Painting And Movies. Does It Get Much Better?

Ahem. I am still here, just busily cranking out artwork and overall being inspired.

As many of you already know, I currently work at a ceramic studio (which rocks by the way....just doesn't pay so well). I spend many an hour down there painting away squid and octopus and other oddly random things on plates and bowls. But then I realised recently that I haven't done a whole lot of painting at home. You know. "Real" paintings. Like on canvas or wood or something. I used to do a whole lot when I was in college, but now that I've got this job at a painting studio, I guess the whole painting-on-plates thing sucks it all outta me by the time I get home. So, to greatly remedy this, I've decided to limit my painting at the ceramic studio and instead focus all that creative painting urge on my acrylic paintings. And maybe someday this year get enough works done to do a show or something.

...Or, at least that's the general idea. So far so good. I've done two nice paintings these past few days and I'm quite smitten with both. My painting style is a little hard to pull off in ceramics, but once I pulled out those acrylics again, it was like the world stopped spinning and I was home again. I promise to post pics soon.

Also, saw Pan's Labyrinth and...wow. I absolutely LOVED it. I had read so many reviews from random people that were dissapointed in the film and its violence that I was a little scared to see it. I mean, I had been looking forward to this movie for months--I just couldn't bear the thought that it would be dissapointing. And for all of you who haven't seen it yet in fear of the same thing--stop. Buy tickets and go see it. Right now. It is so marvelous. And honestly, the violence is nothing (nothing!) compared to some of the movies I've seen lately. It's more "suggested" violence. If I can live through the violence in movies like "Audition", I think I can handle almost anything.

And speaking of Asian flicks, I also saw Sympathy For Lady Vengeance this past week. It's the sequel to Oldboy and the third and final movie in the Chan Wook Park "revenge trilogy". Wonderful film--story wise and visually. I knew I'd love it from the second the opening title sequence rolled (don't you love it when that happens?). However, the film's score took the cake for me. After I had finished watching the movie, I immediately went online in a one-track mission to hunt down the soundtrack for my own. But, much to my dismay, it was not to be found. Anywhere. But wait! I stumbled across the film's official website and what do I get? The entire soundtrack downloadable. For free. Free!! If you love film scores and/or classical music as much as I, get over there and download it for yourself (it's under the "media" section). Your ears and ipod will thank you for it.

Back to more painting I go. Haven't done any claywork this past week--I guess I'm just having way too much fun painting. But never fear, more clay goodies are a'comin as well.

I'm Feeling Way Too Girly

I just finished listing my last Valentine's Day themed goodies in the shop. A couple glitterati heart charms that just might kill you from sweetness. I can't help but think how neat it would be to give these out to loved ones instead of valentines. Something kind of unexpected.

Anyway, I went on a baking and cooking spree these past two days that I had off from work. It was a blast. I made a delicious pork and apple pot pie (a bigun' that can easily feed 4 peeps) that I've made before but I think I've now perfected the recipe. It was one that I found online but modified because some of the ingredients didn't sound that...appealing. So, the one I made had bits of pork chops, onions, apples, a dash of apple juice, a smidgen of cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and some delicious cheese that I got at Pike Place market last week. Yuuuummmmy. Such a cozy meal.

Then I made two dozen red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I never ever see red velvet cake mix at the stores around here, I think primarily because it's a southern thing. But I actually found some in the specialty store near me a month ago and had to get it, thinking it would be perfect for Valentine's Day. So, now I have more cupcakes than I know what to do with.

Not that that's a bad thing.

The Door In Dmitri's Crawlspace

Just had to share with you the necklace that was created late last week, and now listed in the shop (much to my excitement). I'm so giddy about this piece! I love old doors (is that...wierd?) and thought it'd be fun to do a series of door necklaces--each one different, of course, and coming with its very own typed short story (printed on a small piece of vellum paper and tied up with a super sweet, sheer red ribbon). The end result I think is quite magical. And what a splendid gift this would make for someone! I know I'd love to get a package like that in the mail.

I do quite a bit of writing in my free time and have an odd sarcastic, fractured fairytale sort of style. Being able to combine that with my jewelry is way, way too much fun. You'll be seeing more of that, I assure you.

More glitter heart charms will be coming to the shop early next week, just in time for the big holiday 'o love. And I also listed a couple Life Aquatic inspired pieces.

I know. I'm a huge, huge nerd for that movie. It's beginning to take over my life.

Lets see... On the movie front, I've recently watched:

1) Oldboy--If you haven't seen this flick and enjoy Asian horror/pschological thrillers as much as I, then please save yourself and rent this one. It's insane and so good. My fellow movie buddy lent this one for me and I'm so glad he did because I couldn't stop thinking about it even two hours later.

2) Bottle Rocket--I saw this one for the first time last year and just bought it with Christmas money and watched it again. Oh how I love this movie. There is now not a Wes Anderson movie on the planet that I don't own and love dearly. I simply cannot wait for the next! Fantastic Mr. Fox--an animated version based off the Roald Dahl book--with more Henry Selick AND Wes Anderson?! Could it GET any better?

3) The Queen--Just got back from the theater. Very good. And Helen Mirren did such an amazing job in it. Definately worth seeing if just for her acting alone.

4) Children of Men--Wow. Such an intense flick. There's rarely a second in that movie for you to stop and catch a breath. Everyone needs to see this one, it's quite unbelievable (unbelievable as in amazing--not "not believable"). I really enjoy the end-of-humanity type flicks, and this one is way up there on that list in my opinion.

Well, that's all for now. Busy day at work tomorrow, ugh. But I'm so looking forward to Monday and Tuesday--days off! Wee! :)

Happy weekend everyone!

Puttin' On The V-Day Glitz

Finally! Some new stuff in the shop! Good grief, I don't think I've ever gone this long without having a new listing in my store. Yikes. I'm rolling out the red glittery carpet for Valentine's Day with my latest designs. Earrings, charms, pins and a necklace are waiting in the lineup to be shown-off. So, for the next week, keep an eye-out for them.

I have mixed feelings about Valentine's Day. It's by far one of my least favorite holidays, mostly because of all the corporate hype.

On the other hand though, V-Day is by far one of my favorite decorating days. Seeing all those over-the-top cutesy red and pink paper hearts, lacey doilies, frosted cupcakes, and delicious chocolates is enough to send me into an inspiration frenzy. Everything is just so....cute. Sickeningly so. It's hard for it not to rub off on you just a tad.

Anyway, these cutie glitter heart stud earrings are currently up for grabs. What can be better than giving your sweetheart a pair of earrings that are truly, in every sense of the phrase, handmade with love?

January Blues

Well, here we are in 2007. Sorry about the lapse between entries. So busy...still. And there just hasn't been a lot of art time. I'm actually debating whether or not I want to cut back my hours a little at work to give myself some extra time for my artwork/jewelry business. Because right now I just can't squeeze it all in (and when I do get some time to play around with the clay, it almost feels like more work because I'm a bit burned out--and that ain't good). I guess I'll just have to play it by ear. Could just be the after-Christmas-burnout that I'm experiencing.

Anyway, I forced myself to do some claywork last night because my shop is in desperate need of new stuff. I have so many fun ideas in the sketchbook, but sadly just not enough time to devote to them right now. On top of that, I'm on the lookout for an apartment and it's turning out to be a big pain in the ass. Not a lot of decent affordable places for rent around here. I have confidence it will all work itself out, but right now it's just so....depressing.

Today we're getting more snow, the clouds are rolling in as we speak, and supposedly are heading into another deep freeze for the rest of the week, like that week we had in November where the temps plummited. And this is why I still have snowman charms listed in the shop. Sure, December is long gone, but the snow sure ain't.

The new pieces I finished last night should get listed in the shop sometime this week (knock on wood) if I can get some time to photograph them properly. One will be a necklace (woot!), which I am terribly excited about. A totally new design that turned out better than I could've hoped. So, be on the lookout!