Final Decision Times

So, I'm at a point with my cloak pins that I have to make a final decision about any stamped decorations I am putting on the rim. After that step, I will solder on the bail and the pin stops, polish, and be done. That means that I need to start planning for the next enameling project. Although I want to do some small cloisonne squares for a bracelet, I also want to design my charms for the PMC Conference and see if my internal vision will work in reality.

I'd like to make life easier for me, but the charm that is coming to the forefront for me is something that will use plique-de-jour. This is an enameling process that I haven't used before, and normally that would not be a problem, but I also want to use a product that I haven't used before. I want to use Art Clay Copper. I will need to experiment for this one since charms are made in multiple. We'll see - I'm sure I'll need to refine my design to get this done successfully, but I'll play in February and see where I can go. I should also be receiving my Beading For A Cure kit sometime in February and I'll want to get going on that ASAP so that I can send it off and clear one more project from my 2010 calendar. So, things are progressing....now...about those stamping decorations on the rims of my cloak pins........

Day Off and Live Action

Here we are - Wednesday again. My list of things to do today is huge, so I know I'll only get about 30% of it finished, but I hope to get some time to make some jewelry today. There are some things that I want to experiment with and I can't do that until they exist in real life.

Speaking of real life, I thought I'd pass along some real wild life. The link is to Pete's Pond. Pete's Pond is a 24-hour live cam in Botswanna, Africa. When I'm on-line at 4:45 am, it is almost noon there. Today I saw a lot of really wonderful herons and other large birds. I imagine it could be excellent to watch around sunset or sunrise. Here's the link:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/wildcamafrica/?source=email_inside_20081014&email=inside&EID=0063003708

Play well, have fun.

We Have a Winner!

The announcement came through yesterday. The 2008 North American Design Contest results were announced. I did not enter a piece (or more than a piece), but I have seen the work of many of these artists and there are some very talented people who won. Carol Babinau won for this lovely piece entitled "Dancing Flower Sculpture" using silver clay and enamel. She also won two other awards. For a complete listing along with photos, visit Art Clay World (just follow the link to get directly to the contest page). Congratulations to all of the winners!!

Today is a studio day. I have a TON of stuff that I need to get done today. I'll start out on the bench - got some important soldering done yesterday and have to do a match on the other component today. Hope things go well - sometimes soldering is my friend, other times it completely ruins my project. I keep working on it - I'll never get good without practice - but sometime I want to get a better torch. I have a feeling that would make a huge difference. I'd better make a list of the things I need to get done today or I'll end up forgetting something and have to postpone things for another week.

Have a fantastic day!!!

Sunday - So Fine

The past seven Sundays, I've been up at 6am to get to Ren Faire near opening time. Today was the first Sunday after Ren and I actually slept until 9:30 am. What a luxury!!! Of course, all I dreamed about was this new pair of earrings that are perched in my head. I'm using a BronzClay bottom with a copper-bezeled olivine Peridot and some tube-set 2mm stones (haven't decided on the absolute color/type of these yet, possibly Padparadschka Sapphire). But the kewl thing about it is that I think I've figured out a way to make them kinetic - to allow them to have independent motion. I'm not sure my skills are up to the project, but I am certainly going to try my best. I think they'll look absolutely awesome. And, since DH actually said that I could spend some time working on my own projects today, I got some work done. Got some items ready and loaded for the kiln, got one-half of a pair of sterling silver and incredible Agate earrings ready for soldering, and cut the copper bezel for the kinetic earrings, as well as making the two half more uniform. Unfortunately, I have to work tomorrow. Fortunately, I will have a couple of hours of bench time before I have to work. If I focus on the positive, all is good :-)) And I've also decided I need to start saving for a new, larger kiln. The amount of space I currently have is great for my enamel and silver clay work, but just not enough for the larger BronzClay items that I want to do. So, time to start socking away any extra cash so that I can buy a bigger kiln and hire an electrician to wire it in for me.