"AH-HAH!!!!!"

I get asked quite often where my ideas come from. That's an interesting question because my ideas come from all over. There isn't a "go-to" place where I can randomly pick an idea and run with it. Sometimes my ideas are a random incomplete concept and sometimes I can see the finished piece clear as day before I have even started. Then there are the projects I start thinking one thing and it turns in completely different direction and looks nothing like the original idea. Once in awhile I will be working on one piece and the mess on the bench will suggest another piece to me. I am always working amongst these huge messes. I try to kep it looking neat and tidy- huge fail.
I don't keep a formal sketch book. I mean not like what I had to keep in school- I don't draw everything out. What I do have are several blank books. Some are small and thin enough to slip into my pocket and some are purse sized. At last count there are 21 of them.  I always have one of these on hand because I never know when an idea may hit me-especially when I am traveling. I might see something someone is wearing or a combination of colors I find striking that I never would have thought to put together. I make notes and little sketches in my books. Sometimes I tear a picture out of a magazine or catalog and that goes into the books too. Maybe I read something funny or came across a word that for some reason I needed to remember- yep- in the books.

When I find that I am blocked or uninspired I will flip through the books hoping something will jump out at me. I have found that I will consult these books when working on a project looking for that one thing that I know the current project needs.

So last night I am in bed, letting my mind wander as I try to get to sleep and all of sudden  it hits me. I have to make this bracelet. I cold not sleep now- this bracelet was shouting at me to be made. I was just about ready to get up and get dressed and head to the studio at 11:00 at night. So I grabbed the book by my bed and made a little sketch. I have had these amber beads for a long time and I like working with them on gloomy days because the color reminds me of warm summer days soaking up the sun. I also like pairing amber with sterling silver and I had ordered these tube beads several years ago thinking I would make a choker with them and never got around to doing that. While looking for something else on the bench I came across those beads and filed it in the back of my head to do something with them sometime. And I did. And this is what I came up with. Amber and sterling silver- my little bit of sunshine today because it is drizzling and cold and just plain icky outside.

Santa Baby...I've been an awfully good girl

I have been back at it in a bricks and mortar space for close to 5 years now and I haven't had a party since year one. I am having a Santa Baby Open House on December2nd.  I figured sometimes we women just have to give the guys a little nudge in the right direction when it comes to what we really want for Christmas. There will be wine and cider, finger foods and music. I have been ordering new items like a crazy rhinestone junkie for the open house. There will be all sorts of scarves, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and purses just for your wish list. There is no reason at all for you to get a toaster or a vacuum this Christmas. Ladies- you come to the party, fill out the wish list postcard and I will get it mailed to your sweetie the next day. If you can't make it to the party you just come down anytime and fill out your wish list...we women have to stick together.

Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me

Santa Baby Open House
Thursday December 2nd 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Hats and TIARA's are encouraged!


I've been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too,
light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be oh so good
If you'd check off my Christmas list

Santa honey, I wanna yacht and really that's
Not a lot
I've been an angel all year
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need,
the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a duplex,
and checks
Sign your 'X' on the line
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,
a ring
I don't mean a phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
written by J. Javits and P. Springer
originally sung by Ertha Kitt

Oh yes, and by the way- I'll be wearing my tiara that night.

what do you want to be when you grow up?

I have watched three of my four children struggle with this question for the past several years. One is in grad school now and she has a pretty good grasp on her career and how to achieve what she wants. Carolyne has always had a plan that is at least five years out and she pretty much sticks to it and modifies when she needs to.

Kelsey and Biz, who are in undergrad are still working on it. Kelsey has narrowed her focus to where she is headed and what she wants to do with her life.(After three years of college I would hope so!) Biz, who just started her first year of college with a fiery passion for music and through music she was going to make a difference! She has begun the painful process of discovering that this passion is not a good fit for a career choice in fact all of her music classes are making her miserable. That would be a pretty good indicator that this is not what she wants to spend the rest of her life doing.

Mohandis Gandhi

 She wants to change the world and all I can think of to say to her is: 

 

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

and

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Gandhi



Whatever path she chooses I will still love her no matter what and I will be proud of her because I know that whatever she chooses she will do it with love and with a fiery passion to make a difference. College is where you discover who you are and what you want. Some people figure it out before they get there and just march right through college and then out into the world. Others need to take a little more time and explore different paths. It took me a little over 40 years to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up and quite a few years in the school of hard knocks. I don't want that for my children I want them to find a career that they love because then they will never have to work a day in their life.

Smith Corona Manual Typewriter circa 1930

Yep. I have one. What an amazing piece. Shiny black, sleek lines, perfectly round keys...it's a beauty. I was digging around in the basement looking for some more steam punk type items for my front display and there it was. In the original case with the cleaning brush and owners manual. I love old typewriters. Keyboarding is just not the same as the click clack of keys hitting the batten a ringing bell and the ziiiiiiiip! sound of moving the carriage back across the page for the next line. I am searching for someone who repairs old typewriters. This one isn't broken it just needs a cleaning and a new ribbon. I am going to use it for my cards. No more fonts to look like my mother's typewriter for me from now on. I am using the real deal. In fact I am going to start typing letters to my daughters who are away at college. There was nothing quite like getting a typed note from Mom in the mail- even if it was on Bill Comito Insurance memo paper in triplicate. Every third letter you'd get the original and my other two sisters who were in college same as me would get the other two copies. Oh yeah- and she'd always sign her name in purple ink. I kept every one she sent.

you don't ask you don't get...willing to trade

So I am asking. Each year I try to create a window for the holidays in the studio that does not use red and green together. Two years ago it was lime green, orange and purple. And last year it was my silver and gold artists mannequins up to shenanigans. This year I am headed in the steam punk direction. What is steam punk you ask? I am glad you did. Steam punk is sci-fi meets the Victorian Age. Where machines ruled and anything powered by steam revered.

Ok....I am looking for a few items to borrow OR TRADE. An hourglass would be wonderful. As would anything that looks like it is old and mechanical or part of a machine. An old trunk would be lovely too. I could kick myself for getting rid of the globe from my house..... I have one in my garage but can not access it due  to the amount of stuff in front of it- like a dishwasher. Does ANYone need a dishwasher? I have one cheap! in my garage and would love to get rid of it.

Anyway- a very large round clock would also be fun to use.

On another note- I am looking for cogs and wheels- like from the inside of a clock or watch and old keys for some small pieces I am working on.

Except for the dishwasher which does not belong to me - I am storing it- I would be willing to trade for anything like the items I have mentoioned. Stop by the studio and we'll talk.