Good Tuesday to you all!
It’s a beautiful morning here.
I had a bit of a sleep in because I wound up on the phone with my smokejumper around 2AM this morning. The conversation started like this:
RING RING
J: ROBBIE?!!!
R: Hey babe! I love you. I’m just leaving the Albertson’s in Fairbanks and my hands are full of chicken but I wanted to catch you just in case I’m out again tomorrow. Can I call you again in a few minutes.
J: YESssssSSSSsSSSSSssssSSSSSS!!!!!
_____________________________________________________
I haven’t talked to RW for a really long time. My heart about jumped out of my chest when I heard his smiling voice. And if you know RW, you know his voice DOES smile.
So then he called again and we talked for an hour or so and I was exhausted and I had to whisper because my house guests were slumbering in a nearby room but it was so lovely to finally talk to him. He made me laugh. He made me feel lucky to live in Idaho.
He made me feel proud of him, of me, of us.
And I knew, and I do still, that we’ll make it.
And then, when we finally hit the off buttons on our phones, I tossed and turned and thought about jewelry for a while. I always know I’m coming into some really good work when I can’t sleep at night for the flood of design ideas that are flying through my mind. It’s a double edged sword. I’m always so afraid that if I don’t turn on the light and sketch and write about my dreamy-in-the-middle-of-the-bewitching-hours-ideas that I’ll lose them forever. Last night I was so tired I had to lay there in the dark and trace the details of the ideas with my mind, hoping they would imprint and stay with me until the morning. Sometimes I DO find that the ideas are lost when morning comes but I reckon, as long as I don’t lose my head, they’ll surface again sometime, since they belong to my mind and soul.
Since they belong to MY MIND AND SOUL.
Talking to RW really energized me. I’ve been missing him like something else. I can’t help but feel like that missingness is permeating everything I say and do. Sometimes it makes me get in my truck in the middle of the afternoon so I can get on the highway and drive with the windows down and the breeze in my hair with the music on loud. Just to fly. For a second. To let the missingness zoom out behind me like a cape while I chase that yellow line towards the horizon.
No one makes me laugh until I cry quite like him.
In other news, I’ve embarked on a bit of a project here.
One of my dearest friends asked me if I had made something for myself lately. I realized I hadn’t. I have kept things for myself lately but I haven’t taken a moment to design and create something especially for ME. It’s so good for an artist to do this from time to time. It’s so good for the soul to intentionally design, create and keep a piece of work.
So I started this project.
It’s The Bliss Project.
It looks like this:
I made this piece for myself.
It wears most phantasmagorically
I encased a couple of poppy seed tops in green resin. From the base of this focal pendant drops a bezel set and pinned section of aspen branch that I harvested HERE. I encased it in resin as well and attached a sterling branch that swings down from the bezel cup to a pendulous sterling leaf. I know what the entirety of the design means to me. What do you think of when you see it? How do you define bliss? Pure joy. Pure delight. A cat laying in the sun. Standing hip deep in wildflowers. However you define it, I always reckon bliss is addicting. Bliss is a natural high. Rapture. The calm awareness of The Divine in a sweet and perfectly beautiful moment…like Annie Dillard’s tree of lights.
Working with resin has been a delight. I’m always looking for ways to completely and entirely create a piece of jewelry from literal scratch. In point of fact, I love that enamel has allowed me to say, “This piece is 100% handcrafted. Zero prefabricated components build it. I dreamed it and I built it from the ground up with raw materials…” How awesome is that? Anyway, resin is one more way for me create jewelry that is entirely made by me. The very thought makes my mind fly. There’s so much exploring to do with this medium. I’m beside myself with dreams. My mind has wings. My heart drums. Just because of the possibility of it all.
I’m off to get a coffee and perhaps I’ll blaze a little trail on the highway before coming home to settle into work today. I’ve a pile of beautiful things here that I’m waiting to list later on this week. I’m so focused on studio work right now that I can’t make myself set aside a day to photograph and list these pieces until I have a few designs out of my system. Mark my words, beauty abounds here and I’ll make it available soon.
I hope you’ve all had a lovely lovely week so far! I’ve been so busy with company, I’ve hardly had time for life! I’ve really missed you all. I was telling RW last night that I’m so glad I’ve always viewed this blog space as a community instead of a marketing tool (while it does market my work, that’s not the main reason why I’m so dedicated to the upkeep of this space).
I want you to visit this space and feel joy, see beauty and feel amazed by life!
You really do continue to lift me up this summer.
And I appreciate you ALL so much.
I want you to visit this space and feel joy, see beauty and feel amazed by life!
You really do continue to lift me up this summer.
And I appreciate you ALL so much.
Thank you so much for being part of my world.
Your souls really do ring with beauty.
Always.
x
The Plume
i'll be there soon. and i hope we fly down the highway at least once. listening to Bjork's Hyperballad. at top volume.
Ahh. Pure bliss for me is seeing my babies smile really, really big-like! Sounds cliche but it's true.
LOOOVE the resin necklace design!!!!! It's a true beauty!!
KJK: Oh sister. We'll fly.
V: Nope. That's a perfect PERFECT perfectly flawless answer. 🙂 xx
I too love to say that every bit was made with my own hands. It's a feeling of power, of independence and autonomy. I'm working so hard to take my own work even farther into that neveraland and your beautiful work has given me a much needed jolt of energy to get going.
And, yes, resin is quite possibly the most fun a girl can have with her clothes on.
GUFFFAWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
Love you, Rabbit.
x
Love that swish of gold on the clasp.
Resin is a material I have always wanted to work with! (uh, as evidenced by the boxes of it sitting, dustily, in my studio at present. for shame.) I love the idea of encasing in or molding things from it. I did a few bits a few years ago, a few of which are still stuck to a shelf in the studio (thanks to lack of proper rationing of catalyst and polymer.) and they were so fun! Instant (well, almost) gratification and all that. Enjoy!
Plume…. I love that you have created this "community"….it enlightens my soul….everything about it, about you, the you that you share just radiates beauty. Bliss has come my way…after compromising myself for 14 years in a negative marriage..3 years later..Bliss has taken over full force.. My kids are happy and doing great and I have found a bestfriend, my soul, my soulmate, I have found BLISS….Thank you for the beauty you create and for shinning….Delia
hooray on many accounts!
so happy you and RW were able to talk.! distance is hard
(we're 2 of 3 years long distance while i finish school)
and what a fantastic creation you made for you!
i always forget to intentionally design things for me… this serves as a nice reminder.
hope you have a blissful week!
-Lynsey
I keep telling myself I need to have a journal next to my bed for late night moments just like your's. The ones where I toss and turn and the words float up inside my head like balloons trapped inside. They sort of bounce around and form words and phrases that make my head rattle. I do what you do, I repeat the words over and over in my mind hoping that in the morning they will still be there.
After 29 years you'd think I would have started using a journal for the ones that get away. Because when they do get away it's worse than realizing the thing you bought two days ago is now half off. It's a complete waste to let them get away… and there's no one to blame but myself!
Beautiful 'Bliss.'
I hope your smokejumper calls more often. I know what that feels like as well like you're holding your breath from one phone call till the next. Or that someone shut off the lights as soon as the phone was turned off….and all you can do is wait until it rings again.
Have a great day!
I also wish he could call more often but 200 miles North of Fairbanks, Alaska, there aren't many cell towers:)
Here's to keeping journals on the bedstand.
x
Jillian, you really have created a community and I am so thankful to be a part of it. You spread so much love and positive energy around and we all need more of that in our lives. Here's a big hug to you and one to RW – his smile is so big and bright that it is contagious!! Your newest creation for yourself if awesome and I know that no one could wear it better than you – hugs and sweet dreams, Sally
You are a shining light my dear! I hope you catch your Bliss every day!
Oh <3, I love that you share your loves with us. It's brilliant to hear, and see and hurrah, it makes the world a little more shiny 🙂
That is absolutely beautiful.
That piece is just melt away beautiful… big sigh!
Brilliant…just brilliant.
xxoxoo still lily
no wonder i didn't see RW in alaska….he's up beyond fairbanks!
[believe me, even in *my* populated area of alaska, there are not many cell phone towers.]
and, yes.
i too keep a journal and sharpened pencils next to the bed.
next to the tub.
next to my laptop.
in my messenger bag.
in the car.
in the truck.
when one is an artist at heart, one cannot have too many journals and pencils….
sending lots of love to you, you amazing woman!
it's a magnificent piece, just like you, blonde. i want to squeeze you.
Darling girl, I'm in love with your new piece. Completely. I'm so glad you made it for yourself. It is important, and we artists rarely do such a thing. I know I don't. I'm proud of you!
I too dream many of my designs. I did that just last night. The pencil and paper next to my bedside get quite a workout. Luckily, Ron can sleep through a table lamp being switched on at all hours.
Hang it there, baby. Your fella will be with you for all the coming years…I hope this time of absence can be used to nuture yourself and your creative outlet.
Much love! xo
Thank you all so much for taking the time to leave these beautiful comments for me. I read each and every one of them and couldn't help but feel fifty three bajillion times cheerier. Love you from your bones to the moon and back again.
xx
Well,
sighing as per usual.
This post had my wind wandering and spirits lifted.
It was hard to stay in my seat and I think for a moment my butt sprouted wings and lifted me off my chair.
xo
Well,
sighing as per usual.
This post had my wind wandering and spirits lifted.
It was hard to stay in my seat and I think for a moment my butt sprouted wings and lifted me off my chair.
xo