Today I have a new necklace to show, one that I made this morning. I used the deliciously earthy rotund saucer shaped Brown Lava Beads that came from Rings and Things. I love this round saucer shape, especially when used with the lentil shaped Clockwork Scarab bead, which is sort of the same shape, just positioned on its side. I think the mud like look of the lava beads is a great match conceptually with the Scarab design, since the Scarab is so associated with the earth and mud. I also like the way the dark and aged looking brass works with the Lava beads and the metallic of the gear links and the Scarab. I think that the white of the porcelain really stands out in this piece, showing off the designs in a really complimentary way. Overall, I am very pleased with this piece. It's maybe a bit too symmetrical, though, so I think that the next piece I want to do something more unusual. We shall see tomorrow!

By the way, the round Steam Stone gears and the Allegory Orbs have made it up to the Earthenwood website, on a brand new page! They are all available in three color choices. I had to say goodbye to one of my lines of beads (the Snack Charms) for a little while to make room for these, but it was time to move on for a while, to work on something new. I am also looking forward to adding to this line, and just bought a book today about symbolism and magical and alchemical symbols in art history, which I am hoping will inspire me when I start this new research.

I don't have too much to say today. I have returned home from my blissful few days away and am working diligently to get centered and back into the swing of things here at home. I am doing a lot of cleaning up, errands, and working on orders. I am trying to do at least one thing a day that I have been dreading. I seem to have piles of paperwork and unpleasant tasks that threaten to overwhelm me, but I am trying to accomplish one a day, and feel happy with that. In fact, I feel so good, that I usually end up doing another of the tasks! Yesterday was my annual doctors appointment, and mailing off all my tax checks. Today was groceries and phone calls, and starting to file some of this quarter's paperwork that has piled up. whee!

In the meantime, in the background, my wheels are spinning and my mind is churning. I have some seed ideas for new carvings sprouting up and starting to bloom! I don't want to talk about it too much, but these thoughts are starting to get stronger and stronger. What usually happens, is that after being in this hyper inspired state for a while, I just drop everything else and *need* to work on it. That's probably how I get so backlogged with the boring stuff all the time, huh? hehe. Ah, the creative life...

One of the other inspirations to create this new design was a description of a character given to me by author Catherynne M. Valente from her new book Palimpsest. She told me that her character Casimira commands an army of clockwork insects. This was my interpretation of a scarab based on that description, and my plan is to create a brass filigree hand decoration using the design, something similar to the Alchemical Glove I made a couple of months ago

Unfortunately, I have not yet read Palimpsest, although it looks absolutely compelling to me. I have been in awe, reading Catherynne's Live Journal and following her book release and tour, and seeing all of the art and craft that has been inspired by her work. Check out the beautiful trailer for the novel:

I am feeling a little crummy today, even though it was a gorgeous day. I was able to get out and do my errands and walk the dog in the park, but I was mostly happy to come home and lock myself inside and rest and work on the couch for the afternoon. One bright spot in my day was the opening of the kiln this morning, where I had new work awaiting me! Above is one of the pieces, the keyhole that I showed the work in progress pictures of yesterday. I am pleased with it! I am looking forward to doing it in other colors too. So that has been my goal, to make a handful of them (and the other new designs) for my show this weekend. Time to keep working!