working in studio

So yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I have not bloged in forever and a day.

I have however been working in my studio. A great thing. I have made one starfish pendant, and a ring and a half (soon to be two rings.) So this along with working 40 hours has left me with very little time to blog lately.

Going though my studio I found hidden treasures. Large pieces of jet, amber, turquoise, and stones from Rhode Island. Great treasures were found. I of course had to immediately use some of them. I laid them out and decided to carve a jet and turquoise sea urchin. I am planning on making them into rings. I also thought I would make a small series of sea urchins to help me get back in to the groove.

I did not have a studio for almost two years and I forgot how much I love to carve stone. It's just amazing. If there is one thing that relaxes me it's carving stone. I do make quite the mess when carving but there is nothing better.

I will post pictures as soon as I have some completed pieces. This is one of me and the large piece of turquoise that I forgot about.

clean house, clean mind

So we have been living in our house for about six months now. We seem to still be unpacking. Today we tackled some of the mess. One being my closet which seemed to be the dumping grounds for all the clothes we had packed (most being mine of course). I guess it has been really bothering me but, I had no energy to tackle it. Today I decided to dive in head first! I feel so much better about it all.

I just need to do the same thing in my studio. We use the studio closet to store Christmas stuff and the thousands of dishes I have from the wedding. I think I need to get in there next and really organize it to a "T". Tomorrow I'm going to pull everything out and reorganize it so that it all fits and is easy to get to. Once my house is all put together I think I will have time to work in my studio and guilt free at that.

clean house!

Picture of my closet, hooray for cleaning.

man oh man...

I neeeed to get into my studio! I have not touched anything in days now. Geez loueeez!

my new kitchen table and chairs

Why is it that a large company can't get anything right! I have been waiting for our new table and chairs for our kitchen for DAYS! WEEKS! ahh! ... and finally today we are getting them.... hours late! what is it with this! I'm getting so aggravated! By the way this is a picture of the table and the kitchen I wish I had.

Very tired

Had to work a 10 1/2 hour day today (5 am- 3:30 pm). Unfortunately that makes me very tired. I'm not sure I have the energy for the studio tonight. I have tomorrow off, with a million things to do. I just hope to get in my studio a little tomorrow.

3 hours...

I got gas last night... and had 3 hours of soldering hell... Ugh it just wasn't my night. Luckily I didn't melt anything, I just couldn't get things to do what I wanted. Taking the night off to celebrate my hubbies birthday.

I NEED GAS!

I need gas. I should have bought 2 cans the last time. I always use it so fast. I think it is time to upgrade the torch system. I have the mini torch with the disposable cans. Maybe it is time.... I am frustrated and going out to get gas.

step 3 of 1,000

well here it is in step 3 of 1,000. I can see great potential in the beginning of it's journey. I am going to go work on it more today. everything is still in pieces so I would like to get things soldered together at the very least.

Wish I didn't have work retail tonight... oh well.

looking good

I had some time to work in my studio tonight. It's looking good. I do believe it's going to be a nice looking piece in the end. I can't wait to see how it looks all together. I'm hoping that tomorrow I can get another chunk of it done. I will post a picture tomorrow.

ok time to work...

Wow I have really missed working in my studio... I wish I wasn't so tired from work. Here is a scketch of a peice I am working on.... wish me luck.

don't want to work in my studio

I just don't want to work in my studio. Life is exhausting! Thank god for my family. I have a wonderful family!

maybe I will work tomorrow. I almost completed a piece last night. Tonight I'm going to watch Avatar with my two sweeties! One being Dale my little doggy the other my hubby.

hard to work today

Man it is hard to work today. To be honest I have two days off because my husband had surgery on his kidneys to remove stones (one 5mm and one 8mm... ouch.) So it's been hard to work today. I have made small progress. I had to take a nap before it all. What a crazy day! Just glad my sweetie is ok.

Hope I make something good tonight...

wow it's been too long

Posting again! I feel like I want a whole new blog, it's been so long! I have started to make a little work again and I will post pictures as soon as I can (computer problems.)

I put up a picture of my new bench. It's a mess which is the way I like it... Seriously I can't make anything unless it's a mess. I need lots of tools out and a thousand different materials to work with. Right now I am using Polymer clay and semi-precious gemstones. I really like what I am making. I am also doing a lot of experimenting with acrylic paint and resins. It's so much fun! Happy to have a studio again. I just bought a crock pot for my pickle and an ultrasonic. Hooray! for my studio! Oh yeah and I painted all my hammer handles, they are hot!

Hope you like the new look of my blog...... It just feels weird using the old one. I have two days off in a row so I will be working away. I will post again soon.

Just a quick picture update. This is how much Dale grew in two weeks. 16 more days until we pick him up. Now I would just like to close on our house it's been almost two months and we are still trying to close. Buying a house is so aggravating! Dale needs a place to live people! hurry up! Sorry just talking to the "people" that need to hurry up... anyways isn't he the cutest! looks like a handful to me. haha we can't wait!

Jessica's boy!

yes!! Finally I have my little Dachshund puppy!! He is only 3 1/2 weeks old today so he is still with his mommy but I am SO excited and can not wait to see him. (Nov. 9th) We went to see the puppies yesterday and we just knew he was the one. (he was chewing on his brothers ear!) We are thinking about naming him Dale :) Oh gosh I am SO excited about my baby!! He also has one blue eye and one brown eye (the flash made his blue eye look funny) These are pictures from the breeder at Belfast kennels. She was a very sweet lady. Dale's bum is snuggled up to mom's chin in the picture with all his brothers and sisters. I will be updating his growth as she sends more pictures. :)

Not many people can say they became friends with a 98 year old tortoise.

But I can. While at Gatorland I made friends with a 98 year old tortoise. He was HUGE! I gave him good scratches on the neck and rubbed his head. He was pretty amazing and soooo old his eyes said it all. Come and visit me and you too can become friends with a 98 year old tortoise!

Life could be better and could be worse....

4 days ago I was stung by a wasp while trying to water my plants on the patio. little did I know he had built a nest in my watering can while I was on vacation. Bummer! even bigger bummer was that I had a nasty reaction to it and my arm swelled up and was very uncomfortable. Off to the doctor I went where I was charged a $50 dollar c0-pay, receved a shot of antibiotics in my butt! and was sent home with a bottle of antibiotics to take 3 times a day. So as I said, life could be better but could be a lot worse. All I have to say is GOD DAMN IT WASP, HOPE YOU DIE!!

I've been so busy lately but I really wanted to post some pictures that I took recently at Gatorland.

Lots of chicks and lots of eggs!


I was able to get a ok photo of a chick hatching... amazing! it's too bad I couldn't get a better photo.

Can you see it... he's half in and half out!

I think in the future I have a pretty neat show I can put together. My pictures and then my jewelry that goes with the pictures. We shall see how it develops.

GatorLand!

Went to Gator Land today. It was amazing! The birds were everyplace! the trees and bushes were full of nesting birds! Which of course means eggs and chicks! It really is the most amazing place I have ever been. I love nature especially birds. I always want to touch everything as well. This place is the only place that I know of where I can get so close that I could touch the birds... I don't, even though I would love to see how they feel. I can get my face about 5 inches away, and the birds usually don't mind at all.
Today I took some pictures so I am posting a few of my favorites. I can't wait to go back. I bet the next time I go though all the chicks will be all grown up. they grow so fast!
I am calling this period in my life where I feel a little suck "research". It's just a time to look around get a ton of ideas and sketch them all in my book. Later I will have a plethora of material to look back at. I'm hoping for a book full of so many ideas that when the time comes and I do have a place to work I can just work!

It's getting hot....

Photo by van hilliard http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanhilliard/

Oh it's starting to get hot here.... I feel like I'm melting a little. There is no breeze today... Where is the BREEZE! Hope I survive the summer.... But there is so much to do here. I have a season pass to Gator Land which not only has (you guessed it) Alligators but it's also the home of the largest bird sanctuary in central Florida. Very cool especially because they all laid eggs and have very cute chicks! I saw baby Egrets and Anhingas (black birds that swim under water)I posted a picture of one taken by van hilliard, amazing! Gartor land is quite the place. It's just teeming with life. Can't wait to go again!