Miss Ellie

I love little black dresses. This piece, 'Miss Ellie', incorporates wonderful, shiny black beads, black tile laid in a pattern and black mirrored glass around the bottom trim of the dress. Actress Toni Collette wore a dress to the Golden Globes with a similar pattern on the bodice. I like how the pattern accentuates 'Miss Ellie's' waist and she looks like she has spent time in the gym! I am so excited for the Oscars on Sunday, I will be glued to the pre-show and will definately buy all the magazines after for inspiration.

National Museum of Women in the Arts- NY Ave. Sculpture Project

The National Museum of Women in the Arts has worked for 3 years to create the New York Avenue Sculpture Project. Finally, on April 28, 2010, the Museum will fulfill this dream by unveiling four sculptures by famed MOSAIC ARTIST Niki de Saint Phalle. Niki is known for her larger than life sculptures using mosaics. These wonderful, colorful sculptures will no doubt enliven New York Avenue in Washington D.C. and will provide something beautiful for visitors and workers in the area on a daily basis. I can't wait to see them in person!!!

New Bride

I finished this piece over the weekend. I had to wait until today to photograph her as we have received so much snow in the past few days, I needed some sunlight! And I may need to wait until spring to photograph her properly as there is so much snow now, the white on white is hard to see. This piece was inspired by a couple of different resources. First, my mother suggested that it would be a good idea to have a 'Bride' for the Main Street Arts Festival, with summer weddings coming in May and June. The second is a dress that Kate Hudson wore to the SAG awards. It is this really sexy number that dips down her back and she wears a necklace backwards to hang down her back rather than down the front. This is in part why I added the beads at the neckline. I found the china plates with the gold rim at a thrift store in Carbondale, CO. Always on the look out!

Visions West Gallery

On Saturday, Piper and I delivered 4 sculptures to Visions West Gallery in Denver. Visions West Gallery is located on Wazee St. in the LoDo District of Downtown Denver. There are several galleries in the neighborhood and this gallery is decidedly contemporary. On display currently is a solo show by Ted Wadell. It is a beautiful show and looks great in the gallery. I loved meeting the gallery director, David, and look forward to working together. I am thrilled to have gallery representation in Denver and to opening up my pieces to a whole new audience.

New Work

Yesterday, I finished this piece. I found these beautiful beads last summer at a bead show in Ft. Worth. I am sort of the 'gatherer' type of personality. I gather items that I think are beautiful, without knowing exactly where they will end up or how they will be used. This sometimes equates to a full garage, but mostly to a full studio! I also found these wonderful, rich brown tiles from DalTile last summer. I love how they work together in this piece. I used brown grout to compliment the spaces between the beads and tile. She looks a little like a suit of armour- maybe she will hit the red carpet armed for flash bulbs! She is headed to Main Street in Ft. Worth also.

'Miss Ross' at the Backus Museum

'Miss Ross' has spent the last four weeks on display at the Backus Museum in Ft. Pierce, Florida. After completing an application to show at the museum, I was invited to submit 2 pieces to 'Through Women's Eyes- By Women's Hands, An Invitational'. As I am a member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., I was thrilled to be part of an all women's show.

In this photograph, 'Miss Ross' is center stage in the gallery and was the inspiration for the large flower arrangement behind it. Floral Designers from Florida presented 'Art in Bloom' in cooperation with the Museum and was a fundraiser for the Museum. I am so happy my piece was chosen from the show and delighted it was given such pride of place.

'Thank You's' go out to my sister-in-law, Sharon Hamill, who dragged her son Micheal and several other friends to the show! I wish I could have been there, but was so glad Sharon could make it.

I receive inspiration from various resources, including fashion magazines! 'Miss Ross' came to me early one morning, while I was still a little bit asleep. I could see her clearly and her name was also there. 'Miss Ross' is on her way to Texas this week, where I will show her at the Main Street Arts Festival, April 8-11.