Home

I got home last night and am finally settling in, I had a class today so it feels like I haven't really sat down for 24 hours!

I got home to new lumber being added to my raised garden bed and a HUGE bed being added in one empty spot in the garden. Not sure how I feel about the new bed. It's not really what I had planned for that area of the garden. I pictured a rambling trail with a few trees and pockets of plants. But, the bed was a bit of work to add and the lumber is heavy so I feel a bit bad saying I want it moved. But, I feel a bit pissy that it was added without my ok. I tend to get a bit possessive over my space and the things in it. Anyone who's seen how tidy my space is in contrast to my husbands clutter can probably understand.

How do you feel about people moving, adding or adjusting things in your space?

Friends that make you smile

I had a wonderful dinner last night with friends. Thai food and laughter, can it get any better than that? A movie, Water For Elephants, followed. More great friends to see at the movie. I love visiting Pt Townsend, it's a lovely city with amazing people and some of my best friends anywhere. I think if I was ever to move to the US this would be the place!

Favorite Tool - Bead Stopper

This is a handy little tool. It may seem very simple but it can prevent a lot of re stringing when assembling bracelets etc.

It's called a Bead Stopper. The little spring opens up and clamps around your stringing medium. I've used it on Fireline type medium, waxed cord, ribbon and elastic and it holds well on all of them. It holds pretty tight. I can pick my pieces up, and handle them quite a bit without the worry about the beads sliding off.

I like that I can work on assembling my piece without using crimps. I can take out or add beads without much hassle.

I purchased mine at Micheals. I've seen them in most bead shops. A small purchase that will save you a lot of grief!

Success!

I've been playing around with heat patina on reticulated copper and combining it with liver of sulfur. I'm really happy with how this piece turned out! The background is reticulated copper, the front plate is sterling but it's a secondary piece from another cut out. I managed to get the entire thing cut out in one cut, thus saving the relief for a second piece. I lightly reticulated the silver and sweat soldered it onto the copper backplate. I think it turned out pretty cool!

Favorite Tool - My Kiln

I have a Jen Ken bead annealing kiln, I have the octagonal kiln with a bead door. I like that I could fuse a plate in it if I wanted, there is enough room for that. I have bricks filling in the back 1/2 of the kiln and mandrel racks in front of them to place my mandrels in. It has a Bartlett digital controller I adore! I can program 4 different programs into it and after baby sitting my old kiln while it ramped down for a couple years I decided to get a digital controller when I got this kiln. Money well spent!

Lofty Goals Checkin

Way back when I set out some lofty goals. When we went snowmobiling in February I felt like I'd achieved those loft goals. It was a surreal feeling coming home along the trail realizing I'd reached a goal I truly never thought I'd get to. I love the snow and winter, and a cabin in the woods in snow is my "dream" and has been for a long time. SO, I'll add a new goal. Just for me. I want to go to Alaska and see the northern lights. After meeting Elise of Koi Creek Beads this last weekend at her class. I'm even more inspired to get to Alaska. Her class was amazing by the way! So my new lofty goal is to get to Alaska and see the northern lights in person.

Favorite Tool - Anti Fatigue Mats

I am not sure these are really a tool? But they are essential to having happy feet! My husband got me two large packs of these for Christmas and I have to say they are lovely. As artists we spend a lot of time of our feet, often on hard floors. Concrete or wood really isn't all that forgiving on our poor tired feet. But, lay some anti fatigue mats over that hard floor and your feet will thank you!

Tis the season

Fooled you! Tis the season for rain here! By this time of year I am ready for sun, flowers and spring birdies. Today the sun poked it's head out for most of the day. I'm always surprised how quickly things start to dry up once it finally stops raining. We've still got a lot of standing water but my bulbs are up in the garden, grape hyacinths are up! They really are my favorites! Working on lots of ideas for metal, I DO need to get some beads made for bead and button though. June creeps up faster than you think!

Favorite Tool - Bracelet Mandrel

A bracelet mandrel is essential for making bangles. As I showed in a earlier blog post I solder my bangles and after that they are not round. They are then hammered on this wonderful tool! I clamp it into a vise, slide on the "not round" bangle to the stepped section that it fits on and hammer away. This photo shows a round one, I also have a oval one. I like the stepped sections, the bangles seem to sit better on them than they do on a tapered mandrel. It's heavy so watch you don't drop it on your toes!

New Pierced Pieces

I've got some new pierced pieces I'm offering at a reduce price, the patina is a bit darker than I'd have liked.

Copper branch, measuring 54mm by 38mm, bronze chain. Regular 75.00. REDUCED to 50.00.

Copper tree, measuring 45mm by 47mm, bronze chain. Regular 75.00. REDUCED to 50.00,