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4 Days on the torch- but a short one

Yes I made my way up to the very cold studio - 4 days in a row - I must keep at it - if I do it every day I wont make excuses - 31F° 0C° could see my breath - a bit too cold ? yes - I put two heaters towards me but still a bit chilly
only did two beads before giving up - I forgot the body lentil press for the cat bodies in the basement so that took my focus away as well - was raining this morning so did not go up to the studio to retrieve the two beads - tonight for sure and will post - were supposed to be on a warming trend - rainy but warmer - weekend some sun - so will keep at it.

I did get some new toys to play with -

Pancake dies (feather) from Potters USA

I just have to set up the press and I can use my new pancake dies - Rosemary's Clay - has pretty much the same additions as I do so I keep my eyes open for any new toys she gets to see the results - if you havnt visited - take the time to go to: Rosemary's Clay amazing things to see !

If I get time I'll be posting some fresh etched copper 3x4 sheet on etsy today

3 Days on the Torch - The start of a trend - I hope

Yes another trip to the Studio last night - I have in my mind that I must go every day now
The temp was warmer - a toasty 51F ° or close to 11C ° that's about 10 whole degrees warmer than the weekend - plus I have a heater in the vicinity of where I am sitting - plus sweater and fleece top

Last night I had a bit of a plan - then ran off as my daughter needed me to readjust her satellite dish
Almost just went into the house ......but

Then back to the studio where I turned everything on and started - I wanted to see what the yellow color looked like so made a sample bead - then off on a tangent of 7 Fat Cat - kitty heads - tonight hope to make matching bodies - I want to make at least 25 by the weekend and then I can move onto 10 - Fat Cat - Fat Paddy's

Two Days in a Row - Lampworking - new record for this year !

O yes I took myself back up to the studio last night - was chilly again - turned on the heater close to me and sat and torched - and yet again - my mind was blank - I need to go to the mini studio in the basement and bring up some things - like my main mandrels , dipping tray and dip to make more mandrels up as well as some other tools I took down

but I did a few last night -nothing special - again just practicing and got bored with the big lentil - so no decoration

Actually Lampworked on Sunday ! Yeah

Proof that I sat down and torched for a little while - I keep saying I need to carry a little book with me to write down what I wan to do next time I sit at the torch - cuase iit seems I have all these great things I want to do - then I sit down and my mind goes blank ! I did a few things - they are soaking and waiting for me to come home - ran up to the studio at 6:15 this morning to turn off the kiln and grab the beads - really didnt get to see what they turned out like

Copper Etched Neck Bangle, Copper Corset Ring

After Easter breakfast and dropping off Easter goodies to the grandkids - I came back to the studio - I put the heaters on before I left - it was till cool- 44 F or almost 7 C -
Worked on the etched collar some more - still trying to think of how I want to finish - maybe some wire wrapping - dangles - not sure - kept hammering at it to shape it - decisions decisions

Then I decided time to get on the torch - and worked for a couple of hours on some beads
I put a small heater near my legs to keep warm - not too bad - but going to keep working in the studio if I can this week no matter what the weather - I needed to practice and figure out what I want to do in the way of beads for finished necklaces and bracelets

Then I decided I wanted to make a copper corset ring - so proto time again - cut up a scrap piece of copper, hammered and put some holes into it - annealed - - a bit messy but next one will be better - a little straighter on the weaving

More Etch Copper and Working on the Etched Copper Neck Bangle

Finished the 3 x 4 copper etched pieces for an order and to put up on etsy

I put the necklace into the etching solution

after its out and washed

cleaned up with the dremel and sand paper

started bending with just my fingers - the 24g is very malleable

tomorrow I"ll figure out what to do next with it - this is the proto for the neck bangle design

could have dangles just dont know yet

but at least I got into the studio between babysitting, easter shopping - I got more done in last two days than probably all winter

Friday was a good day at the studio - etching copper sheet

What an absolutely lovely day - and made my way to the studio to start to do some more clean up
My daughter came and got the washer and dryer that were at the front area- freeing up some more room to move around

while doing that I decided to etch the copper sheets I needed for an order and to put up on etsy
so I got my sheets that I had cut the other day, and flattened
sheets are cut 3" x 4"

I used hot hot water and soap and used a scrubby to clean the oils that were on from the manufacture of the roll and my fingers

once cleaned - handle only by the edges as you dont want any oils from your fingers (although they were clean during the cleaning processing )

Next I need to stamp using my zentangle full size rubber stamps - available on etsy

the stamps are about 8-1/2 x 11"

In this case its my sheet pattern #2

I use the Staz-On white (only by preference the other Staz-on work as well )

I buy the kit that has extra ink as it does dry out quickly and you use a lot when stamping the large stamp

Once on then carefully apply the 3 x 4 sheet of copper hold down tight - try not to shift it - and I push all round the edges with one hand while the other holds in place - the stamp pad ink is sticky so as you push down it tends to hold in place

then when ready to pull up - hold down one corner and pick up from opposite corner and lift carefully

clean up is easy I use some thinner - to clean up - this is my original stamp from a few years ago

dont worry if you get any fingerprints on the back while stamping - that will clean off later

set to dry

Next is apply the packing tape - I got the 3" wide from uline that I find does not leave as much glue as others - so easier clean up later

I apply and then put into etching solution- The glass tray is on a dollar store cookie sheet that sits on an electric grill - set to WARM - cant have it too high

this solution is from last year and I cleaned out the old material and heated it back up - I put in some fresh - not much - once heated I put in the pieces for etching