Patti Cahill, the artist behind Dyed in the Fire, launched her new blog finally! You might know Patti from her candy-like, colorful lampwork glass beads. CLICK HERE to take a trip over to her new blog.
The End of the Year Super Sale continues. I've just uploaded over twenty new items at massively reduced prices to the sale section of my shop. I'm looking to clear out as much as possible and make lots of room for new goodies. I have a pile of finished jewelry and lots of components just waiting to be added. CLICK HERE to check out all the new deals.
I just discovered Koelle Art Blog and I'm smitten! The blog, rich with photographs, witty commentary and amble linkage, chronicles the lives of a Greenville, SC-based artist couple, Chris and Annie Koelle. CLICK HERE to check it out!
If you happen to be in the New York City area and are looking for a way to expand your embroidery skills and work with an amazing artist, you should check out The Embroidered Art Journal class at Pratt Manhattan taught by Iviva Olenick. This five week intensive will allow you to explore fiber arts and develop a lexicon of stitchery. (Not to mention, you'll also get to spend time with Iviva, who makes brilliant, heartbreakingly beautiful work!) CLICK HERE to learn more about the class and CLICK HERE to find out more about Iviva and her work.
When I updated my Shop with the new section devoted solely to skulls, I realized that I needed more room. I've got so many treasures just waiting to be posted, but BigCartel limits shops to a maximum of 100 items. So, I'm going to try and make some room!
I used a mix of different materials and textures to achieve this look. "Opulence", "luxury", and "richness" are the buzz words I was going after. I used cascades of garnet, Swarovski crystals, sapphires, black tourmaline, onyx and "velvet ruby quartz" to attempt to capture this decadent vibe.
To go with the draped and dripping crystals and gemstones, I incorporated gunmetal chain. The dark-toned metal goes well with dark value tones of the reds and blacks. I used a fire-polished shibuichi toggle from my family at Green Girl Studios to pull it all together and used an Egyptian crystal to punctuate this edgy statement.
Above are some detail shots of the new necklace. The focal is made up of a ceramic skull by Lisa Peters Art and a bronze crown from Candice Wakumoto. I love how the roughness plays off the faceted and very "bling" onyx and crystal.
Lisa's skulls, all one-of-a-kind, ceramic works of mini-art have been recently added to the new Skull Shop department in my shop. I've devoted a whole section to just skulls! With Lisa's ceramic pieces are also works by Lea Anne Hartman, Candice Wakumoto, Bob Burkett, and anonymous fair trade wood and bone carvers. Make sure to check out the new Skull Shop on my Online Shop to see everything! CLICK HERE to take a look!
For our Christmas Eve lunch, I made a papaya and cantaloupe salad with a chili and lime dressing and Greg made Ahi Tuna. Sweet, tangy, and a little bit spicy, this meal was perfectly light and refreshing.
For Christmas Eve dinner, I made a turkey meat loaf (wrapped in bacon and drizzled with a maple glaze), some fingerling potatoes, and we made some freshly crisped up crostini. Slathered on the crostini were healthy portions of garlic and herb goat cheese spread. Nothing says "comfort food" quite like a meatloaf.
When everyone went to bed and in between some of my projects, I whipped up an apple tarte tartin. I used some ginger gold apples for maximum flavor. The apples were coated in a glistening carmel, the spongey cake absorbed the decadent apple-infused syrup, and the (dye-free) pistachio gelato lent a sweet nuttiness and smooth creaminess. It was a totally rich and decadent treat before bed.
We arrived in Ohio with enough time to prepare our beds and say goodnight. I-40 was closed in sections due to rock slides and we were forced to take detours and we came in pretty late. In the morning we went to the Original Pancake House. I had a Dutch Baby. It's basically an inflated pancake, doused in powered sugar, whipped butter and lemon. Look at the fork shown to the right of the plate for scale of just how BIG it was. Regardless of size, I polished it off like a pro.
Jungle Jim's is simply put: Part international foodie wet dream and part amusement park. (Seriously, what regular grocery store has a monorail?) One can see anything from Kiwano Horned Melons, to the animatronic Cereal Bowl Band, to mini pineapples, to recreations of Sherwood forest vaulted above the English food section. Although it was a little overwhelming, it was also definitely a delight for all the senses.
One of my favorite sections was the beer section. Here they had all manner of beers divided up by region. I recognized beers from all over the world, all readily available. We chose an Apricot Wheat from the Ithaca Beer Company. "Apricot Wheat" sums up the refreshing blend of fruity and creamy. Needless to say, it was tasty!
We were still later in coming back than we thought we'd be. So, Greg and I whipped up a quick dinner. I roasted the Russian Banana fingerling potatoes and battered, double-dredged, and deep fried the tilapia. The potatoes, although flavored with garlic and rosemary, were still sweet and buttery. The fish was crunchy on the outside, moist and flakey on the inside, and surprisingly flavorful. Greg roasted the asparagus and made tartar sauce from scratch. It was a good dinner.
I feel like if I were ever to make a break for Hollywood, this would be the headshot I'd carry out there. LA here I come!
I jest, but I think she made me look good. At first I was concerned that I would look like a tree-hugger, but I like how the rough surface of the tree bark makes my face look super smooth! It's like I got an instant facelift by comparison. 
I don't know why, but that song by Stevie Nicks called "Edge of Seventeen" comes to mind when I see this one. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
Believe it or not, I'm camera shy. Even though I'm at peace with myself and I've made a truce with my many scars and flaws, there's still a little voice in the back of my head that tells me to get out of in front of the camera lens. I admire bloggers like Nina Bagley and Jane Ann Wynn who post images of themselves on regular basis.
Here's the last picture of me... I promise. But I wanted to put up this last picture, because I like how the lens and frame of the picture arches my already arching eyebrow a little higher.
Heading into dinner, I finished up some paperwork and some revisions. Guess what we had for dinner? Smorgasbord! We love a smorgasbord! I think it comes from a love of exploring different tastes and textures, not necessarily just filling up. Our smorgasbord included fresh fruit (ginger apples, grapes and strawberries), crustini, coconut shrimp, steak, membrillo, and an assortment of cheeses (Manchego, Edam, Smoked Gouda and Jarlsberg). It was a lovely little feast!
Azalea's classes ended this past Friday, which has provided her ample opportunity to ham it up for her Uncle Andrew. To the left is a photo of Azalea sporting an octopus mask that curiously looks like it belongs in Doctor Who or was dreamed up by H.P. Lovecraft.
A Bead A Day
Growing up in Florida meant that there was an abundance of citrus. The winter heralded the sweetest fruit, picked after the first cold snap. Now that I'm an adult and far from Florida, (where it truly gets cold and often times the winter months are bleak) a little bit of citrus is just what the doctor ordered to add a touch of vibrancy. My mom gave me some pomelos while I was in Florida and Cynthia had some ruby red grapefruit and some oranges that needed to be used, so I made what we call a "fruit jelly." I embedded peeled slices of grapefruit and pomelo in fresh orange juice gelatin. I juiced a pomegranate and used the liquid to help give color.
Yesterday it looked like the above photo on the left. Today it looks like the above photo on the right. The Star Deck is coated in at least five inches of snow! As many of you know, I'm not the biggest fan of snow.
Sure, it can be beautiful, but it's a miserable beauty. The cold makes my bones ache and my head throb. So, it looks as though we're stuck in the house for awhile until the snow lets up.
I have been enjoying the patterns that the branches make, heavy with snow in a pencil-line tracery of gray against white.
Another nice thing is that we've all been enjoying watching the birds at the feeders. I am glad that we have food out for them. I imagine that it requires a great deal of fuel to fly. So it is nice that they have an oasis in the sea of white, to stop and feed for awhile without worry. 
My car broke down on my way back from Florida and I've been stranded here in Asheville ever since. Fixing cars is totally not in my repertoire. I shudder to think about how much it's going to cost to fix the car. The silver-lining is that I've been able to spend time with my family – especially Azalea and the new addition, Max. He's adorable! Azalea is a good big sister, but I think it'll take time for her to master the concept of not waking him up. It's understandable though; the impulse to squeeze on his big cheeks and gush over his dreamy cuteness is strong.
I used Swarovski crystals and crystal pearls from Fusion Beads, brass cable chain from Ornamentea, a shibuichi toggle from my family at Green Girl Studios, and a bronze charm I made. This was a really quick project, but could easily be added to and expanded upon. (Some Candice Wakumoto charms might work nicely with it, especially the skull cross charm.)
Above is another shot of the bracelet. Being with my family and thinking about my brother has prompted me to think a lot about what remains. What remains when someone's gone – a second, a minute, an hour, a day, a year, a millennium? Does a smile linger? Will the ringing of their laughter echo? Whether they've left for work or left your life, what will stay? It may sound a little morbid, but I'm fascinated with the concept of the ephemeral, memory, and the things we carry. Kind of like "Memento Mori" except more: Remember Life.
If you like the mini bronze skull charm, I've added several to my shop. CLICK HERE to take a look. I love how they are totally handmade and all the little imperfections like my fingerprints on the backs or the hewn edges really add to the charm and infuse each one with a rustic element and ancient feeling. It is fitting for such an iconic and archetypal symbol.
My good friend, Kate McKinnon, is hosting her second Soul Clearing Sale. She's posted some pretty amazing things. CLICK HERE to check out her shop and peruse the many lovely bits, baubles and oddments.
Jean Campbell nominated me for the Superior Scribbler Award. CLICK HERE to see her original post. I am deeply honored by this little award. Normally I don't put much stock in these types of things, but coming from such an accomplished designer and writer... I'm really touched. Jean Campbell is an inspiration and has really propelled the beading world to where it is today with her tireless efforts. So I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge Jean and all her hard work. You rock, Jean Campbell!
A Bead A Day 
Kathy Van Kleeck was over again for a play date. Not only did we have a delicious lunch (Cynthia made Chicken Adobo with rice and Greg made banana bread and homemade fudge), but we got to play with some CopprClay afterwards. I really like Kathy. She makes good work, is straightforward, and extremely knowledgeable about fashion and good design. I come away with a head full of ideas after our visits! Not only did Kathy bring over lots of fun stories and a long list of links that I absolutely have to explore, but she also brought Cynthia and I a bagful of goodies – a plethora of beach glass and African recycled glass beads. I can't wait to make something with them.
Whether inspired by cobalt, peridot, labradorite or clouds made of gold and silver, I am a smitten kitten with all her amazing work. They seem like ancient treasures unearthed, still burning with a brilliant intensity.
Above are a handful of colorful and vibrant pretties I picked up while I was in Orlando. I've been eying her Miami Capri Pants color scheme for awhile now. I am happy to add it to my collection! CLICK HERE to visit her Etsy shop.
I read on Iviva Olenick's blog that she was participating in an art auction benefiting BECA (Bridge for Emerging Contemporary Art). I placed a bid, not thinking that I would win, and was surprised to read on her blog that I did indeed win! I feel so fortunate to add to my little collection of Iviva's brilliant work. CLICK HERE to find out more about BECA and HERE to visit Iviva's blog and see the latest projects she's working on.
Above is a picture of Sam, me, and Jennifer. We had coffee at a coffeehouse near the university called, NaturaCoffee. An obliging college student snapped the picture of us.
Also while I was in Orlando, I got to hang out with Cathy Dailey and her husband, Steve. Both of them were so generous with their time. We had yummy Thai food for lunch. Above is a shot of her studio and jewelry station and a few pieces that she's just finished (or is still working on). Make sure to check out the online shop and her Etsy page. I had so much fun getting to know them and their business better. That's definitely one of the perks of doing the shows – meeting people and forming bonds over creativity.
I found a box hidden under the bed in my old room filled with pictures, letters, notes, and various pieces of my personal history. Above is a picture taken in kindergarten of me dressed up like an indian in a costume I made out of a pillowcase on a handmade Christmas tree ornament. Long before Enchanted Adornments came out, Cynthia made the book on the right for me. In it, we both drew pictures of elves, faeries and monsters. I was reminded of some of Azalea's drawings when I saw my own.
