Its been a while since I worked in the studio, so today I headed out there to start work on what I hope will be a quick little pillow. (Its only 8″ by 19″ and I’m aiming to finish it in the next week.) Yes, its the same pattern as the square tufted pillow, but I’ve decided to work with the 4 or 5 patterns I already have and like, and apply them to different objects.

Oh, and I’ve added one more component to the work I’ve been doing with jewelers and web 2.0. (I posted about the presentation and wikispace the other day.) I’ve started a blog (yes, another blog) specifically designed to showcase jewelers and metalsmiths on the web.

The cold weather turned my planned studio day into a computer day. But that gave me time to work on the pattern for my one of my next projects – another chair. I had originally planned on another pattern (see below) but decided it didn’t have enough variation for me. While both patterns have variation in scale, the one above just feels more random. I’m sure the other pattern will pop up somewhere else though.

A few updates…
The navigating the web 2.0 presentation for the Metals Guild of Maryland was last night. If you missed it, find the information on the wikispace here.
I heard back from two more shows – surprise – two more wait lists.
I finally managed to change the header of my blog, and I added a list of my favorite blogs on the right.

Here are a few samples (made by Maria Phillips) from Maria’s electroforming workshop. Sadly, I didn’t get to make anything fun, but my students did. For more pictures, click here.

I’ve finally updated my website. There are a few things I need to add yet (like placing images within my page instead of redirecting to my flickr site), but it matches my current aesthetic much more now. (A note to firefox users – the site doesn’t look good in firefox quite yet. View it in safari – it looks much better.)

And while you’re on the site, you’ll notice a link to shop. That’s right, I’ve finally set up an etsy shop. Nothing for sale yet, but soon. I promise.

Despite the fact that today was a lazy day (everyone deserves one now and then), I can happily say that I’ve sent out all 8 applications that were due by March 1st.

A few upcoming events at Towson University:
March 1st 7 PM- Maria Phillips lecture
March 2nd & 3rd – Maria Phillips electroforming workshop
March 6th 7 PM – Metals Guild of Maryland peer review – I will be presenting on navigating the web – blogs, flickr, etc.

I had a computer scare today, so I’m dutifully backing up everything onto an external hard drive. If the thought of losing your resume makes you want to cry, I suggest you do the same.

(The images are a new pillow design I’m thinking about. Probably not the next project, but something in the future.)

Nothing says love like a steel pillow…

Oh, and I’ve got a date with a powder-coater for 8 AM Saturday morning.

The weather made me not want to drive to Baltimore, so I canceled my classes. This gave me some much needed studio time since I’ve got six deadlines coming up before March 1st that I’m trying to make new work for. That’s right, in the next 2 weeks, I’ll be sending out applications for 3 craft shows, 2 solo shows, and and juried exhibition. Just another day in the life of an artist… (Above: the view from my studio.)

For someone whose artwork is about layering pattern, I’m certainly timid with pattern use in my own home. But that’s about to change. I’ve just ordered this Orla Kiely wallpaper from Anthropologie to hang on the wall behind my bed. It will go under my patterned curtains, behind my striped bedding. And the best part… the wallpaper is easy-peel removal, so Joe can’t really object. Get the wallpaper here.