Getting Close

Cleaning areas and bringing things in and getting set up
got my basement area almost done and should be able to start lampworking again  in the house more work than I thought

cleaned up my paper area  and some kitchen area so I can set up the  niobium and the etching and start working on those items this week

so freeking cold going up to the studio and dragging stuff down - but starting to feel the pull of working in glass and metal again -

so stay tuned will be working this week to get things set up and started

Also -  Lori Anderson is starting up a new Bead Soup party for 2017 - I missed this and glad she is feeling better - its a huge job to take on coordinating but this should also help with the upmph needed to get the year started as well  cant wait to sign up !

Getting in Gear !!!!

So planning on 3 things to get done this weekend

1
gong to clean up my basement studio so I can do some lampworking when I want - its warm in the house and I need to just make sure the hoses are ok and I have a full propane tank  and clean up some cobwebs and dustbunnies

2
bringing in the niobium kits so I can make some earring wires and other things and to assemble what I already made  

3
bringing in the  etching solution and stamps as I need to make some earrings
so going to make sure I have all three stamps -to work with - have been  using two of the zentangle to make ceramic plates with


refresher on etching for earrings

if you remember I start with my 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of rubber stamp with my own zentangle images on (available on etsy) 

then I put the staz on white by patting it on - I like the white 

see image of the stamp pad (the pipe is just another thing I was doing at the time ) 

I had copper  blanks (18g) from Metalliferous 

that I cleaned and then pushed downonto the coated rubber stamp 

I did not want them too identical 

then I put them on packing tape and suspended them face down into the etching solution - 

you can fit a good few on each tape but in this case I only did 1 each - if you do put about 4 or 5 you will need to back up the tape with something solid like a nail file or  a tongue depressor to give it support - I find the dollar store files work great 

then after they have etched sufficiently 

take them off the tape and clean them up - I like a metal bursh - and split mandrel with sanpaper

now you can put holes in for earrings or pendants - shape them 

then seal them - I use the  permalac to dip them in 

so hoping to make about 20 pair this weekend 

More Paper shoes

Cant stop making these along with more petals cut on my scan n cut rather than the dies

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! Starting off 2017

I ended the day on 2016  playing with paper - at least crafting on the last day - something I should be doing
Using my Scan N Cut  I cut out milk carton patterns and decorated them along with a tote to put them in

then on New Years Day 

I found a cute shoe pattern I've wanted to do 

and made up two - Had great fun ! Hopefully this means ending and starting I'll get going on some new projects in glass and metal as well 

Papercrafts -

Still having lots of fun with Papercrafts - using dies, stamps and my Scan N Cut machine
Tags, cards, and other embellishments - the cutting machine is fantastic - I can make  some stencils for etching and using in my rolling mill a very versatile machine

6" Buffer Deal at Princess Auto

Princess Auto has a great deal on a ^" table top mount buffer
no converting  grinders  - a pretty great deal if you ask me - I ran and picked one up at lunch

Year End update

I was reviewing  my posts for this year - a pretty disappointing 70  compared to over 130 min previous years  and 2013 with over double that

I really didnt get much done this year - although I did have a great summer with my grandchildren

Mid year I started with paper crafts having a ball with making cards and starting to work on some scrap booking

My new items for this year included the new  tempered glass plates which were a hit
More wine bottle cheese trays and making more ceramic pattern plates for melting the bottles on
The new Northern Ice candles were also a hit but just not enough time to make more than the first set of prototypes

Hmmm maybe I did do something this year ... three new products and all big sellers


I did a couple more fairs so did about 5  this year  I hope to do about 8 next year

I did a master class for Metal forming which was truly  invigorating

I have some new ideas for next year and may start working on them soon
I really need that UMPH to get going for next year

Hpefully Jan 1st I'll get my act together and start something new