My Corner

There's my corner again. I've started hanging up some of my beads on the pegboard, but I've been waiting because they painted it for me, and I want the paint to really dry. I also worked on mopping the floor back in the corner especially against that back wall, because that's where I'm going to put the bookcase and I want that part to be clean. It turned out fine. I had less luck in the area around my chair. I think the tile there is probably permanently stained. But I feel optimistic that I can at least do the job to the best of my ability.

When I first got to the studio this morning, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of work still ahead of me. But I took the time to organize my desk and to put all the bags and boxes up off the floor. Then I began to feel there was some order. I swept the floor. There are places where there were leaks in the roof and then dried mud caked on the floor. The only way to get that off is to loosen it up with some water and then scrub with a brush or with the broom. Then after that, the mop has a chance to work, to clean the floor. Anyway, that was my approach. I don't claim to be the world's best studio cleaner. There are lots of times when I think I can't do something, and I just have to force myself to do it, to just push forward. That's what I'm doing here. And now I feel as though I can manage the floor, even it it takes me several days of working intermittently. I work until my back hurts or I get bored. But I keep going back to it.

Just chipping away at it. I have a special friend who says "go out and make a dent in the world today." I love that expression; it makes me feel that I don't have to conquer the world in one day, that I can take some time and work at it gradually. Certainly that's what anything worth accomplishing takes: working at it gradually and consistently. Eventually you get there. That was the most important lesson I learned when I was writing my law review article. You just have to work at it each day until it adds up to something.

Now It's My Turn

When I studied interior design at the University of Arizona, one of the first things I remember learning was that if you wanted to make some piece of furniture "disappear" make it the same color as the wall. It's amazing that this old metal cabinet which I really need for storage turns out to be so close in color to my wall. It really blends right in. I'll probably cover the top with something, a piece of cloth. But it's hardly noticeable itself, just as it works into a wall grouping. The thing about it is that it has three file drawers on the left and a cabinet with three shelves on the right. I need the file drawers for paperwork in connection with my business and also with Spanish Village business. And then I can use the other drawers to store my etchings in and maybe idea files and/or sketches. On the right hand side I plan to keep my metalsmithing tools and my "kitchen" things, including a small coffee pot and cans of various foods that I can eat if I get hungry. Yesterday I accidentially left some raw asparagus and pea pods on my desk. I had been munching on them. I thought they would have been eaten by this morning, but they weren't. I don't intend to leave food out, but apparently at this point I don't have a problem. I want to keep it that way. If I have crackers for Fourth Thursday, I'll keep them in a plastic container.

This was the first day I spent getting organized. I want everything to be in a good place, and I want to know where everything is, so I'm trying to arrange things in categories. I realize I need to get some plastic storage bins for some items. And the other main thing right now is to bring in the larger bookcase and mop the floor. I don't feel as though I can really get everything settled until I do that. Today I spent the day going through paperwork and photos of jewelry that I have kept. I have at least gone through all the magazines and taken out what I want. I also took all those extension cords and, together with some other lights I have, put them in a brown bag for now. I think if I get plastic containers, I can label them, so I know what they contain.

I didn't spend any time today making jewelry although I worked on filing down some old brass pieces that I'm going to use for pendants. But I don't think I'll have much time for making anything for a few days until I get better organized. The City has done their part. Now it's my turn to create a pleasant workspace for myself.

I was at the grocery store and the clerk admired my copper rings. I think that once I've got an inventory of them, they should do well, too. I just need to get everything made and put out. It's going to take time. Rifght now it looks like a long road ahead. But I know if I take it one step at a time, I'll get there.

Tangled Extension Cords

See that big tangle of white wires on my desk there in front? Those are the extension cords I was using to plug in the various lamps around the studio. However, the electrician added four new outlets for me to plug lamps or other devices into, so I probably won't need those cords. I suppose I'll keep them around for awhile though, until my studio starts filling up and I need to think about paring down. I'm sure that day will come, but hopefully not too quickly. I'm determined not to let my studio get cluttered and to arrange everything so that it's easy for me access it.

Today was my day off, but I did go in and sit in one of the other studios for a couple of hours until the artist arrived. The City requires us to be open from 11:00 to 4:00, and we need to make sure that we are. I like to get there early anyway because it's easier to park. The worst parking day is Saturday when there are classes going on at the Prado Theater and frequently other special activities. It become very difficult to park, and if you have heavy things to carry, it is really a problem. Of course, we are allowed to park on the patio to unload things until 10:45 in the morning.

Tomorrow I'm going to concentrate on mopping my floor first thing. After that, I'll arrange things. However, I don't have the large bookcase, so I may not do anything about that part of my studio until I can get it and bring it in. Then I'l start bringing in things everyday, moving it from my house and getting it organized. There's a lot of work, but I'll manage.

Fourth Thursday

Here's a view of the patio where my studio is located. If you look all the way in the back, you can just make out a blue door. The blue door belongs to the studio across from me. Further in the foreground were some of the evening's visitors to the Village. We've started staying open on the fourth Thursday of the month. Lots of other organizations in the Park are doing the same thing.

Today was the first official day in my studio, as far as I'm concerned. I'm tired, but very happy to be there. There's a great deal to do, but I'll just take it gradually, a day at a time, as they say. It seems appropriate that the first day is the date of my late husband's birthday and our anniverssary. It will be easy to remember which day was that I opened.

We see pairs of ducks this time of year. If it's true they mate for life and return to the same places, then these two have been here before. One of my partners in a previous studio use to feed them crackers, and they drank water from a dish in the patio. I'd like to think it's the same pair. Who will ever know. I don't know, but anyway, I'm off to bed. I need my strength for tomorrow.

Is This My Last Move?

You can see the difference between the green and the old white wall near the back of my studio. But when there's no contrast, it's hard to determine exactly what the color is. What I mean is that the color doesn't seem strong when you just look at the walls. It's an indeterminant color. But in comparison you can see the green. It will be nice with my etchings hanging on it, because the large white mattings around the prints will be a nice contrast. I can't wait to see everything together finally.

I moved my furniture again out of the corner so the painters can paint back there. They finished the main section of the walls today. After they finish working in there tomorrow morning, I'm going to set everything up. I guess I need to clean the floor. I better take a mop. But I will consider myself moved in and ready for business, even though Friday will be my day off. And one of the first things I want to do is paint my door and do something out in front to attract attention to the studio. There's still a tremendous amount of stuff to do. But the good thing will be that I'll be able to segregate the various parts of my life. All my jewelry tools and beads will stay in the studio so that I will have a different emphasis here at home, when I come home in the evening. I'm looking forward to that.

Big Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow the painters are going to paint the walls of the studio. One of the painters called me this afternoon. I'm planning to meet them there at 7:30, and I'll help them move things out of the way. If it's not raining we can put everything outside, or at least some of the overflow. Then the electrician will come back one more time and then I'm ready. How exciting. I still need to get an area rug and a few other things, but I can move in. I may be ready for Fourth Thursday.

Today I spent time working on the copper and amazonite necklace I started yesterday. The pale blue green is very pretty with the copper wire. I didn't wear it in the swimming pool, but I noticed that the copper did begin to turn just from being exposed to the air, I guess. After I finished the one, I started on one that is a combination of smaller amazonite and pieces of polished shell. The shell pieces are yellow and white. They make a nice combination with the pale blue and the copper. I'm making a particular effort to pick light, cheerful colors to make "happy" necklaces, ones that will be fun to wear in the spring and summer, nothing too serious.

The copper and brass bracelet turned dark brown in the swimming pool today. That is to say, the copper turned brown. I like that better than bright carrot red. Then this evening, the clasp gave way. I think the copper is so soft that the bend in the hook didn't hold. I either need to use a different clasp or I need to hammer the hook a little to work harden it. That's a perfect example of why I wear my jewelry, especially anything new and different that I make. I'm learning a great deal about jewelry construction.

Where Is My Chair?

I'm getting frustrated, not being able to work in my studio. Yesterday, I considered going to Spanish Village and sitting at my outside work table. There was an Earth Day celebration in the Park, and I thought there might be lots of people around, some of whom might like some jewelry. But then I looked at my studio from this angle. Not only is my studio not presentable, I can't even get out my chair to use at the table. Well, that is to say, I could get the chair out, but the whole idea seemed too much trouble. So I contented myself working at home.

This morning I went over to the studio to look at the paint samples the City painter left with me. The ceiling was painted with Snow Lodge, a Dun-Edwards paint. For the walls I've picked Sea Glass also by Dun-Edwards. It's a medium olive green. I think it will give just the right affect. I've heard that Dun-Edwards makes very good paint. Professional painters like it.

Anyway, the supervisor told me he would try to get some painters out there this week. I was actually hoping to be open for Fourth Thursday which is a new event that begins this month in Spanish Village. Some of the studios will be open in the evening. Even though my studio isn't ready, I might go over for the event and work in one of the other studios. I'm not sure.

My jewelry teacher had mentioned that copper seems to be very popular with art jewelry makers. Since I've started metalsmithing, I admit I like it myself. It very easy to work with, soft and alive if you treat it properly. Unfortunately there use to be, and still is, a great deal of awful copper jewelry, bad designs and poor workmanship. So I think it has a certain stigma to overcome, but apparently it's use is being updated. I hope so. At one of the stores where I buy beads and other supplies, they tell me they've been selling a lot of copper findings, chain, and wire.

I made a bracelet yesterday using copper wire and brass beads. When I went swimming this morning, the copper turned bright carrot orange. The brass beads turned darker and duller. I also made a brass bracelet with turquoise which turned dull as well. I like the brass, but I feel that I haven't found the right bead combination to go with it.

I found some magnet wire at a local electronics supplier. It is copper wire coated with some material to prevent electrical sparks. I made some into a bracelet to see how it turns after swimming and showering. I also used some as a center medallion in a necklace of aventurine beads with copper wire wraps. The "normal" copper color with the pale blue beads is a really lovely combination.

I've taken out some of the copper bracelets and rings I made awhile back in metalsmithing class. I'm not sure whether I'll want to sell them or to keep them for myself, but I can certainly make more one day soon. Soon. I hope it will be soon. And when I put on my own copper bracelets and rings, I remembered that I always felt better when I wore copper. It is said to absorb into your body through your skin and help with aches and pains. I do think that it helps me. It's just that I wear it for awhile and then I forget that it helps and I get tired of it and take it off.

In the bead store, one of the salespersons admired the tourmaine and garnet necklace I had on and asked me if I had made it for myself. And I said yes that I almost always do make things for myself first. I find that if I try to judge the market, I don't do very well. But if I make things for myself, things I love, and wear them to test them, they will then sell when I put them out on display. On a certain level, we all like the same things.

A Day Off - Sort Of

There was no point going up to the studio today. I couldn't even work outside becaues all my chairs are back in the corner. So I took the opportunity to do some chores around the house. And I spent some time working on sculptures, or maybe assembleages would be a better name. I'd finding myself tending toward mobiles a little bit. They are only a short step removed from jewelry, or at least they can be.

I'd started to create a hanging using the watch parts I got in the mail. They're so tiny, they really are too small and fragile for jewelry, except maybe earrings. But they make a nice little strand when combined with beads, especially crystals. I've been thinking for awhile that the crystals, and some other beads too, should be suspended so that their sparkle really shows. When the light hits them, they're beautiful. I guess the bottom line for me is that I need to be making something. If I can't make one thing, I'll turn to something else. I love to have a finished product that I can hold in my hand.

Several days ago, I made the bracelet using brass wire. I wanted to see how it would look when I went swimming. I knew it would tarnish. And it did. The thing is that I decided I didn't like the crystals I used, so I made another bracelet using turquoise beads. I'll see how they look when I go swimming tomorrow. I'm also in the process of making a copper bracelet with brass beads. I'd like to use copper with pearls. The problem right now is that the copper I have is 22 gauge and the pearls I have here at the house have smaller holes. But I wrote down the idea of using white with copper, so I'll get to it eventually.

Tomorrow, I'll pick the paint color for the walls and hopefully the painters will have a chance to finish the painting this week. Then the electrician will come back, and then I'll be ready to really move in and set up "shop."

Work Goes On

I took this photo yesterday when I was sitting out in front of my studio waiting for the electrician to come. I'm amazed at how quickly the leaves are appearing. It seems to be almost from one day to the next. I like to think of them as a new beginning. Their appearance heralds the opening of my studio, finally. Or so I hope.

I spent time today working at home making some keychains out of some of the surplus pieces of metal I have. I wanted to do some metalsmithing, and I wound up feeling very frustrated because everything is so disorganized right now. A friend asked if I'd been able to use the gold-filled wire she gave me. I said I hadn't yet, that I wasn't even sure where it was. That's typical of my stuff right now. Most of my jewelry materials and tools are in the studio, except for the pliers and wire cutters I have here at home. But everything is back in it's stack in the corner.

I went back to the surplus store on my way home from the gym today. I found some nice pieces. Now that I know how they price everything, I can select items and not worry about spending too much money. I paid less than $20 for enough metal pieces to make eight or ten keychains and three or four necklaces. Of course, I'll add wire and beads and that will increase my cost, but not by much.

I spent some time in the bookstore, looking at magazines for jewelry ideas. If I find one that I think has enough interesting photos in it, I buy it and cut it up. I have a notebook that I tape photos in to remind me of ideas that I have. Sometimes I make a note beside the photo to remind myself of an idea I have based on what I see in the photo. Otherwise I'm likely to forget. Anyway, while I was at the bookstore, I did find a magazine that has an article about presenting jewelry to a gallery. That will be my next step once I begin to become organized and build up a little more inventory.

Everything takes time, but sometimes that's all it does take is time: someone taking the time to do something. Everything that we enjoy, every invention, every new technology, every improvement of an old technology may be nothing more than someone actually doing the work to bring it about. It's not any magical occurence; it's just doing it.

Lights Installed

Here's a photo of my new lights installed on the ceiling. They will be very nice and they're very bright as well. In the photo, I've turned on the light in the ceiling fan, but mostly likely I'll leave that dimmed. I want it mostly for atmosphere and not so much for light. Also, it's unlikely I'll have much use for the fan, although there are times when it might be very warm. However, the previous occupant says it never gets hot in that studio. It's well protected by trees and the thick walls of the building.

I waited for the electrician to come over to the studio this morning. While I waited, I made myself a bracelet of brass wire. I want to see how it wears, especially when I wear it in the swimming pool. I think it will turn color and become dull as well. However, that might not necessarily be too bad. I'm interested because of course the brass is so much less expensive than the gold-filled wire. When I first started to make jewelry, I used brass wire because of the cost, but my dexterity level wasn't as high as it is now. There seem to be lots of things that are worth exploring more than once. Just because I've rejected an idea or a material in the past, that doesn't mean I'm always going to.

Anyway, I worked on the bracelet. When that was finished, I continued to work on a necklace that combines pearls and garnets. The pearls are olive green coins and the garnets are red ones. I admit I don't know the variety of the garnets. I'll have to do some more studying to determine which ones they are.

Lighting Fixtures

Here's a copy of a photo I took this morning. I'm trying to think of a way to relate it to my studio, and my daily connections with my business, and I can't think of any. Suffice it to say that today would have been called my day off as far as the studio is concerned, although I did do some things that relate to it. But I like these poppies. They bloom in this particular location every year and remind me that maybe the weather will turn warmer. It was nice today, but it's supposed to get cooler now for a few days.

I did spend time purchasing the lights that go on the tracks for my studio, small low voltage halogen ones. And I also bought a fan that will hang from the ceiling as well. The electrician will be there first thing in the morning to put up the tracks, so I plan to go over there at 7:00 and move things after he has put up tracks on one side of the studio. We have a problem with electricity at the Village, so we can't use too much. The low voltage lights are very expensive, but they're necessary.

I spent a little time working on a brass bracelet, using 20 gauge wire. I'd like to make some gold-filled ones using the 20 gauge, but it would be expensive. Well, maybe at some point I should do some anyway. I hope gold, silver, and copper prices will drop down again. Certainly when they do, I'll stock up on wire. It's very expensive right now. I'll bet sheet copper is too. I've got plenty right now, but I may have to buy more soon.

Saying Goodbye

I met my parents for lunch and took some time afterwards to look at the jewelry in an upscaled department store. I need to remind myself to do that periodically. I was pleased to see that they were carrying more or less the same kinds of items I've been seeing in the magazines. One thing that I found interesting was that I was drawn to some of the pieces with larger stones in them. I've been continuing to make delicate necklaces with small stones, but now I find the larger more appealing. And certainly that's the direction fashion is headed.

I personally don't expect to be a slave to fashion either in the way I dress or in the jewelry I make. However, I think it's important for any artist to keep their "eye" current, to know what kinds of things look right, what colors are appealing, what proportions are best, that kind of thing. Nowadays an artist automatically stays current just by coming in contact with the various media available to all of us: magazines, television, the internet, shopping centers. It's important to go out and look around.

After my stop at the shopping center, I decided to go get some heavier copper wire to use in making jewelry. Earlier in the morning, I had a conversation with my jewelry teacher who commented about the growing popularity of copper for jewelry. It's wonderful if copper becomes popular because it's easy to work with and relatively inexpensive, at least compared to silver or gold. So, anyway, I went to the new location of an old hardware store, one where I have bought one and five pounds spools of brass and copper wire, only to find that they no longer carry spools of wire. In fact, it looks as though they carry hardware fixtures and that's about it. I'm not sure they can really call themselves a hardware store any longer. That's too bad. An old institution is gone.

So I called around and ultimately found the best place to buy copper wire is on the internet at the same place that sells the gold-filled wire, http://www.monsterslayer.com. What a name. In my travels here and there, I decided to stop in at Industrial Locators. They're at http://www.industrialliquidators.com/. I've been there before to buy electronic parts mostly to use in jewelry. I thought I might stop in there to see whether I might see something which has new meaning for me. And I did find several things, one of which was some kind of valve or gauge or something. The equipment was made by Limitorque Corp which has a website at http://www.limitorque.com. I spent some time looking for the piece I had purchased second hand and didn't see it. So I have no idea what it is, but I started taking it apart and have four pieces of it that will make nice pendants for necklaces.

A friend gave me a whole stack of Chinese coins that he bought at the swapmeet. He says he paid very little for them. I'm not sure whether they're actually currency or copies of who knows what. I'd like to use them for pendants as well, but I think I'll try to do some research on them first. They may be some kind of counterfeit coins. They appear to be silver or have a silver coating on them, becaues they turn shiny and light when I rub my thumb along them. But I don't think they're silver, certainly not sterling or probably even coin silver.

I started a brass bracelet. I use to work in brass all the time, but I'd like to make something new and see how I feel about it now, especially when it gets tarnished. I've been wearing a silver bracelet that has brass beads on it, and I don't mind the tarnished look of the brass beads. I'll see how I feel about the wire when I finish it.

The Mind Stores Inspiration

When I went to Los Angeles with my cousin a few weeks ago, I was struck by the tree in front of her house. This is a photo of it. I realized when I looked at it that it has been the inspiration for so many of my tree drawings and etchings over the years. I've created hundreds of trees with long exposed roots just like this one.

I had a conversation with one of the other artists at Spanish Village who told me about a website http://www.galeforcegraphics.com. They carry a special rolling pin that can be used to print etchings and other types of prints such as monotypes. I find this particularly interesting as I get ready to set up my studio. I'm looking at the etchings I currently have framed and realize some of them are six or seven years old. That's not a problem per se, but I don't want to fill up my walls with etchings and then just wait around for them to sell. I want to continue to update them, in the same way that I expect to do the same with my jewelry.

Until now I've been in something of a quandry as to how I can duplicate the etching process. (Oh, that's not intended as a pun.) I don't have a press and the ink normally used is oil based so that the cleanup is a problem. But this website offers a portable roller and water-based ink, both of which could make it possible to create some etchings. I'd still need a few things to set up the process, but it's possible to do so. Then I could demonstrate the printing process at my big work table at the Village. And when I've finished with printing my etching plates, I can cut them up and make them into jewelry, an idea I've had for awhile anyway.

Speaking of my studio, the electrician was there today working on the wiring. The painters were there and painted the alcove ceiling. The electrician will be back on Friday and so maybe next week the painters can paint the walls.

Oh, Is That a Ceiling or the Sky?

Can you see how the ceiling is blue? It's a lovely soft color, the color you wish the sky would be on certain days.

I was sitting in front of my computer at about 11:00 this morning, listening to a CD and intermittently surfing the net and working on a garnet and pearl necklace when my phone rang. A man's voice introduced himself and said he was a painter who worked for the City? What? But then when he mentioned that he was in my studio ready to paint the ceiling, I could hardly believe my ears. He assured me that he had a color chart and I could pick out the color I wanted. Since I live only five minutes away from Spanish Village, I said I'd be right over to choose a color.

When I got there, he showed me a chart of essentially whites with various tints in them. That's the amount of color most people think about when they say blue or pink or yellow or whatever. But I said I wanted something brighter. So he showed me another chart and I picked out a color right away. When we took the chart in the studio, the color seemed a little dark, but it was the one I wanted. I figured that I'm an interior designer and if I have a dark ceiling, I'll be able to compensate in some way. But it's fine. I love the color. Late this afternoon, I went back and moved all the furniture and other stuff out of the alcove and they'll paint in there tomorrow morning. While I was moving everything, one of the artists said the electrician had come by around 3:30. So maybe he'll come back tomorrow as well. Then all I need is to pick the wall color and I'll be in business.

There's still the floor, but I'm not sure I'm going to deal with it right now. I'll probably just leave it. Actually, I kind of like the rustic look of it, especially when it's covered with an area rug. I don't want the place to look too perfect.

Flowers, New Leaves, and Springtime Sun

Here's a photo of the tree that grows over my studio. Right now it's just beginning to get its new leaves. For awhile now, at least until October or November, I won't have to worry about sweeping up the leaves that fall off and litter the walk and patio in front of my studio. Right now I'm looking forward to seeing the new leaves as a symbol of warmer weather, more pleasant for sitting outside.

This week I'll get busy and paint the ceiling of my studio in preparation for the electrician installing the tracks for the lighting. I'm going to use the low voltage halogen ones. They will add a lot of sparkle to the jewelry. And then I'll continue to use the lamps as well, because I think they give the studio a more personal feeling. Most of the artists treat their studios largely as galleries, but that's not my main focus. We are required to maintain working studios and I believe that should be the emphasis. But that isn't to say that I won't provide display areas as well. The thing is that my main concern is to create a pleasant working environment for myself. I'll get there eventually. At this point it may be sooner than later. I may be open by next weekend, amazing as it seems.

When Is a Watch Not a Clock?

Here's a succulent that grows in front of one of the other studios. When I've moved into my studio, I'd like to get more plants to go around the door. Succulents won't work though because my little corner is shady almost all year round. In the winter, the sun is down low enough in the southern sky that the building creates shade. When the sun moves higher in the sky, the tree begins to regain it's leaves the way it is now and provides a great deal of shade to that corner. If I have any succulents, they'll have to be out by my outside work table. However, I will have some plants like ferns back in my corner. I'm fond of succulents and there are a great many of them around the Village, but I'm just as happy with shade plants.

I worked in one of the other studios today, keeping it open for the artist who had another committment. I got there early, before 9:00 a.m. and managed to finish the hessonite garnet necklace. I also created one from Chinese turquoise and coral. The turquoise beads have very large holes in them and the coral was necessary to prevent the knotted silk from disappearing into the interior of the bead. The turquoise itself is a soft olive green as opposed to the Tibetan turquoise which is "turquoise" in color. Both varieties have dark veining, and the Chinese tends toward yellow in places. It's really very pretty. Unfortunately the flat round "spacer" beads that I used to keep the knots from slipping are not exactly the color I had in mind. Originally I chose some blue-red coral beads which were a wonderful color. But unfortunately they were round rather than flat and I didn't like the way they looked. So I found the flat spacers, but they are a more orange-red. The contrast isn't as nice. But other wise the necklace will make a nice addition to someone's collection.

I find it's tricky sometimes to get exactly the right look when I make a piece of jewelry. I may want a particular color bead but it may not be cut in the shape that I want. I have enough inventory built up that lots of times I can find something among my strands that works, but sometimes I need to make a special trip to one of the bead stores to get something. And since bead colors and shapes go in and out of fashion like anything else, sometimes I can't always continue to get something that I've been use to using.

Several weeks ago, I ordered some watch parts to attach to the "clock" bracelet I'm making, adding to the pieces I already have. I made the sterling silver link bracelet and started to add letters and charms. The watch parts hadn't arrived, or so I thought. This afternoon, however, with the help of one of the other artists, I located the watch parts. I had to laugh when I saw them. They're wonderful, but they're so tiny that I can hardly see some of them. That's one of the downfalls of ordering from the internet or a catalogue. Regardless of how they were advertised on the internet, they are watch parts, not clock parts.

My clock bracelet is on hold, and it is anyway because it's buried in my studio, but I'll have to re-think it. The tiny little parts would make a tiny little mobile or something. I definitely would like to do something with them. Besides using them as charms on a bracelet, I had thought I could use them to make a pin, brooch, or pendant. Some of them might work on a pin, maybe dangling down, but they're too frail for a bracelet. They could work for a necklace.

Learning About Garnets

Here's a photo of my table with it's new longer legs. The artist who added them to the table has a unique way of building things. He's very creative and imaginative. His work is all around Spanish Village, in the form of benchs and planter boxes. I'm hoping I can work at my table again soon. I'll be in the Village tomorrow, but I'm going to work in one of the other studios. So my own will remain closed for now. But soon I'll be sitting out there.

I finished the knotted necklace I started when I was up in Los Angeles. I wasn't sure what stone it was until tonight when I was looking for hessonite garnets on the internet. Most of us think of the deep red garnets that were popular in the Victorian Era. But they are only one of many types. Garnets are red (and pink), orange, yellow, or green. The hessonite ones range from pale butterscotch to dark brown. I found some little rectangular ones at one bead supplier and bought four strands. I also picked up three strands of a butterscotch stone that were not marked. They told me the stones are garnets and I think the ones in the knotted necklace I finished tonight are as well. Hessonite comes from a Greek word and means lesser, but in this case it means less hard, not necessarily inferior. Currently they come from Sri Lanka.

Even though I hold strands of stones up together when I plan a necklace, I always have at least some visual surprise when I actually begin to construct the necklace or other piece of jewelry. After I finished the knotted necklace, I started one of red garnets and small butterscotch ovals. The two different types of garnets look lovely together. In fact, the red garnets look lovely in lots of places you might not suspect. I've vowed to always keep a few different strands of them around for combining with other stones.

Something Is Happening

Here's what my studio looked like when I went over there this evening. The gray spots left on the ceiling are drywall showing through. I'm not sure if that will be covered before the primer is put on. I'll just have to wait and see. Since the City construction workers don't work on Friday, I've once again lost another week without being finished. I must say that I wish they had seen fit to finish the ceiling this week because then I could take my furniture out of the back area and have access to everything, even if I'll have to move it aside when they paint. At this point I'm once again Brown Bag, Ltd. It's getting old.

I feel as though I can't fully gather my thoughts and get my business off the ground until I'm located in my studio. I spent a great deal of time thinking about what I'm going to do, getting ideas for the business and for making jewelry itself, but I'd like the feeling of being centered and composed that I get when I sit at my desk. The last time I uncovered my beads and looked at them after several weeks, I was struck by all the possibilities I can tap into if I have all my bead in front of me. Right now I have a short strand of 14 beads. To make a necklace, I need 18 or 19 of that size interspersed with smaller ones. But I don't have my beads available, so I have no idea what I could add to the ones I have that would make the necklace appealing. When I do make something, I'm never sure whether there might be a better combination among the beads hanging on the pegboard.

One day, I hope I can look back and laugh. I'm sure I will. That's my nature, but right now I'm not sure how much I feel like laughing.

Is My Ceiling Dry Yet?

The City crew hasn't been back to work on my ceiling since they did the taping. When was that? It seems like last week. Anyway, nobody has reappeared. I'm not sure how long it takes for the ceiling to dry. They should have come back. If they don't work tomorrow, then that puts us into next week because they don't work on Fridays.

I got some halogen track lights to try with the track when it's put up. Actually, I just bought one because I'm not sure if I have the correct one. But it says they're low voltage and I think that's what I want, ones that don't take so much electricity. We have a problem with that in Spanish VIllage. We have to ration it. Not everyone who wants to can have a kilm, for example. There's a moratorium on them, or at least the ones that run on 220. The one I have is only 110. I'm not sure I'm even going to take it over to the studio. I may just keep it here to run when I want.

I got some Elmer's Glue to put on the knots of the necklaces I make. It's better to use than super glue which gets dry and brittle and then cracks, causing a problem. So anyway, now I have the appropriate glue to use on the ends. When I went to get glue, I also stopped for some scotch tape to attach magazine photos to the pages of my journal. That way I save ideas that I see, and sometimes I write beside the photos what it is that attracts me or gives me an idea. Of course, ideally, I want to come up with new jewelry, but the reality is that there's no such thing as a new idea. I do, however, think I can come up with unusual ways of combining things and unusual uses of materials. So that's my goal right now.

Price Shopping

Here's what my ceiling looks like now. I went over early this morning, hoping the workmen might be there, but they weren't. And now I've just come from there and they didn't do any work today because it still looks the same. Well, I suppose it needs to dry a little bit. I'm not sure.

After leaving the studio this morning, I went to buy gold-filled wire which is what I use to connect beads together. I create what's known as rosary wrap, a method of making loops or rings of wire and then twisting the end of the wire around itself to anchor it. Anyway, when I went to the usual local store I always go to, it was to discover that they have again increased the price of wire. They increased it last fall and now they've increased it again. It's up approximately 30%. It takes about 10 to 20 feet of wire to make a necklace, depending on the length. Now that it's gone up so much, it behooves me to buy it online. My former jewelry teacher suggested I to http://www.monsterslayer.com to get it. So I check their website and then called them on the phone. Their prices are half what I've been paying locally. So when I get ready to buy more wire, I'll order it from them.

It's nice to be able to just drop by the store and buy it locally on my way back from the grocery store or on the way to the gym, but I'm afraid I can no longer afford that luxury. Anyway, I'll try some and see how I like it. They sell it by the ounce. I had been buying 21 feet or 7 yards at a time which turns out to be .45 ounce. A troy ounce of wire is 54 feet and only $5 more than what I paid today for 21 feet.

I've been going to one particular local store for beads. They're actually a warehouse. The owner told me that it only represents 5% of his business, that the rest is in manufacturing jewelry for department stores and the shopping channels. Anyway, I went looking for some semi-precious stones that would catch the light. I had gotten several strands when I was in Los Angeles and I wanted to see if I could find something similar for less money. I was successful, getting strands of garnets and one of chalcedony. I try to find beads that are of a good quality without being overly expensive. I think I'm fairly successful at that. Anyway, this morning, I thought to myself that I might spend all my time shopping at that particular store. The selection is excellent and the prices are frequently very good.

One Small Step Forward

This evening at the Spanish Village General Membership Meeting, one of the Board members mentioned that workers from the City had been working in my studio this afternoon. So after the meeting, I went over to take a look. Unfortunately the photos I took didn't come out very clearly. I tried to upload one here, but I was unsuccessful. I'll try tomorrow and see if I have better luck. But anyway, just imagine a grayish ceiling with wide white stripes going horizontally and vertically across it. That's what they call taping, I think, although the tape seems to be hidden under some plaster, or white stuff. Despite the fact that I have several friends who work or have worked in the drywall trade, I don't know the terminology very well, nor even exactly what the procedure is. But I think the next step is to put some texture on the ceiling. I don't know if they will wait for a day or so for it to dry. But anyway, at least they actually came back and worked today. That encourages me.

I was busy taking care of some personal items, but I did manage to come up with a good idea for making keychains out of the parts that I got at K Surplus. I can combine them with beads and other items. That will make them interesting and won't bring up the issue that comes of having made jewelry out of unsafe metals that would be worn against the skin.

One of the avenues I'd like to pursue is resin jewelry. I had a lengthy discussion with my jewelry teacher about resin jewelry. I came up with a variety of ideas for creating some. And I'l get around to it. That's my plan: to try the various methods of making jewelry. I had set a goal of making jewelry using a different technique each week, but maybe I need to extend that time period to a month so that I could potentially create a whole line of jewelry each month, using a different technique. And I suppose my first area of investigation would be assemblages. That's the direction I'm heading in right now.

Second Day of the Workshop

Here's a photo of the chasing and repousse piece I completed at the workshop in December. My current one is still not quite finished yet. The workshop went well, and I believe my hands are beginning to know what to do. I promised myself I would continue to practice after the previous workshop and I admit I didn't. But I feel less discouraged this time and more able to execute the technique. My hands seems so weak and uncontrolled, but I know that takes practice.

Hopefully the City will take the next step in remodeling my studio this week. I plan to be at the Village on Saturday to work in another studio. I will most likely go over and maybe work on my outside table during the week. I do miss being there. And I have plenty of beads and other materials that I am once again carrying around in a brown shopping bag. So I'm reduced to Brown Bag, Ltd. again, but I'm optimistic it won't be long now.

First Day of a Two-Day Workshop

Today was the first day of the two-day workshop in chasing and repousse taught in the Renaissance way. The instructor, Davide Bigazzi has been working as a craftsperson in the discipline since he was fourteen years old, originally growing up in the San Croce area of Florence. His personal website is: http://www.dbcollection.net/. If you do a search on his name, you will see various galleries that feature his work. It's really beautiful. The class I'm taking is being given at Art Academy of San Diego. Their website which tells about the school and gives class and workshop schedules is: http://www.artacademyofsandiego.com/

Of course Davide has been working with metal for years and he makes the process look so easy. I'd love to be able to knock out little pieces that I can use for jewelry, and certain he makes it look like an easy and relatively quick process, but believe me it's not. Certainly it's not at this point in my career as a craftsperson. I struggle the full four hours to produce a meager choppy looking piece of copper. However, I must say that I do feel I began to get the hang of what to do. I took the workshop in December and was extremely discouraged at my lack of profficiency. However, I really am determined to work this through and learn how to do the process. I love the finished product. I love working with metal. I love pounding and tapping on the metal. And I think it is a technique that should be kept alive and will be very interesting to demonstrate while I'm sitting at my work table in Spanish Village. In the past, I noticed that when I sat outside and worked with tools, people were interested. They were also interested in carving and etching. Perhaps one idea I could try would be to create something in chasing and repousse and then add etching to it to create a denser texture.

Making Something Out of Nothing

I spent the day doing errands including some connected to making jewelry. A friend mentioned a place called K Surplus that he thought I might want to go and investigate. So I did that this afternoon. I have discovered that they have a website (http://www.ksurplus.com/). They have all kinds of things including more bolts and screws than I've ever seen in one place. They also have all kinds of little pieces of metal, things I can't put a name to, but which will make nice additions to jewelry. I purchased a pound worth of stuff, at the cost of $5.00. I have enough pieces of metal to add to or make about six necklaces. They'll be fun to work with. One idea is to take a piece of metal and add it to a strand of very nice pearls. This idea is of course to show that many utilitarian items are lovely to look at and should be incorporated into our everyday life.

The City Quits Early

I must say, I did think the City workers would come out and finish my ceiling today, but they must have decided to go somewhere else, because it still looks the same. They don't work on Fridays, so now that puts the repairs into next week. It seems as though every part of the repair takes at least a week. I may not get in until the end of April at the rate they're going.

In the meantime, I recorded a message on my second cellphone which will serve as a studio or business phone. When I first got the phone, there was some problem with the programming and it would not allow me to enter a message. But I took it to the service center and they fixed it for me. So that's one thing I can cross off my to do list.

Tomorrow I need to go and get the track lights. I've already gotten the tracks themselves and supposedly the City electrician is going to install them for me. Then we can put up the lights. Also, I'm planning to get a ceiling fan that has kind of a tropical look to it. That will add atmosphere to the studio.

I'm inching toward my goal. In the meantime, I'm trying to take care of issues in my private life while I can't be in my studio. And I'm making some jewelry at home.

Return From Los Angeles

Here's a shot of my new ceiling. It's not finished yet, but it's been put up. I find that it's not nearly as bad as I thought it might be. And I'll get them to paint it pale blue maybe or some similar color. It will be nice then I think, not just the top of a shoe box. I liked the rustic, rather colonial look, but I can still give it that feeling by the colors I choose and the way I decorate. I thinik I'll get an old-fashioned looking ceiling fan, the kind they use to have in the tropics. And I've thought of painting the walls sort of an olive green or khaki, but I'm not sure yet. I'll have to wait until I get all the track lights installed and find out exactly what the lighting looks like. I may be able to actually move in and open for business next week. I'm looking forward to it.

I got back from Los Angeles late this afternoon. While I was there, I went to two bead stores, one of which I had been to before. I found some nice items, ones I don't see down here in San Diego. I also discovered that not only do they have a website, but they frequent the bead shows down here and I have purchased items from them before. I'll pay attention to the schedule for the bead shows and attend them so I can get some more beads from them. They have a good selection and their prices seem to be very good for the most part.

Besides going to the bead stores, I had a chance to visit the Gustav Klimt show at LACMA (the Los Angeles County Art Museum). I'm fond of Klimt's work, but I wasn't overwhelmed by it when I saw it in person. I've experienced that phenomenon before. The artwork is less appealing than in books. Four of these five paintings were not his most significant. There were two portraits and three landscapes. The landscapes were painted en plein air and it's interesting to see that areas of the canvas were left bare. Of course the portraits were more finished. Unfortunately the major portrait was roped off so you couldn't get close enough to really see the brush strokes very well.

The significance of his work for me is his use of patterns, something I have always been drawn to. And I can see that the necklaces that I have made since seeing the exhibit have a certain pattern about them that remind me of his work. It's the pattern and the colors. He painted landscapes covered with little leaves forming a sort of dot pattern, almost reminiscent of Seurat. I tend to think of him in terms of oranges, yellows, golds, olive greens, a little red. I find myself drawn to those colors right now even though they are not colors that I usually wear.

Getting Ready for a New Ceiling

So, once again, all my stuff is piled up in the back corner of my studio. But hopefully this will be the last time, because the carpenter from the City is supposed to come in this week while I'm out of town and replace the ceiling with a new one. I'd rather have exposed beams, but I think there's nothing I can do about that desire.

I wore the Peruvian opal necklace that I finished yesterday. Unfortunately one of the wire loops broke and now half the necklace will have to be restrung. I'm glad it broke when I was wearing it rather than after I sold it. That's why I like to wear all the jewelry I make, so that I know for sure that it's sturdy.

My day was spent pursuing personal matters and I didn't go up to the Village. I kept thinking about all the beads that I bought yesterday and wished I could be sitting at my table working, but I'll get my chance soon enough. When that occurs, I'll bet there will be days when I wish I could do something besides work on jewelry. But that day isn't here yet.

A Nice Day For a Joke

Here's a photo of the view I have when I sit at my outside table. I intended to take a photo of my table with the umbrella beside it, but I wound up leaving the Village early and by the time I got back later, it was too late. However, I'll take one soon.

I spent about three hours sitting outside. Lots of people who walk back and forth across the main patio that you see in the photo stopped to talk, fellow members of the studios. Everyone agrees that the table helps make me highly visible and allows me to sit at eye level to people who are walking along, most of them watching the glassblowing taking place in front of my studio. People will see me although we're all amused at the way people are so intent on watching the glassblowing that they don't even see anything else.

I finished the Peruvian opal necklace. It's a little heavy for my taste. The beads themselves are flat rondelles measuring 4 by 8 mm. I went late this afternoon to a favorite bead store and found some opals that are much smaller. They will be more suitable. I do love the larger ones though, and especially their pink color, but feeling the weight caused me to go back and look for some strands of beads that aren't so heavy.

Next week I'm taking a short trip up to Los Angeles for several days. I'll look forward to going to a bead store I went to once up there. I'm looking forward to going back, Could this be considered my first business trip?

Getting Ready for the Weekend

My outside table now has longer legs so that I can sit comfortably in my new chair. Tomorrow I plan to sit outside and work, providing it doesn't rain. I'll try to remember to take my hat when I go. I have my umbrella but I think I'll actually want to sit in the sun and feel the warmth of it. The temperature is still in the low 60's, too cool to sit under an umbrella I think.

Although today was technically my day off and I spent it doing other things, I did go down and work in my studio for three hours this afternoon. I'm working on the Peruvian opal necklace and I'm anxious to get it finished. In addition, I spent several hours looking through magazines to get ideas for jewelry and other projects. I came up with three new ideas, one for collaging together some of my etchings and hand coloring them, one for creating a weaving out of wire and beads, and another for creating displays for the necklaces I make. I've added them to my ideas list and I'll get to them in time.

I would like to have finished my clock bracelet, but some of the parts I've ordered haven't arrived yet. So I'll work until I've done all I can and then go on to something else for now.