Our May 2009 issue was exciting to put together, because it was our first-ever green issue! I was lucky enough to be assigned to interview polymer clay artist Melanie West about her solar-powered home and studio in Freedom, Maine. It was so interesting to hear Melanie explain how and why she and her partner, Tom Levesque, have continually made their homestead more eco-friendly. The green technology and practices they've adopted go way beyond solar panels (though they do have those). To find out more about their home, check out "How One Artist Walks the Green Talk" in the May 2009 issue of Art Jewelry.

The thing about magazines, though, is there's a limited number of pages. Melanie has had such an interesting life and done so many cool things, and we just couldn't fit it all in the magazine. So, we put more about her inspiration as an artist and the path that took her to where she is now in this online article, "Polymer Clay Artist Melanie West's Path to Green Living (And Many-Colored Art)." I hope you enjoy reading about her life as much as I enjoyed talking with her!

––Kristin

P.S. Melanie also contributed a fantastic project, "Craft a Seamless Polymer Cuff," to our May 2009 issue. You can find the issue on newsstands now. Or click here to order it from our top-notch customer service department.