How to impress your girlfriend!

This post should have taken place in 2013, but as I mentioned in my last post...... I fell behind.

If you've been reading my blog, you'll remember that this past summer I had a young man (Alex) who has muscular dystrophy come into the studio to make his mother a ring.  When he came to the studio his cousin (Brandon) came with him to help him out.

In late November Brandon texted me wanting to know if he could come into my studio and learn how to make a ring.  He needed to have it done by Christmas as he was making it as a Christmas present.

Alex made a by-pass ring which is made flat.  Brandon's ring was made to size on a ring mandrel.  (He had his girlfriend's roommate check her ring size when she was out.)  He wanted the ring to have an organic feel.  At first he was thinking branches and leaves but ended up making vines and leaves.

His mother stopped by to take pictures so he had proof that he did indeed make the ring.  (I figured that his girlfriend wouldn't believe it.  He did such a nice job.)

How much more a gift means when it's made from the heart.  

(One of the nicest things my husband ever did for me was take the money out of the church envelope and buy me a dress that I wanted.  Now I know that sounds bad, but he didn't have any money and I was certainly surprised........ Sorry Lord!)

Still Anal in 2013

Tax time comes around so darn fast and like most artistic people my focus is on making art........ not keeping records and tracking every little detail related to the business end of art making.  (Although I do try..... really I do.)

One of my first orders of business is inventory.  I swore I would not be as anal about counting every little jump ring and bead as last year, but that is a hard habit to break.  So....... I've been spending days playing with numbers, not making art (it's killing me.)   Luckily, my cousin comes up to the studio to help with it.  (She can't believe I make her count every last one.)

I try to keep up with it all .  Every year at this time I resolve to spend time at least once a week and get my paperwork in order.   (That usually lasts about a month.)  Preparing my reports for the tax preparer is mind boggling.  It's okay if the numbers work out, but they never do.

It wouldn't be so difficult if what comes in equals what goes out, but art doesn't work that way.  Pieces don't work out (got a jar full of that stuff.)   Things get lost (still haven't found the piece that shot off my flex-shaft.)  Some pieces get made with materials I've had for twenty years (how would I remember what they cost?)  I can't remember what I had for breakfast!  Sometimes it's hard to figure out exactly how much polymer clay was used or how much wire.  (I finally put wire down as an overhead item.)  Then I have pieces that are unaccounted for.  Where did they go?  I do know that a few were stolen, along with a display piece I had sitting out.  How do painters ever figure out their expense sheets?

Oh well, I am trying to do it right.  Anal or not, it's who I am.

So, I'm including a picture of young artists working in my home studio.  (I'm so jealous!)

A fallen woman

I have to admit that I've been on vacation (for a long time.)  Had a great time in the sun.  Got in lots of swimming (I'm tanner than I've ever been), golfing and lots and lots of shopping.  (If you've ever been to Florida, you know how addicting Beall's is.)

Our house here has a loft which wasn't being used this year, so I set up a metal clay studio up there.  It's a great space, I set the table in a position to view the television while I worked.  I've been so busy with other things that I only got up there a couple of times.

What I did do was beading (to try to use up some beads.)  My friend and I sat for quite a few nights working on beaded bracelets, anklets and earrings.  None of these pieces involve metal clay.  Now there is nothing wrong with beading, but I just never felt that's what I wanted to do.  (Basically I was being a beading snob.)  The reason I felt that way was the amount of beaded jewelry out there is massive.  Basically when I use beads, they are an integral part of the metal clay design.

These past few weeks my art has become a "hobby."  (I'm so ashamed!)

My vacation is over.  It's time to get back to work.  Time to get back to ART.

ART!

The main hallway into the studios was pretty drab looking.  It's a huge hallway and the lighting is dim.  Not a very inviting entry.

Down at the other end of the hallway the lighting is brighter and the artists whose studios are at that end have added little paintings to the walls here and there.  It is fun and inviting.  (Will share a photo of that area when I take one.)

So some of us at the other end decided to do something about it.  John Manders came up with the idea of creating a wall that said Art when you looked at it.  (It literally says art!)  Using left over paint from a previous project, we painted the wall purple and added the lettering.  It's something you can't miss.  Even walking by the doorway it catches the eye.  We've done one wall so far, but it's just the beginning.

The day I painted the "R" I decided to add to the corner outside my studio.  Just a little flow to lead the eye.