New Pieces for Tucson

When I decided to create new designs for Tucson this year, I took comfort in familiar images and designed around things that made me feel happy and at peace. In these troubling times, a comfortable image is like a good friend, always there beckoning me to its' center. This once again is a house image with a shallow frame so that resin or glass could be added over an image. The back is decorated with spirals, hearts, radiating lines and dots. I haven't photographed them on the prettiest surface but I like them none the less. I sure hope Tucson is fun, sunny, welcoming and prosperous. I can hardly wait to see old friends, family ( Barb & Bob ) and meet new people!





A heart shaped resin frame in white bronze that I have strung with an assortment of my chain, beaded links and this fabulous silk that I will be selling in Tucson, from Vietnam. I have been admiring all the jewelry work done with fiber lately so I decided to try my hand at it when this ribbon turned up. How fun! It made me think outside my usual comfort zone.





This is one of my new center pieces from my house series. I do not know what it is with me and house images but they show up a lot in all my work. This piece I am calling the house dangler. It is two sided and cast in white bronze.

So Many Days

The days are filled with activity as I create the last samples of jewelry for Tucson and begin to pack the final two boxes for shipping. In between all the show activity, work needs to be done for the shop, too. I am making things, thinking things, packing things, breathing things and in the process reminding myself to breathe and not get stressed out. Stress does very weird things to my body and makes my mind ache and gives me strange dreams. I also have this sadness every time I get ready to leave home. What is the source of this sadness? I like to travel and see new places. I like meeting old friends and making new friends, I enjoy new experiences. I take plenty of knitting, reading and drawing with me to create a home wherever I am. It is a mystery, one I am afraid to dig into too deeply.

So Many Days

Isaac's Drawing

This drawing is from Isaac, our grandchild who lives in Utah. I love the orange color and think that it is a wonderful artwork. Keep up the good work and send more, Isaac! " To Grandpa Phill - it's a Tiger Horse! "

Today was one of those days where everything I wanted to do or make would just not work. My efforts just turned into a mess. When my head is spinning like this, filled with crashing and disappointing projects; it just feels better to go back to my roots. Bead stringing in this case. I used a collection of purple beads including luscious recycled plastic beads and my sterling silver Life toggle and created a wearable art piece. It relaxed me, allowed my mind to ramble and settle its thoughts on new techniques and other things for my shop. Returning to familiar, welcoming territory is often the best inspiration.

A small sampling of what the charms will look like on display in Tucson this year. Whenever I see them all placed in trays; I feel like I am visiting with a part of myself that has been made into an old friend.


Note to self: No more ice cream ever! Hurts my teeth big time now!

I am safe, loved, warm in my home. Water runs from my faucets, heat comes forth from the vents in the walls, food is available in town only 7 miles away. Not so for the people of Haiti. I don't think any of this has ever been true for the people of Haiti and definitely not in the aftermath of the earthquake. I am sick, heartbroken at the devastation, the injured needing help, the desperate cries of mothers separated from children, the lack of daily needs. They are hurting and we can help. I have made a small donation to Doctors Without Borders. You can do the same. Google them in and go to their website. You can use a credit card. Even $10 will help. As you run through this life where every moment is a blessing, pray and give to those less fortunate. YOU can make a difference. Now. Do it. This moment. And thank you. xo, Lois

Rain & Wind & WInd & RAIN !!

It is that time of year again and the only thing that makes this year different from the last year is that we are having temperatures in the low to mid 50's and there is no snow! I love a rainy & gray day but I am looking forward to Tucson and a bit of sub. I will be the bear squinting into the sunlight as I emerge from my long winter's sleep!

I am going to call this a fly by blog post as the chicken noodle soup I made is calling me for dinner! On this stormy, drenching, windy night; soup just sounded great. Phil has made biscuits, too. Anyhow, I have charms in an earring design by Kim Ballor in this magazine. What a pleasant surprise! Thanks to Kim!

More Tucson

Believe. Something I have had to learn over my 53 years; to believe in myself. I thought this when I made this clasp and still wanted to believe when I decided to re -cast the piece in yellow bronze. Warm, gold and earthy, this is a toggle clasp that I just love. Believe. Believe. Say it again and again.

Tucson Samples

It is the time of the year when I bury myself in the studio to create the samples that will hopefully sell my charms and findings in Tucson. I want pieces that are a blend of texture, color, form and function. A piece also needs to be made so that it can be duplicated by a customer. I can hardly wait to get down south. To the show, to see friends, to feel the sun on my skin to see the different light that fills the skies of Tucson. What a change in scenery show in Tucson offers me!

A close up of my reversible " stars love toggle. " I hand finished this clasp in a nice brushed sterling matt type finish. It really compliments the matt or frosted glass beads in the necklace. I could not be happier with this finish on sterling!





A necklace of assorted chain, matt glass beads and one of my reversible toggle clasps in sterling.

My silver studio is coming along very nicely with the addition of a few new tools and a table arrangement that gives me lots of surface to work on. I like things neat and tidy in my workspace but I am finding out that it is nearly impossible to not spread out everywhere and have everything within reach. There must be a magic that exists somewhere that would allow me to do this. I have so many ideas in my head hovering about all my daily activities and I only need more hours in the day and fingers that do not ache from arthritis to accomplish my daily goals. What will I make in the days and months to follow? I have no idea where this journey will lead or what the end result will be. I only know for certain that since I was a child. I have only wanted to " make stuff. " Sometimes, growing up, the ache was so bad for wanting to make something that the day would be an exercise in frustration. I will have to add to my list of goals this year that I will become proficient in using all my tools and that I will use the stuff I have to create with. When I force myself to use what is at hand, I often get some of my best results!

I have a goal for this new year,this new decade. I am going to take care of me. Do what I need to do to make myself feel happy and content while still being open to the idea of adventure and new technique in my work, jewelry, bead, fiber and painting. I want to build and treasure my friendships and gather new friends close to me. I want to love my family even more if that is possible and gather them closer. I want to remember to exercise the spirit of gratitude. I want to practice peace and as one of my favorite songs says, " let it begin with me. " There is so much and I feel so blessed to have the chance to say that there is so much. Without getting all sappy and over emotional; I just want to say I am so thankful to just be alive to experience this new decade and all that it will have to offer. Peace I leave you with tonight and for the coming year. xo, Lois

p.s. Acceptance would be a good thing also for the 2010 year. Acceptance of myself and of others both good, bad and ugly. Oh and typing skills would come in handy, too this year!

I wanted to blog tonight about all the interesting thoughts that leapt into my brain while I was sleeping very early this morning but I am tired. It was a long day at the shop and BUSY!!!!! Anyhow, I am just too tired to really write so I will leave you with a photo of Regina snoozing on one of the carpets in my studio.