Leather Jewelry--A New Lark Love Story!

I usually don't review/share/blog about cool books herein, but now's as good a time as any to start!

You know how I love adding any new material or technique to my jewelry making arsenal? Well, I've got another arrow to drop in my quiver with Nathalie Mornu's new Leather Jewelry: 30 Contemporary Projects!

Now, I know what you may be thinking--this review is nepotism at best since I'm now a Lark author. You're right on one score in that I do have a newly heightened affinity for all things Lark. But, you're also wrong (wrong, WRONG!) since I can honestly say that "Lark had me at 'Hello'!" (When I became aware of the fact that 90% of my jewelry and craft books were published by the same company--yep! Lark!--I knew a love affair had already begun without me and I just had to catch up!)

But that's just the start of my Lark Love Story. What a fabulously tempting book Nathalie's put together! Leather Jewelry makes what I used to think was an out-of-reach medium (where do I get this stuff? what do I use to sew it? will I like having all-brown jewelry?) another enticing "pull (-me-in-another-direction)!"

Fave projects include: Big Zip (Joan K. Morris) (what a surprise that I'd like a zipper necklace); Link (Marina Massone) (can you say way-cool interlocking-ness?); and Gossip (Nathalie herself) (the dictionary defines this one as "pure flirt!"). The book's subtitle marks the projects as contemporary, and it tells no lie! The designs are clean, colorful, fun, and fresh!

And, the illustrations had my heart palpitating--they are heaven-on-paper! Nathalie tells me that the awesome Frenchman, Olivier Rollin, sketched these oh-so-pretty (and immaculate) step-by-steps which is another side love-story (and I haven't even seen him, nor heard him speak!). (Oh, PS! These illos actually show the "how-to" as well as dress things up!)

My love fest finale is all about the book's gallery. You see, when that green-with-envy feeling starts to well up inside, and I know "I wish I would have thought of that first," it's a good-sign-of-good-design!

Suffice it to say, that I'm about as green as I can get about Leather Jewelry--and that's a GREEN-LOVE-THING for sure!

It's in, it's IN, IT'S IN!

Vintage Redux! It's IN!

My second child is kickin' and screaming, is out of delivery, and has left the hospital. We're home now -- Mother and baby are doin' fine! (HA! Like I'd ever really give birth again! I love my boys, but two is just enough for me!)

Writing books has a little longer gestation but is a lot less painful -- though I DO think that I had some kicking going on in the last trimester (you know, the kind where the underside of a foot stretches out your right side another yard from your body?)!

A little side-note: my oldest son, Jimmy, had his friend, Carl, over yesterday (the day the baby came home) and I was showing the newborn off. Carl kept asking, "Old re-dux? What's re-dux?" (He pronounced it re-ducks.) While I was answering the re-ducks part, it sunk in that he was translating 'vintage' to 'old' and it made me crack up! I hope my target audience gets the title, 'cause I'm not sure "Old Something Reinvented" is gonna' do much for sales! Bless his little 12-year-old heart!

BTW, my youngest, Liam, knew right away what I was proudly parading through the kitchen and showed his happiness for me with a "Great, Mom!" On the other hand, Jimmy (he'd kill me if he read my blog) said, "What IS that?" (I did NOT lay hands on him, I swear!)

Thanks to each and every soul who helped with VR, from my tried-and-true friends (especially Becky who worked just as hard as I did that last few weeks); to my family who waited on themselves during the thickest part (gee, maybe I should be continually writing against deadline); to all the folks at Kalmbach who took another chance on this Goof-ball Girl! Love you all!

For those of you who preordered through the likes Amazon or BN.com, you (unfortunately) will probably have to wait (so sorry!), since these folks seem to pad the avail date by about a month (yeah, it does have something to do with distribution, but...). And, for those of you who are buying through Kalmbach or lil' ol' me (lucky dogs), the book is available ASAP (WITH my amazing little book plates that I autograph just for you!) (Psst! When you do buy my book, just email me and I'll send out a personalized plate on me!)