Marvelous Monday - The Spectacular Work of Mary Lee Hu

I'm back from Tennessee and hopefully coming out of my little funk. Rain, more rain, and finally some sun. The kids played hard, had a lot of fun, hopefully learned a few things about Tenessee, basketball, and how tall 12 and 13 year olds can be. I was shocked to see a girl 6 feet 3 inches. No wonder why they ask to bring birth certificates! Her brother is 11 and he's 6 feet 9 inches. I'm sure the parents are glad they've found this sport.

I'm trying to get back in my daily routine but am feeling a little distracted. I decided to learn how to make an animated GIF file (see new sidebar) and it basically took me all day yesterday. It's rather easy - once you know what to do!

Using traditional techniques, Mary Lee Hu weaves wire (22K gold) into sumptious body sculpture. They look as if they drape so beautifully. Her main tools are her hands. The work she finds to be a meditative activity as she weaves and twines for many hours. Here's a few of my favorites - have a marvelous Monday!

Time Off

I'm heading out of town to the basketball Nationals down in Tennessee tomorrow. I'll be back in town by the middle of next week. I will have no laptop with me - and I only plan on checking emails occasionally. I'm feeling like I'm losing steam today so this has come at a really good time. I'm not sure if it's the after-effects of a Buffet concert or not (and yeah, I totally jinxed it with my comment about how we never get rain on that day - not just rain, but hail as well!) but I seem to have a major lack of energy today. This trip couldn't have come at a better time . . . so - have a great week!

Havana Daydreamin . . ., Out of the Studio

Tradition. There's something very special about tradition. It's that time of year again - time for the traditional trek to Great Woods, aka Tweeter Center, aka Comcast Center. Jimmy Buffet is doing his show in Mansfield, MA a little early this year. Usually it's on Labor Day weekend but the fans here are very ready to take that trip to Margaritaville. The weather here in the northeast has been very, very wet. As a matter of fact, we've had SO much rain that the mushrooms growing in the grass now look like some science experiment - kind of like little black blobs that are connected with goop. The forecast for tomorrow looks good - we have yet to have rain on his concert day. . . so we're due for a beautiful day. And boy I'm just dreaming, my life away.

So with company for the weekend, there will be no time spent in the studio. Time to relax and enjoy. In the meantime, here's a few items that came out of the studio this week. Have a great weekend!

Dis-Connected

I've been without internet/email service for the past three days. Kind of feels like I was missing a limb. No communication with the outside world - very unsettling. But yet, it's not like I didn't leave the house or anything during that time. It's just so weird when you know you can't get on-line, especially at night, and just "check" a few things (usually getting sucked into that deep pull of "just one more click" and then I'll really shut this thing off). And, by the way, this comes after just getting over losing my whole computer access (burnt electrical problem) this past weekend. Aaargh! Is there a message from the universe here?



I thought I would share with you what I did on my "vacation". CLEAN. Yeah, all the things I really never get time to do. Drawers, closets, and my studio!!! Yay! And of course there was that floor in my "special" bathroom. My daughter had some friends sleep over and one of them ate, well, too much junk food. She ran upstairs and whoosh!!! - need I say more? I've now washed that floor for the third time (as well as the baseboards and walls that also got hit). Poor kid! But close to the end of my scheduled appointment time, Comcast arrived with a smile on their face and "fixed" the problem. We'll see. So if I disappear for a little while - and you hear the whrrrr of the vacuum, you'll know . . .

Marvelous Monday

Nature or nurture? I guess that's what I was wondering when I came across this Etsy artist. Origami artist Benjamin Coleman began nurturing his soul when he rediscovered a childhood art form. He had been in the business world when a fortuitous event took place that led him back to origami. He since has written two books on the subject. One is titled Origami Bonsai and the other Makigami and Origami Bonsai Ferns. Here's a few photos from his shop. Hope you enjoy and have a marvelous Monday!

Check out his bonsai chess set! How cool is that?

Etsy Friday

Well, seeing as my photoshop program is inoperable at the moment - blame it on the a a a a a alcohol - sorry, couldn't resist. My friend's three year old son loves to sing that song, in public . . . not good! I thought I would share a fabulous Etsy find with you. Are you up for a reptilian adventure? I think Unearthed has some of the coolest anticlastic and synclastic cuffs going. They're made from authentic snakeskin, alligator tail, calfskin, frogskin, and even stingrayskin! Hope you enjoy them as well. Some of them buckle, bangle, snap and spring (I think I did all that in the gym this morning)! This is the work of two sisters who obviously dance to their own music. To learn more about the materials they use, click here. Their shop is exploding with eleven pages of really cool bracelets. Oh, and if that's not enough, they also sell card cases, flasks, clips, earrings, pill boxes, compacts, bags, and belts. And guess what? They now have a sister sight called The Refinery. Here, you'll find cuffs embellished with fabrics. Be still my heart . . .

Here are a few of my favorites!

Polymer Clay Book Review

Last week, I was thrilled because a book I had been waiting for finally arrived. It was just released earlier this month and it was so worth the wait. I have been a fan of Ronna Sarvas Weltman's work since the day I discovered her online. I was excited when I heard she was writing a book. For any of you who may not know the title of the book, it's called "Ancient Modern - Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry".

First of all, the photography is outstanding. I actually found myself looking to see who the photographer was. His name is Doug Yaple and his work is beautiful. I did my usual "flip" through the book from cover to cover and found my mouth opening more and more :o). Ronna's sense of color is amazing. But, as usual, I didn't have the time to really sit with the book due to other committments. But fortunately for me, I had a hairdresser's appointment later that week and knew I would get a big chunk of time to really go through the book.

I started with her Acknowledgements and Introduction to learn a little about Ronna. The opposite page of the Introduction had a full page image of a section of one of her bracelets (Desert Abundance). I was hooked. From there she shared her design process, color inspiration (New York Times Sunday Styles section . . . who knew?), some of her tips, working with wire and finally polymer clay (shoe polish, really?). Then she had 15 well-written step by step projects with all the materials and tools listed that you would need. My head was now buried into the book and I swear I never saw my hairdresser! Colors galore! If you like hot colors, you'll love her Mama's Mambo bracelet and her Aria's Dream Necklace. I also noticed that the presentation of color on the first page of each project in combination with Ronna's work is stunning. It adds such a beautiful touch. Although this is definitely a coffee table book, I just have to live with this book in my studio. And did I mention her gallery pictures? I think my heart skipped a few beats when admiring her designs. Especially "Slightly Mad" - her colors and textures are so rich. I know I'll be picking up a couple of her tools. Hint - one of my favorite discoveries of hers can be found at a fabric store - thank you Ronna!

So, if you've been thinking about getting this book, wait no more - you won't be disappointed. It's great from cover to cover!