A Mustache Gathering

 G-10 Rainbow Layered Stache

We are just back from Las Vegas.  Anyone who knows me, knows Vegas is not my scene.  The only reason I went, was to see all the people from the USN Forums.  I never left Planet Hollywood for 3 days.  One doesn't have to.  I kvetched, and moaned all over Facebook before we left. But I went, and am glad I did. As usual, it all went too fast.   As our plane landed, Bob got a message that Bob Loveless had died.  Bob loveless was like Obe Wan Kanobe of knives to my Bob.

 Toni Nealy and I

I had not planned on bringing any jewelry to the show.  It's a social gathering.  I looked at it as a 2 day party.  So I wanted to bring something fun to put on the table.  I had a couple of pieces of horn on my bench that I had been pushing around for weeks while working on other things. It looked like a wavy mustache to me.  I also had this "moon glow" acrylic sheet and a rainbow sheet of G-10.  I've seen mustaches on Etsy, I wouldn't be the first or the last.  So I made a batch of mustache necklaces  out of scraps and the afore mentioned materials.  I had so much fun.  Each one I finished, I would hold under my nose to show Bob.  Who shook his head.  However, he said nothing when I put them on his table.   10 Minutes after the show opened, he was sold out.  So we needed something to fill the space!!

Val and Allen Elishewitz at their booth. His hot new knife project with Hogue behind them.

Allen felt pretty much the same way Bob did about them, so he used a banana!

Owen was all over it!

The Moon Glow mustache sold first.  Bob sold it while I was away from the table.  The night I made it, I went outside the shop door and had him take a photo with the iPhone.  It really glows green! I've had this material since last December. Lucas Burnley, a New Mexican knife maker turned me on to it.

Here's a new knife Luc made with Pat Pruitt for the show.  Pat is a master CNC jeweler. It's Pat's first knife, and Luc's first CNC project.  They made an edition and each guy used their own handle materials.  I really love this layered G-10. Luc also gave me the layered G-10 I used in the top photo.
Luc has a forum on USN: Burnley Knives...check 'em out.

On a more serious note...there was a Brazilian knife maker at the show.  Bob has been oohing and aahing over this man's work on the USN Forums.  Gustavo Thome Cecchini.  I'd like to think his half Italian genes are why his knives are exquisitely designed: and getting an A+ in form and function.

Not only are his knives beautiful...but he is too!

Ladies, he has a stunning wife.

This brings me back to the beginning.  Cecchini's knives are on par with Bob Loveless' work.  I really felt a circle complete Loveless -> Cecchini.  No one can replace Bob Loveless in the knife world. But some will carry the torch.  To see his knives: GTCKNIVES.com .

Thanks for reading!

Every day is a gift: open now.

xo

Suz

PS. Remember the knife I had dinner with  in Atlanta by Todd Begg? Best in show here. I know, I'm just the "knife wife" :-) 

Harvest Time with Mother Night

My view of the West from inside the garden.

The last bit of the sun slips into the horizon.

My kitchen has been in full swing for the last week.  It's that time of year.  I am trying to keep up and manage what is ripening.  As the days grow shorter I can see less and less blooms, and new fruit.  13 hours of daylight means about 9 in the vegetable garden.  As always things seem to ripen all at once.  So I'm on one of those "Jetson treadmills" or Tetris moments where the same thing is happening, just at a faster pace.  Bob bought me a beautiful basket from Peterboro Basket Co. in New Hampshire to carry veggies back from the garden.  So here are some photos...mostly from my iPhone of this food factory I am running.

 Tomatoes and green chili.

I roasted mine and put it in

the freezer in ziploc bags.

I oil a rag to wipe the bbq 

grate, so they don't stick.

Bob is getting ready for the Las Vegas Gathering.  It's a very social show.  We have new things on knives that are my doing...skulls.  It's pretty cool to have collaborated a bit.  I realized that I can't be hustling for the show.  We need someone to hold down the fort.  So I won't bring my jewelry.  I'll post it on the USN forum, and in my Etsy shop.

The skulls are new, and my direct influence.

Doing what I can to support Bob right before a show makes both our lives more manageable.  So I bring him tastes from the kitchen and garden.  The peaches continue to rain down on us.  I have them on their own ripening treadmill.  Now putting them into the freezer.  Later to make jam and salsa out of.  Waiting for the big ones that are left on the tree to ripen for pies and crisps.  I hope we don't miss that window while we are in Las Vegas.

Peaches halved, pitted, and brushed

with lemon go in the freezer.

Later we can make jams &

such with them.  I plan to make

peach and green chili chutney.

I downloaded Clarissa Pinkola Estes latest series of broadcasts: "The  Mother Night."  Her soothing voice always makes me feel the Universe is right.  I have so many images coming to mind when I listen to her.  It seems that when I listen to her, I listen to me.  My authentic self is front and center.  Filled with images I scratch down in my sketchbook as fast as I can.  I've been listening through my lap top while working in the kitchen.  Bob has chopped for me, and peeled for an hour or two.  We really enjoy this canning thing together.  Pickles when we come back from our trip.  Hopefully Dilly Beans too.

I don't have her on when he is there, because I relish Clarissa.  It's a no talk zone when she's on.  What a gift she is to my life.  Her series on creativity, and death, and wild women have made their spiritual mark on me.  If you have not heard her CD's, I highly recommend them for the artsy and creative types. She feeds the soul with her "curandera" way of storytelling.  Very Jungian for those who are analytical.

Back to the food factory I am managing at the moment.  And back to learning to see in the dark.

The "Sandias" last night.  

Thanks for reading.  Every day is a gift: open now.

xo
Suz

From the Front Porch

Good morning from the front porch.  It's been a bustling morning here.  I should be getting ready for the Las Vegas "Gathering" show. However, there is just too much to do here.  It's harvest time. This means canning, and watching or ripening fruits and veggies so the varmints don't get them first. We've had huge winds and branches down.  Clean up as well as fruit that wasn't quite ripe to deal with.  The dinning room table is lined with brown paper bags with ripening peaches. There is a stack of boxes with peaches ripening.  I find by dinner time, I am out of gas.  This is something new for me.  So I try and get as much done before I run out of steam.

Just Peachy

Above the pears that came from our tree.  Some fell, some were picked by me climbing a 10 ft. ladder while Bob held the ladder.  When there were little holes or nicks in the pears, I put masking tape over them.  Some ripened as if they had their own skin, others just rotted.  Why, I have no clue.  I made pear marmalade, and pear butter.  Also, some green tomato jam for the first time.  Helping me was a new tool that I bought a Williams Sonoma.  It's a silicone spatula that gets into the edge of the pots while cooking.  It kept fruit from burning and sticking while boiling.  It's my new best friend. :-)

The pumpkins and various squash continue to get bigger. Lots of peppers, green beans, and tomatoes, strawberries,  and peaches are yet to be picked.

Thanks for reading.

Every day is a gift...open now.  

xo Suz

Saturday Morning Indian Market 2010

Bob and I fell in love with this painting when we came to  Mateo's studio before it was even finished.Here it hang's at Blue Rain Gallery who represent many top Native artists.

Bob and I got up before dawn.  I made coffee, and we got in the car and drove to Santa Fe. As the sun came up over the mountains, it cast rays of light on our drive.  The mesas were lit from the East...and I wish I had pulled over to take a photo.  But we were chomping at the bit to get there.  The pictures will tell it all.  Enjoy.

Above Mateo at his booth and a Deer Dance painting. 

My photo does not do it justice...the sky is turquoise

against the orange of the adobe. Stunning.

Bob and Ryan Singer stand in front of his
painting about the oil spill.

Ryan just printed posters of this
painting that are for sale.

A collaboration with Ryan Singer. We all listen to 

"Coast to Coast" while working in our shops!

Pat Pruitt and Marla Allison stand in front of their booth.

Pat's new stainless steel and ray skin concho belt.  

Bad ass, and first place ribbon!

Marla talking to a customer about her work.

We wove our way through the crowd.  By 10am one could hardly get in to see the booths.  The energy was high, and photos following are just of some pieces that caught my fancy.

Pilar Agoyo's dragonfly purses walked by!

My favorite hat this year.

These are made of clay and stand about 5'

Inuit Grizzly

To say I was inspired, would be an understatement.  I came home and took out my sketchbook and drew many new ideas.  There were so many incredibly beautiful pieces...I got overwhelmed.  Soon it will be a pot or story doll we purchase.  I looove the corn maiden dolls.  Next year, God willing and the creek don't rise--I will stay the whole day so I can see the dancing and music.  If you have never been to Indian Market in Santa Fe, you should go.  If crowds are not your thing...then go early! :-)
If you can't get to Indian Market, make sure and go to Blue Rain Gallery:
http://www.blueraingallery.com/home/   Tony Abyeta, Tammy Garcia, Preston Singletary, Randal Lagro join Mateo and Marla to make this gallery the premier showcase it  is.

David Bradley's homage to "the Bunny"

When I saw this, tears came to my eyes.

I still miss him, I guess I always will.

We ended our morning at The Plaza Restaurant.

Watermelonade...mmmmm so sweet and refreshing.

Thanks for reading!  Every day is a gift...open now.

xo

Suz