Hearts in Progress

Hello, my dear friend, the bench.

After a long vacation that consisted of absolutely no bench work, I have returned to the studio (in a new location...yes, I moved, again). I'm thinking hearts and the next holiday that begins with V. However, if I was a marketing extraordinaire, The Valentine's Day pieces would have been made and promoted six months ago. Unfortunately, I'm unable, and outright refuse, to plan, think, and market that far ahead! So, I am creating a handful of heart-themed rings, brooches, and rings for the coming weeks.

The studio's new digs is the old nursery. Our girl has grown out of this little room and we switched rooms during the holiday break. The curtains will be history in a couple of days, but the striped walls WILL stay....a labor of love procured by yours truly and my mum. Taping everything off took forever and shall the stripes stay forever (or until I have a strong yearning for robin's egg blue walls...hmmm).

Soon to be pendants.

The dark hearts will be stacker rings.

Ah! The stacker almost ready for the finish.

And, hello 2010! What will you bring the bench and me this year?

My Space

Now that everything is in its spot, I thought I would share pics of my awesome new studio!!

Fire extinguisher...priceless.

Soldering area..this needs improvement.

Projects on red facecloth...easy to find!

From above.

Bench drawer...messy!

Top of bench

Packing and design desk...new light on cutting board for booth!

Red locker from Ikea...holds everything!

Moving Update

Just a few boxes, one rolling mill, and a solid maple bench (calling in more muscles for those two) and the move will be complete! Look at that light! Look at that floor! Look at that wall color (it's called Contemplation by Behr)! I'm giddy!

While I adjust to my working quarters, my bench will be a bit junked up with the odd box or tool. However, I found just enough space last night to start on a customer's ring and I'm super eager to continue this morning!

So, I leave you with this:
10 Things that Make Me GIDDY!

1. coffee: French Roast with raw sugar and cream
2. sunlight!
3. daylight savings...we sprung ahead! YAY!
4. our family portrait by Little Pink House (more to come on this!)
5. "my" flock of turkeys
6. temps above freezing (melt, snow, melt)
7. my daughter's giggle
8. new friends
9. collaborations (more to come)
10. AND, blogging, of course!

Sketches

I sketch. I draw. I smudge. I doodle. I plan. I diagram. On these many bits of paper and vellum are designs that number well into the hundreds. I dare not think of the percentage that have graduated from paper to metal....a very, very low success rate indeed! However, I continue to sketch, noting which may become actual pieces and crossing off the unfortunate few who will never make the cut.

It Has Come to This

I have this romantic notion that a messy bench is a productive bench. A place where mere sketches transform into tangible objects, where problems are conquered, where the imagination knows no boundaries. All that changed 2 days ago.


After feverishly working on commissions and inventory, my bench resembled a demolition site! With tools strewn about, filings amounting to small anthills, and projects scattered nither tither, I lost organization and found chaos. I forced myself to stop making and start cleaning. Now, I have a simply lovely, clean, organized work space. All my projects have there own little work in progress tray (left over from my art education days). I prioritized all projects and felt the burden of disorganization lift!

Here's a preview of new work to be listed in my quench metalworks shop in the next few days. I invested in a photo studio so I can now take pictures INSIDE my home, ANY time of the day! I'm giving the studio a test run today. Wish me luck!

Views from the Bench

Two blogs in one day!! Woohoo, I'm a rock star! Or just a girl who has had too much coffee. Above is my trusty steel block with an assortment of WIPs (works in progress) scattered about. Please notice the big, ol label pendant sawed into 2 pieces sans the buttons. The earrings will be complete and listed tomorrow in my Etsy shop. The pillowy piece on the right harkens back to my collection, Armor. I'm not sure where this one will go, but it should be a fun ride!
Night all!

Naps, Coffee, and Cold fingers

A quick blogland 'hello' this evening as I have emerged from my dank, cold dungeon...oops, I meant to type my well-lit, cozy studio (in my mind it is this way...my hands and feet will tell a different story), to make myself a mug of hot chocolate. Working during the daylight hours has become a challenge. I have reluctantly shifted to night working. As much as I hate to work at night, I found two bonuses to this new arrangement. I get to take a nap during the day to fire up for the graveyard shift and I can drink COFFEE in the afternoon! Hooray for me! If I could only get my frigid extremities to agree. Oh, the pic above are my little bobble head animals on the windowsill by the kitchen sink. A random happy shot.
Above is an Alexander Calder piece. I believe it was a gift to either his wife or a daughter. A group of mini mobiles with cigar box storage. I dig Calder's lust and energy for balancing whimsy and function. In my opinion, he was one of the greatest 20th century sculptors. I would give my left arm (gladly if my fingers don't start thawing soon) to hang out with him in his studio/workshop, making functional objects that mask as sculptures.

Off to work I go. In parting here's 5 things I can't live without:
1. Wool socks, preferably Smart Wool.
2. My scribe/ burnisher from Germany.
3. Coffee in the morning (how I DID live without it when I was pregnant is a mystery).
4. A hair dryer and hair gel...I'm not vain. I have fine, straight hair.
5. My Canon A530

One Step Forward, Two Back

These last two days have been challenging. The little princess of the house decided that napping is wasteful and she would much rather play, or eat, or generally work on her early evening meltdown. So, mama's time in studio has been close to nil. ~sigh~ This week's 'to do' list remains intact...and has grown longer with NEXT week's projects.

However, I just finished this necklace 20 minutes ago, now that dinner is done, she's in bed, and all is quiet. I should be jumping for joy, right? If I had only waited until tomorrow: awake, freshly showered, and a mug of hot coffee for fuel. This lovely necklace's center piece button is unquestionably OFF center! I thought it looked centered (did I mention that I DID NOT have my glasses on? duh), marked the spots, and drilled. I even made 18k gold rivets! In the morning, I'll have to drill out the rivets, and fix this somehow. geez...

This bracelet above was a commission from this past summer. I thought this design would be a nice addition to the Vintage collection, so I have 3 ready to list next week on Etsy. I could try to work on them tonight, but with the above disaster (ok, not quite a 'disaster') looming over me like a dark cloud, I think that they can wait.

Now that I have finished boo-hooing my mistakes and time issues, here's 5 things I'm thankful for:
1. My family, awake or napping
2. My glasses on my face, not in the other room on the table
3. A warm home on a cold, rainy night
4. My friends
5. Memories

Sweet Dreams!

My Website is Done!

About 5 minutes ago, we (my dearest friend, Tony and I) finally finished my website, Quench Metalworks. It has been a LONG process as neither of us are web designers. However, I'm thrilled with the end product. Woo hoo for us! To celebrate, we sip white wine and will watch Larry King Live. We really should go out on the town, but, alas, this is the country and a Subway shop is "the" spot on a Monday night (or Tuesday or Wednesday...you get the idea).

Yesterday, I became a memeber of the Etsy Maine Team! I am anxious to start networking with everyone involved (70+ members). I really need a mentor, for both online and offline business, so I plan to nab a willing soul, asap. I have limited business savvy and will cherish all the help that comes my way. When at Etsy, please check out our page http://www.maineteam.etsy.com/ for links to all member's shops. Truly amazing items!

I spent some quiet time in the studio today doing lots of soldering. I should have new items listed on Etsy in a few days. Look for several 'jangle bangles' or 'dangle bangles' or 'charming bangles'...can you tell that I can't decide on a name...also, a brooch, a very lovely pendant with a handmade chain (this is reason for all the soldering), and a ring or two.

Cheers!

Chain gang

Chain making today. There certainly was no 'gang' involved, unless me, my 2 canine comrades, and a replay of the debate on NPR passes for a gang. While time consuming and repetitious, the process of chain making is my mind yoga. I completely relax, clear my thoughts, and focus on the moment.....OM.

Here's a question for ya. Why does a color ink cartridge with 5 colors and in total more ink than black cartridges cost $7.00 less than a black cartridge? Just a random question, but one that I pondered today as I shelled out far too much money for ink at Staples.