Custom Brooch

After much frustration the custom "mother's brooch" is finished and has been shipped off to family in Arizona. It's to be a gift for (ready?…) my mom's Aunt Joanie from her daughters - uh, Joanie's daughters', but not my mom Joanie, their mom Joanie (did you get that?) The stones are the birthstones of the four children. Overall I think it came out nice. And it's kind of cool that it can be worn both vertically and horizontally. What a learning experience. Mostly I learned that I don't really like to set stones, but maybe that's only because I'm not very skilled at it? It's been quite a while.

I'd much rather 'set' a Barbie face anyday.

cute cheeks

Yesterday I spent some time with my neighbor Kelly and her sweet little edible daughter Victoria. I had to share the pics exemplifying her irresistible cuteness...




I think maybe Kelly feared I really meant it when I said Tori was "so cute I just wanna EAT HER" because later on she brought over some of the dinner she had made for her and her fam in what surely must've been an attempt to prevent my mouth from devouring her child whole. Mmm, pork tenderloin and mashed potatoes! It was very sweet of her, especially since I barely have time to do anything besides pack these days. Eating well has unfortunately not been a priority. ugh.

I've been working all morning on the custom brooch that's due this week and now it's near completion - thank god. I'll be glad to have that behind me and start packing up my studio. I'll share pics before I ship.

final days

I'd forgotten what it's like to leave.

I'm experiencing a series of "Lasts" - an interesting feeling. Yesterday was The Last Time I'll ever have to scrub the dentist office that I've cleaned once a week for the past two years. It felt damn good to mop those floors knowing I'm on to bigger and better things. Today was The Last Time house cleaning for one of my clients in Saratoga as well. There is more in store for me than scrubbing bubbles and toilet brushes, and I'm anxious to start a new and different type of part-time work in the city. Unfortunately a part-time job is a necessity for now until my jewelry can support me fully. Fingers crossed that won't be too much longer! Cleaning is tough and uh, dirty work and has definitely taken it's toll on me over the past few years. As much as I feel fortunate to have worked for generous and appreciative clients I'm glad that from now on the only toilet I'll be scrubbing is my own.

Those who know me know that it takes a lot for a dog to win me over, as I'm so very much a cat person. Today I said my goodbyes to the one dog who won a place in my heart with relative ease, Buster, my client's dog that I spent a week dog-sitting for this past February.

I'll miss you Buster.

Preparations for 'The Big Move' are underway, and my house is beginning to look like a tornado has run through it. Last weekends' visit to the city was exactly what I needed. We saw the apartment, (which is even more amazing in person than it was in the pictures!) signed the lease, relaxed and had a great time. It had been a while since my last trip down there, so it was just the reminder I needed that this is the right decision. The right move, at exactly the right time. I am incredibly excited.

the kitchen

the living room

the bedroom

my studio

I apologize that my posting has been sparse lately. The move is consuming me. I'm also trying to tie up some loose ends in my studio, a custom piece and a couple random jobs have been haunting me a while so I'm working towards getting those behind me. Meanwhile continuing my part-time jobs and trying to spend as much time with family and friends as possible before we say our farewells.

My garage sale is this weekend and I'm PRAYING it doesn't rain. I have so much stuff to sell I feel like I'm shedding half my life - and that feels so damn good.

Can't stop laughing…

…I think I decided they are the funniest! I can't stop laughing at them every time I look! (But am I laughing out of slight discomfort?) hahaha who knows. All I know is that during my thrift store hunts, digging through bins of stuffed animals and other assorted kids toys, I will never be able to look at discarded naked baby dolls the same way again. I've always wondered to myself what I could make out of them, (since they're usually in such abundance) I don't think I could top this though! LOL

Toddlerpedes

OK, so I still can't decide whether I think this is the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life or the creepiest, but whichever the case may be, I am totally fascinated by it…

See more of this fabulous-ness here

Two new Galleries… check.

Ahhhhhh (big sigh) My work is complete. I've finally finished the jewelry for both of my new galleries: Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. It has been a CRAZY BUSY couple of months. In my haste to send off the work to the DCCA, I wasn't able to get any pictures, which I'm totally kicking myself for, but here is an overall shot of what I sent to the MCA at least: (taken under poor lighting with my cellphone, I apologize)


This "production line" I've started is proving to be sort of interesting, uncharted territory for me really. I'm finding the wholesale world unfamiliar and kind-of confusing already. I'm curious to see how it all works out and how I'll feel making multiples of the same design over and over and over…

I rather like the idea of being paid outright for my work however. That part of the deal is very appealing.


So now I get to relax… (well, sort of.) I'm off to NYC tomorrow to stay with Dave for the weekend and see our new apartment for the first time on Sunday! Then it's home again for another crazy busy week of preparing for my colossal garage sale the following weekend. I can't pack up my studio just yet, because I have one more piece to make: a custom brooch (non-barbie) with stones. I'm just waiting on the arrival of those stones. It's all happening so fast now. It's hard to believe May is half way over already.

Overall, it feels good to have met my deadlines and really cool to be able to say that I now have my work in five galleries across the US! I attacked this body of work head-on this time, no procrastinating. I can't say it wasn't a mad dash towards the end (as usual) but at least I kept my promise to myself.

Onward.

Soon to be my new studio

Well, it's official, we're signing a lease on an apartment in Brooklyn and I couldn't be more thrilled! I am SO ready for this.

These are a couple pics of what will soon be my new studio space - two windows, lots of light, high ceilings! And it's a lot bigger than the space I'm in now which is fantastic.


'The Move' consumes my head these days and as the time draws nearer there is a very palpable sense of moving not only in the physical sense, but the psychological as well. A new beginning. I feel open (and even admittedly a bit vulnerable) to whatever my new life may bring, but I've also never felt so ready and excited for such change.

Gorgeous Gerberas

I love gerbera daisies. This beautiful bundle was sent to me today from my sweetheart to celebrate our 7 month anniversary… too sweet. It positively made my day to receive such a colorful surprise, especially today amidst all this rainy gloomy weather. I can't stop smiling!

Well, I don't have too much else to share at the moment. I'll have pics of the DCCA and MCA jewelry soon. For now, Happy Spring!