Jean Power! Fat-horns!

So Jean is here, which is wonderful beyond compare. We spent yesterday looking at everything we had ever done, all of our books, other people’s books, talking about what we liked, what we regretted, what we want to see in our own book.

I doubt I’ll be doing another book project like this- I’m endeavoring to make this the last hurrah. Something good enough to go out on, like Sculptural Metal Clay. I’m happy with that book (except for the title- it should have been called something like Easy & Fabulous Silver Clay For Everyone! so people wouldn’t be afraid of it) and I think it will stand the test of time. How I’d love to have this one feel like that one, something that can stand for what we’ve brought to the table in beading. We are working on an easy-to-eat title; Geometrics is our working title but simply cannot be the final name of the book, not if we want it to sell well.

For me, after this project is done, It’s time to get really small, smaller than small, and honestly, I don’t want to be a part of any field. So tedious. I want to be IN a field, you know, with sunshine and birdies, and my bead tray. I’ve not been impressed by the experience of being binnable. The less people can say to define who I am and what I do, the better. And if they can’t reach me on the telephone, good.

So I should also tell you (because I think it’s becoming obvious) that Dustin isn’t here with us; he is in California, in a three-month alcohol rehab program. His contributions to the book are amazing, and yep, we are finishing without him- we are sorry that he isn’t here with us of course, but happy that he’s where he needs to be. Send him your love, into the sky. He’ll get it.

Thank you, Universe, for the Mighty Jean Power.

It was great to show Jean the horned melon points that evolved from the Power Puff corners, and the Digital Cuff hornlets. How these forms would have evolved without Gabriella’s interpretations is unclear.  Would we have made those fat little horns in the middle of a piece, or would we have assumed (I know that I did) that there would be too much distortion in the fabric of the beads if they were just everywhere, willy-nilly? We are currently trying to see how many horns can be placed in a piece, and making all of the shapes we can think of that are pertinent to the question.

I do believe that everything is eventually tried on for size, and all forms eventually discovered (because after all it’s just math) but thankfully Gabri tried these little fathorns before we finished writing up the book. What a blow it would have been to find that shape after we went to press.

Thank you, Universe, for the Glorious Gabriella!

Everything in life seems like a train to catch. Do you know what I mean? You miss it, there might or might not be another one behind it.