Lulu Smith Studio

I was psyched to see this a.m. that Boing Boing had posted a small blurb on the color “yellow being the new black“. I don’t usually jump up and down before 7 a.m.  but a little knee bending and celebrating was in order. Back in June of this year I had predicted that yellow would be the next big color. Anytime Pantone wants to give me a call I’d be happy to give them a 6 month edge on the next color…

I had forgotten the stillness that comes with snow… but was really surprised last night how it’s blanket can change a city with a ton of white noise into quietude.
Made me wish I could be in Edison or Twisp Washington for just a couple hours - two of the best tiny towns in the state - to enjoy the quiet and check out the snow there.
Having a day, much less a week of snow that doesn’t melt here in Seattle is pretty unheard of.
Hard for even the lamest meteorologist to chalk it up to an El Nino… But global warming in all it’s extremes is very charming here today.

Wow, are we really almost to the end of 2008?  How did Vivian get so big and Georgia so literate?  And how did I manage to make 50 pieces for my show that starts tomorrow morning?  Somehow… I did.  And I think there are some really great ornamental pendants in this group that might get you all in the mood for a glass of cheer and some holiday dreaming.  I know I’m ready to relax and look forward to 2009.  Also have been putting a lot of lead to paper lately to get out ideas for new designs.  The same way I did after Georgia was born.  Don’t get too excited yet!  It will take time…several months…from pencil…to paper…to computer…to model…to caster…to mold…to silver….and then back to me for assembly… soldering… cleaning… pouring… grinding.. edging… clear coating…

Inspiration for new design. Love the spradic growth of beauty berry from my garden. And the color is amazing too.

It’s taken nearly six months to get somewhat back to my normal physical self after the birth of my second child…I’ve been eyeing some of the fabulous deconstructivist reconstrutivist things in etsy’s “ready to wear”.  After years of dressing pretty post grunge era chic, I’ve been feeling like dressin up more.  My hubby loves it when I wear anything with a bit of 1940’s retro to it.  And what’s great about etsy is that - if you do a little digging - there are plenty of modern things with a nod to the past.  I’m lovin all the American Apparel screenprinted tees on etsy to…but I guess that’s part of my most grunge era self too.  What can I say?  Part of the joy of being self employed is that you have absolutely no one you HAVE to shower for - so hanging out in your p.j’s is one of the perks.  What’s really in the back of my mind is holiday parties - would love to wear something fun and cool that also has a very handmade feel to it.  I’m on the hunt!

That’s pronounced Ler-CHur in case you are wondering.  Sarah, like my husband, has one of those uber-germanic last names.  And she has, for the last two years, replaced the extra work my husband had done the previous six.  She has stood by me and quietly dealt with pretty much everything except the  designing and pouring of my work. Having an able assitant during a tumultuous time including pregnancy, playdates, doctor’s appointments and my desire to mess with as little toxic stuff as possible, has been a great thing. I’ve had many assistants here at the studio - but none who had to take on as many responsibilties as Sarah.  And through these first few months of having a new babe around, she cooed at Vivian as I took the phone or she took the calls herself.  All of you in the metals scene know her by her amazing structured work and her fiery red hair.  Her work is soon to be seen at the best indie shows and already at some of the best art jewelry galleries nationally and internationally. If you happen to live in Seattle, check out her work at Kobo Higo this month — the show opens tomorrow night with a reception!

Thanks ever so much, Sarah, and good luck!

Everyone has there own way of fighting off the winter blue greys here in the NW.  Almost every house I know has at least one yellow room or if your more like me you go for the more gastronomic remedy.
My stash includes to following necessities.

A cuppa Sumatra, lots of Chocolate and Temari Almonds.

The first time I heard Obama speak I got chills.  Wow, wouldn’t it be great to have a man with a silver tongue be our president after 8 years listening Bush I thought.   And in that same moment I thought nah, no way, our country is to full of xenophobes to make that kind of change.  But speech after speech and rally after rally this country showed that it can get over it’s past.  And thanks to MLK and Jesse Jackson for paving the way.  Let us not forget that the democrats had a woman vice-president about fifteen more years before the Republicans did.  So while the Rovians played their cynical woman card those of us who are true feminists/humanists smirked and said I can see what you’re doing - especially as she went on to campaign hate to their base…. So they can continue the corporate hand-in glove republic their lobbyists have bribed so many millions away to achieve.

I’m not a religious woman, but I have been doing something very close to praying lately… I hope tomorrow we will be given reason to pause and celebrate.  That Obama might get a chance to even the playing field and make this a real democracy again, to stop this endless war, to energize our economy with green jobs,  to move towards universal healthcare and my personal favorite?  Give us back the middle class I grew up worshipping.  So that I may raise my girls not in an ownership society or a poverty society… both of which a misnomers… but just a society.  Just a place where we all can enjoy the ideals of capitalism from a populist point of view.

If you’re on the religious right or you just happen to be, say, a staunch republican, I have a great quote for you that I saw on someone at the farmer’s market the other day: Jesus was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a governor.

O.K. So - the question is to go or not to go. We in Seattle have such a great metals scene. Some very hard working individuals who care about keeping the rest of us inspired get a great group of speakers together once a year for our symposium. Only hitch is that I and my girls are stupid sick - have been for 7 days now with no end in sight to this head cold. I really, really want to go…Some amazing speakers this year. Fred Fenster and Kristin Mitsu Shiga just for starters….May I please be well by 7 a.m. tomorrow!