The Here and Now...

I'm blogging from...

Is it an airport?  An office building?  An art museum?  A convention center?  A hospital?  Nope!  It's the Westin Fort Lauderdale.  Without a doubt, this is a pretty swank hotel.  However, I have to chuckle to myself when I consider what exactly gives this place an expensive and austere atmosphere.  The funny thing is that what gives it that expensive feel is a sense of absence, a coldness and minimalism of any place of business.  This is not the Florida I grew up in.

 
It's a far cry from the misty mountains of North Carolina.  I feel almost as though I'm out of place here.  In my mind, the idea of comfort is one of warmth and character... not so much hard lines and sparse over-designed furniture.

 
As I mentioned, we're in Florida now for the Bead Merchantile show in Fort Lauderdale.  Everyone should come out to the show and say hello!  We've got lots of new goodies to check out and it'd be good to see some of my friends from the Miami show.  In preparation for the show, I made some travel snacks.  One of them was caramelized bacon.  Yep, I was thinking of you Nina.  (Cynthia and I have been saying, "I want that."  A LOT lately.)

Last night we spent the night at my parents' house in Oviedo.  After the Fort Lauderdale show, I'll be there for a week... so it'll be interesting to spend a little bit of time in a town I grew up in, but haven't spent much time in since.  I'm really interested in seeing old friends and of course to indulge in the yummy food that my mom makes.  She made her world famous flattened fried chicken, rice, sweet Zellwood corn, green beans with onions, and sweet tea. Azalea polished off two ears of corn and was still hungry for more!

We didn't really get to spend much time there last night, but one of the things I found was an award-winning drawing that I did in the first grade.  It's strange that I drew the mountains like that.  I don't think I ever saw mountains like that until much later in life – mountains like the mountains in Asheville.  Ones that seem unreal in their coloring, an umbra of lavenders, forget-me-not blues and pale blue-grays.

A Good Day...

Firstly, let me say THANK YOU to everyone who commented both on and off the blog with kind and supportive words. I am blown away with the response. You all are awesome! I am touched beyond words.

Secondly, I wanted to say how cool it was to be in the room during the ultrasound when they found out that Cynthia is having a baby boy! He's already really cute and amazingly strong!

Today was a good day. We got a lot done, cleaning and organizing and preparing for the trip to Florida. We also had Cheryl Ann and Michelle over for dinner. It was so good to see them. I've missed them so much!

Cheryl Ann and Michelle provided the peach sangria. It was tasty and very refreshing. In my mind, sangria is one of those iconic summer breverages. Seeing it always puts me in a good mood - it reminds me of good friends, good food, and lots of conversation.

For the feast, Greg grilled country ribs, potatoes, and asparagus. All the while, Cynthia and I made the steamed corn on the cob, and green beans with caramelized onions and toasted almonds. For dessert, Azalea, Cynthia and I made chocolate cupcakes. Greg made the cream cheese frosting and they were TASTY! The feast was a perfect way to end the day.

Above is a close-up of the green beans. It's funny because we had just watched Tyler Florence cook them on Food Network and had to have them.

Anyway, today was a good day.

Not a Punching Bag...

Hello from Charlotte!  Today has certainly been a VERY LONG day.  I'm at a layover waiting for my connecting flight.   Since I've been here awhile and the WiFi is free, I've been fully connected to the internet and have been checking my email.  I was really surprised at the response the post, "On Copying..." received off the blog.  I received a few angry, accusatory emails.  I have half a mind to post them here with the responsible party's name and email address, but I don't want to be petty and vindictive.  In fact, I am not going to even validate the emails with a response.  What I will say is that I'M NOT A PUNCHING BAG!  Just because I'm out there talking about issues and willing to examine different perspectives does not mean that I'm open to what boils down to slanderous hate mail.  I believe that blogging is about creating community and opening up dialogue.  We have a wonderful opportunity to share and express ourselves – but I think there has to be line drawn.  Don't accost me for things I didn't say.  Don't assume how I feel.  Don't abuse my willingness to post my email address.

Okay... with all that said, I'm enjoying the sweet tea here.  

Well, I've got to jet... literally!

On the Road Again...

In a few hours, I'll be taking off again to go back on the road. I'll be heading down to North Carolina first and then down to Florida for a few weeks. So make sure to stop by the Green Girl Studios booth to say hello if you'll be in Fort Lauderdale (June 20 and 21st) and Orlando (June 27th and 28th) for the Bead Mercantile shows.

Oh! And above is a new bracelet I made. It's a variation on the skull bracelet I did before, in pinks and blacks.

On Copying...

I think one of the most common topics to come up in creative fields is "copying" and more negatively – being "ripped off". I've seen arguments made for both sides and seen tempers flare and erupt into violent disputes. Needless to say, it can be a very complicated situation. Below you'll find various blog posts from folks of all different backgrounds covering many aspects of the subject (on both sides of the fence) that I think make excellent food for thought. (Since the collection of these posts goes back several months ago, some of the opinions have changed, been amended, or expounded upon and therefore are merely a cross-section of ideas.)

Beth Hemmila

Nina Bagley

Barbe St. John

Tammy Powley

Lynn Davis for Art Bead Scene

Margot Potter

Maureen Shafer

Lorelei Eurto

Cake...

It was my friend, Jen Tong's birthday. So, I made her a cake. I really liked the stewed apricots that I made before, so I wanted to incorporate them into her cake. I also liked the rum cake that I made for Easter. So, I brought all those recipes together and made an stewed-apricot-saffron-infused-rum-almond cake. I mixed the remaining liquid from the apricots with saffron-infused rum for a glaze. (It currently is in the fridge soaking up all the yummy juices.)

New Necklace...

Here is another new necklace I made. Even though you can buy wire-wrapped stone link chain, I prefer the look of thicker wraps. So, I wire wrapped all the labradorite and garnet links. At the bottom, the focal includes wire-wrapped opal, cyanite, garnet, amethyst, onyx, and labradorite. To finish it off, I patinated the necklace to bring out the details.

Above is a close up of the cluster. I don't think the picture does the piece justice though. It looks better worn and full of movement.

Beaded Links...

About.com Jewelry Making

Tammy's got the scoop and a link to a free issue of The Craft Report. They've gone digital! What do you think? Is this a good thing or a bad thing when craft magazines go totally electronic?

Art Bead Scene

In this economy, everyone is asking the advice of economists – ABS has brought in The Bead Economist with advice on how to get art beads on the cheap.

Carmi's Art/Life World

A little wood, paint and stickers helps Carmi to recreate a native art inspired pendant.

Jewelry & Beading

Cyndi has decided that this summer is "The Season of Metal Clay"! Check out these inspiring metal clay sites.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean has a sparkly Swarovski bracelet in July's BeadStyle magazine! Check it oooout!

Strands of Beads

Melissa shows off new jewelry designs using Soft Flex Trios wire.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Andrew announces a NEW design competition to celebrate Cynthia's new book, Enchanted Adornments.

World of Beads VIII...

I was a little sad that I didn't get an opportunity to see Gail Crosman Moore at the Bead & Button Show more than the transitory greeting in the elevator. Luckily she'll be coming to town next weekend for the World of Beads VIII presented by The Bead Society of Greater New York. Not only will I get to peruse her selection of vintage sequins, admire her embellished felt and be awestruck by her borosilicate glass, but I'll get to enjoy some of the festivities as well (including a beadwork exhibit, mini-workshops, demonstrations, and a highly curated marketplace).

Dark Come Soon...

Here's a YouTube video of Amanda Palmer singing a cover of Tegan and Sara's, "Dark Come Soon" at a fundraising event for Housing Works in New York last week with Neil Gaiman.

Internal Landscapes...

It has been chilly and foggy here with a consistent drizzle. Grey. Grey. Grey. My thoughts have been focused inward, towards internal landscapes. I'm not ready for the world outside just yet. I'm not ready for the day to day routines. I'm not ready for real life... not yet.

Instead I'll go somewhere warm and breezy, a place where it is day, but the light of a hundred thousand stars can still be seen. Brightly colored silk banners will wave in the winds, while a chorus of birds sing sweetly in time with wind-chimes and whistles. The treetops will be laden with candlelit lanterns and the air will be hung heavily with scent of roses, amber, sugar cookies and honey. All of the plants would be in some way in bloom or bearing, but the word "allergies" would be unknown and foreign. You'll find me there, wandering the sandy trails in search of seed-pods and seashells. I won't be alone, at least not always. I'll be there, in the shade of a tree sipping sweet tea with my friends and family, plotting and planning, feasting and enjoying the making of things.

Enchanted Adornments Design Competition...

The Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton Facebook Fan Page is hosting the first ever Enchanted Adornments Design Competition in celebration of Cynthia's new book. The competition will test entrants' abilities in creating magical mixed media jewelry and/or jewelry that incorporates Green Girl Studios components.

Visit the Flickr page to find out more and to enter! More information and prizes to come!

Enchanted Adornments Giveaway No. 5 (FLIGHT)...

One lucky Facebook Fan of Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton will be selected to win over $50 (retail value) of FREE Green Girl Studios merchandise (5 fine pewter components and 1 shibuichi bird over clouds toggle). To enter, you MUST be a current fan of Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton on Facebook and leave a comment on the Giveaway Number 5 (FLIGHT) photo in the Enchanted Adornments GIVEAWAYS album on Facebook. Fans will have 5 days from the posting of the photo and announcement of the giveaway to post a comment on the photo to be considered for the drawing.

Remember! A NEW giveaway will be announced with every new 100 fans added to Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton. CLICK HERE to become a Facebook Fan.

KGI Worldwide Design Contest Update...

Two of my pieces were selected as semi-finalists for the KGI Worldwide Design Contest. Although I didn't place, it was still really fun and they took some really nice pictures of my pieces. The necklace on the left is called, "A Necklace for Frida" and the bow-tie like necklace on the right is called, "Rites of Spring." Check out the winners and more by CLICKING HERE.

Grey Skies...

The thing that I love about the big shows is that it provides a rare opportunity to see friends that I normally don't get to see. These are some of the most incredible people on the face of the planet in my opinion. They are all brought together by creativity and a sense of community and I really dig that.

The hardest part are the grey skies afterwards. When you think of something funny or interesting to say and turn to your friend or family member and realize that you're sitting alone in a room, the broken fragments of a thought hanging loosely from your lips. The mundane tasks that were once so easy now seem like incredible feats. Rooms to clean, groceries to buy, projects to finish... all things that feel impossible when the clouds are looming. There are grey, rainy skies here in New York and it seems a mirror to my thoughts, heavy with an acute sense of missing.

By Plane, Train and Automobile...

I safely arrived back in New York. While waiting for the plane to take off, I chatted with Susan Nestor, who also lives in New York and was heading back on the same flight. I discovered a shortcut back to my apartment, which made me happy as a clam. It was pretty surprising how quickly my allergies started to clear up. It seems strange to me that in one place I can hardly breathe and in another, I'm perfectly fine. Below are some shots from Bead & Button.

Above is a picture of Kelly Russell of Beadfuddled. She was set up with Marsha Neal Studio. They moved their booth more towards the center of the show. Both Kelly and Marsha are doing some really cool things. Marsha is making some decal transfer ceramic pendants that incorporate more drawing and Kelly is working with polymer tinted porcelain and PMC.

I also saw my bead show buddy, Jill MacKay, who was showing her new line of findings. I really appreciate how genuinely nice and encouraging she is. I only wish that I got to see more of her!

Above is a picture of Azalea and Terra. Aren't they adorable? They had so much fun playing together at the show. Ever since they were babies, we always knew that they'd be playmates. It was hard for them to part at the end of the show.

Above is a shot of Katie Wall and Lindsay of Fusion Beads. They are some of the sweetest people I know! Not to mention that I'm addicted to Fusion Beads. They are a reliable source for all my jewelry supply needs and always have new surprises!

It was good to see Liz Jones, author of Silver Wire Fusing. She was helping out at the Beaducation booth with Lisa Niven Kelly, Kate Richbourg, and Kriss Silva.

It was lovely to see Carter Seibels of Divali Glass Jewelry at the Bead Trust booth. They had some really amazing things. I love how they've always got the latest cut, newest style and coolest finds! Like panna cotta-like layered resin beads, silicone spiky beads, or polka dot smoky quartz to name a few.

Jean Campbell came by as an unexpected surprise! She's such a sweetie and ever so talented. Did you know that Jean is coming out with a new book that's due out next year? It's called Steampunk Style Jewelry: A Maker's Collection of Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Designs and it's AMAZING! (And I'm not just saying that because one of my pieces is in it either.)

Above is a picture of Kelly Angeley and Dustin Wedekind at our booth. I kept running into Kelly and her husband randomly throughout the weekend. Dustin was across the way at the Beyond Beadery booth and was sporting the Trocadero necklace I made.

A group of bead bloggers met up for breakfast at the Hilton one morning. Starting from the left: your's truly, Heather Powers of Humble Beads, Diane Hawkey, Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio, Katie Hacker, and Linda Augsburg. Make sure to check out their blogs!

One of my favorite stops at the Bead & Button show is Raven's Journey. Jamey and Lenka always have the best selection of colors, shapes, and sizes. Since they deal directly with the manufacturers in what is essentially a cottage industry, they get the very best and most unique Czech glass!

Look who's sporting a cute new haircut? Patti Cahill of Dyed in the Fire is! She makes the most luscious glass eye-candy. It was good catching up with her and hearing some of her recommendations on where to visit glass conservatories.

And now... what you've all been surely waiting for, a picture of my yield!

I got lots of goodies this year, including pieces from Earthenwood Studio, Pam Wynn of Pam and Heather Wynn, polymer pieces from Humble Beads, beautiful sterling silver with metal applique beads and a sterling button from Anne Choi, precious metal clay pieces from Melissa J. Lee, Czech glass from Raven's Journey, sapphires from Jewels by Kia, beach glass from Stephanie Ann Dieleman, lots of stones from Bead Trust, "ruby quartz" from Omega Gems, vintage Swarovski rondelles, an ammonite negative from the Gary Wilson Stones, a drilled and shaped stone from Dean Crane of Two Cranes, and a polymer-tinted porcelain cabochon from Kelly Russell (with a porcelain base from Off Center Productions).

Beaded Links...

About.com Jewelry Making

Are you a Tweep? Do you Tweet? Find out about the fun of networking with other jewelry folks via Twitter.

Art Bead Scene

Trying to figure out how to use those swatches of trendy colors? Check out The Color Report for Beaders for help.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts

Barbe opens up about a new venture.

Carmi's Art/Life World

Carmi recylces the images of an old calendar for her new gold bezel necklace.

Jewelry & Beading

Cyndi is concentrating on metal clay for the month of June. Come meet some amazing metal clay artists!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

How simply sunny! A focal Celestial Crystal will encourage your love of the summer sun!

Strands of Beads

Melissa shows off beads by Andrew Thornton and plays tag this week.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Last month's Art Bead Scene's theme, Monet's Water Lilies, inspires Andrew to create a new necklace.

I Hate You Allergies...

So, yesterday started okay, but I started to feel a tightness in my throat.  Eventually it was getting hard for me to breathe.  My allergies were so bad... it was horrible.  I think that they are being exacerbated by how dry it is here.  I've never come to Milwaukee and had it be so dry.  Thusly, I missed out on dinner with Anne Choi and her crew.  I was filled with great and deep disappointment.  Hopefully I'll be able to steal a couple of moments during the rest of the weekend to catch up and chat with her.  After I've taken a hefty dose of medicine and rested, I'm feeling much better and there's just the ever so slightest tickle in my throat.  Dear Allergies, I hate you!

News from the Show...

We were so busy yesterday that it was hard to leave the booth. It's always frustrating, because you know that there are millions of treasures and many of the folks who make them under the same roof. It's just hard to get away from the booth long enough to explore.

Our friends Leah and Derek Fairbanks have a daughter around the same age as Azalea and they were playing independantly all day behind the curtain. The outside world didn't seem to exist for them. I snuck a photo of them playing pregnant mamas. It was so cute. They then took turns pretending to birth the balloons and being doctors. I had to explain to more than one customer what the moaning was that was coming from behind the curtain!

Above are the new pewter beads from Green Girl Studios. There's a botanical link, a kangaroo, and a honey bee. The "made with love" hand was revamped and remade for pewter and the double-sided owl and raven tube have finally gone into production. So, there's lots of new goodies to pick up!

Resin Pendants...

Here are the new resin bezels that Cynthia made for the show. We still might wet/dry sand them so that they look older and more like antiques. Look for them at the Green Girl Studios booths 1205 and 1207 at the Bead & Button show.

Milwaukee in the Day...

Usually when I come to the Bead & Button show, I don't get an opportunity to explore the city during the day.  All of my exploration is left after dark when the show is over for the day.  Today my flight got in early and I took the chance to walk around and see a different side of Milwaukee.

I've often times seen the museum lit up, like a giant sail, but haven't been able to check it out.  I decided to change that and see what they had.  I was impressed with the selection and took massive amounts of pictures.  It was funny to see works of art by my professors or from friends back in New York up in the museum.  It was a little reminder of home.

Above is a small selection of pieces I saw by artists:  (From left to right) Catherine Lusurier, Erwin Redl, Abbott H. Thayer, and Bruce Pearson.

After I finished up at the art museum, I found a connecting system of park trails and walked several miles through the trails.  Along the trail was a REALLY nice coffee roaster called Alterra Coffe Roaster.  It was a cute little stop that seemed hip.

I saw a lot of different plants and kept stopping to take pictures.  People would stop and stare and ask questions when they saw me squatting on the side of the trail or climbing up a hill.  It was nice to talk to the various people, but what I enjoyed best was the solitude and the quiet of nature.  I relished the sounds of the birds, the smell of the clover and flowers, and the exploration of my own thoughts as much the exploration of the trails.

I liked finding little things, little things that might normally get passed by.  I liked freezing a moment, that to most would seem insignificant.  

Like a flower on the steps of the Urban Ecology Center...

Or an old wasp nest, blowing around by the museum...

Or a spiderweb on a drainage pipe off a trail...

Or a tennis ball that met with a lawn mower...

Or a snail shell on the bank of a river...

I had a good time finding things and taking pictures of them.  I tried to make myself get lost and sort of bask in the surroundings, enjoying all the details of a new and different place.  One of the things I stumbled upon were koi fish made of milk cartons.  They swam over a boarded up window.

Onward to Bead & Button...

In a few hours I'll be getting on a plane headed towards Milwaukee.  I don't think I've ever attended the show without feeling horribly unprepared and like I've left a pile of work unfinished.  Did I pack the charger?  Will I be able to stop by the post office before I leave?  Will the hotel room have free WiFi?  Can I finish up the last of the projects I'm working on, or will they have to wait?  

I guess there's a futility to what I'm feeling right now.  That I have to stop.  Evaluate my priorities and just let go of the maybes the ifs and the possibilities that will just have to wait.

In any event, I'm excited to go and see all the splendors of the show and see friends that I don't get to see very often.  I'm also excited to see all the customers who make it out to the show every year.  It'll be nice to catch up.  Do be sure to stop by and say hello!  The Green Girl Studios booth is 1205 and 1207 against the wall.

Use the Muse: Round Two...

Scarlett Lanson of The Beader's Muse and Beadwork Magazine is hosting the second round of the popular beading competition, Use the Muse.  It's a great competition to challenge your design sensibilities, push your creativity, and be in the running to receive one of many great prizes!  The kit components and muse are provided by Rainbows of Light, the all-purpose jewelry supply store Artbeads.com, and Lillypilly Designs.  (Scarlett assembles and sends off each and every one by hand!)  I CAN'T WAIT to participate!  CLICK HERE to play along too!

The Luckiest Boy...

I received a BIG surprise in the mail today!  Laurie and Keith O'Connor sent a package containing an assortment of their beautiful ceramic beads!  Who's the luckiest boy in all the lands?  That's right – ME!  I've long been a fan of their work.  It's easy to see why.  The pieces are versatile, well-crafted, and have the most delicious glazes and finishes.  I've got so much to do before I leave on Wednesday for the Bead & Button show, but my fingers are just itching to dive into the ceramic, porcelain, and stoneware beads and make something.  I just might have to give into temptation!  You can check out a selection of Keith O'Connor beads at The Beadin' Path or EMAIL HIM directly.