getting help.

Trains kept coming, and the two women kept the fallen woman from extending her leg into the path of the train. People kept coming up to me and asking me what had happened. My stomach felt uneasy. It was the same feeling I had when I found a piece of broken glass in Baby One's mouth.

People kept crowding around the woman and she seemed to try and struggle to get away from them. I had to make a hard decision... should I wait and possibly make this woman even more anxious? Or should I go? There was nothing more that I could do for her. When I heard sirens, I decided to go. All that would happen if I stayed would be me getting in the way of trained professionals. I felt sick to my stomach and my mind was reeling. All I could think about was the color of the blood. The bright red. The red of life, pouring out onto the ground.

I've been trying to get in touch with the MTA to see if she's okay. Tomorrow I'll scan the local papers to see if there is anything about it in there. Hopefully I can find a way to send well-wishes.

Tonight I'll light a candle for her.

Reprieve...

After seeing the Kiki Smith show at the Whitney, I ordered her book, Kiki Smith: Prints, Books & Things. It finally came today. Happily I sought to escape the grinding sensations in my skull by delving into a good art book. I was not disappointed. I love how her work is soaked in myths and fairy tales, how it relates to the body, and how it explores the idea of the Feminine.

Grinding...

I've had a grinding headache all day today. I had intended to go to the studio after work today, but decided to skip the studio in favor of recovery. My head is killing me. I went by the doctors' office in the morning, but discovered after having waited for a while that it'd be another two hours before I could be seen, which of course conflicted with my work schedule. So, I had to forgo the doctor's visit and go to work. Oh well. I'm sure that after I rest I'll feel better.

OUCH!

After I made the last post, I went out to pick up a bite to eat. It was pretty late as I made my way home. As I was leaving the subway station, one person from a group of hoodlums hanging around by the station entrance took one of the big plastic traffic cones and hit me over the head with it! It really hurt.

I got so mad! I was screaming and cursing. I don't even think that some of what I was saying was in English. When they saw me freak out, they all scattered. I was literally frothing at the mouth.

Now I have two huge knots on my head. Like I needed more lumps on my skull! Other than the bumps and a minor headache, I'm fine.

Oh well, I'm glad that nothing else happened and that I didn't end up killing anyone. It's hard to imagine that someone in their right mind would just go up and hit someone they didn't know. The police were notified and Karma will take care of the wrong-doer. I have no doubt.

Mistaken Identity...

Earlier this evening, I got a text message inviting me to a party. I wasn't quite sure of who the number was, but had assumed that it was from someone who had text messaged me last night. So, throwing caution to the wind, I decided to go out to this birthday party (for someone I didn't know) to meet this person I only vaguely knew.

The party was at Pizzabar. It was strange, because I ran into one of my new co-workers, Tina. She's a really funny and a great gal to work with. I was sort of relieved that I was with someone I knew and didn't have to wait for my mystery host alone.

I eventually started firing off text messages, looking for my mystery friend who was late in arriving. Tina punched me in the shoulder, and said, "You're so funny. Why do you keep sending me text messages asking me where I'm at?!? I'm standing right next to you."

Landscapes...

I first became aware of Schiele's landscapes when I visited the Neue Galerie here in New York a few years ago. Ever since Prestel originally released, Egon Schiele, Landscapes, I have been coveting it. I finally picked it up and added it to my book collection. It's an absolutely beautiful book, that shines a different light on the artist and his works.

Illustration Friday: Gravity...

I think that sometimes the best way to illustrate a theme is by illustrating its opposite. The juxtaposition of the title and the image, create a more dynamic experience. At least that's what I think. For instance, when depicting "war," is it not more poignant to show the victims of war, than schematics of strategies?

In illustrating "gravity" I choose to illustrate that which is light and seemingly defiant of the term. I've also incorporated very "heavy" and "hard" objects as well, to add yet another layer of contrast.

"Bunny Boy" by Jen Tong...

I decided to start my silkscreen collection with artists I already know and admire. I'm LOVING this print, entitled Bunny Boy by Jen Tong. Email her directly to get your hands on one of the limited prints before she sells out the edition!

Shows to See...

Saw two really great shows that I highly recommend! First, I popped on over for the opening day to see the High Times, Hard Times: New York Painting 1967-1975 show at the National Academy Museum. Then I went down to NYU's Grey Art Gallery to see, Semina Culture: Wallace Berman & His Circle.

Both shows are extensive investigations of artists and their practices (with amazing supplementary catalogue material).

The High Times, Hard Times show deals with the under-recognized time period of art-making that deals with the expansion of new ideas in art, especially painting. Many of the artists deal with issues of what makes a painting a painting, and how much of the painter goes into the piece. It's an absolutely beautiful show that asks rather probing questions of the audience and doesn't accept easy answers.

The second show, Semina Culture: Wallace Berman & His Circle, delves deeply into the Beat Culture based out of California. It explores and chronicles the artist and his dynamic relationships to other artists, writers, photographers, and performers. The depth which this show covers is amazing.

New Beads...

My new Anne Choi beads came today! They bring much joy on a very cold, snowy day. I am going to happily add them to my slowly growing collection.

Snow Day...

Started snowing last night and hasn't stopped. I'm not feeling it and have been procrastinating leaving all day. I want to go to the studio and later tonight go to the Met for a special viewing of Glitter and Doom. With all this snow, I have ZERO desire to step out the door.

All Mixed Up...

Tonight was the opening for the group show I'm currently in at the Visual Arts Gallery, entitled: All Mixed Up. It's apart of the Tomorrow's Artists Today series. The show will be up until February 24th.





Right: I ran into Lauren, one of my former co-workers. It was funny because she was wearing a necklace that I had made for her. The necklace, with a few modifications, will be featured in an up-coming issue of Stringing.






Left (above): The amazing Emilia DeVitis poses with her portrait covered in hands. Right (above): Karina Contreras stands with her painting about light and form.

Even though I had been a secret admirer of Emilia's work, I don't think I would have started talking with her if it weren't for one of her critiques, where she was being maliciously and wrongly attacked. I believe in her work and wouldn't stand for her being treated so poorly. I'm glad that we were able to start up a dialogue from what was a pretty negative experience. I've known Kar for ages now it seems and I've always loved her sensual and well-crafted paintings. We both took time off from SVA and some how found our way back to the same class.

Right: Naho Taruishi peers into her video installation in one of the secondary Project Rooms. Naho creates very psychadelic and beautiful videos made from compiling individual stills; she then presents the videos by making viewing aperatures that are mounted to the wall.





I took the above image right before the show closed of my piece installed in the space. It's funny, because just as I had finished taking the image a woman (who obviously didn't know who I was) came up to me and said, "The artist has requested that there be no photographs of the work." I smiled and said, "Oh, really? I didn't know I requested that I couldn't take a picture of my own work." The woman apologized and I just laughed at how funny people can be. I think she thought that I was taking pictures of her daughter's sculptures (not shown) to the left of my collage.

Karaoke...

After a long day at the studios, I decided to join my co-workers at The Fat Black Pussy Cat for a night of singing and dancing. Let me first say, I DO NOT SING! My performances are restricted solely to the privacy of my shower. But... some how the moons of Jupiter were aligned or some such astronomical thing, and I did end up going on stage a couple of times. My sincerest apologies for all those who had to witness me singing.

We did have lots of fun and here are a couple of pictures from the night:

Right: Here I am with Jasmin and Josh. It's really nice that we all like to hang out with one another. It definitely makes my day-job a lot more fun.







Left: Jasmin and her friend Gisselle make new friends with the gentleman in the center while Josh dances with his girlfriend.







Right: Calla, Jizel, and Jasmin sing on stage. Thomas, our other co-worker, takes a picture of them as well. And in the mirror in the back (to the upper left) you'll notice a reflection of Josh singing along with the ladies performing. Maximum of three people on stage at one time.

Libra Rules the Kidneys...

Only a few people, I think, know that I'm into astrology. I read my horoscope weekly, and use the stars as best I can to navigate around potential obstacles. It's just one of those things that has always helped me.

Calla and I went out after work to our new hangout spot, The Fat Black Pussy Cat. When we finished our weekly cathartic diatribes, we went over to the Kingdom with our newly-found friends, Cecelia and Beth.

Normally I only get tattoos to mark special occasions. It's sort of my way of creating a living history that marks monumental happenings in my life. But lately I've been feeling as though I'm in transition. It's like spinning wildly around in dizzy circles, everything becomes blurred together and the distinctions meld together. Important things lose their definitions and disappear into the mundane. So I decided to find a point to fix on.

According to western astrology, the sun sign of Libra rules the kidneys and the lower back. So, I got two small tattoos of stars marking my kidneys. Here are some pictures:

Left: Here is the artist finishing up inking the first star. It didn't hurt at all!

Right: A little red and a little raw, here's the finished product.

Left: Calla takes a picture in the mirror of me getting bandaged up.

Cards...

Jeremiah Ketner has recently released a series of letter pressed cards. They were produced by Letter Pressed and are of amazing quality. I was very excited to receive my cards in the mail today! Perhaps I'll give one or two out for Valentine's Day - or - more likely, horde them.

A Gathering...

My friend Naho Taruishi (an amazing video and performance artist) joined me for a drink and then went with me to the late night at the Whitney to see the Kiki Smith show. I ran into a couple of people while at the show, particularly Aurea.

I'm a big fan of Kiki Smith's, but felt that the show only skimmed the surface of her work. It was like one of those Greatest Hits albums that comes out by your favorite band. Or more aptly, comes out by your favorite band's record company. It only has the big chart toppers, the ones that got you interested to begin with, but none of the lesser known works that you came to love when you became a fan.

It's only open for another day or two, but it's worth checking out.

A Book of D's...

My copy of Danica Phelp's A Book of D's finally came today. I can't stop looking at it! The drawings are so sensual and delicate. I feel almost like a voyeur flipping through this book. Every aspect of Danica's life seems to be elaborately plotted out on the pencil smudged pages. Each moment of erotic fulfillment seems to be captured in the layered images, the subtle tracery of lines, and the luscious curves. It's so beautiful it breaks my heart a little.

Born of Clay...

During my lunch break, I took a short subway ride down to the New York branch of the National Museum of American Indian. I've been meaning to head down to check out one of the exhibits. Even though the museum is free to the public and not hard to get to, it's easy to forget that it's a resource at any New Yorker's fingertips.

I saw the show, Born of Clay: Ceramics from the National Museum of of American Indian. It was really inspiring. It really made me want to bust out the clay and make something.

Wombat...

I saw a review of a local restaurant called Wombat in the latest issue of Time Out New York. It's funny because I pass by the place on a regular basis and have even had drinks there on occasion, but never have had a chance to try out the menu. It's only a few blocks away.

After a long day at the studio, I thought that I would treat myself to a nice dinner there.

I was not disappointed. I had the prix fixe meal, which included the Aboriginal Soup, a portion of Cedar Plank Salmon, a portion of Chicken Wellington, and Pavlova for dessert. To wash it all down, I had the Olde Saratoga Lager. Everything was DELICIOUS and the service was great! I highly recommend Wombat.

Home...

I got in on the earliest flight to New York. From the airport, I took a cab to my studio to pick up some pieces and then went directly to the gallery, luggage and all, to hang the show. Talk about exhausting. I think that the show is really good. The opening is on February 13th at the Visual Arts Gallery on 26th Street beginning at 6PM. CLICK HERE for more information.

While I was gone, a few things came in the mail for me. One of which was a letter letting me know that I made the Dean's List last semester. The rest, goodies I had ordered before I left for Tucson.

Left: Just before I left, I had ordered a postcard from Mark Ryden. This postcard is called, "The Birth." I love mandrake roots. And I love this postcard. To purchase your own copy, CLICK HERE.






Above: I added a GelaSkin to my iPod. The artwork is done by our family friend, Jeremiah Ketner, an amazing artist who has two VERY cute kids. CLICK HERE to get your very own Jeremiah Ketner GelaSkin.

Day Seven...

Today was my last day in Tucson. Although I'm happy to return to my home in New York City, I'm a little sad to leave all my friends behind. It truly is a beautiful place to visit and everyone is so nice. It makes it that much better. I can't wait for next year.

Above: This is the house that we rented out for the week. Isn't it cute? It was such a pleasure to come back to a real home instead of coming back to a hotel room in the evenings.

When I got to the airport, I discovered that it was filled with other bead people. It was funny how there were so many of them. Some I only vaguely knew and others that I had been friends with for years.

While waiting to board the plane, I met this wonderful woman named Debbie who was talking about how she was on stand-by for a seat on my plane. Apparently her daughter had started to go into labor and she wanted to go back to be there for the birth. The flight had been over-sold and so they were requesting people to give up their seats. I checked to see when I'd get into New York and gave up my seat on the condition that it would go to my new friend, Debbie.

I got a free plane ticket and I was supposed to be getting into New York only 30 minutes later than I had originally been scheduled, at an airport much closer to my home. So it sounded like a good deal. I also didn't have to wait alone, as the boarding area was filled with bead people!

Left: Kathryn Bowman of Beadweaver, who I had done tons of shows with, but never had met before, sat and talked with me for a while. Right: I ran into the 2006 Saul Bell First Place Winner in the beads catagory, Mary V. Smith.

I also ran into Lilian Cartwright, who was working for Scottsdale Bead Supply who was our neighbor at the Best Bead Show. I purchased a really nice piece of dichroic glass named Donna Johnson of Dancing Light Jewelry.

The plane that I was supposed to get on had mechanical problems, so my flight was delayed. I missed my connecting flight in Dallas and was pretty much stranded there. Luckily the airport got accommdations for everyone who was stuck at the airport. So I spent the night in Arlington at the Baymont Inn. It wasn't so bad, because I made fast friends with this wonderful woman named Marti Brown of The Odyssey & Bead Expressions. We're bead show buddies for life!

Our family friend, Claudine Hellmuth, will never have to worry about being without her ProActiv again! You can buy more than just snacks and drinks from vending machines in the Dallas airport! You can buy ProActiv as well. I know I picked up some replacement goods.

Day Six...

Today was the last day of the shows. It was fairly busy up until the last few minutes. Before we came to Tucson, we at Green Girl Studios wanted to host a little party for our favorite friends. while we were in town. Anne Mitchell was kind enough to generously offer their beautiful home and studio as the venue. Not wanting to conflict with other evening events during the week we had to pick the last day to schedule the party, which meant I had to break down the booth with lightning speed.

Here are some images from the event:


Above: Georgie and Melissa of Chevron Trading Post. Below: Val of Gray Parrot Glass about to dig into the delicious chicken adobo that Cynthia spent all day preparing.



Above (left and right): Pictures of the some of the food we made for the party.




Left: Ute of Silk Painting is Fun takes a break. Right: Cynthia, my sister, hands out some of the walnut, honey, brie hors d'oeuvres.

Above: Liz of Saki Silver and Tony Blackwell of Zoa Art all bundled up out on the deck getting ready for the live music performances. Below: Lisa Blackwell, Bob Burkett, Val, and Bronwen Heilman talk bead world shop.



Left: In front, Elenore of Ellie Mac begins to dip her plate - in back, Ute's daughter, Cynthia and Ute. Right: Courtney Robbins hammers out her soulful and powerful lyrics.

Above: Courtney Robbins and her friends Ingrid and Joe of Coyote Grace end the evening with an AMAZING PERFORMANCE! They are really very talented and we are so lucky to have them play for us. It was a real treat.