103. I woke up this morning to snowfall, snowflakes the size of eyes drifting on straight trajectories. I feel enchanted by weather that has a translucent quality to it, like a girl in a slinky nightgown in the morning, hair mussed, standing in a doorway with the sunlight climbing all over her. The weather clings delicately to a solid world.
41. That makes four:
29. I haven’t left my home since Sunday. I’ve been in my studio, working full throttle on my Rumors series. The funny thing is, I don’t have a lot to show for it! Enameling and prep-work has been eating up most of my time. I can’t be bothered with the rest of life at the moment…you know it can be that way sometimes, when you fall victim to the muse. She has gentle but iron fists; she wants all of you or none of you.
I watched the sun dip down from one of my work benches last night and saluted the night with a cold beer before getting back to fire and metal and when I was done for the day, I poured a bowl of cereal and ate it while taking a hot bath before falling into bed. My hands are sore. My studio is a mess. I’m a bit lonesome…but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
7. And as I walked though the snow, I came upon a skull, sun stained white with void eyes I could stare right through; brains long turned to earth; teeth long turned to clay. I picked it up, turned it over in my hands and went on my way. I carried it with me. I had a dream.
1. I have a lot to tell you.
23. I can’t, for the life of me, remember where I put that thing.
17. RW is away duck hunting with Farley. I hate duck. The meat is too dark, too wet, too rich. It’s like a big, flying liver. Perhaps I’m not cooking it correctly, perhaps I should give duck a second chance. GIVE SECOND CHANCES.
19. I often keep it prime.
3. I’m out of clean socks. I’m wearing leg warmers and bare feet…chilly toes.
11. I have a broken modem. It’s making computer work very tedious since my
pirated signal is disastrously patchy. So please pardon my even MORE delayed
than usual replies to email and convos.
Good gracious Jillian! I am (as ever) amazed with your ability to capture a snapshot of your travels and translate it so tangibly into an amazing work of art.
Just look at that eggplant purple manifestation of the sea! You tempt my pocketbook, Missy.
Oh Jillian…
If I could beg you for the purple one…or ANY of these I totally would. But I won't, promise.
I love love LOVE that feeling of pseudo insanity when you get an idea for art and you can't stop until it's on paper or…materialized somewhere. It's one of my favorite feelings in the world, and one of the best rewards of being an artist.
These necklaces are truly masterful pieces of art. Whoever gets to take these pretties home is a lucky lady indeed.
I hope you eat more than cereal today, although if you ask me, it's a perfectly legitimate meal. Take care!
Marina…it HAD raisins in it.
🙂
Thanks Jeweled! XO
woweee.
(sidenote: yes. give duck a second chance. delish!)
In no particular order…get some socks on missy! I am not sure about my sentiments towards ducks. I do like how they quack, and their feathers, and how water rolls on their backs. Sitting at work bench, working hard with things to show forth are all some of my favorite things…they are! I am happy you found a skull, the are cleaned up…Well, the necklaces are gorgeous but you already knew that! You had one bowl of cereal last night, when I returned home at 10:30, I had 2.5 bowls. I need to control myself. Finally, you have delicious flakes falling off your sky, and we have chubby raindrops with angels sitting on them falling down our skies. They really are chubby!
xox
Those belong in a gallery, Jillian…they are INCREDIBLE and ORGANIC and BEAUTIFUL!!
WOW.
PS-duck IS icky…rubber city.
Good gracious… Your new series is so mysterious and unknowable and shadowy and enchanted… Utterly unexpected and unique and strange. Perhaps I am the only one that feels this way. Ocean waters lapping at my toes is about as comfortable as I can ever feel around our great vast primordial mother. Perhaps because I am a prairie girl? I can enjoy hiking to the top of a mountain. But really, wide open spaces suit me best.
To be honest, I'm not sure how you managed to create these. Clearly you've been in league with something furtive and inscrutable, and coaxed it into sharing it's secrets.
Yes, yes, yes, yes: WOW!!!
If one could just nanosize down and play in these, explore them on foot…
I've been trying like mad to recall the undulating feathery sea creature the beaded caviar-brushes remind me of. It'll come to me.
Amazing handiwork, and so beautiful–at once known and mysterious.
You make my mind play!
Like Corinna said; like everyone's saying!
Oh <3 Jilly-billy. I love that your a slave to your creativity, and that it pulls you along and off you go. I love that you view the world with the eyes you do, and that you come back and share your stories, your ideas, your wisdom. You make the internet a lovely place, my friend. 🙂
here's to clean socks and WARM little pigs;)
wonderful post…and OH…what lovely pieces the ocean has inspired in you! they are spectacular and will be worn (i'm sure) by spectacular women.
SECOND chances…i concur. life is far too short for ugly misunderstandings. far, far too short.
oh…i can't stand duck either. i've cooked it every which way. it's like goose (for me)…again—as you said, too dark, rich…and i find it greasy. but many love it…
vive la différence!
must dash…hospital…
sending warm hugs (and toes)!
I love these necklaces! They are just so beautiful.
I really like duck. I always pan fry mine in olive oil with a cut up onion, a little bit of garlic, some Italian spices, and a healthy pour of red wine. I don't know if this is really considered pan frying, I'm the type of cook that makes it up as I go. I cook it all in a pan on the stove top over med to med high heat. Once its cooked, I cut it up and put it over pasta with basil pesto sauce. I think the pasta helps to cut some of the richness.
Oops, I should probably add that I only cook the duck breasts.
There's only so many times you can compliment someones work, right? – NO!
Every single piece you sculpt are always breathtaking!
I want I want, I need I need!
by the bye, love the new header. Defines Enchanting!
xox
Oh, and
"…like a big flying liver."
GUFFAW!!!
…as you would write.
Just found you, those are fantastic!!! I love enamel. I wish there was someone around here who would teach me how to do it. I am following you, I hope you can follow me too.
http://skyejewels.blogspot.com
Marie
You have sent me to permanent vegetarian land with the 'flying liver ' thing. hope your toes warm up , off to fetch more firewood for me.
I can't believe I can keep being astonished–but this work!!! My, Oh My!!! Your enameling just does me in!
I ABSOLUTELY loved this post. It cheered my evening.
Like always I am in awe of your jewelry and writing. To express oneself so beautifully is truly a wonderful gift.
!goodness
oh
my
Heh.
Love the prime too. Have you read…
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. ?
'tis interesting.
Yes!
Loved.
So beautiful!!!! You really do have such a talent.
Re: Duck. One of the simple ways I cook duck is to skin it. It's really easy to remove the skin (just like chicken) the I add the "fat". I rub the nekkid duck in a little butter (optional)& place a couple of strips of bacon along the top. I bake it in one of those baking bags. The meat will not be so greasy, yet the bag keeps it from drying out. I usually throw a couple of quails in the same bag with the duck.
Pam
Well.
I do declare!!! I have received a handful of emails, Etsy convos and comments begging me to try cooking duck the PROPER way because I will LOOOOOOVVVVEEEEE it.
Tonight RW will come home with his duck hunting bounty and I will scour the interwebs for a suitable recipe and I will, indeed, give duck a second chance.
🙂
Quack.
This list is completely lovely, and I'll have to admit, I've never tried duck.