Clayton Hill Studio

Posted on January 28, 2016 by claytonhill

First time this year …

I finally have all three kilns running! Spoon rests, night lights, bowls/plates galore!

And, I did a little painting tonight. We’ll see what the kiln gods think … but I like what I have started. I didn’t care for the diluted bubbles the necessary shims made in my last attempt, so now I’ve added a whole bunch, to make it look like it’s a part of the design … Maybe … I hope … We’ll see …

I have something else I want to try for this flower plate, but for now she’s waiting for her turn in the kiln.

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 23, 2016 by claytonhill

Surrounded by my family …

How could it be bad? Did I pull off ‘Martha Stewart’? Maybe … in moments … doesn’t matter! We had a great celebration and I love these people!

Merry Christmas 2015. Happy 49th Birthday to DH … Bring on Jamaica, 2016!

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 22, 2016 by claytonhill

Home Stretcchhh …

Whew, praise Jesus! We are all gonna make it! I could gripe about the trauma and drama involved with keeping one spousal unit and two teenage kids on task; or describe the frantic knitting and then felting escapade (had to wash those slippers FIVE times to finally get them the same and correct size!); or even the madness marathon with my color laser printer/Windows 10/and one evil and completely unhelpful Staples employee – that eventually ended in my successful ability to outmaneuver printer settings – but it was total touch and go there for hours!

Nope … not getting into it! Instead – I will show you the 3 (that’s right, count them THREE!) custom cabochons for badge reels of the adorable Miss Lucy {Yorkie}, which are currently finishing off a fire polish round in the kiln.

I just have some final gifts to wrap, a cake to bake and a couple of counters to scrub, with almost 18 hours to spare. HAHAHAHAHAAAA! I win. And, I am getting entirely too old for this sh*t! [But, everyone gets a bit of hand-made me for Christmas … heavy sigh!]

Thank goodness for puppy breath, as these adorable faces saved my sanity throughout the week!

Enjoy your Friday everyone … I know I will! Oh yeah – MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 16, 2016 by claytonhill

OMGosh–Why do I do this to myself?

Jeeze Louise! I’m nuts! [I KNOW!!!] But still … We’re less than a week out from Christmas II, and I’ve got so much to do! It’s okay. Deep breath. We’ll get there. So, while we are keeping up with two high school seniors (Oy Vay!), 4 week old puppies (soo cute!), our four-legged gang, and Mom’s Kitchen … I attended ANOTHER mandatory weekday work class [Grrrr!], DH is repainting parts of the house [Why NOW, honey? Cuz it needs doing … OK!], and I’m frantically knitting (x2), beading, chain-mailing, dye-subbing and ‘glassing’. Oh, and internet shopping. It’s all good. I still have 6 more days before the next deadline …

But, here’s my knitting: One of Grandpa’s (ginormous, waiting to be felted) slippers. The fact that I RAN OUT of black wool, and I’m waiting for the package to arrive so I can finish the second slipper … well, it can’t be helped – so I’m not going to stress it. And, my Dad’s scarf – okay, that picture was from yesterday, and I’ve successfully double knitted through the end pattern (so there are two storm troopers in between some 3+ feet of scarf now) … I’m 15 rows and fringe-on-both-ends away from being done!

Just need a few more items to arrive via USPS, UPS and Fed-Ex; a bit of quality time with my printers; a solid block in the studio; maybe a cooperative weekend in the ER … and I’m golden!

No, wait! I’m golden anyway (or soon will be) … The tickets are purchased – and ‘Paradise’ is on the menu! Yep – that’s why I do this!

(In between all the mad-hatter-ness – I have received a Christmas present from me: A new work jacket – here’s a photo of the back … I like it!)

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 8, 2016 by claytonhill

Still No Studio Time …

But – I have a bedroom, and a BED!!! And, a new desk for our bedroom ~ gotta love Craigslist! (The desk is on the ‘sitting room’ side of our room, and not yet ready for pictures … but it’s coming along. A few more days, and I should have a living room, dining room and entryway again, too! SWEET!)

While I’m not in love with the comforter, I can live with it for a bit. I keep telling DH we’re getting in touch with our ‘Greek’ side (~it’s SO GOLD!!!) … Anyway. In between moving all that stuff, cleaning and rearranging, I’ve been knitting. Here’s the ‘Market Tote’ – so far; And, my double knitting. It will be a scarf, complete with storm troopers, someday …

I’ll leave with a quick pic of one of our pups, three weeks old today and getting cuter by the minute! Since they’re all sleeping now, I think I will too – cuz I have a bed again! G’night y’all!

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 4, 2016 by claytonhill

Welcome 2016 …

A good Christmas, a good New Year’s Eve, and work-weekend one (of 52) down*… I like it! [* – and that’s all I have to say about Weekend Wrap Up/ER nursing today, while I ruminate and mentally readjust!]

Plus … I have a beautiful family; Flooring is complete in my bedroom (which means we’re only like a week away from HAVING a use-able bedroom again … SWEET!!!); I’m cooking and reading and knitting … So, I have photos:

Christmas morning with my two-legged ‘housemates’ (DH and the Twins); Gus, in his new ‘bad to the bone’ sweater, weighing in at 2 lbs 3 oz, BTW; And my new master bedroom flooring:

A coworker told me about a book that he has … so I ordered one too! Oh my goodness – I love this book! Except for the ‘breakfast chapter’ (~ I don’t like breakfast foods … I know, it’s an odd ‘birth defect’) … I’ve read the whole book! Awesome facts/tips, some great-looking recipes, and at less than $28 on Amazon – I’m so glad I got it!

Meanwhile, I made a huge pot of my favorite potato soup, starting with a lovely herb & spice broth base from the Christmas ham bone!

I’m teaching myself continental knitting (see dish cloth photo) and two-handed knitting (for double knitting – picture to come), while also working on a market tote from Darn Good Yarns, with recycled chiffon ribbon – kind of like this, but with these colors:

Next up: Time in the studio(!) as I am experiencing glass-withdrawal symptoms; Squishy-faced puppy photos; And … … … ??? …

We’ll be having Christmas 2015 II (AKA ‘Dad Christmas’) here in a few weeks, so I do have some shopping to do, a menu to plan, and things to make … Lets go 2016!!!

Leave a Comment

Posted on December 23, 2015 by claytonhill

Two days before Christmas … and Still Movin’

… ‘Cuz there’s no choice … And, I wouldn’t have it any other way! [Deep Breath!] So, here’s what we’ve got:

‘Twas two days before Christmas and all through the house, all you can hear is the snoring of 9 brand new mice puppies! Yep, we have babies! Born on Friday, already growing by leaps and bounds, and Momma (not in any kind of kerchief) is doing great! (And loving on her babies, gobbling up her high calorie foods – and watching me every time I move towards the kitchen … )[Which also meant this past ER nursing weekend was super-fun-crazy: Keeping up with my (home) crew, the ER (staff) gang, and all of the ‘lets-get-ready-for-full-moon-Christmas’ patients … soo NOT talking about the Emergency Department ANY MORE this week!!!]

All of this means DH totally didn’t think through the timing of (cosmetically) gutting our bedroom. He installed new crown moulding with fancy mood lighting – (OH, pretty! …) and now we’re on HOLD. So, things like the mattress and headboard and boxes and … STUFF – are sitting in my open entry/living/dining rooms – complete with Christmas trees … for the next several weeks! Nope, Martha never had a holiday gathering with these fine decorations – Just Sayin’ … [No photo of entry yet, but here is the master bedroom ~ with fancy lighting, missing furniture, and no new flooring …]

I’ve knit my hat; And, the studio kilns are still producing: Memorial pendants made and delivered; the spoon rests are running now (photo to come); baked up a few more ornaments for the shop [photo: dog-themed ornaments] …

Stumbled (OK, technically FacedBooked … ?) on a new photo app (Super Photo ), and I’m patiently waiting for a chance to play with these images and glass:

And, I tried a new (to me) recipe – Stracciatella Soup (like here – where I used up left-over veggies and turkey stock – onion, carrot, chick peas, spinach and kale – and anything else that called out to me from the fridge …), thanks to my oldest childhood friend – HLWLG – and LOVED IT! (Why she kept it a secret from me all these years, I don’t know!) DH and Lil Sis love it too, so, ya know – no left-over soup for me … Sad smile

I will finish up Christmas shopping (~ I KNOW!!!) and wrapping tomorrow [umm – later today …], so that Christmas baking and celebrating can commence … in T-32 hours – along with pup watch, kiln watch and … Every-Other-Else …

I’ll leave with an AMAZING piece of mosaic art by J.Perkins … in case I don’t make it back to in time to wish all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Leave a Comment

Posted on December 17, 2015 by claytonhill

Moving on …

I am happy to say that I am moving on from my day-walking TNCC re-certification nightmare. The fact that I passed, got to tell my daughter her mama got an ‘A’, and – you know – get to keep my job … well that part’s all gravy!

So, I’m back in my studio, inspectandpalpating the glass … No wait! Cutting and firing the glass – yep, that’s it! Here’s my latest tapestry piece ready for a second firing:

I’ve got spoon rests in the works, along with more Santa ornaments and a few special memorial pendants to keep my studio kilns warm.

And, because Christmas is one week away, DH has gutted our bedroom in preparation for painting, new flooring and crown molding. It’s such a perfect time for that! [NOT!] Oh well … so much for the Martha Stewart image this year!

But, since it is that time of year, I recently made a ‘splurge’ purchase. Look at this gorgeous yarn from Hand Maiden – and with a name like ‘Lady Godiva’ – it was meant to be mine! Winking smile

Leave a Comment

Posted on December 11, 2015 by claytonhill

Trauma is serious business …. but wine is better!

I understand that trauma is serious – critical even. But Jeeze-Louise … After spending some 10 hours (starting in the very bright and early [0600] AM) with a few ENA (Emergency Nurse Association)-cloned TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Course) over-the-top instructors … Yuck! Just YUCK. Words like Evil Nazi Arses started to float around in my head. When one of the instructors said for the third time, “You must say ‘inspectandpalpate’ – like it is one word [or you will fail]” … I was over it.

And, lucky me – I get to go back for more next week. But, I have wine. Sixty new bottles all corked and ready to roll. Yep … that’s better!

So for now, I’m not even thinking about inspecting or palpating (let alone inspectandpalpate-ing) … I’m prepping for Christmas, knitting a hat right now. This pattern in these colors:

And, then I’m going to play in my studio with dichro and stringers and frit. And make tapestry bowls and night lights. And THEN, I’m going to have a ‘date night’ with DH, play some pool (billiards) before I even think about anything trauma-like or nurse-y or emergency department-ish. SO THERE! Smile with tongue out

Leave a Comment

Posted on December 2, 2015 by claytonhill

Canadian Flu ….

AKA – the CRUD that keeps on giving! Some time ago I posted about a URI (cold) that I had. I still have it. It has been renamed, to give credit to its maker. Yep, about 6 weeks ago, I worked with a particular nursing team that passed along this amazing virus, while they sniffled and coughed (spewing bits of renegade germs everywhere). Every time I think I have it beat, it rears up to show me who’s boss! I worked with the same crew this past weekend. And guess what’s come to visit again!?! [Yes, one of my coworkers is Canadian. She seems friendly enough – but, apparently, she’s part of some evil plot! Who knew?!? Winking smile ]

In between moments of fighting an internal viral war, I had a busy weekend. Just got to love long holiday weekends in the ER, where a nurse can do any all of the following: Argue (between the lines) with a practitioner (or two); uncover hidden behavioral medicine complaints; care for the dying (and the dozen or so accompanying family members) in an SRO ER; act as the resident MSW; preauthorize admission with an insurance company; care for toddlers who start screaming before you enter the room and will not stop until you leave; explain to a family member (adult child) why it’s not possible to provide a [hair] wash & style in the ED just now; Etcetera … etcet… CALGONNNN – take me away!

So, now it’s Tuesday (OK – technically the wee hours of Wednesday). I’ve crash-hibernated and feel I beat the virus back down … for the moment. Now I can get on with my week: Bottling 3 cases of wine, firing up all three kilns, playing with a few stamp and stencil glass designs, squeeze in a much-needed manicure, and scratch this ‘knitting itch’ … Yep, it’s that time of year. I have an order (or two) of skeins of yarn on the way and some infinity scarves calling my name … Oh, and wrap and send out glass packages – Thank You Clayton Hill Studio shoppers!!! Only 23 days until Christmas everyone …