Moody Monday

I'm not moody but the weather sure is this morning.I have been such a putz about keeping up to date on this blog.  The new gallery has been the priority of late and now I'm beading like crazy to get ready for the Crosby Park Show in Toledo late in June.  AND I have been taking an Art Doll workshop with Kevin Buntin. Not coming up with any pretty little baby doll or fairy....mine is more of a female ogre out of Dark Crystal...this ol' broad has definitely been hit with the Ugly Stick. But I'm having a great time working on her.
Let's see....I have Wilde Jewels for the jewelry and Wilde Hare for the paintings...need a name now for the 'dolls'.
This is something I have wanted to do for years but avoided because I knew it would lead to another obsession.  I just 'happened' to have been collecting clay, various scrap materials, doo-dads, mohair hair, etc.  Now I'm ordering books, tools..slobbering late night over dollmaker websites....here we go.........

The above necklace features a pendant by Lisa Kan that I got at B&B last year. I've been calling it Haiku Spring.

  And this one is by Gail Crosman Moore.  Wave Dancing seems to fit.

I hope to see both artists again this year at the Bead&Button show next month.
Along with Wayne Robbins and Judy Mountain and Shirley Cook.

Don't Pay The Ransom!

No, I haven't been kidnapped or fallen off the edge of the earth.......just overwhelmed with opening The Wombat Art Works.  By the way, it appears that our mascot has chosen his name....Wally.  Everyone just seemed to fall into the habit of calling him that so it must have been his idea.  We had a great opening and are now into our second week of business and things are going well.  I've actually found time to do some beading for the gallery and the Toledo show next month.  The time I found is usually until 2: or 3: in the morning but, hey, who needs sleep?  I remember when I used to stay out partying until then or later..lol.

Along with the paintings, photography and wood pieces, the Wombat has some very extraordinary jewelry (am I just a bit prejudiced?) and I think people are surprised when they see what we have.  Trish Jeffers-Zeh, Lauren Buchan, Zoe Hutton, Rachel Goetz, Bridget Beck, Doni Hatz and me.

Moonlight and Magic, or should I name it Midnight, Moonlight and Magic to go with the late hours involved...lol.

Soggy Sunday

Here's the boy...our Wombat....as yet nameless

Ahh, it's been awhile.......a very busy while. The new gallery is coming along. I have two partners now - Trish Jeffers-Zeh and Debbie Lentz, both artists I greatly admire. We've been working on the place, putting in displays, etc. and we had an Open House for Artists last Thursday. Of course that had to be the night that rain, sleet and SNOW had to show up. Still, we had a nice turnout and lots of favorable comments.

I've only been able to do sporadic beading in the meantime and with a late June show looming on the horizon I had best get to it seriously. Of course I want to go to the Bead & Button show, too, to visit with friends from across the country who just happen to be among the best lampwork glass artists around.

Just had to pause and cover up Sugar and get my "good night kiss" from her. I feel guilty leaving her alone to go work on the gallery but once it opens she'll be coming with me to 'hold court' some days.

So I'm off to bead tonight and maybe watch/listen to a movie...haven't seen Blind Side yet.

Now the Fun Begins!

At least I expect it to be fun! I signed the lease for the gallery yesterday and the name is now officially The Wombat Art Works. Trust me, the reason for the name will reveal itself as time goes on. And besides, wombats are cute little buggers.

Fortunately the gallery is already in good shape and more or less ready to move in. Now it's collecting artists and display equipment that is paramount.

And when I'm not doing that, I need to be beading in prep for this year's art shows. Where's the bead fairies when you need 'em! There's a gem & mineral show in Cincinnati this weekend that I want to visit, too...nevermind that I have trays and trays of cabochons already...they might have the perfect one that I don't know I need and can't live without.

This morning will be working on the computer, cleaning the kitchen (ugh) and then having my beady friends over for the evening. My dentist had to postpone my appt. tomorrow so don't worry, no more big snows tonight.

Long Week

It's been a long but exciting week here. I've been looking at a building I would love to open as an artists co-op gallery if I can afford it. I had a gallery/studio for 12 years but closed it down 10 years ago. Six days a week got old and I wanted to travel more so I closed the doors and went to Africa.
If it works out, I have all kinds of great ideas for events, workshops, exhibits, working with the area schools......There would be painters, jewelers, potters, glass, textiles/fibers...the absolute best in the area.

On Saturday Lew and I drove to Michigan to see a similar gallery that a friend of mine participates in. It was very impressive and well put together. So tonight I am tired and going to bed early for once. Hopefully I won't wake up at 3: a.m. again with the "Are you CRAZY?" thoughts...lol.

Magpie Tendencies

I was just reading someone else's blog where they likened "us" to magpies with a penchant to collect all things shiny. Wow! Spot on! Since I was a mere toddler, going through my grandma's jewelry cupboard, I have been fascinated by the sparkly, the textural, the pretty, the odd.....

My cache of all things even remotely "beady" is like a treasure trove and I often get lost in just looking through it....mostly when I'm supposed to be organizing, not looking. I marvel at the wonderful lampworked focal beads I've gotten from artists who continually amaze me. It's not just their work, it's the friendship they've offered to go with it that makes me smile. Wayne Robbins, Nanette Young-Greiner (Scorpio Beads), Shirley Cook (Jumping Jack Glass), ponies from Patti Leota Genack of Glass Horse Ranch, Joanne Morash (Blue Iris Designs)...just to name a few. One big reason I look forward to Tucson or the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee is to see them in person again...lots of laughs are always involved. And my favorite cabochon person, Jerry from S & S Lapidary. He always has a smile and his enthusiasm is probably why I have 4 stacked trays of cabochons waiting to be used. I'm always happy to see Jerry's wife, Beth and their helper, Paula. So, my "stuff" is not just pretty to look at, it's a collection of really nice people, too.

Like most beaders, I think I have enough seed beads and findings to open my own bead store. Some I must really like since I will find at least 5 tubes of the same color. Not that I needed five tubes, I just forgot what I had. If I croak, my friend Jann inherits it all.....she can worry about sorting it all out!

Today has been one of those days when I can't seem to accomplish anything. I go from one project to another and finish nothing. So, here I sit, with a glass of wine and a roast beef sandwich. I've been reading other blogs, playing gin rummy with the computer and shocking the cats everytime they come by to be petted. Zaaappp! If I were ambitious I'd go see Avatar but seem more inclined toward a book and warm bed covers for the evening. Yeh, I like that plan.