Have a holly jolly!

Can I sleep now?

Is anyone else out there anxious for 2009 to end already? I am. My shows are done for the year but I am still trying to finish up some last-minute special orders. They are last-minute because I can't seem to work any other way. And that is a trait that I do not admire in myself. I make myself crazy. Self-imposed insanity. Now that's insane!

I am also anxious to get to work on new designs. I made some pieces in the studio this week that have me quite excited and inspired. I'm not sure how great they are but I will try to ride this wave for a while. Have you ever made something that you thought was the best thing in the entire world only to decided later on that it actually sucked? When I was in college I was working on a mixed media piece that I was convinced was the most amazing creation in the history of creations. I referred to it as The Masterpiece. I labored over every aspect of the design from the colors to the fabrics I used. I pieced everything together perfectly. I was so impressed with myself, with my skill, with my design choices - it was sick. Well, we all know where this story is going... once I was done I stepped back and really looked at the piece. Man, was that one ugly piece of crap. Seriously. How I could have ever thought it was a masterpiece is beyond me. I must have been possessed by pod people, or something.

Anyhoo, I hope I am capable of seeing my work more realistically these days. I can certainly be enamored with my own work, for sure, but I am also aware that I can make some pretty hideous things now and then. (And for some reason those are usually the first pieces to sell at a show... go figure.)

In other news, I got my copy of The House at Riverton today. I am so excited and thrilled to bits that so many people want to participate in this book club thingy! There is still time to get a copy, be it from your local library, Amazon or Alibris... so please join us! I am going to start a Flickr group where we can all post our inspired creations. What shall we call it? The Rabbit Muse Book Club? (Kind of dull.. help!)

Petey and the sheet music

After a long day of practicing the piano Petey had had it with music. This one song was giving him so much trouble he did what he does best and nibbled the heck out of the sheet music.

So he nibbled...

...and nibbled...

...and nibbled...

...and nibbled some more...

Just when he was about to fling the whole operation across the room...

...Laurel showed up to give him a hand (paw).

And together they nibbled...

...until Laurel saw the camera and came over to put an end to the show. She roughhoused the paparazzi with her whiskers...
It was a bad scene.

Let's read a book together!

A while ago I proposed that we all read a book together. Then, of course, I never mentioned it again. Typical. So here I am now mentioning it again. Let's read a book together! At first I was going to compile a list of all the books that you fine folks recommended and have a vote on which one we should read. Then, as I was catching up on a blog I like to read now and then, The Deliberate Life, I came across the recommendation to read The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. I zipped over to Amazon and read the reviews and I was sold immediately. Below is the review from Amazon:

In her cinematic debut novel, Kate Morton immerses readers in the dramas of the Ashbury family at their crumbling English country estate in the years surrounding World War I, an age when Edwardian civility, shaken by war, unravels into the roaring Twenties. Grace came to serve in the house as a girl. She left as a young woman, after the presumed suicide of a famous young poet at the property's lake. Though she has dutifully kept the family's secrets for decades, memories flood back in the twilight of her life when a young filmmaker comes calling with questions about how the poet really died--and why the Ashbury sisters never again spoke to each other afterward. With beautifully crafted prose, Morton methodically reveals how passion and fate transpired that night at the lake, with truly shocking results. Her final revelation at the story's close packs a satisfying (and not overly sentimental) emotional punch.

Sounds good, eh? I ordered my copy today. If any of you would like to join me I suggest we start after the first of the year. That way everyone can get a copy in time and we can all start together. I really liked the suggestion by Bellajoya that we could create a piece of jewelry inspired by what we are reading. I would like to take that a bit further and open it up to any kind of medium, not just jewelry. AND it is not a requirement, just something fun to do. If you don't want to create anything and just want to read a good book that is just fine and dandy.

So tell me what you think. Let me know if you want to participate. We can make this fun! (Any ideas and suggestions are welcome!)

An original steampunker

Meet Miss Emma Josephine Miller from Middletown, NY. Born October 1, 1868. Died June 9, 1888 (most likely not long after this photo was taken). I found her today while browsing around an antiques shop and was quite thrilled to see that she is wearing a skeleton key brooch. Last month I pondered the origin of the use of skeleton keys in jewelry so the discovery of this photo seemed quite fortuitous. And take a look at her embellished dress! She has more rigging than a sea-bound warship! (You know, back when there was such a thing as sea-bound warships...)

Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy Emma like I do. Her brief twenty years on earth can still bring a smile over 120 years later. :)

Flipping the bird 19th century style

It's been a while since I shared any of my antique photos with you all. I can't even remember when the last time was, so I owe you a good one.

Click on the photo for the close-up... you will see that sister number three is indeed flipping the bird, and I believe (because I realllly want to) that she meant to do it. Just look at the hint of a smirk on her lips! And then look at the other two sisters. If they were your sisters you would be flipping the bird too. The one standing looks like she might be trying to control the photographer with her mind. The girl in the middle seems to be torn between the two - she knows what the troublemaker on the floor is doing but must remain dignified since sister number one is holding her down with her vice-grip of a hand.

Three lovely sisters from Pennsylvania, USA. Photographed by Nick & Knecht, Excelsior Traveling Artists, circa 1865.

(Before anyone says that it's not her middle finger... just work with me! It's funnier to think that she is being naughty... don't you think?)

The princess and the pea

New in shop: Pink Princess necklace with a sweet little vintage Austrian crystal dangling below. (So cute I could almost puke.)

Modern Peapod in deep ocean blue with a hand-forged copper band. This is the first of my copper rings that I am listing. It's a size 8.

Now it's back to waiting for the FedEx guy to get here with my jewelry box order. I am out o' boxes and need them TODAY. I hope I don't scare the guy too much when I run up the street, jump on his truck and rifle through his packages. (huh, that almost sounds naughty...;)

I almost forgot! Thanks to everyone who signed up for my newsletter yesterday! You guys rock! I'll be working on a very special first mailing for sometime around the first of the year. Keep your eyes peeled! :)