A Brooch for Summer

I had these metal brooch parts arrive at the shop and finally, took some home to play with. They have a mesh screen on them so I used a fine wire and wrapped, strung, twisted and loaded the beads on. I think it looks like the budding of a garden, multiple colors, lots of texture, intriguing buds and blooms. The pin was very inexpensive but add the beads and KaBLaMMMM, a beautiful piece. I am feeling very pleased with it!

Little Sprites - a new drawing

As soon as I returned home; I hit the studio and began painting and drawing.



Lots of color - makes me want to fall into great pools of it.


I have a severe fondness for spirals. It is my mark,part of my interior, holistic journey.


Spirals, color and texture will continue to be a focus in my work.

No Sadness

No sadness and with those words the dancing image of my mom left my dreams early this morning. I have been missing her a lot lately. Really missing her, the sound of her voice, her ability to just listen to me without offering advice at every other word. I want to tell her that I continue to be hurt by a friend, that Jacob is growing tall and smart, that I am making new things everyday. What I wouldn't give to - just even for a brief, brief moment - hear her voice again, see her face, touch her hands. It did not come as a surprise to me, at the end of this vivid dream that she would leave me with a short message to comfort me; no sadness. She has no sadness and I shouldn't either.

I will take it to heart, holding the thought,the words of parting wisdom close to my breast but I will still miss her; more than I ever thought possible.

I'm BACK!

Just the two of us, hanging at the show, talking charms and jewelry and fabricating wonderful things! What fun! I had a wonderful show, met wonderful people and made many new customers. Saying hello again to customers from previous years was a real treat. After all, the Bead & Button show is 10 years old and I have been at every show since the beginning meeting and greeting people who enjoy my work. I was blessed at this show to sell nearly all the jewelry I made, making me feel so treasured and inspired! Thank you a thousand times over to all my lovely customers and friends who made this show the most memorable and best ever! More pictures tomorrow, after this girl does some studio work and ugh - paperwork!




The woman who purchased the center bracelet from me at the show was delighted with her new piece of jewelry and her good comments and wonderful enthusiasm carried me through the rest of the show and makes me smile even at this very moment!




Our booth at the show. I love having my hand in everything that I sell or display in the booth. I made the banners, paint the trays, craft the little signs, decorate the bowls - you name it. I just want everything to be made with the love and joy I feel in creating. There is so much pleasure to be enjoyed in the making of every little thing that I don't want the regular, run of the mill, mass produced anything in my booth.




As much as I loved seeing all my friends and customers at the show; I really loved watching the baby seagulls on the roof just one floor below my window. It was like having a live version of the nature channel! There were three nests on the roof and the twins were closest to us. I could have watched them for hours!

The Final Bead & Button Piece

This is it. The final crafted piece for the Bead & Button show. Five strands of a beautiful bead assortment and one of my handcrafted and hand finished clasps. After weeks of marathon jewelry making, charm finishing, sewing banners, table skirts and drawing signs; I have to say I am done! Yippee! Although my least favorite of all chores is still waiting for me - the packing of the suitcase! I usually take too little in the way of clothing and my hotel room ends up looking like a laundry as I find myself washing out clothing by hand and hanging them all over the bathroom. I can be ready to go anywhere at the drop of a hat but figure that too little is way better than too much on a trip. I like flying light if not by the seat of my pants! HAHA!

I will post many pictures when I get back so stay tuned! xo, Lois

The Studio Door

As I get ready to say goodbye or as my BaBa used to say, so long, to my studio I leave you with a picture of my door. I love this door given to me by a woman deceased these last few years, a woman who was one of the first visitors after Jake was born, who had a lovely home here in town at North beach, who loved being a bus driver for the local transit company. I think of her every time I place my hand on the knob of the door to open or close it. I like to think she works with me in the studio and smiles when I feel accomplished. This feisty old liberated, tough, runs with the wolves kind of friend I still miss to this day.

I love the embroidered cover I use as a shade on the door. Brought back to me by a friend from India, it has little shiny mirrors in the stitches and entwined leaves, flowers and birds.

The picture on the wall is also from a friend who went quietly into that good night. An amazing man, with such an interesting life story ( he lived in China before WWII ! ) and of whom I had the privilege of owning an art gallery with. This is a poster for an art show of his featuring the incredible black and white photos he took on his journey into China. He was a fighter pilot in WWII and was caught behind enemy lines. Amazing that his life touches mine through this poster every time I am in the studio.

My hand painted gold stars are on the wall. All gold paint and rusted iron hammered on hearts. some days you just need a gold star, even if you award them to yourself.

Yes, this is all part of my studio, part of the lives of people who have touched me. It is home and when I am away, I miss it and think of working in it again, the moment I set foot in its door. And in the studio my friends silently wait for the activity upon my return and our lives, their's then and mine now, become entwined.