Clayton Hill Studio

Posted on April 7, 2016 by claytonhill

Grand Opening, a Give-Away … and more!

So, the official grand-opening is this Saturday 4/9/16. But wait, there is more … we will have a ribbon-cutting/media-covered/grand-opening again on 4/16/16 – with door prizes. Here are my contributions:

To sum up (champagne and cupcakes on both days):

“ZEN ARTISAN BOUTIQUE – Grand Opening 4/9/16 – come and see!
108 E Grand River, Howell MI
This Saturday the 9th is our grand opening! Cocktail reception 12-2, store hours 10-6! Complimentary swag bags, champagne & cupcakes! Then the following saturday the 16th is our ribbon cutting with the Howell Chamber of Commerce at 11:00! Door prizes, pink champagne, mini cupcakes and music! Life is good!”

So, come and see us on 4/9/16 … So many products to see and new items will continue to be added:

Meanwhile, I continue to play in the studio – right now with hot cabs, snap jewelry and more night lights … [Nite-lite photos to come …]

And, as always, I play with pups – who are 6 weeks old and ‘dripping’ with cuteness!

Leave a Comment

Posted on March 31, 2016 by claytonhill

The Shop, Empty-Nesters and …

This year’s “When you can’t go to Glass Expo” experiments: Playing with frits and temperature. Here are tonight’s tiny tiles ready for the kiln, along with some fired pieces.

Meanwhile, DH and I spent a few hours at the shop, working on our displays. It’s all coming together, and the boutique is full of so many great artists/products! The official grand opening is April 9th – so mark your calendars …

And, as ‘empty-nesters’ (while the Twins are in Florida on Spring break) – it’s just us and the pups … and lots of squishy-faced love! Winking smile

Leave a Comment

Posted on March 23, 2016 by claytonhill

I love it …

When my plotter and I are in sync! Working on pendants, night lights, ornaments and bowls … These are weeded and ready to apply. I have a few ideas for sun-catchers and a mobile – we’ll see.

When my kilns are running double time: Night lights and nite-lights and more …

When the count-down begins … Less than two weeks for the tentative Zen Artisan Boutique grand-opening … So much to do. Don’t panic. I have a few more display items coming in from California and Illinois … I hope to ‘set up shop’ this week! OMGosh!

When we have picture day with the pups. My little buggers are four weeks old now, loving the ‘gruel’, think DH is pretty cool when he plays the guitar for them, and listen to every word I say – like it’s some magical, musical voice. Awww!

And – these, along with a few other designs, arrived today. Originally designed for the ceramic artist … time to see what a kiln-formed-glass-girl can do with them. Cute!

Leave a Comment

Posted on March 17, 2016 by claytonhill

I’ve done it now …

Nothing to do, but … Um, actually there’s lots to do! I’ll keep you updated as we bump along on this exciting ride of ‘boutique artisan’ partner … And, I’ll let you know what my friendly tax accountant has to say about my latest shenanigans. But, for now … Holy cow, just … Wow!

DH is being helpful and supportive. We needed to add some display furniture, so he’s been traveling about lower Michigan all week picking up cabinets, shelving and armoires (oh my!) – gotta love craiglist! And thanks to our youngest son, who lent some heavy-lifting/labor support … those items are now in the shop! Here are some early photos. Still lots to be done, but it’s moving full-steam ahead. The plan is for an April opening … (Just – wow!!!)

So, back in the studio, I have a bit of work going: A new size/shape to the night lights are making their way out of the kiln in small batches (along with my sand dollar ‘bowl’). The focal/image hot cabs are moving forward. I’m prepping a few new molds for upcoming pieces, and I’m working through some design ideas that will incorporate Zen symbols and verre églomisé techniques (à la P.Pettigrew-Stewart style/teaching) … in between some custom orders (no photo).

Next up – squishy face puppy pics. And, we absolutely must start the tax prep. I mean it this time, no more slacking! Winking smile

Leave a Comment

Posted on March 11, 2016 by claytonhill

As promised – updates …

Studio news – My enamels have arrived. [Yay!!] And, I’ve been a little productive – a few photographs taken for upcoming shop listings (like the Hot Air Balloon Spoon hotairballoons-spoonrest Rest!). I also did some overcooking in the kiln (lots of ‘dog-boning’ on this tapestry dish) … but I like it!; Made a few Psychology symbol cabs, only to realize I had the wrong orientation (need diamond shape, not horizontal – DOH!); And, I have a new tapestry piece – currently placed on iridized teal … just might try it and see what we get. We’ve also made more hot cabs, received a new night light mold, and I might just play with wine bottle lamps … maybe … We’ll see …

In between all of that, I have ‘squishy-faced’ love. The pups have opened their eyes and are opening their ears (- which means lots of yipping, growling, barking, cooing, howling and yapping – quickly followed by a startled jump … “Who goes there? Who made that noise???”)! My babies are growing by leaps and bounds, and Momma B is eating, maintaining and healing. We will introduce the pups to gruel next week, as they will be ready for more ‘sustenance’ – and my ‘mother of 9’ could use a break!

I’ve done some baking/cooking. We tried the Pina Colada cake. I like it warm, but doubt that we will make again. Then we tried a soup – Sausage, Spinach and White Bean. Love it – although I didn’t take a home-grown photo of it. (It’s a crockpot recipe – so easy and good!) Made a 3 pound meat-loaf, my way! This means no actual recipe – just combining all left-overs from the fridge (like Bush’s beans, Mac-n-cheese, baked potatoes and the rest of a Papa-provided industrial-size bag of potato chips) with onions, spices, sauces and ground sausage, turkey and beef. Amazing – and the meat loaf sandwiches are sinful! I hit the gold again – according to my family – with this recipe (Asian Noodle Soup, and my photo), adjusted with home made chicken stock and added mushrooms … YUM! So, all are well fed in my house this week.

I meet with the ‘brick & mortar boutique’ folks later today. I’m pretty excited!

My two-legged offspring are gearing up for Senior Spring Break – which equates to lots of hours working at their jobs … (hence the easy-to-reheat meals,) and an upcoming week of quasi-‘empty-nester’ syndrome for the DH and I … Should be interesting …

No weekend-wrap-up ER-nurse stories this week, as I am unwilling to relive the drama. Suffice it to say that all got good care and I am comfortable knowing how to do my job well. Also, no tax prep completed – doh! So it tops the list for next week … Uggghh!

1 Comment

Posted on March 5, 2016 by claytonhill

A few nights of studio playtime

Had a custom request conversation that has me playing in the studio. First to make a large ‘hot cab’ and then to add a decal/screen printing area within … So, while it’s not in the requested colors – the first trial is working. I wish I could fully capture the cool reaction around the vanilla insert, but trust me … it’s awesome and vivid and SWEET! (Talking about the cab on the right … the one on the left was a ‘mash-up’ of hot cab ‘failures’, now in an organic shape – kinda neat!). And the ‘before’ photo with a couple of other experiments.

Stumbled on a new tutorial, so I had to give it a try. As it’s my first attempt, I downsized it to a 7 inch bowl. The backside (lilac) and the front side, enameled with powder and now back in the kiln. The tutorial creator calls it the sand dollar technique. Hmm … I like it! And, I have a few ideas … DOH!

Another custom request has me playing with dichro and the psychology symbol, along with a few other trial pieces. They’ll be cooking in the kiln for round 3.

I’m still behind on photography and spoon rests, but … it’ll happen. In the meantime, with the “2016 fused glass scare” upon us and brat that I am – I just placed an order for way more glass than I ever should have (as I have NO IDEA where I’m going to store it, let alone the amount of money I spent) … but, you know – ‘desperate times/desperate measures’ … or something like that. And, in the event of actual permanent loss of certain glass colors, I decided to add another full line of enamels to my collection. Yep, I am a soon to be proud owner of the Color Line collection. Doh! Don’t tell DH!

And lastly, I’m doing some serious mental deliberation as I consider the pros and cons of joining a brick and mortar art boutique … Oh, I am so tempted and nervous and worried and excited and … DIZZY! Smile So, I’ll take a time-out while I go back to my day job work! Winking smile

Up next: Cute, squishy-faced puppy pictures, some serious tax preparation, trialing a new recipe or two … and hopefully a bit more studio time. Have a safe and happy weekend everyone! See ya on the flip-side (umm, yeah – that means Monday, or sometime later next week – after an ER 12 hour night weekend nursing tour!)!

Leave a Comment

Posted on February 27, 2016 by claytonhill

Winter Wonderland and New Arrivals …

Makes for a full week! On Tuesday, DH and I helped our Vet bring nine new pups into the light. Always so amazing … Now with 3 days under our belt, Blondie and babes are settling into a nice routine of ‘life on the outside’ … and pups are growing BY THE MINUTE!

Fortunately for us, this was all before Michigan was blasted with some 8-10 inches of snow. Pretty, but based on the number of car accidents reported … no fun to drive in.

So, I didn’t make it to my favorite glass supplier this week, which kind of stinks. With the environmental mess going on in Oregon, fused glass pricing is sky rocketing and availability dwindling … Ouch!

On a positive note – I will leave with a quick-pic family portrait. That would be Zeus and Isabella, proud parents of Xena. Not such a flattering photo of mom, but it’s hard to look glamorous when you have a kid climbing around on your head! Winking smile

And, since there is no rest for the wicked – I will leave the nursery and studio for a weekend of ER fun in … T-18 hours… Oh Vay, I mean YAAYY!!!

Leave a Comment

Posted on February 18, 2016 by claytonhill

Settling …

Back into routine after momentarily escaping. While I didn’t take any good photos in paradise – I did catch this neat one about 20,000 feet above Florida …

So now I’ve been returned to my spot in the world, to successfully keep all sorts of plates spinning in the air. The plates that are struggling at the moment would be the teenage roommates in my home … They seem to think they’re still on break, with nothing to do but text/watch TV/play videogames while waiting for someone to announce their meal is waiting … Hmm … I’m cutting them some major slack, but we are quickly running out of extra rope around here!

It’s all good! I had a fun escape, my liver survived the stress test, and I have super cute pups to keep me going. Here’s a quick pic of Xena, Anvil and Gordy. Love those squishy faces.

And, I have a pregnant mom that needs me. In and out of the kitchen, to and from the fridge for special snacks, please. Oh, and lots of potty breaks – as those four- legged neonates bounce upon her bladder. We’re about 7 days away from D-day!

When all are sleeping, I escape to the studio … Up next would be a couple of experiments mixed in with another spoon rest or two; I have a few ideas involving mesh melts, along with trying B.Leatherbarrow’s crackle techniques; throw in a few custom cabochon requests, a photo-shoot session or two, and I should have enough to keep me out of trouble.

I’m also trying to master Windows 10 (grrr!), while backing up every piece of data I’ve ever owned. And I’m back to ER nursing on the weekends … saving lives one ‘cold and flu’ case at a time!

Leave a Comment

Posted on February 3, 2016 by claytonhill

What a week!

And it’s only Wednesday … Oy Vay! Woke up from my ‘nap’ on Monday to find my main/house computer dying. So, I spent most of Tuesday trying to fix it, before accepting probable death and sending it off to the repair store to (hopefully) retrieve several years worth of documents, contacts and photos … DOH! [Lesson learned: backing info up only helps if you routinely, ACTUALLY do BACK IT UP …]

Little Sis and I got new hairdos, with her being bold and kind, whacking off ~12-14 inches to donate. Her new do is cute and sassy, and will take me a bit to get used to …

We lost power last night due to the high winds … So when I finally made it out to the studio today, I discovered the non-functioning monitor to the studio computer – fried from the power surge … Grrr!

I have two kilns running now, as my coffin load waits for a few more items before starting it’s slumping firing … Here’s my poppy plate with reverse painted edges … Hmmm. And, I decided to try another stamp painting – this one on papyros. I hope to fire it tomorrow, maybe … we’ll see.

Lots to do before the weekend. The good news – one of those things is bottling another 3 cases of wine. Oh YEAH! I am ready for some wine!

1 Comment

Posted on January 30, 2016 by claytonhill

Waiting … and playing

While I wait for my production kiln to ‘spit out’ the last paintings, I’m playing with night lights, finger bowls, spoon rests and tapestry. I am loving my studio! I want to make more and more and more …

Crap! … I have work coming up (Dog-gone it!…). But, DH had us down in Detroit earlier this week, at some Federal building – very, VERY early in the A.M. (– I still feel crummy from it), and now he says we have new passports. (I’m pretty sure that’s good!) And, through it all, I have incredibly cute puppies! So, now I have to work. Time to change hats for another weekend of ER nursing fun! (Did I mention we have REALLY cute puppies?!?)