Give the gift of gem jams!

I did a phone interview with Leslie Hall for our December 28th end-of-the-year update in the paper, but it turns out we didn't have space for it. Ah well. Good thing I can shamelessly plug the remarkable Keeper of the Gems online.

Here's the scoop since last we saw her at the Art Hop in September — she's in Iowa. The mobile gem sweater museum broke down in Worcester, Mass, after a couple shows in New Hampshire and Boston. "We need a new radiator," says Leslie.

That's the bad news. Good news is that Leslie has a new video out, commissioned by design firm Space 150. They flew her to MN to film it. She's also got this Christmas rap e-card.

And the Gem Sweater lady has been interviewed by reporters from Bust, Instinct and a new magazine called Swindle. She thinks the stories will come out in January and February. In March, the CBS Morning Show might air a segment about her, and in April, her museum will be at the Museum School in Boston. She'll be competing for a $100,000 prize.

"'06 is my year!" she says.