Trying To Keep To a Schedule

I started another knotted necklace today, one made of Peruvian opals. The stones are beautiful. They remind me of pink Chinese turquoise, if there were such a thing. I am finding that creating a knotted necklace is a more time consuming project than I had hoped it might be. The materials are less expensive, the silk so much cheaper than the gold-filled wire, and the time is probably half, but I can see that I can't turn out a whole lot of knotted necklaces in one day, certainly not long ones. Even my former jewelry teacher is amazed when I showed her all the little jasper hearts that I had knotted together.

There are almost 300 beads in the Peruvian opal necklace. I've finished half of knotting, but the project took me most of my five-hour day to get to that point. Once I begin knotting, I can go fairly quickly, but any necklace takes time to set up. So thinking I could make the whole necklace in one day was a pipe dream. Of course, like anything, after I've done a few more, I'll be able to work faster, make more progress. I'm not there yet. So, I can't really set a specific schedule for myself, a quota of how many pieces I can make in a week, for example. I'll work toward that though, because I find it helps me to have a written goal. That way I can accomplish what I want to.

The carpenter from the City didn't make it over to the studio today, so I assume he won't start until next week sometime. Then they will paint for me, but I have to put up the lights first, so I can see the whole process is probably going to take at least another two weeks. Oh, well, someday I can look back and laugh.

Long Strands of Knots

Here's a photo I took this afternoon about 4:30 on the edge of the main patio at Spanish Village. If you look carefully at the top left flower on the plant, you can see a hummingbird drinking nectar. I tried to move in a little closer, but then I waited too long and he flew away, up into the branchs of the jacaranda tree in the main patio of Spanish Village. While I watched, he systematically went from blossom to blossom drinking the nectar. When he turned so the sun hit the front of his head, he flashed a bright red color. I hoped to get that red, but I waited too long.

Today turned out to be rather productive in several respects. The City electrician worked in my studio, adding fixtures to the ceiling so that I can install track lighting. He will add some outlets and do some more work tomorrow. But in the meantime the ceiling is ready to be replaced. I don't know if the carpenter will start that tomorrow or next week, but soon. Then the only thing left will be to install the track lights and paint. Then I can be open for business.

In the meantime, I spent the day in one of the other studios working on the breciated jasper necklace that I started yesterday. It turned out to be a problem. I had hoped that I could string 212 beads on one strand of pre-measured silk. However, because the beads are small, so that more knots are required, I wasn't able to get so many beads on the silk. So what I did was string half the beads on each of two pieces of silk. I knotted between each bead and then attached the ends to beads with wire loops on them. After I was finished with all the knotting, I was able to create more wire loops and attach the two strands together. This way I can make very long necklaces which are in fashion now and still use the pre-measured silk which is very handy to work with. I could use the same technique to attach a whole lot of strands of knotted beads together to make a multi-strand necklace, something I'd been wanting to do for quite awhile.

The pleasant finish to my day was when I went back to the bead store to buy more silk for tomorrow's project, both owners complimented me on my necklace spontaneously and at the same time. Sometimes I take my jewelry off before I go into the bead stores, but this time I was in a hurry. Also, I find that the knotted beads hang better if the silk is allowed to stretch a little by my wearing the necklace or by hanging it up somewhere.

So Now Are We All In Agreement?

The City electrician will be in my studio tomorrow to work on the wiring for the track lights in the ceiling. Then the carpenter will come back Thursday or next week to put in a drywall ceiling. Apparently he is finishing up another job, but he'll be back soon. He doesn't work on Fridays, so he may not get there until Monday. The supervisor who came out to see the studio again today with his boss said they would paint the studio for me. Having majored in interior design, I was hesitant. I explained that I wanted to get the track lights installed and then pick the paint color based on the lighting. He said that was fine, that they could paint any color I want when I'm ready for them to do so. How nice that is. I probably will take him up on it.

I worked in my studio today for several hours, went to do some errands, and came back to work some more. I'm worked on a necklace of flat breciated jasper hearts. I want to make some knotted necklaces that hang down to waist level. I think the knotting should help the beads hang very nicely. I also got out several other necklaces to finish working on. I'll make new pieces, but I want to finish pieces I've started. That's my goal: to finish what I start, unless I run out of materials.

This weekend, I'll finish up my first special project, the bracelet with lettering and watch parts on it. Then my next project will be made with some teardrop rings that were specially cut for me to use. I'm not sure how I'm going to use them just yet, but I have several ideas. They will require that I do some sanding to smooth them off. Then I'll probably combine them with silver and crystals. I'm not sure yet. That's for next week. Right now my unconscious mind will work on the problem.

Last week I ordered several items from two different websites, materials for jewelry. They were to be sent by UPS and I requested that they be delivered to my studio at Spanish Village. Apparently the UPS delivery guy knows to take the packages to the Village office if nobody is in the studio. So late this morning, the Village liaison brought me my first UPS package. That's much more convenient than getting it at home where it stands the chance of being eaten by the dogs. Now that I have my first package, I really feel like I'm in business.

The City Is Still Talking

I got a call today from the woman who is the liaison between Spanish Village and the City. She says that one of the construction supervisors is coming out to look at my ceiling tomorrow. So I will have another chance to talk to them about what they're going to do. Several days ago I was told that they were just going to replace the old ceiling, but now maybe that's changed. Anyway, I'll see tomorrow morning when they arrive.

I spent some time today looking for a chair for my table outside. I found a drafting table chair for $12.95 at one of the thrift stores. I think if I'd bought it from on office supply store it would have cost $100 to $125. So I'm happy to have it. I can leave it outside without worrying too much about it. I'll find a large plastic bag to cover it at night so that rain and dew don't soak into the seat. Otherwise it should be fine outside. The seat is red and the umbrella I bought several days ago has a red stripe around the outside of it. It's perfect. Now I just need to get one of the artists to add blocks to the legs of the table so that it's high enough for me to work at. Then I'll be all set for warm weather. I'll enjoy working outside. I always did when I was a partner in the other studio.

Getting Ready For Spring

Here's a picture of the exposed ceiling. I think the open beams are attractive, but apparently because they are open and not separated from the areas adjacent to the studio, fire could easily spread from my studio to others around it if a fire started in my studio. If the ceiling is replaced, then an envelope will be created that will contain the fire for an hour, by which time the fire department could respond. Anyway, that's the theory as I understand it. So hopefully they'll come replace the ceiling this week. And the electrician will be able to finish as well.

We've started to have some warmer weather now that spring has arrived. I got myself an umbrella and a stand to use with my table outside. I move the table away from the building so I can sit behind it. Now I need to find a chair to sit on, one that swivels so that I can get out easily. I want one that is high like a bar stool or drafting table chair. That way, I'm at eye level with people who come by to talk to me. Also, the surface of the table will be higher so that people can see what I'm doing without having to bend over. I find that level works very well. Then I can begin to think about doing some metalsmithing.

I spent the day working on my first weekly project. It's a bracelet with clock/wathch parts as charms. I created the bracelet out of 18 gauge sterling wire. It took me about four hours. Then I began to add charms. I'm still going to spend more time this week working on it. But I should be able to get it finished and work on some other pieces as well. That's my goal.

The City Speaks

The President of Spanish Village told me this morning that the electrician is scheduled to come work in my studio on Tuesday and then the carpenters will be there the following day. We'll see if that really happens.

In the meantime, yesterday I made up my mind to reclaim my studio and start to work in there again. I have one more week of helping out in the other studio. Then I'll be ready to work in my own studio five days per week. So anyway, last night I got some help moving my furniture back into position. I haven't done anything else, but I was able to work in my studio today. It felt so nice to be there, so comfortable. I created a necklace and then a talisman for a friend, one I had promised.

My studio contains a large number of strands of semi-precious stones that I will eventually make into jewelry. I subscribe to the theory that stones have energies that they release, and I believe we can benefit from those energies. One of the reasons I feel so comfortable in my studio is because I'm surrounded by all those stones.

Last night when we took the furniture out of my work corner and I uncovered the strands of stones, I just had to sit for awhile and look at all of them. I was so taken with them all. They look beautiful. They also give me ideas for jewelry, so much so that I feel I need to work around the clock, seven days a week to accomplish everything I'd like. And I continually have ideas for new pieces, new combinations of stones, and new color combinations. Then of course I start to think about using my metalsmithing skills to make a variety of other pieces. There's so much I want to do.

No More Waiting

Here's what my studio looks like right now. At this point I have no idea when the City will have time to address the issue of the ceiling. So I've come to the decision that I'm going to put everything back where it was and go on. When the City carpenters are ready to come and install the drop ceiling or make other repairs, I'll move everything back again. But who knows when that will happen. Certainly soon I hope, but in the meantime, I need to sit in my studio workspace and gather my creativity around me. I'm too scattered right now.

Today I'm busy, but I'm determined that tomorrow I'm going to go over to the studio and work. In addition to putting my studio back together, I'm looking forward to working outside. Yesterday was a wonderfully warm day and hopefully our "cold" weather is over for the season. As long as it gets up to 65 or 68 degrees it's warm enough for me. The concrete patios that surround the buildings help keep it pleasantly warm. I need an umbrella and a chair and I can sit outside at my table. The table itself needs a little repair done on it, but the artist who originally built it has said he will take care of that for me.

Tired of Waiting

I've decided that tomorrow or over the weekend, I'm going to take the stuff out of the corner of my studio and try to work in there. I'm too frustrated about not being able to reach my tools and supplies. Even if I have to move everything back in the corner again so that they can go on with the repairs, at least maybe I can have some time to work in peace.

It's late tonight, so I'm off to sleep. I did make a necklace this afternoon, a knotted one that took me only about an hour. I used crystals between the chalcedony to make it a little longer. I'm not sure I like the way it came out. But I can wear it this way for awhile and then take it apart if I want to.

I honestly don't feel I've been doing my best work recently. Of course, I could blame it on being ousted from my studio temporarily, but I just think it's a low point in my life right now, maybe created by coming out of illness. Anyway, things will improve. And I always think that each piece of jewelry or other artwork that I create is part of the learning experience. allowing me to develop as an artist, hopefully leading to better work in the long run.

Still Waiting For the City

As I understand it, the next step in this long studio process is for the electrician to come in and put some better/different wiring up on the ceiling so that I can have track lights. After that, the carpenters will put the ceiling back in. I guess that's the best solution for now, given the fire code, etc. Not having the drop ceiling is a violation of the fire code. Of course one person pointed out to me that nothing else is up to code anyway, so it seems silly to worry about the ceiling as well. But I'll go along with it. I just want it to be finished.

I spent the day making a necklace of pearls. I added some silver charms. I want to put more beads on it and probably make it longer. But I got a good start on it.

I formed the idea of creating a new project each week that uses a technique other than the wire wrtapping one that I use now. I am all set to begin with a charm bracelet using clock and watch parts. However, at this point I'll have to wait until I can get to my tools. The only other option is to tear apart my studio and I might wind up doing that if I lose my patience. I have enough beads and findings to make a number of pieces of jewelry, but I really want to get into making something else. If I don't go to the studio this weekend, I can work on the website and also my business cards and packaging. I'm looking forward to creating some cute fold up boxes that I can print on my printer and then cut up and fold to hold jewelry. And I suppose I need to create a logo. There's so much work to creating the marketing materials. But I enjoy doing it. Maybe I'll use one of my drawings or etchings as a background.

Brown Bag, Ltd.

I spent the day in one of the other studios, keeping it open for the artist who leases it. Most of my beads and findings are back in my own studio covered with a pile of furniture and other items. So I'm currently reduced to a paper grocery bag of beads, tool, and findings. I think I'll rename myself Brown Bag, Ltd. That's the best I can do for now. On Friday I founds some extrmely well priced pearls. I spent today knotting them into a necklace. That's enough work for one day. I expected them to take a couple of hours, but they took all day. I'm not sure why except that they are about 36 inches long, so it was like making two necklaces. They're very pretty. I've had compliments for them already. I'll wear the necklace myself for awhile and then consider selling it. I always like to wear everything anyway, to make sure everything is in proper order.

I'm off to bed in preparation for an early start. I'm exercising, "a sound mind, in a sound body." Should help me be more creative. For some reason I still can't get onto the Sprint website, so I can't get to my photos. I'll have to address that problem later in the week. Now I'm going to sleep, perchance to dream.

Bumps In the Road

So here I am again trying to begin the week by writing on Monday evening only to find that it is now Tuesday morning. Oh, well, there are bumps in the road. I've been trying all day to get on the Sprint website to download photos I took with my cellphone and I can't seem to get there. When my laptop crashed recently, I lost some of my files including one in which I had downloaded some photos to use for my blog. No matter how long we pursue computer technology there will always be bumps. So I hunted around on my hard drive and came up with this drawing that I photographed with my phone and saved awhile back.

On Saturday night our family went out to celebrate my father's 88 birthday at a Chinese restaurant. And of course at the end of the meal there were fortune cookies. My mother, who was sitting next to me, asked me to read her fortune. "There are a lot of bumps on the way to easy street," I read. Even though my father was engaged in a separate conversation on the other side of the table, he immediately looked up and said "there are a lot of bumps everywhere."

It was nice to hear him express that comment. I've been feeling my share of bumps lately, including having a flu bug that's kept me in bed for over two weeks, but I've also had several people assure me that there are bumps, that life is not perfect and we just do the best we can. I always like it when I get feedback like that because it makes me feel I'm normal, not some kind of mental case, something I have a tendency to worry about a great deal. Well, I suppose some times more than others and probably not as much as I use to in my younger days.

Anyway, my flu seems to be mostly gone except for a residual cough, and I'm back on track. I will go back to writing here everyday. It's good discipline and helps me keep my mind on my goals. And I find I have lots to say.

More Words From the City

The City says they'll do the repairs and not worry about the disability issue, but after I leave the studio, they won't lease it again. There is the chance that the Zoo will get its way and then my studio will be at the opening of the Village instead of buried in the deepest corner. Anyway, I like my little corner. And if the Zoo expansion goes through, they will most likely cut down the trees outside my windows and that would be too bad. I would hate to see that happen. I like the trees there.

I spent the day sitting in Gallery 21 as the representative for the Small Image Show. It's almost over, just a few days left. I always enjoy sitting in there because it's interesting to see the people who come in and to talk to them. I have a chance to talk to people in my studio as well, but the crowd is sometimes a different one. Some of the ones who come to see the Show look very sophisticated, more so than some of the ones who come in the studios.

I've now made a total of 10 blue bracelets. They look wonderful together. I spread them all out in a line, one next to the other. I'm sure that my mother's friend will find one that she likes. And seeing them all together really makes me see that it's a wonderful marketing device, to have all those bracelets for people to mix and match. I'll go on with the blue ones and add turquoise and darker blue to the selection. Then I'll move towards green and yellow. Also, I'll start a group of red, pink, orange, and purple. Eventually I'll have a rainbow of bracelets. That will attract attention to them. I showed them to a friend and he was very complimentary of them. That was nice.

Getting Inspired

Here's my first workstation. When I get discouraged about the progress that isn't being made, I need to look at this photo. Life was certainly very simple in those days, not like it is today.

I've been so busy with car problems that I haven't given my studio or business a thought. However, last night I did begin working on a web page. And today at Spanish Village, I made several more blue bracelets. I still have a chance tomorrow and then I'll see my mother's friend on Friday. I will have 8 or 10 bracelets to show her. Actually, I like the idea of making a whole series of them all in one color. I should consider doing that with other colors, too. Then eventually I could have a whole rainbow of bracelets. I think that could work for display purposes.

There's an artist who makes hair barretts in all different colors and then lays them out by color, like a rainbow. They're very eye catching. I think the bracelets could be too. And it give me some structure, rather than just starting off and making things without much direction. I need to get away from that, I think. Although, I guess I could argue that keeps me creative.

Anyway, now I'm back to work again, working in the Village. I was there today and will be tomorrow as well. I enjoy it actually.

Word From the City

How does this photo look? It was taken at about sunset, so it's a little dark. But I think you can see the plants. There are some new ones on the left. One of the artists in the Village is continuing to add plants. That little space in front of my studio is in the shade almost all the time, so it is as good place for plants that won't do well in the sunny portions of the patio around the Village.

The City has decided to go ahead and pay for all the remodeling that needs to be done to my studio, including the electrical meter and the rewiring. That's the good news. Apparently there is still some question about whether my studio meets the requirements of being handicapped accessible. I think there is no problem with that, but the president of Spanish Village needs to meet with a representative from the ADA. I think that because the building is a historical one, it may be exempt. But we don't know that for sure.

I spent the day making more blue bracelets. I wound up being a little bored making just plain bracelets. However, when I began adding an extra bead or pearl that was a different color, I enjoyed it more. Then the bracelets became more creative. I have a pearl one to finish tomorrow along with a necklace that I started last week. And I'll work on setting up my scanner so I can start taking some photos of my pieces.

A Real Day Off

A day off? Well, I wasn't at the studio, but it wasn't a day off to just hang out and do nothing. None of them seem to be at this point. Someday maybe. I wound up helping my parents and going to lunch with them. That was after going to the gym. My idea of the perfect day off is to spend the morning sleeping and reading. I didn't do that, but I did sleep for awhile this afternoon.

I spent all that time making blue bracelets only to forget them when I left the house. So when I went to lunch with my parents, I didn't have them to show to their friend. But she says she'll walk up to the studio one of these days. And that will give me a chance to make at least several more. I found more blue beads, and I thought she might like those to choose from also.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Village after my exercising. Then I'll be there each day until Monday which I will declare as my next day off. I've already had my two days off this week.

Getting Back on Track

Here's a photo of my desk lamp. It's actually a little shorter than I would like, but I'll find a box or something to put it on and hang a picture just above the desk to make the proportion better. Anyway, it's a cute little lamp that I bought on sale for $14. It's nice to turn on when I first come into my studio, before all the others.

Today I spent the day in the studio of one of the other artists. I worked on some bracelets. A friend of my mother wanted a medium blue bracelet for her friend in England who wears a lot of blue. So I've made three different ones, and I'd like to make another before I go to sleep tonight, so that she has some to choose from. I may not get to it, though. I will make up some more blue bracelets though. I can sell them inexpensively and people like them. And lots of people do like blue, so I think that's a good choice to concentrate on. Also, probably pink, green, and yellow would be good. There are so many more possibilities. And it only takes me about an hour to make a bracelet, so I can make three or four a day. Currently I'm making them using gold-filled wire, but I'd like to try knotting a few as well. They would be easy.

Under the Weather

Today was going to be a day off anyway, but I've come down with the germs that seem to be circulating at the moment. So I'm home in bed, not even thinking about business. I've been sleeping and reading. I bought some cards to print up and I'll do that if I have the energy this weekend. Otherwise, I'm spending tomorrow in bed.

Keeping Track Each Day

Recently I bought a calendar, thinking I was going to use it for a journal, but then I bought something else instead. So I'm using the calendar in my studio to record what I do each day, what pieces of jewelry I work on. Yesterday, I finished a necklace that was made of a combination of Ethiopian opals, rutillated quartz, and crystals. It was a necklace that I knotted, and I finished it in one day. Then I began a shorter necklace using the leftover stones and adding some more rutillated quartz. It's almost finished. I also worked on the knotted necklace that I broke. I've restrung all the previous beads and have gone on with more. I'm taking tomorrow off, and I brought the necklace home with me. I said I wouldn't do that, bring work home, but maybe once in awhile.

The City sent some people over today to look at my studio and adjust their schedule for making repairs. Originally I had asked that the drop ceiling be repaired, but we removed the drop ceiling and now it needs to have some more work done on it. The real holdup is the electricity. That has to be done first. Hopefully, the City will agree to that. I'm sure everything will work out eventually. It's just taking a long time.

This weekend, I'll print up some business cards and label my jewelry. I want to make tags on the computer and print them out, but for now I'll just make some handwritten ones. They'll be fine to begin with. If I'm under the weather, I can still do some of that at home.

Two Steps Forward, One Back

So, early yesterday morning, I dismantled my jewelry display. I got one of the other artists to move the cabinet that I store my scraps of metal in. It's too heavy for me to lift. And I took the fabric off the table and folded it up in a corner. Then I sat down to wait for the plasterer to arrive. But he never did. This morning, an out-of-town friend wanted to see my studio, so I put in all back together. Repairmen still have not arrived. However, I plan to leave my display in place until I see them on my doorstep. I'm beginning to get some traffic into my studio, and I want it to look as presentable as possible.

I've spent the last few days creating some knotted necklaces. They're faster to make and don't require the same expense in materials. If I use the gold-filled wire, it costs about $20 just for the wire, never mind the beads. If I use silk, it costs less than $2. The necklace I spent all day yesterday working on broke. Well, that is, the thread broke. So I'll have to redo it. The beads are tiny and time consuming to string, but the combination of carnelian, pearls, and crystals makes a pretty necklace. It's just that I pulled too hard on the thread and it broke.

I went to get some hang tags to put on my jewelry, to put prices on them. I want to make special printed tags, but this will have to do for now. Then people will realize that I'm serious. And I'll work more on my display. It's really not right yet. Also, I want to make some business cards so that people from out of town can check on me periodically. Oh, and I should have gotten a guest book. I didn't even think of doing that, but I'd like to have one. There is a great deal to do. The list goes on and on.

Tomorrow - The Next Step

I received word this afternoon that someone from the City came to look at my studio and supposedly they will be back early tomorrow morning. I'm off to bed now, so that I can get there when they arrive, or soon thereafter. I suppose I should go over this evening and move things, but I'm too tired. They'll just have to wait for me.