Even after all the publicity, the artist chose to remain anonymous.

Although if you combined the two… Anyone know if there’s a vampire Barbie yet? I’m sure she’d have a [...]]]> I’m actually working on the third book in what isn’t quite a trilogy. Each one is a stand-alone story about one of three sisters. And they’re princesses – of course. (YA fantasy) But not vampires.

Although if you combined the two… Anyone know if there’s a vampire Barbie yet? I’m sure she’d have a very stylish pink cape.

Actually, at the beginning of the second book, the oldest princess is very like Barbie. But that gets beaten out of her by the end. And there are pigs, but I don’t think they’re pink ones.

But back to my story.

I wanted this one to be my quest book. My heroine is the youngest daughter Chrysanthemum – the one who’d rather be out catching dragons than gazing soulfully into pools. The one who challenges all the princes to fight instead of swooning over them. And the one her father is trying to marry off and make into a model heir to the throne – very much against her wishes.

There will be desert caravans, and giant mythical creatures, and other creatures that don’t have myths yet because I completely made them up, and sword fighting, and possibly an un-dead* army of mind-controlled camels.

And an evil magician and a prisoner and a fabled jewel and a bunch of other stuff I’m still working on.

I’ve decided I was holding back too much on a couple of the other ones. What’s the point of having realistic fantasy? I’m going to have some fun with this one.

*As in alive, not zombies with bits falling off all over. Unless they’re other people’s bits – because have you seen how big their teeth are? And they’re fast. I’d watch out for the zombie camel army if I was you. You’re not gonna take them out with a shovel.

I was at the Bead Bazaar in North Haven, CT this past weekend. I had a great time, spent quite a bit (on aqua terra jasper, sparkling glass beads, more Gilders Paste, paper and bark cloth beads from Uganda, chain, etc, etc) and met a number of interesting people.

If you want [...]]]>

I was at the Bead Bazaar in North Haven, CT this past weekend. I had a great time, spent quite a bit (on aqua terra jasper, sparkling glass beads, more Gilders Paste, paper and bark cloth beads from Uganda, chain, etc, etc) and met a number of interesting people.

If you want to see unique jewelry, go to a beadshow. Don’t look at the vendors tables–although you’ll see some there too–look at the people who walk by.

There were gorgeous beaded collars, and a necklace I coveted of bunched up periwinkle shells. I found out you can create spiraled beading wire by running it through scissors the same way you’d curl ribbon – a nice effect. I met a woman and her daughter who is making feathered hair ornaments.

And I met some of my own past customers. That was inspiring and humbling and educational.

There was a woman who had one of my dragon’s eyes. She hadn’t strung it yet, but she told me she keeps it near her bed as a dream catcher.

And another woman who paid me the ultimate compliment of telling me she was going to use one of my pieces in her wedding. I was proud of the piece when I made it – two white birds intertwined – but it was wonderful knowing it had that much of an impact on her.

I also found out I need to bring more new work to the show. When someone can point to my tray, and say, “I have that one and that one and that one…” it’s great. It means she really liked my work – enough to buy more than one piece. But it also means I need to bring more new stuff for her to look at.

I did have some new designs but not as many as usual. We’ve limited it to 25 pieces per artist (you can’t fit that much on the tables with 15+ artists from the Guild) so since I knew I wasn’t going to need a box of 50-60 pieces I didn’t make as much this time. Next year, I think I need to bring entirely new work and leave the variations on older pieces (even if they’re good and I really like them) at home.

It was a good day. My feet hurt at the end of it, but it was all good.

We have power!

Should I admit that I’ve been giggling in a happy maniacal way every time I flip the light switch and the light actually comes on?

That you really need a hot shower so you can wash your hair?

Irene (not sure if it was technically a hurricane or tropical storm at that point) hit Rhode Island [...]]]> Ever feel like things are spiraling out of control, that things are crashing all around you, that you’re sitting alone in the dark…

That you really need a hot shower so you can wash your hair?

Hurricane Irene

Irene (not sure if it was technically a hurricane or tropical storm at that point) hit Rhode Island this weekend and we haven’t had power or phone since. No estimate on when it will be back either.

It really wasn’t much of a hurricane for us – a bit of rain, some strong gusts of wind, a few branches and trees down. Of course, they were right on the powerlines so that does make it a bit more difficult.

We’re doing relatively ok – we have the grill to cook on, a small generator we can run intermittantly to try to keep the fridge cold… But I’m going to have to do dishes soon. And the laundry situation is gonna get ugly.

In case you’re wondering how I’m blogging this, I’m at work (on lunch) where we do have power. Figures, huh?

I was listening to Bruce Baker’s cd on selling the other day (which I highly recommend) and he was talking about sharing your story with your customers.

He [...]]]> The title sounds like it should be about writing, doesn’t it? But I’m talking about story when it comes to your art.

I was listening to Bruce Baker’s cd on selling the other day (which I highly recommend) and he was talking about sharing your story with your customers.

He was referring to your story as an artist, or the story behind your art, or your process – that little bit of extra special information that makes people go hmmm… And then buy the piece because they want to own a bit of that story.

But while I was listening, it also occurred to me that my favorite pieces of art have their own stories and meanings – without adding any extra words.

There was a series of paintings I saw online somewhere (and I wish I could find the link) with surreal white wolves in suburban settings. It made me think and a swirl of fairy tales went through my head. In that case, I almost don’t want to know the artist’s story, I have enough of my own.

Sometimes, a painting simply connects with a personal memory and it becomes more meaningful because of that. That’s not something the artist can control. But if you make art that has meaning for you, chances are that it will connect with someone else.

I have a small oil painting of a dirt road that curves away into a pine wood. Very simple subject. But it resonated with me because it reminded me of happy places from my childhood. In the gallery, when I went back to look at it for the 3rd time, Dave told me to buy it. It makes me happy every time I look at it.

Many of the animals I make have a connection for me. There are animals I sculpt repeatedly – because I love them or because I have so much tied up in my head with them. But I think if I did it consciously, I could add another level to that – an extra layer of meaning or abstraction that would make the piece really stand out. I just need to think about it some more.

So, what’s your story?

And of course, Chaos (our aptly named younger cat) was sitting crouched underneath it waiting for [...]]]>

brown bat - image from wikipedia

And of course, Chaos (our aptly named younger cat) was sitting crouched underneath it waiting for it to come close enough for him to catch.

So I grabbed the cat and stuffed him back in the bedroom. The bat flipped upside down (very cool) and landed on the upper door molding before going back to flying back and forth again. I woke up Dave, and he caught it in a towel and we let it go outside. Poor little thing was scared.

We’re not sure how it got inside – the only thing we could think of was that it was resting in the window during the rain and crawled in through a rip in the screen. I believe the only kind of bats we have around here are brown bats – and we love having them. We live in the woods and they eat a LOT of mosquitoes.

We didn’t really get back to sleep after that though And I think I really need to sculpt a bat.

I’ve been playing with the Knew saw some more – I absolutely love it. But I do need to practice more and learn some of the constraints when piercing. I’m not used to considering the [...]]]> I’m trying to blog more this year… even if I don’t have pics of most of the interesting stuff yet.

I’ve been playing with the Knew saw some more – I absolutely love it. But I do need to practice more and learn some of the constraints when piercing. I’m not used to considering the gauge of metal etc and how thin metal will flex etc when you’re cutting an intricate design.

I’ve been prepping for a class for our guild’s Weekend of Clay – mine’s tomorrow morning. It should be fun. I’m teaching a 3 hour Magpie Eclectic – Mixed Media Jewelry class. I’ll be covering some basic wire working techniques, simple clay accent beads, using patina and gilder’s paste, etc, etc, and figuring out how to combing everything (including the kitchen sink if you can cut it into small enough pieces) together into one (hopefully) harmonious piece of jewelry.

I was trying to pack everything up last night – I’m bringing all sorts of wire and chain and ribbon and cord and tools and accent beads… plus my regular clay kit. I’m not sure how I’m going to carry it all.

But the worst part of it will be coming home Sunday night, dumping the bags on the floor and facing putting it all AWAY again. Should I admit I still have a couple piles that I haven’t put away from my last class?

I took Monday and Tuesday off. I’m figuring I’ll be tired, and hopefully inspired.

And Dave got me another brand new toy that I’m dying to play with! More on that later after some experimentation.

It was wonderful to work with such a creative group of people. I answered questions and added [...]]]> I gave a two hour workshop for the Moonlight Weaver’s Guild on Tuesday on making buttons. I went over a few basic techniques: conditioning clay, buttonholes, wire shanks, using cutters and textures, etc, then turned everyone loose.

It was wonderful to work with such a creative group of people. I answered questions and added information, but everyone went off and did their own thing, often trying things I hadn’t even thought of applying to buttons.

I think everyone at least tried the mica powders. They seem to speak to everyone – our inner magpie speaks up and goes, “Oooh, sparkly!”

They made some really interesting shapes, and they used fiber techniques such as woven clay, braided clay, and these cool twisted and coiled knots. There were butterflies and hearts and roses and abstract shapes using interchanged cut outs. It was a lot of fun and you can see some of what they made below: