Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winner for this past week's Thursday Giveaway is Elizabeth of "Turquoise Sky". Please email me with your contact information and I'll put your prize in the post. Be on the look out on Thursday for another chance to win!

New Candice Wakumoto Components...

I just restocked and uploaded some NEW Candice Wakumoto Components to the Shop. There's a nice mix of both bronze and sterling silver components. CLICK HERE to check out all the new goodies.

Where Is...

I got an email earlier today asking me where the second part of my Spring Cleaning Sale was. I had tentatively titled it, "Send My Debt Away Sale". It's true that there hasn't been mention of it on the blog and that it was postponed. I apologize for this, as there's a giveaway tied into it, but there is a very good reason why there is a delay. I could site my traveling or my seemingly insurmountable pile of deadlines, but the truth is that the components that I created utilize vintage papers. More specifically... vintage papers with adhesives on them... hint hint. One might ask why this slowed things down? The answer is that vintage materials weren't always created with posterity in mind. Some of the binders and adhesives used, over the years, have caused the papers to yellow and crack and if not kept in check will cause them to completely crumble into a pile of dust one day. Not to mention that some of the inks used are not archival and with any exposure to the sun will cause the images to fade or become completely bleached out. Even if embedded in resin, the process will in most cases continue and sometimes the resin will expedite the degradation. So what's an artist to do? Short of making reproductions of everything with archival inks on archival paper, there's a painstaking process of rinsing the papers in a chemical solution to neutralize the pH balance and effectively stop the corrosion of time. They are most fragile at this point and must be very carefully handled, sometimes even with tweezers and latex gloves. Then they must be specially dried so that the paper doesn't wrinkle or have an unwanted texture. Then they must be treated with a UV protectant. Here's the rub... the chemical that renders the paper pH balance neutral reacts to the UV protectant, causing a chalky powder to form. So the papers have to be rinsed again in a diluted mixture of distilled water and gel medium and dried again on the special system I built for drying them. At this point, they can be covered in the UV protectant and are ready to go. Additional steps can taken, using pH balanced glues like PVA or Jade glue.

This may seem like a lot of extra work, but I feel as though I'm preserving a sliver of the past and that the pieces I create with these vintage materials hold with them their histories, and with my efforts, will last a long time afterwards.

So, the "Send My Debt Away Sale" will start shortly, after everything is ready.

Beaded Links...

A Bead A Day
What does swarovski sparkle mean to you? Lisa shares the happy feeling brought on by sparkly stars.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has some fun in the sun summer time jewelry tutorials for you, including a cute turtle charm necklace.

Art Bead Scene
Free Project Alert! ABS has a new necklace project for free on their website!

Beading Arts
Cyndi has launched the first installment of her brand new e-book on bead embroidery...and it's free! Hurry over for your copy!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi finds a way to incorporate vintage turtle beads into a necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy works through her to-do list and lists a new set of glass birdhouse beads.

Jean Campbell
Jean's been at the grindstone, but also at the gardens...check out these beautiful images from the MoBG!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is back on track this week and is giving away coordinating beads with Sab's help, from BeadBead.biz!

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Jean brags! Yes, she really brags! It's worth a look because it's cool!

missficklemedia.com
Should I patina or leave the metal bare naked?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew starts the month of May off with another giveaway by Lillypilly Designs! Find out how you can win a set of tribal-inspired wooden beads!

New Additions...

We've been talking about it FOREVER... but we finally did it! We got kittens! On the left is Babette and on the right is Paulo. They are so cute and love to play. Babette is very feisty and Paulo is very timid.

Self-Portrait Friday...

Today I had a headache, the kind that sears your frontal lobe and feels as though you've been lashed across the face. Of course, I was frustrated with how little work I accomplished. I lay mostly in bed, kicking myself for not taking better care of myself. Usually headaches are my own doing. Getting caught up in my work – forgetting to eat or sleep or doing something to maintain the fragile requirements necessary to continue on as usual. Today, though, was different. A storm is coming. Sometimes I forget that my skull has become a barometer, my burning sinuses the spinning needle.

So, the day was not lost to my own doing. But still I did not get done everything I wanted to do. I felt fractured, as though someone interrupted my train of thought and scattered and shuffled the pieces. Perhaps the fluidity of my rhythm will return again, once the storm has broken.

The Shape of Things...

I spend a lot of time looking out the window. I run my eyes over the ever-changing contours, colors, and shapes. Early this morning, a storm rolled through. The sun was just barely up. I watched the mist roll down through the mountains, winding its way through the valley and between the trees that have witnessed this view far longer than I. Sometimes it would rain. Great lined sheets would cut across the horizon. I looked out the window and traced the lines of the clouds, noting how the melding forms of sky and grey-green earth became one... then separate... then one again.

My days are much like this. Each day is new and offers opportunity, but when I try to sketch the details, they blur and seep into each other. One detail transforms into another. These are full days. I work until my hands are tired and my eyes sting with soreness. Then I drill pots until I can stand the ringing in my ears no more. Then I fill the pots, one at a time, with plants. Some of the plants are native. Some of them I've carried from deserts far away. The soil feels good in my hands. It grounds me. I am thankful for these quiet moments. When all the pots I've drilled are full, I go back to work. I answer emails and write and draw and plan and make. I make. I make beautiful things. Some of these things no one will ever see. Some of them are beautiful in those moments only, and are taken apart when those fleeting moments are over. They become one... then separate... then one again.

Thursday Giveaway...

Happy May! This is the first Thursday Giveaway for the month of May! One winner will win these four, beautiful laser-engraved wooden focal beads. The tribal inspired pieces come courtesy of LillyPilly Designs. I love the intricacies of the line work and the richness of the dark wood. They remind me a lot of story tiles that spell out the mythology and history of some exotic civilization.

To enter to win these lovely wooden beads, all you have to do is a leave a comment on this blog post AND be a follower on Twitter. (I know... I'm shaking things up here a little with a few changes.) CLICK HERE to go to my Twitter profile to become a follower, if you're not already following. One winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this blog post on Monday (May 10th) at midnight EST. Once a winner is drawn, I'll check on Twitter to see if they are indeed a follower. A winner who is not a follower will be disqualified and a new winner will be randomly selected. So make sure you leave a comment AND become a follower on Twitter. Oh, and don't forget to leave your name if it doesn't already appear next to your comment.

The Botanical Society of Westmoreland County...

All today, I was busily trying to get as many of my chores done as possible so that I could attend the May meeting of the Botanical Society of Westmoreland County without having to worry about unfinished things floating over my head. Luckily I finished right on time!

The weather was beautiful and the drive out to Greensburg was delightful. I had the windows down the whole time. It was a nice distraction. Sometimes I get extremely nervous entering into new situations, especially when entering into established groups. The Botanical Society of Westmoreland County has been around for 60 years and that's pretty established as far as groups are concerned. Luckily everyone was SUPER nice and they generously allowed me to attend the meeting and become a new member midway through the season. My neighbors were gracious enough to explain anything when that worried "I'M LOST" look spread across my face. Fortunately, I came during the annual Member's Plant Auction meeting. I had a blast! Like I said, everyone was extremely nice and I got lots of goodies for super cheap. I even got lots of free stuff since I was the "newbie". I will definitely be back!

Wikio Sneak Preview...

I'm excited to announce that tomorrow Wikio will be unveiling it's latest category of top blogs: Jewelry Making! I got a sneak peek of the top twenty blogs and wanted to share them with you before they're officially posted. I feel as though my blog, coming in at No. 2 is in good company with a whole lot of talented folks!

1	Art Bead Scene Blog
2	Andrew Thornton
3	Lampwork Diva aka Cindy Gimbrone
4	Earthenwood Studio Bead Blog
5	Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
6	Carmi's Art/Life World
7	Melissa J. Lee
8	LLYYNN
9	Rings & Things Hot New Items
10	Beading Daily
11	Lorelei's Blog
12	Jennifer Jangles Blog
13	AngelinaBeadalina
14	Beading and Jewelry Making
15	Make It
16	Caravan Beads Blog
17	Elaine Ray Rambles About Beads
18	Chainofbeads.com
19	Handmade Sterling Jewelry
20	The Jewelry Blog

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winner for this past week's Thursday Giveaway is Lori Anderson a.k.a "Pretty Things". Please email me with your contact information and I'll put your prize in the post. Be on the look out on Thursday for another chance to win!

Australian Beading Magazine...

A little over a year ago, the delightful Jean Yates interviewed me for her recurring article, "Our Beading World" featured in Australian Beading magazine. I remember because I was scrambling around, getting ready for the big Tucson shows and was corresponding with Jean on the road. Getting international magazines, let alone international specialty magazines, is particularly difficult, especially now that I've relocated to the country. I had almost completely forgotten about the interview until the thoughtful, Davinia Algeri, sent a scan of the article from the most recent issue of the magazine. Below is a scan of the article:

Jean was so completely and utterly flattering in the article, I blushed when I read it. I can assure you that I'm not nearly as charming as it makes me sound, but I am grateful for Jean's article, for honoring me by interviewing me and for considering me worthy of such a privilege.

By the way, if you like the look of the "Skull Island" necklace, step-by-step instructions and a resource list for it appear in the NEW Beads 2010 magazine from Interweave Press.

Set Sail...

I just found out that the registration for the Bead Cruise 2011 is now open! Next spring, the Royal Caribbean's Voyager sets sail from Galveston, Texas for the seas of Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica! And if that wasn't enough, the talents of Dallas Lovett, Heather Powers, Jean Campbell, Tracy Stanley, Beverly Herman and Marcia DeCoster will be showcased in a treasury of classes aboard the floating paradise. To find out more, CLICK HERE! What a wonderful way to welcome Spring and get your bead fix while sailing the high seas!

Cuter Than Cute...

Kerry Bogert, author of Totally Twisted: Innovative Wirework & Art Glass Jewelry, left a message on my Facebook that I had to check out her collaboration with Lorelei Eurto, "Beading With Friends" for a special surprise. I was hesitant since I have the slowest internet connection known to humanity, but was delighted by the SHOUT OUT! That was sweet of them to think of me. (And yes, a trip up to the Finger Lakes this autumn for wine tasting, leaf-looking and a possible bead retreat would be most fabulous!) CLICK HERE to check out the video tutorial on wire rings, beady banter and my special shout out!

Beaded Links...

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Spring is the time for new life and new charms at Cindy Gimbrone Beads.

Beading Arts

Here's a quick little tutorial on how to create a barnacle texture with seed beads!

About.com Jewelry Making
School is in session, or at least, it will be when you sign up for one of these free copper clay e-courses.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie spreads her wings and designs a new pair of carvings to be made into pendants.

Strands of Beads
Melissa uses lava beads to help teach her son about volcanoes.

A Bead A Day
Do you ever find beads in your own collection that you forgot you had?

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene's newest member opens her heart and shares how she feels about the Art Bead Scene. Maybe you feel the same?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares his trip to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Bead Society's Bead Bazaar.

In Praise of Shadows...

I used to work at a little Irish pub in the Lower East Side. The interior was dimly lit, with the only sources of illumination accredited to the dirty yellow light of sodium street-lamps filtered in through panes of warbled glass and miniscule tea light candles swallowed up by booths or extinguished by spilled beer. With each passerby, the shadows danced and flittered wildly. Sometimes, when there weren't many customers, I would take out my big black sketchbook, lay it down and trace the lines of the shadows.

One of the regulars saw me doing this. He got up, said he'd be right back and disappeared. For a second, I thought he had left without paying his bar tab. But eventually he returned and with a beat up copy of a thin paperback. He passed it over to me and said, "I think you should read this."

And I did. The book was Jun'ichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows. It's an essay written about the opposition of traditional shadows of Japan and the stark brightness of the modern age. It's a sweeping essay that touches on everything from architecture, to bathrooms, to lacquer. It made me acutely aware of the depth and dimension of shadows. I think this is a must read for all creative types.

Self-Portrait Friday...

One of my favorite characters from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, albeit a minor one, was Peter Pan's shadow. I was struck by the sense of duality, of darkness and light portrayed by a flimsy thing that came unstuck and had to be reattached by needle and thread. Light and laughter was balanced with shadow and shade.

I remember being at a trade show and having someone come up to me and say that they read my blog. I said something like, "I hope it was a good day." The truth is that I live a life of ups and downs, just like everyone else. I have problems just like everyone else. Some days are better than others. It's true that I use my blog as a tool to try and stay positive, but my shadow will always be there. This self-portrait, framed by early morning pre-dawn light, is of my shadow – another part of me.

Fragile Things...

Today started out beautifully. I was getting a lot of things done and was crossing things off my list happily. (I even repotted some of my succulents!) But the creative bubble is a fragile thing. Any irritants and the bubble might pop!

WHAM! My bubble was popped. One misunderstanding turned into another, and I'm beat. Maybe it's the moon making my temper flare and making everyone involved so emotionally on edge today? In any event, I think that everything has been resolved and will be better for it now. I know that this is all seems vague, but I have no will to rehash it... especially not publicly.

I'm disappointed with how little work I actually accomplished today. All of my attention was devoted to fixing problems and not on my work or on my deadlines. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

Beautiful Day...

It's an absolutely gorgeous day here in Pennsylvania. My hands are tired from working late into the night, but all of the work I made was solid and good. My hands are tired, but my heart is happy and it is beautiful and I have a pitcher of sweet tea. I think I will turn my phone off and close my computer and continue to work. I am making absolutely beautiful things. This is good because there are deadlines swirling over my head and my heart hasn't been into them lately. But I am inspired and it is a beautiful day to make beautiful things.

If you need me, I'll be out on the deck...

Impossible Project Space...

The folks who are leading the Renaissance of analog instant photography and developing new Polaroid film for old cameras, Impossible Project, are opening The Impossible Project Space in New York City.

The opening party will be in SoHo on April 30th, 2010 from 3PM to 8PM at 425 Broadway on the 5th Floor. Be sure to swing by to check out The Impossible Collection (a showing of over 20 artists' work), enjoy in-store-only specials, have your picture taken with the new films, be eligible to win prizes like film, cameras, and Freitag bags, and sip free wine from City Winery! If you're in town, this is definitely worth attending.

Thursday Giveaway...

This week's giveaway comes courtesy of Pam Wynn of Pam and Heather Wynn. One winner will receive a matching strand of five of Pam's polymer mokume gane round art beads. I love the richness of the color and the contrasts between the pale blues and vibrant oranges, accented with crackled copper. Aren't they gorgeous?!

To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment AND be a follower of this blog. (I know, it's a little different than past Thursday Giveaways.) A winner will be randomly selected from the comment section on Monday (May 3rd) at midnight EST. Once a winner is selected, I will check to see if they are indeed a follower of the blog. If they are not, they will be disqualified and a new winner will be selected. So, make sure to leave a comment AND become a follower if you're not already! And don't forget to leave your name if it doesn't already appear next to your comments.

Rocky Mountain Postcards...

On the way to Denver to work the Green Girl Studios booth at the Rocky Mountain Bead Society's Bead Bazaar, our plane flew right through a thunderstorm. My neighbor was fairly new to flying. As the plane shook and the flashes of lightning illuminated the sky, she began to cry and pray loudly. Her make-up was running. Her hands clutched the armrests tightly, her nails digging in. I felt bad for her. I'm so used to flying that a little bit of turbulence doesn't phase me at all. Although she was a stranger, I tried to comfort her by saying, "I don't think that they would fly us through the storm if they thought it was too dangerous. Nothing to worry about at all. We'll be on the ground shortly, I'm sure!"

The flight was rocky, but there was nothing to worry about. Above is a shot from my window.

I love Patti Cahill of Dyed in the Fire's work. The colors are so rich and vibrant and are saccharine sweet. Above is a photo of her at her booth.

Above are some snapshots of folks who dropped by the booth. At the far left is Lenka of Raven's Journey who has some of my most favorite Czech Glass ever, Melanie Stafford (the new editor of Creative Jewelry magazine), polymer clay artist and bead store owner Janis Holler of Loco Lobo Designs, and freelance writer extraordinaire, Michelle Mach.

I very rarely get a chance to see Bernadette Fuentes and her lovely lampwork creations, so it was particularly nice to swing by the booth before the show opened for a few moments to catch up. She gave me some helpful advice to combat Denver's high altitude.

Above is a picture of the birthday girl (Kristal Wick), Heidi from Lillypilly Designs and Jamie Hogsett author of Stringing Style: 50+ Fresh Bead Designs for Jewelry at the vendor and volunteer appreciation dinner after the first day of the show. Normally we're all too busy working to socialize too much, so the dinner was a great way for us to interact en masse.

I was amused by the line for the buffet line and took a short video of the line wrapped around the ballroom.

I adore good signage. I was particularly enamored with this bright, big neon Benjamin Moore Paints sign overlooking Denver. So much so that I had to snap a picture of it.

I had a few hours before my plane took off and I wanted to check out the museums in Denver. I've heard lots of amazing things about the fine art scene in Denver, but never had the opportunity to explore until this past weekend. Unfortunately my plan was shot down due to the fact that most of the cultural buildings and museums are closed on Mondays. It wasn't all lost though. Denver sports a huge reputation of being a patron of public art.

Above is a shot of Toxic Schizophrenia (Hyper Version) by artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster. This revolving, light-studded sculpture is outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art: Denver.

The Denver Art Museum's Hamilton Building, designed by Daniel Libeskind, with all its unusual angles juxtaposed to the more traditional surrounding architecture is a work of art itself!

The Yearling is a sculpture of a giant chair topped with a pony outside of the main branch of the Denver Public Library done by Donald Lipski. I was delighted to see the name on the placard. Years ago I did a workshop with him and a group of us even went out to his studio in the Hamptons to see where the works of art originated from. In the center is a picture of the Byers-Evans House. Apparently this used to be the premier home in Denver, built by two of the most influential families in Denver and home to a vast collection of art. It is now a museum and a Ray Tomasso show of new works on paper is now up in the gallery. This is one of the few museums open downtown on Monday. (Be sure to saw hello to Lynne, who was amazingly kind and extremely helpful. She pointed me to the Novo Coffee and Dozens across the way. Yum!) On the right is a snapshot of the large-scale sculpture, "The Big Sweep" by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen outside of the Denver Art Museum.

Another of the large scale public works of art I saw was "Scottish Angus Cow and Calf" by Colorado sculptor Dan Ostermiller, who is represented by Nedra Matteucci Fine Art gallery. I was struck by the sculpture's sheer mass and presence.

I had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back. Next time though I'm going to try to plan to come earlier or stay later to check out all the amazing artwork that Denver has to offer.

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winner for this past week's Thursday Giveaway is Alice. Please email me with your contact information and I'll put your prize in the post. Be sure to be on the look out on Thursday for another chance to win!

Beaded Links...

Carmi's Art/Life World
Stranded by the volcano, Carmi has time for a little more window shopping.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
For Cindy, yellow is the color of anticipation.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie sets up a trunk show at her favorite local indie craft gallery. Check out her display!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Resin has become quite popular in jewelry design lately. It's a lot trickier than Lorelei had originally thought. She tries out the technique for the first time.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Do not miss out on Andrew Thornton's amazing sale and giveaway! It is fantastic!!! Go now! Really fun!

Strands of Beads
Melissa creates a sweet Spring necklace from wasabi-colored pearls and a beautiful Lillypilly pendant courtesy of Artbeads.com.

About.com Jewelry Making
It is flower power time! Mix resin, real flowers, and beads for this necklace design.

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene Welcomes Miss Fickle Media to the editorial staff!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe will be at Unique LA promoting the Steampunk Style book.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Be entered to win a one year subscription to Beadwork magazine! Find out how!

Self-Portrait Friday...

I'm running out the door. I'm headed to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Bead Society's Bead Bazaar. I didn't have time to paint a self-portrait this week. I've been running around frantically trying to get everything done. I'm always running behind, always rushing to finish one last project. Inevitably and invariably, no matter how much planning or extra work... I always am rushing at the last second. I'm always trying to squeeze in one last thing.

(As indicated by the hair) I took this several years ago. I had posted this picture before, when I first started the blog. I discussed what I call the "Deeper Well". I still feel the same way about it now. Lately I've been feeling in touch with the Deeper Well, but almost like my movements are in slow motion, held back... almost like I've been struggling against the current.

Celebrating Earth Day...

I have so much to do before I leave for the Rocky Mountain Bead Society's Bead Bazaar in Denver! (If you're in the area, please stop by and say hello!) A lot is on my plate, but I wanted to do something to celebrate Earth Day. In the past, I've went to symposiums on renewable energy and sustainable materials. I thought I'd do something differently this year and more in touch with my path as an artist. I went down to the river and collected and ground down some natural pigments. I found lots of burnt sienna and ochre. Both are from iron oxides. I even found white and (a little bit) of blue. The white was from lime. I can mix that with calcium carbonate. The blue, I'm still trying to figure out. It might be from copper or might have resulted from the old, now defunct, iron furnaces nearby. I'm doubting it was lapis lazuli. It felt good to relax by the river, finding natural treasures that will be incorporated into my artwork. I feel closer and more connected to nature and my craft.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Thursday Giveaway...

Vive la France! Paris, je t'aime! For this week's giveaway, these very Frenchy polymer clay components come courtesy of the talented Lynn Davis of Expedition D. They remind me a lot of travel souvenirs and the one with the key particularly reminds me of relief carvings from Notre Dame Cathedral.

To win this lovely set of polymer art bead components, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. A winner will be randomly selected from the comment section on Monday (April 26th) at midnight EST. Facilitate the process by making sure to leave your name if it doesn't already appear next to your comments.

Beadwork Magazine Giveaway...

As an additional THANK YOU, everyone who purchases something from the shop during the Spring Cleaning Sale and the Send My Debt Away Sale will be entered in a random drawing to receive a year long subscription to Interweave Press's Beadwork magazine. That's six issues filled with inspirational beady goodness! I already subscribe and know that whoever wins will enjoy it greatly! All you have to do is purchase something from my shop and you'll be automatically entered to win. (Everyone who has already purchased something from the Spring Cleaning Sale has already been entered.) I'm passing along this gift subscription to one lucky winner who will be drawn at the close of the Send My Debt Away Sale.

OH! And be sure to keep an eye out for the weekly Thursday Giveaways for more opportunities to win!

Legal Note: This giveaway is NOT sponsored by Interweave Press, Beadwork magazine or its affiliates. As a private giveaway hosted by me, Andrew Thornton, it falls outside of the previously established giveaway rules set forth by previous contests, competitions, and/or giveaways offered by the publisher and/or the magazine.

The Neighbors...

When I lived in New York, I had lots of neighbors. Living in a big city, you're constantly surrounded by people. I was always cordial and friendly with my neighbors, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that they were friends or that we had any special relationships besides living next to each other. (That is with the exception of living in the doll factory in East Williamsburg. It was like living on the frontier by way of Modern Day Manifest Destiny there.) One of the very first things you learn living in a big city is to mind your own business and that just because someone is close in proximity, doesn't mean anything – because EVERYONE is close in proximity! You become an island, surrounded by other islands.

I now live in a carriage house on several acres of land in rural Pennsylvania. I don't have very many neighbors. But I'm happy to say that the ones I do have are all wonderful people who have been so gracious, generous and helpful. They've always been there whenever I needed anything. When I first moved here, they gifted me with a pair of gloves, protective glasses, and my first ice scraper. This provided to be very instrumental to me getting around this past winter. Another example of how nice they are came recently in the way of a parcel of fresh river trout. Fishing season launched this past weekend and we were gifted with some very tasty fillets. For dinner, I dipped them in beaten eggs, dredged them in a dry mixture of flour, cornmeal, bread crumbs and seasonings, and fried them up. They were absolute perfection. I served them with mixed vegetables tossed in an Italian salad dressing. Nothing fancy, but a wonderful meal nonetheless.

I feel really fortunate to live where I live now. "The Neighbors" have become family.

Local Friends...

When I left New York, I wasn't just leaving the city that never sleeps behind. I was also parting ways with many of my friends. It's true that with the internet, cell phones, and being upwardly mobile with a (mostly operational) vehicle, I've still been able to stay in close contact with many of my good friends back in the City. Even still, sometimes it's just nice to have friends who are nearby.

That's why I jumped at the opportunity to meet local artist and photographer, Jen Palmer of Aisling Photography. She's brilliantly talented and I look forward to working with her in the future. Sitting down for coffee with her was like sitting down with one of my old friends and it was such a treat to get out of the house. Jen is originally from this area and has lots of great suggestions for things to do and places to see. I adore her work and love how she captures the subtle nuances and humanity of her subjects. Be sure to stop by her WEBSITE and her BLOG.