Away Doldrums, Away...

I think it's very easy to get caught up in the stresses of day to day living.  Deadlines, paperwork, housework – all of them combine to form a smear of a day.  By the end of it, you're so exhausted, it's almost as if nothing happened at all.  Lately I've been feeling the Doldrums.  When this happens, I like to chase them away.  Of course, with the aid of my friends.

In an effort to stave off the slur of mundane stresses, we had a little get together.  Considering all the deadlines, it wasn't practical.  But I think that's why it made it all the more special.  So, we feasted!  A variety of cheeses were served, like goat gouda, brie, and goat cheese.  There were also strawberries with balsamic vinaigrette, mangoes in lime juice and chili peppers, pears tossed in a lemonade, chicken liver pate, caramelized onion and feta cheese filo puffs, figs, a roasted red pepper and artichoke tapenade, and stewed apricots served over goat cheese on a multigrain bread.  For dinner I made a curried chicken cooked with coconut milk, carrots, onions, and sweet peas, jasmine rice pilaf, and sauteed mushrooms.  Bukola and Carl brought over a delicious onion focaccia bread that was pillowy and soft (perfect for soaking up the curry broth).  Jen Tong brought over the cutest little beers that went nicely with the mango spears.  Gretta and Ope both brought over very tasty wines.  I also was reunited with my old roommate Kate and got to meet her significant other.  It was a really great night.  I wish I had taken more pictures.

It's important, I think, to take time, even if only a few hours, to remember friendship and celebrate life and living.

A Night of Openings...

After finishing up a couple pressing deadlines, I met up with Kathy Callahan to hit up some art openings.  I've been out of the loop and all of buzzing and activity in Chelsea, needless to say, caused me to have a bit of anxiety.  There were dozens of openings and hundreds of people roving the streets.  Luckily we ran into a familiar face, Heejo Kim of Blank Space Gallery.  She helped put on the Lie Sang Bong show featuring his avant garde fashions.  Kathy and I proceeded with our dizzying trek through crowded galleries, until we made our way out to East Williamsburg to catch the Social (Virus) show at Nurture Art.  It was an interesting cross-section of more established artists and high school students dealing with gossip in the technological age.

Wire-Wrapped Z Designs in Glass...

One of my neighbors at the Philadelphia show was Georgia-based artisan, Joanne of Z Designs in Glass.  I adore her work.  It's organic, earthy, and simply luscious.  Above is a project that I started on during the downtimes of the show.  The challenge is creating wire-wraps that have an organic and "grown" vibe to match the lampwork piece.

Julie Heffernan at Mark Moore Gallery...

If you're in California, you should definitely check out Julie Heffernan's solo show at Mark Moore Gallery.  It opens on the May 23rd.  Her paintings are detailed and indulgently rich, referencing Old Master paintings, but taking a decidedly more surreal turn.  I adore how lavish they are, teeming with life and subject matter.  CLICK HERE to see more examples of her work.

Rachel Stokoe at Hunter's MFA Thesis Show...

I met up with Cat and William to see Rachel Stokoe and her latest work at Hunter's MFA Thesis Show.  It was hot and crowded, but it was so nice to see Rachel and meet her mom.  You might remember Rachel and her mom from a fundraiser I had called, "Stringing for a Cure," to help raise money for them to participate in the 3 Day Journey benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust.  I am so proud of Rachel.  She's created a beautiful body of jewel-toned work, layered richly and sensuously.  When I look at her paintings, I see more than just bright, pretty colors and paint – I see her.  The canvases, standing taller than her, hold a record of movement, strokes, and gestures, each unique to her body and arm reach.  In this way, the strokes have become a dynamic dance, a swirl of raw expression.  With that said, they transcend mere Action painting.  Repetition of strokes and patterning evolve into a fluid pictography, telling a story and creating a universe to delve into.  (I love how she's posing in the photo.  It gives a hint into the energy that went into creating the painting.)  For more images of her work CLICK HERE.

Road Jewelry...

I've been meaning to post pictures of these as soon as I got back, but I've been pressed for time as of late.  I made the three necklaces while Greg drove from Asheville to Philadelphia for the Bead Fest Wire show.  It was roughly a ten hour drive and I like to keep my hands busy.  Otherwise I succumb to a road coma and fall deeply asleep.  Oddly enough, I don't get motion sickness.  The only thing to worry about is jabbing yourself with the wire when there's a bump in the road.

The above piece is mostly metal.  I created a wire-wrapped link chain of stacked Thai silver rounds (from Na Bo Row) to feature the fine pewter Swirly Pebble bead from my family at Green Girl Studios.  I also used a lava rondelle from Talisman Associates, Inc.  I made the headpins in advance and used those to embellish a piece of chain with black diamond Swarovski crystals from Fusion Beads.

After Scarlett Lanson's Use the Muse contest, I fell in love with the natural brass filigree that was the muse component.  I used it in the above piece with a golden shadow Swarovski disk pendant from Artbeads.com and a vermeil spacer from Singaraja Imports.  I used the gold-plated seahorse woman from my family at Green Girl Studios as a hook clasp.  The Swarovski cuplink chain is also from Artbeads.com.  All of the other Swarovski crystals and pearls are from Fusion Beads.

This was probably one of the more challenging pieces I made on the ride up.  I started out by making Cynthia three different doll necklaces with these tiny vintage simulated pearls she had.  The tricky part was not crushing the pearls with the somewhat cumbersome pliers I was using.  The coral branch pendant and the starfish clasp, both in fine pewter, are from my family at Green Girl Studios.  The coin pearls and black/dark blue pearls are from Talisman Associates, Inc., and the copper-colored Swarovski crystal pearls are from Fusion Beads.

Florida Cronies...

It's hard to believe that in a few months, I'll have lived (more or less) in New York for eight years.  It seems like it was just the other day that I was seeing the City for the first time, my hopes soaring and my horizons brightening.  

 

I was one of the first from my area to defect to New York.  Over the years I've been joined by a handful of friends from that small town in Florida.  It's strange that so many of us made our way up north.  Every once in awhile, the expats meet up to reminisce.

We started with Calimyrna figs, sliced pears drenched in a tangy lemonade, and a tasty goat gouda.  I also served figs that were wrapped in prosciutto.  (I stole this recipe from my friend Jenny.)  Not shown, but equally enjoyable was the sliced baguette with a perfectly crunchy crust and a pillow-soft interior.  For dinner, I made sauteed mushrooms, a pilaf with apricots, almonds, figs, and cranberries, and an orange juice and white wine braised chicken breast, with blood oranges.  The blood oranges were so dark they were almost black.  To go with everything, the meal was served with an assortment of wines from Lucas Vineyard and Thirsty Owl Wine Company.

Herbert Pfostl's Paper Graveyard...

I just discovered Herbert Prostl's Paper Graveyard and I'm smitten.  I adore the muted color palette, the stain-like quality of some of the pieces, and the overall haunting vibe of the work.  CLICK HERE to explore the blog.

Parallel...

Another show opening this week that's a must see is Parallel at Eye Level BQE Gallery.  The show features videos and choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall and paintings by Jen Dunlap.  Both artists will be performing in costume the opening night in the labyrinth-like playground they've installed in the gallery.  It is sure to be a good time!

As a Matter of Fabric...

This week, two shows open on Thursday evening that interestingly incorporate fabric and textiles.  My friend and artist, Heejo Kim, of Blank Space is mounting an exhibit of renowned Korean fashion designer Lie Sang Bong's work entitled, Fashion Architect: Thread Construction.  Iviva Olenick is participating in a show called, Social (Virus), at Nuture Art in Bushwick.  She'll be showing embroidered pieces from her Were I So Besotted series (which I wholeheartedly love) featured on her blog.

Beaded Links...

About.com Jewelry Making

Hook up with a cute little fiber flower charm and necklace project!  Combine your crochet and jewelry making skills.

Art Bead Scene

Hello Spring!  Goodbye self-control!

Art Jewelry Magazine

It's video madness at Art Jewelry and Addie gives you a peek behind-the-scenes.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts

Cindy's beads & Barbe's creativity add up to some great necklaces!

Carmi's Art

Carmi sews crocheted flowers into a soft new collar.

Jewelry & Beading

Combine wirework with seed beads for a one-of-a-kind necklace!

Katie's Beading Blog

Try your hand at tubular peyote stitch with Katie's free beading pattern, Delicious Donut Lariat.

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

Like Art Nouveau?  See this lovely book by Judith Durant and Jean Campbell who explore great works from that period in jewelry projects!

Strands of Beads

Melissa shows off a few beautiful fossilized coral beads.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Andrew shares the new additions to his bead stash.

The Fashion Show...

I've long been a fan of Project Runway.  I like the idea of having a television show that spotlights creativity and visual problem-solving.  With Bravo losing Project Runway to Lifetime, I imagine it was only a matter of time before they reinvented the show.  Thusly, The Fashion Show.  I saw the advertisements in the subway and truth be told, I had my misgivings.  I had doubts about what gave Kelly Rowland (formerly of Destiny's Child) the street cred to constructively critique the designers.  What also troubled me was that Isaac Mizrahi's notable ego would eclipse the show and take center-stage over the real focus of the show: the designers.  (Much in the same way that Jeffrey Deitch and all the "exciting work" in his gallery usurped the spotlight in the sadly unsuccessful artist reality television show, Artstar.) Honestly, I don't think I would have went out of my way to watch it if it weren't on Hulu.

For a pilot episode, it wasn't half bad.  I kept having flashbacks of Project Runway and sort of expected to see Tim Gunn pop up at any moment.  (Which would have been a good thing, I think.)  I really appreciate that they're giving Fern Mallis a bigger role besides occasional guest judge.  She has a wealth of knowledge and experience.  I was also surprised with how much I liked the fresh and candid point of view that Kelly Rowland provided.  In particular her statement about needing "butter and a miracle" to fit in one of the designer's dresses.   Laura Brown of Harper's Bazaar also had very direct, knowledgeable, and straight-up criticism that worked well and benefits the show.  What I didn't like was the scripted parts from all the judges that seemed mechanical and robotic, delivered awkwardly and inorganically.  I also didn't like how at judgement the verdicts were a bit schizophrenic; one minute Isaac Mizrahi is saying that he's embarrassed and would have fired everyone and the next, praising and complimenting.  It seems like he needs to take his own advice about "saying very important things" the right way.

With all that said, Bravo's formula for reality-based competitions has proven to be successful at creating entertaining television and with a few small repairs and some fine tuning – The Fashion Show could be really interesting and intriguing.  I'll have to see more before the verdict's out.  Let's just say that my viewership is "hanging by a thread."

Quick Trip...

We took the Chinatown bus down to Philadelphia for a going away party for a friend.  (I always forget how close Philadelphia is!)  Of course while there, I had to stop at the Reading Terminal Market to visit Old City Coffee and Flying Monkey Patisserie.  I love the Monkey Bars!  We strolled around the older parts of the city.  I like the winding alleys and tiny tree-lined streets.  I kept seeing a cast iron placard on the buildings with a snake and flames and an "F" and "A" and wondered what that was about.  Upon further research, I discovered that it was a fire-marker for the Philadelphia Fire Association.  (The photo above comes from an antique website.)  One of the stops was the Philadelphia Sketch Club.  It wasn't open, but I could imagine artists coming to and fro with their canvases and reams of paper.  It was a nice trip, if not all too short.  I like Philadelphia!

Chanel No. 5 Commercial...

I'm a big fan of Jean-Pierre Jeunet (of Amelie, A Very Long Engagement, City of Lost Children, and Alien Resurrection).  He's teamed up with Audrey Tatou again for an Orient Express themed Chanel No. 5 commercial.  Makes me wish there was more!

Existential Blogger Crisis...

I got an email a few weeks ago from a blog reader.  This little piece of correspondence got me thinking about my blog more.  (Isn't it funny how the more I think about my blog, the less I write in it?)  I've really been thinking about why I blog, who reads it, and why they read it?  Have I met them?  Will I meet them?  Do they read it daily?  Do they read it weekly?  What exactly about my blog makes it worth coming back to?  Do they follow the links I so meticulously pepper my posts with?  What time of day do they read it?  Do they read it from home or from work?

Of course I've used the site trackers and the statistics and looked at the ebb and flow of the traffic.  But the answers I received really weren't meaty enough.  They all seemed sort of theoretical.  It's kind of like the proclamations that those computerized height/weight health machines make.  The answers weren't human enough.

Perhaps I'm having an existential blogger crisis?  Who am I and where do I fit in this great big blogging world?  Maybe the answer will somehow emerge in another 1,225 posts or there abouts?

Dead and Gone...

I just finished up reading the latest installment of the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris entitled, Dead and Gone.  This was a very satisfying read.  Not just because I am enamored with Sookie's Southern sass, but because many of the loose ends were tidied up and several of the unanswered questions were resolved.  What I love best about Charlaine's writing is that you really start caring for the characters; their pain is your pain, their joy is your joy.  I like dipping into this world.  It feels like I'm catching up with an old friend, albeit a friend who gets into all kinds of supernatural trouble!

New Goodies...

While I was away, my prize from Scarlett Lanson's Use the Muse Contest came!  The prizes are shown in the picture to the far left – brand new shapes and colors of Swarovski crystals.  I had the pleasure of seeing Marsha Neal in Philadelphia and the picture in the center are of her new ceramic pieces I took away from the show; aren't they wonderful!?!?  (While in Philadelphia, I also picked up some great lampwork glass pendants - not shown - from Joanne from Z Designs in Glass.)  On the far right are a few ceramic beauties from Gaea Cannaday.  Don't you just love the Day of the Dead motif?  I also got some lockets and bezels while I was away, but will save those for later.  I can't wait to work with all these wonderful components!

Lucky...

It's always strange coming home after being on the road.  The little things pile up while you're gone and suddenly the little things aren't so little anymore.  It can be overwhelming to try and jump back into a routine and navigate the day to day again.  I'm glad to be back though, sleeping in my own bed, walking around in my pajamas, and not worrying if my bed-head-hair is too frightening or not.  

It was good to see my family and spend time with them.  It was also wonderful to go to Philadelphia and see all the awesome customers, both old and new, who made it out to the show! It dawned on me that being on the road isn't easy.  It can be very hard.  But in the end, it's totally worth it.  I feel very lucky to be apart of a community that is unique, vibrant, and inspiring.  The people involved are all really lovely; each with their own vision, ideas, and ways of making things.  I love that the process of making things – crafting and creating – has such a power to bring people together.  This is truly awesome and I feel lucky to be able to do what I do.

"X" Marks the Spot...

My dear friend, Heather Wynn sent this photo to me of her wearing a little PMC heart that we made a few years ago.  It's a simple hollow-form bead.  You might know Heather Wynn from her fabulous polymer clay beads or hand-stamped silver.  We don't really get to see each other very much nowadays, but our friendship has remained constant and true.  This picture made me smile. 

Flex Your Creativity...

Soft Flex Company has really made some of my favorite flexible beading wire.  Their new Trios are awesome!  The colors, flexibility, and strength are GREAT!  Did you know that they are having a beading competition?  CLICK HERE for more information.

Onward to Bead Fest Wire...

So, I'm going back on the road again.  This time our destination is the Philadelphia Bead Fest Wire show in King of Prussia.  I can't wait!  It should be a lot of fun.  It's always nice to see the Green Girl Studios customers in the area, hang out with the Interweave bunch, and shopping from the great vendor line up.  Please drop by and say hello!  And don't forget to bring by the things you've made with our goodies; you'll get a free bead!

Jekyll Island...

After the show in Miami, we made our way back to Asheville.  We drove through miles of road lined with brightly-colored wildflowers.

We had to pick Greg up at the Greenville/Spartanburg airport and had a little bit of time to kill.  While we were in Miami, we didn't get a chance to hit the beaches.  Too much traffic kept us at bay.  So we made a stop at a place we always remark on when we pass:  Jekyll Island off the coast of Georgia.

Above is a view of the Sidney Lanier bridge that one passes by on their way to Jekyll Island.  We went over the bridge just to go over it.  From the top of the bridge, you can see for miles, stretching over grasslands and coastal marshes.

 

The entrance to the way to the island is marked with these two structures.  The island was once exclusively a playground for the rich.  However, the property was bought by the state of Georgia and was converted into a public treasure.

Our excursion to the beach was just what I needed!  A little sun did my heart much good.  I enjoyed our walk along the beach, picking up seashells, and exploring this new place.  Apparently Jekyll Island has a long history and is now home to exclusive beach resorts, sea turtle sanctuaries, and golf courses.

Above and to the left is a shot of Azalea on the boardwalk playing with a flower she found.  To the right is a picture of her holding a conch we found.  The waters were murky and brownish due to all the silt in the water, (probably from being near a tributary) which made it ideal for finding sea life. 

I found a sand-dollar and another conch shell.  We had fun running through the sea foam and looking for tiny angel-wing calm shells.

Although our trip to Jekyll Island was a short one, it was definitely a nice one.  It was the perfect little breather.  We were all happy to get out of the car for a little bit of fun in the sun.  To the left is an image of the base of one of the sand dunes.  I took the picture, because I love the pattern that the sand creates, swirling and cratering.

Miami...

The van glided down the roads that wove through wetlands and grassy vistas.  The old growth oaks stood like solitary sentinels, bearded with Spanish moss.  Along the roads we traveled palm trees swayed and flowers brightly studded the waysides.  Orange groves formed orderly rows, neat and tidy.  We kept our eyes peeled for gator sightings.  We only saw two.  This is the Florida I dream about.  I dream about a sun-soaked land, both beautiful and dangerous.

Above Left:  Azalea styling my mom's hair.  Above Right:  Dad striking a pose.

While we were in Miami for the Best Bead Show, our parents drove down to take advantage of our proximity, for my mom to scope out some beads, and to spend time with Azalea.  It was good to see them.  Azalea definitely had fun playing with Lula (what she calls my mom) and Lulu (what she calls my dad).  It is nice to see how much Azalea likes to spend time with them.

We had really great neighbors at the bead show.  To our left was Lewis Wilson of Crystal Myths, to our right was Rare Gems International, and catty-corner to us were Stephanie Ann Dieleman and Kerri Fuhr.  Not only are they wonderful people with a delightful sense of humor, but these Canadians are masterful glass beadmakers.  I adore Stephanie's ocean themed beads and Kerri's bees.  You might remember Kerri's work from a spotlight I did on her raven bead HERE.  

The show was nice because we got to spend a lot of time catching up with the loyal Green Girl Studios customers and reconnecting with them.  We always like seeing everyone and what they've been making.

Not Far From the Tree...

When people discover that my sisters and I all went to art school and that we are all creative in our day-to-day lives, they always ask if our parents are creative as well.  Above are a sampling of jewelry designs that my mom made.  I am deeply impressed with the work that she's making and am happy to say that the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree.

Southern Horizons...

It seems like forever since I've last posted.  It's unusual for me to be gone from the blog so long, but I was on the road and opportunities to get on the internet were scarce.  

We stopped at my parents' house in Orlando on the way to the Best Bead Show in Miami.  It was strange to be back after so long.  I've been away for several years.  It was strange to be back, seeing the forests I once ran through – now shopping malls.  Old haunts and hang outs were now new businesses, unfamiliar and unknown to me.  Being back, was like seeing an old lover after many years.

While everyone was inside unpacking, I took a walk around my parents' property.  I saw the old rusted trucks my father one day intends to restore, I smelled the sticky-sweet fragrance of the night-blooming jasmine, and felt the wind on my face – that same wind with the faint smell of the salt of the sea even though miles from the ocean.  I remember that wind, the one pushing me forward to where I am now, reminding me that the sunshine of my childhood still shines within me where ever I go.

On the Road Again...

In a few hours we're jumping back on the road again. Cynthia, Azalea, and I are headed to Miami for the Best Bead Show this weekend, running from Friday to Sunday. We're making a brief stop at our parents' house in Orlando. It'll strange being back. I haven't been back in years, but it'll definitely be nice to see my parents and see what they've done with their house. Make sure to come out and visit us if you're in Miami or in the surrounding area! We'd love to see you and see what you've been working on.

An Afternoon with Nina Bagley...

One of the great things about visiting Asheville is that sometimes I can arrange to meet up with one of my favorite designers and a very special soul, Nina Bagley. We all look forward to visits with Nina. She exudes warmth and creativity and we just have so much fun talking and laughing, and just having an all-around good time. Luckily we were able to meet up for an afternoon.

The above pictures show Nina on the left, the heart stone that she gave me on her last visit in the center, and on the right what I did with the heart stone.

We never really have enough time together. Each time though, we manage to squeeze another minute out, extending the visit as long as possible. This time we got to feast AND craft. Last time we were only able to meet up for a meal and for some good conversation. Our afternoon with Nina was wonderful! (I am trying with all my little heart to encourage Nina to come visit me in New York this summer.)

The Feasting...

Food is a very important thing for us. It's a way that we show we care and it's one of the things that brings us together. Not only that, but we love to try new things and try out different flavor combinations. Since I've gotten here, we've been feasting a lot!


The above picture may look like just mashed potatoes and meatballs, but the mashed potatoes are made out of Japenese sweet potatoes. They have a purple skin and a white flesh and have a rich, buttery, nutty flavor that is perfectly accentuated with a little bit of cream. Inspired by a condiment made by a chef on the Food Network television show, Chopped, I made an onion gastrique with grape jelly and sliced onions.

We've been working a lot, so I just threw together a quick stir-fry for dinner the other night. It was fast and tasted yummy.

We haven't just been eating in. For lunch one day, we headed down to the Papa's & Beer for some excellent Mexican food. The torta is about as big as Cynthia's face, which made me laugh.

Nina Bagley came over today and one of the little snacks we made for the visit was cinnamon and dark cocoa powder coated roasted almonds with brown sugar. They were the perfect little treat to go with our fresh squeezed juice and good company!

For lunch, we made a roasted pork loin with pears and onions, caramelized bacon, fresh green beans, and sliced French toast slathered with butter, brie cheese, walnuts, almonds, and a little bit of honey. (If food is a way we show we care, this meal really shows how much we care about Nina Bagley! We love her!)

Photo Etching...

While I was off on my relative radio-silence last week, I dropped by 3rdWard for a class with Max Goodman on photo etching! It was really exciting and brought back all kinds of memories of when I learned intaglio printing and the etching process several years ago. To the left are a few of the samples I made during the class. They're really simple and basic as it was a techniques class and it was the first time that they offered the course. The class was a lot of fun and I'm dreaming up all the many projects I'm going to make!

Dollar Days...

If you know me, then you know that I love a good deal! In these times of economic hardship, every dollar counts - literally! That's why I'm going to be taking advantage of Artbeads.com's Dollar Days sale. The sale begins tomorrow morning (April 21st) and includes thousands of items, all marked down to one dollar each! WOW! CLICK HERE to visit the page and see what deals you can snag! (Keep in mind that the link goes live tomorrow and until then, will show up as not being an active page.)