A preserved cherry blossom necklace!  The preserved blossom is from a Yoshino tree.  Preserved forever, it looks as if it is floating in the middle of the pendant. This is the first one I completed, and I’ve been working on it since mid-March. It’s a long process, but if rushed, does not work! Lots of stinky toxic chemicals, but look how beautiful!

The problem is that they are so delicate – you touch them a little too roughly and they fall apart.

This is the text that will go on the card: “”Petals flutter gently in the breeze, like tiny capsules of life, in a beautiful moment of passing. Life is as delicate as these falling petals, easily crushed or bruised. In Buddhism, man’s death is regarded as deliverance from the corrupt world, and is symbolized by the scattering of petals. Cherry blossoms, in their delicate and short lived nature, is a reminder to enjoy life and live life to its fullest. Like the cherry blossom, many don’t realize how beautiful life is until it’s too late.

In China, the cherry blossom is a symbol of feminine dominance and principle. It is also China’s April flower.”

So happy!

Looking for information on:

• Butterfly binding (hudie zhuang) – I think these are just pasted on the folded edges of the signatures
• Stitched binding (xian zhuang) – I’m thinking this is probably just an easy signature/stitch binding, but not sure
• The Chinese Pothi (fanjia zhuang) – Strung like beads on a cord, like blinds.
• Whirlwind binding (xuanfeng zhuang) – Ultimately replaced the scroll, a transition between scroll and binded books (a binded book rolled up in a scroll). Short pages on top, longer pages on bottom, so can roll up and longer page contains entire book.
• Concertina binding (jingzhe zhuang) – I know how to do the concertina, but am wondering if the Chinese version is different
• Wrapped-back binding (baobei zhuang) – Replaced butterfly binding? Using stitching instead of glue, and hides blank pages.

I love creating jewelry; I want to start experimenting more with the silver art clay (it’s a really nifty recycled/green material!) and making more of my components.  I’m starting to figure out the direction I want to take my wearable art.

I use real gemstones and everything is handmade.  I’ve decided that I want my jewelry to harken traditional/classical Chinese styles, yet have that modern flare.  I don’t like overcomplicated designs – I’ve always loved simplicity and balance.  I treat my pieces like art because I see them as that.

I’d absolutely love to see my work in a gallery or boutique!  Someday…

I remember going to Mason bound and determined to just do 2D prints and 3D animation; I had my whole career planned out in my head.  I wanted to work at Pixar!  Then I took Helen’s bookmaking class and she threw a wrench in my plans.  Now the last thing I want to do is animation; I love the direction my art is taking me now.  I love working hands on – I need to work with my hands.  I find it more meaningful for me, which is why I combine my digital art with traditional mediums.

I can’t wait until I can get to the point where I just buy basic supplies and create everything myself.  Maybe someday I’ll learn how to carve stones!

I registered for a sales tax account with the VA State Taxation Department.  Tomorrow, my studio is open for business! It’s official!

When I graduated from Mason, my brother gave me a picture frame with these words on it.  For me, this quote rings quite true.

I’ve heard that artistic/creative people have “quirks” or ways of working – rituals they perform before diving into a creative act.  A way of loosening up, getting mind going, and opening a flow of thought.

Most of my ideas develop in my dreams, as the quote suggests. I spend a lot of my time researching, scribbling down notes on anything I can carry back to my studio, including napkins. I do make sketches, doodle, think and ponder. I usually get so worked up with an idea that sometimes I can’t figure out what exactly I’m going to do. I know what point or message I want to get across – just not the vehicle.

My mind relaxes as I sleep – and I start envisioning my piece(s). Things just happen – I end up “seeing” the pieces. Seeing the final product – the colors, the feel of the paper/materials, the message.  Everything seems clear when I wake up – I usually get a pretty good idea of what it will look like in the end, and follow through.

Entirely.

Things may change a little here and there, but they always end up looking how I dreamed it. It may take a while to get there, but they always look nearly exact to my dreams. The fans from bound looked exact – from the little details of worn paint, to the little charm, the tassel…to the bigger image on the front and the back. It’s as if I had help from a muse in my dreams and I just gave them life.

It’s amazing how that happens.

I wonder if this is common?