Submerged

Regular readers to my blog may have been wondering where the heck I've been these last couple weeks. Well I'd love to tell you that I've been somewhere glamorous or relaxing or even just plain fun, but truth is, I've just been submerged in work and unable to spend even 5 minutes to blog!

The great thing is that I have an incredibly cool job, so even though I've been buried, I've seen some mighty inspiring stuff come across my desk. Here are the highlights:

Kate McKinnon and I are are doing the finishing touches to her next book. Did I mention before that this is going to be one mighty fine book? Kate is a metal clay master, but she's also quite a metalsmith...she's keenly combined those talents into this tome. You know, I've always liked Kate's work and I've always liked Kate, but working on this book has really made me appreciate her on a whole other level--behind all the seemingly organic, creative, freeform work is a thoughtfulness of design that comes down to architectural brilliance as far as construction goes. I've learned so much working with her.


Interweave Press is coming out with yet another special publication--Bead Star 2009--and I got to do the second-round edits of its 40+ projects over the weekend. Bead Star is the result of a beading contest run earlier in the year--contestants competed for "Best in Seed Beads" "Best under $25", "Best in Crystals", etc. (Here's a link for last year's issue.) Since I edited the work I got to see each of the pieces first-hand, and the results are absolutely stunning. I've edited a lot of beading magazines and I'll tell you, this one has some of the most innovative designs I've seen in one collection in a long time. Can't wait to see the final copy.

Speaking on contests, I got to be a judge for Step-by-Step Beads 2009 Bead Arts Awards, the results of which will be published in their November/December 2009 issue. Again, just blown away by the talent out there. Where was everyone when I helped start Beadwork all those years ago? Beaders were so few and far between that I (shhhh!) had to make most of the projects in those first few issues, using nome de plumes so I wouldn't look like a magazine hog...

The next few days will see me finishing up the final tech edits for the December/January Beadwork. As I mentioned, I'm becoming increasingly blown away at the talent out there. This is going to be a fantastic issue! And it'll be the final one for me and my fellow Designers of the Year, Marcia DeCoster, Jamie Hogsett, and Lisa Kan. I went completely over the top with my design this time called Festivus:



What do you think of this crazy thing? I've tried to beg, barter, and generally whine about being on the cover. I figure if this monster doesn't get there, nothing I ever make will. Ah, ego...

At nighttime I've been busily kitting and generally preparing for teaching classes at BeadFest Portland, September 24-27. I'll be teaching Peyote Buttons, Bling Bracelet, and Sjournee Necklace. Will you be there? I hope so! I'm really looking forward to the trip.

The light at the end of my tunnel has been planning and designing projects for my next book, which will be sponsored by Swarovski Elements. More to come on that I'm sure as I become even more immersed, which will be soon. Gotta have that one done before the holidays!

AS A PRIZE for any of you who have made it through this incredibly long and rambling post, the folks at ConsumerCrafts.com approached me last week about sharing a freebie with you. For any orders made by 9/23/09, use promo code M0NP62M and you'll get free shipping! That's worth $8 or more bucks, really. Pretty nice, eh? I'd never been to this craft-store-at-your-fingertips before, but browsed around on it and ended up choosing a crystal hot fix wand and a porcelain doll head and hands. Not sure what I'll end up doing with them, but will keep you updated.

Thanks for your patience as I hack through my writing and editing brambles! Do stay in touch--I love to get your notes! They are a welcome distraction from rearranging words all day.