A few weeks ago I took around a sample of the "Industrial Strength Pendant" (pictured above) to some local stores, and wrote orders to be delivered on/before Nov. 1st.
And here we are, time to say goodbye to all my little creations! As of Nov 1st, you will find these limited edition items (selling for about $15 each) in Sydney, Baddeck, and the Northside, in such stores as:

Smart Shop Place
The Old Sydney Society Museum Shop
The Best of Cape Breton Store
Granny's Country Cottage
Kidston Landing
Blue Heron Gift Shop

What's so exciting, you ask? Well, this is a unisex pendant that I designed exclusively for Cape Breton, to be sold only on this island. Each glass vial contains pieces of genuine Cape Breton Coal, bits of steel, and features a pewter fish charm dangling above! ...all symbols of the three industries of our past (coal/fish/steel). a spiral bead symbolizes hope for the future, backed by a $2 donation per unit to a local charity.

With the orders from participating stores, the Family Place Resource Centre will be receiving a starting donation of $250! It may not seem like much, but there is definitely potential. Depending on the public's response, this could be an annual tradition, perhaps involving other artists as well. Someone else said, "As a business owner, it's my job to earn a profit, and as a human being, it's my duty to share it". I like that.

"Give it away,
Give it away,
Give it away now."
-Red Hot Chili Peppers

I am sooo excited about my upcoming Christmas shows!
Scurrying to bring some of my newest designs into fruition, I have lately upped my tea and chocolate intake to fuel my longer working hours! Things are going swimmingly, and I am most excited about some $1 and $2 goodies that will be available. I am making these partly because I enjoy making people happy with bargains, but mainly because they are so. much. fun. to produce! I really regret not being able to say too much more about them, but a secret's a secret...I will say that yes, they are recycled, and yes, each is completely one-of a kind! :o) Fun this is.
The count down is definitely on, stay tuned!

"Everyday, it's a-gettin' closer,
Goin' faster than a roller coaster..."
-Hardin/Petty (Buddy Holly)

anyone catch the t.v show on crop circles tonight? this phenomenon which I long ago passed off as an elaborate hoax has once again captured my imagination, sharing that portion of my mind-space reserved for David Blaine,and provoking such questions as "how?" and "why?" and "huh?". Even if humans are responsible, I say, "yay, humans!" for inspiring the rest of us to dream bigger.

Check out this magnificent photo of a crop circle formation:



Amazing things are happening in this gigantic world, and I love having them pointed out to me. It's tempting to get so bogged down with one's own affairs, that it's easy to forget the many mysteries that surround us. I saw three rainbows while driving around this week...you forget how beautiful and unlike the cartoon version rainbows really are when you don't see them often...I feel really lucky when I spot one, it can make whatever's on the radio seem trivial.

speaking of mysteries: I had a t.v interview today that reminded me yet again of my mysterious unease around recording equipment. I normally don't have a problem expressing my thoughts verbally, or any other way, and I'm truly grateful for any press coverage of Lamoore Designs...but there's something about a camera or microphone that jigs up the connection between my brain and my voice! Scott Squires (who is very personable and easy going, by the way), of Eastlink Magazine, assured me that there was enough good stuff to edit into a decent piece, so it'll be interesting to see what gets kept!! Once I know the airing date, I'll post it here, so you can tune in and see what words come out of my mouth (I honestly don't remember!!). :D

Again, on the topic of stirring up a sense of wonder, I want to share with you a site I found by way of Katey Nicosia'sblog: click here to see if you don't find it as inspiring as I do...I would like to own each and every photograph these people have created...but especially the kiwi-mowing one!!

"We are stardust
we are Golden
we are billion year old carbon
and we've got to get ourselves
back to the garden."
-Joni Mitchell

yikes! the cobwebs are a-gathering on this here journal...
i've been busy working on the formula for adding more hours into the day, alas, with limited results :)

so, the highlights since last entry: i took a delightful overnight trip to stay with an aunt and uncle in their beautiful seaside retreat (refreshing), i took in a workshop for professional artists this week past (interesting), i went to a friend's yard sale today as well as a couple local craft fairs as a shopper (fun), and I've been chipping away steadily at all sorts of creative projects (satisfying).

Upcoming: I will be bringing the results of my efforts to two local craft fairs this holiday season: the "Big One" at Marconi Campus Nov.11-13, and the Victoria Park Craft fair nov.25-27. Any customers reading this please spread the word: the Abundant Shoreline collection is changing slightly, and a price increase will likely be introduced at the Christmas shows. The Smart Shop Place has recently received plenty of fresh wares and will be getting more in soon to the harborside location, all available at the original prices...this will likely be the last of the 2005 stock, however.

Fun Distraction: today i purchased a new toy that's already proved its worth...for $6 at the SuperValu grocery store I picked up a battery powered voice transformer. it's just a little speaker that clips on to your belt with a wire running from it to a mini microphone you can hook over your ear. the fun ensues when you just talk as usual and your voice is transformed into either "monster" or "alien" mode, depending on what you set it to. singing in alien voice is highly recommended!

brand new painting inspiration: my brother recently sent a video clip of a teensy octopus he caught, and it was sooo fascinating i watched it over and over again, transfixed by the wriggly, slippery wonderousness of this creature. "the octopus" has now been added to my running list of subject matter i MUST paint! (i'd post the video here, but i have to figure out how to block the audio)

i'll be posting better entries in the near future with pics, links, etc....but for now just wanted to update things a bit.

"time is a jet plane,
it moves too fast,
oh, but what a shame,
if all we've shared can't last"
-Bob Dylan

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