Clayton Hill Studio

Posted on February 28, 2014 by claytonhill

The good, the bad and the ugly …

Let’s start with the bad, cuz she’s awful darn cute: Here is Cally. She is DH’s favorite Yorkie (therefore, doubly spoiled and a COMPLETE brat!). I think I figured out why he loves her so … she has the same coloring as his beard! [Doh!]

The ugly: While on sick leave, my employer called to tell me I will be experiencing a cut in pay. She was very friendly and upbeat about it. The financial loss is the equivalent of a bit more than an entire months pay … Ouch. That’s ugly! I’m drinking wine now …

Now the good: My grandmother graduated to rehab. My sister and I visited with her, and her spirits are good! I was knitting on my Zombie hat while traveling/visiting:

I’ve made a few more bracelets and earrings. And, I played with Persian chainmaille.

I’m rolling up on 6 months smoke-free (thank goodness with my pay cut), growing skin (yay!) and surviving this snowmageddon winter! Next up … running water in my studio. [Fingers crossed!] In the meantime, I’ll keep playing with my chainmaille …

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Posted on February 23, 2014 by claytonhill

What a week ….

But first – cuteness. This is our Olivia and her daughter Tubitha (Tubby). Awww …

Now, my week. Apparently, my grandmother decided at 89 years of age that she didn’t want her gallbladder anymore. She was so insistent about not wanting it, that she started to go into septic shock. The family phone lines have been crazy-busy with updates. We had our visit time yesterday and I’m so glad to report she’s doing much better and the plan is to send her home in a few more days, if she continues to behave.

Earlier in the week, our oldest daughter ‘came home’ for a bit so we could watch over her after getting her wisdom teeth removed. She did great with the procedure/recovery, and the visit was good.

Today I’m relaxing … playing with chain maille and web surfing. While perusing Pinterest, I came upon this image, with link to this blog … It has me itching to play with pop cans again. [I’m sorry, but I don’t know who to credit for making the flower … ]

Here are some photos of my latest learning:

And my latest bracelets (byzantine with awareness ribbon, and a pink pearl shaggy bracelet):

And then I made a pair of cherry earrings, just because I can, and I live in Michigan – not far from Traverse City, and I had the beads, so … (??? … whatever. BTW – don’t you love my new model? She is not full size, so the earrings are smaller than they appear – only about an inch long.)

Meanwhile, DH is painting our family room, today. I like the new color … He’s ordered the fireplace (will go where the TV is sitting now), and we’ll be picking out carpet soon. I’m excited.

I’ll leave with the latest knitting project I’ve started. It will be another anemone hat, and I love the colorway … Zombie BBQ by Lorna’s Laces! Winking smile I’m hoping to have a less-eventful week, so I feel a little less Zombiefied. We’ll see …

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Posted on February 16, 2014 by claytonhill

Too much learning … ???

Typically, I’d say there is no such thing, but … I think I pushed it too far today.

I’ve been perusing the ‘net, getting my fill of all things beading, chainmaille and jewelry, when I stumbled on this … Now, I know artists throughout history have been inclined to use just about anything as their ‘medium’ (see post regarding Victorian hair jewelry), but I think this is a bit much (for me, personally…): Beetlewing art (at least they were gentle about it, and no beetle lost it’s life for the cause!).

Here is the bug (Sternocera aequisignata or Jewel Beetle … YES, it has pretty wings). Here is an entire ceiling, in a Belgium palace, done up in ‘elytra’ (beetle wings):

And, here is a stunning pair of earrings (that started the whole search), by a talented artist (check out her facebook page) in Croatia … Wow!!!

While I love her chainmaille, I just don’t think I’m ready for bug jewelry. And, I think I’ve learned enough today … [Stepping away from the computer – with skin feeling strangely itchy-crawly.]

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Posted on February 16, 2014 by claytonhill

Frustration …

with surgeons and teenage girls had me excessively busy with my hands this week – as I tried to keep my mouth quiet! Special thanks to my dad, who let me vent about the surgeon. If you’re not going to listen to your patient, why bother talking to them in the first place?!? … ‘Nough said!

Back to busy hands: I’m knitting with beads and really fine thread. Those are size 0 needles (glorified tooth picks) and hex beads, knit onto earrings:

And, I finished my hat:

I also continue to play with chainmaille: A moebius sample piece and a copper byzantine/glass ring bracelet …

And, finally – the finished beaded pearl bracelet:

Not even touching the teenage gripe. Chalking it up to hormones, and hoping for a better week … Umm ~ it could happen!

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Posted on February 9, 2014 by claytonhill

Just because …

This post is just because I can! And – because I have a few photos to share …

I’ve been a busy beading-ninja! I’m working on bracelets and pins/pendants and wire-wrapping, OH MY! Here are a couple of bracelets – one done and one a work-in-progress:

And, SHHHHHH – don’t tell anyone, but I’m working on a Yorkie gift for a family member (15/0 seed beads … can you say TINY and BLIND!!!):

Here are my first wire-wrapped earrings, made from sterling silver wire (because I wear so much silver!) … Anyway, not perfect, but I’m happy:

So … the completed projects together:

We’ve got some driving/appointments going on this week, so I have a quick-knit hat started:

And – last night, DH and I had date night, with the girls (my friends from grade-school/high-school) and their beau’s. We had a great time, I was reminded again of how fun life can be, and then we went to a comedy club. The tiny little tables with itty-bitty baby seats are not meant for anyone with ‘junk in their trunk’, so my fat-a$$ was killing me by the time it was over, but you know, otherwise … it was fun. The head-lining comedian was Derick Lengwenus … you can see a bit of his act here. Not necessarily kid/work appropriate, but he has what I viewed as a male-version of Meg Ryan’s scene in When Harry Met Sally that is pretty awesome! I didn’t search for it, but … funny!

I will also be spending time in my studio this week. [Yay!!!] I have a couple of projects lined up, and I have some shipping to do … so, even sans-water … watch out, here I come!

In between all of this, the twins and I have been catching up on BBC’s Sherlock (season 3), as a family-movie-night event. Very exciting season (and now available at Amazon.com, although you can watch it on-line for free)! How long before season 4, do you think???

Have a great week, y’all …

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Posted on February 6, 2014 by claytonhill

Watching grass grow …

That’s about how exciting surgical recovery is, on a day to day basis … for me. [No offense to lawn maintenance operators …] Or, more accurately, waiting for skin to grow (incisions to heal) … exciting stuff, I tell you! Or, it would be, if that’s all I had going on.

Lucky for me, I have some other interests, and THANK GOD for the internet! Here’s what I’ve been up to lately. Chain maille. Really cool stuff. And, there’s a lot of it out there, from whole outfits (move over, Fifty Shades …) to jewelry. I like the jewelry. So, I’m playing with jump rings. I made a Helms weave piece … for what, I’m not sure yet. But, I made it!

And then, I moved onto a bracelet. I want to make one with other (color) crystals/beads, but – I still like it!

I’m still knitting, but it’s hit a wall … I may or may not totally rip out what I have done on this necklace, as I (think I must have) dropped a stitch. (Second photo) While I decide what to do – it sits … (last photo is the designer’s necklace from book)

And, then there is this scarf. I like the pattern a lot! But, it’s knit in length, not width. Which means 450 stitches completes one stinking row … That is some slow moving knitting! It’ll be pretty when I get it done ~ someday …

In the meantime, with assistance (do not yell at me for over-doing, doctor!), I bottled some 5 dozen bottles of wine. So, at the end of the day – the party is at my house, since I can’t get in to my hot tub yet … Let’s see how long 5 cases of wine lasts. I think I read that wine helps skin grow, right ???

BTW – over 5 months smoke-free (applause) and still no water in my studio (WTH!?!) as we endure snowmageddon in Michigan … Time for more wine!!!

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Posted on February 1, 2014 by claytonhill

A good day …

A few good hours in the studio, and I’m one happy girl! That added to the fact that the stitches are FINALLY out, I’m healing and starting to feel human again!

So – my good day: It actually started a few days ago, when DH and I took some items to local shops, and I ‘peddled my wares’ and now they’re being sold in those stores. SWEET!

I made some quick earrings last night and today (such silly little things that make me happy) (…BTW, remember my peacock bracelet from forever ago? I finally made some earrings to go with …);

Got some photos taken for listings;

Two kilns running (here’s what I have in one – 2 special requests and an experiment);

And I’ve spent some time deciding what other projects I’m going to work on next: metal stamping, PMC, copper enameling, some quick bottle cap art, additional vinyl plotting, sand blasting and beading/wire wrapping. While trying to move the other projects forward too (special requests). Oh – I love having extra time to go through books!!!

And, I’m seriously contemplating adding a new toy (system) to the studio, and day dreaming about it too … A digitial decal system … Ohhhhhhhh, nice!!!

Now, back to being a mom with dinner duties … And talking DH into this teeny, tiny little purchase! Winking smile

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Posted on January 26, 2014 by claytonhill

Busy with baby steps …

I’m still a knitting-maniac while I wait not-so-patiently to be feeling better. Here are my latest quick-knit projects.

And, I tried my hand at chainmaille (jewelry style, of course) … I like it. So, I’ve been surfing for much needed supplies and equipment (cuz I have too much time on my hands)!

I’m also gathering supplies for beaded knitting projects (thanks to this book).

I made it out to the studio one time – for about two hours. I’m going through withdrawals! But, DH is claiming he can’t turn the water back on until our crazy cold Michigan weather warms up. (No water = no bathroom. This means I can’t hang out in the studio all day, like I want to …) The cold weather also means the (neapolitan mastiff) girls and I are having an ongoing slumber party, as it’s too cold for them too! Here they are (everyone except Izzy and Olivia – who are sleeping on the other side of the room), ‘watching TV’ with me … The snoring is amazing!

In the meantime, I’m seeing my surgeon frequently. I am hopeful the stitches can come out this week (3 wks post surgery) … we’ll see. Things are healing, just not the way the doctor predicted/outlined, which means I’m not moving as quickly as I like. Apparently, someone (me?) missed the memo about delayed wound healing and laying low … Thank goodness for internet shopping (therapy)!

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Posted on January 14, 2014 by claytonhill

Knitting central …

In between narcotic-induced drooling naps, I’m a knitting maniac. Here is my finished hat and cowl – don’t you love the model? (Lea Cloche by C Glowik MacDonald and Drop Stitch Cowl in Sausalito by S Drucing)

I had my surgery. BTW, ‘partial mastectomy with bilateral reconstruction’ is cutter (surgery) code for PAIN. I don’t know if I’m just not as tolerant (i.e. – a complete wimp) or what, but OUCH! Anyway – I’m taking my meds, drooling, napping, hopefully healing … and every now and then, I knit a bit.

Here’s my latest project (Kingston hat by H Rush). And, here is a photo of my next hat (Anemone by C Bordhi) – is that not ADORABLE??? (yeah – the baby is cute, too)

I hope to be feeling better soon, because I make a lousy patient. And, I want to be in my studio! [Stomps feet and heavy sigh] We’ll find out … I see my cutter surgeon in a couple of days.

Time to see-the-forest-through-the-trees, heal well and stop whining … Ahh – the meds are kicking in. Next up – drooling …

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Posted on January 7, 2014 by claytonhill

Knitting, candles and wine … Oh my!

Lost heat out in the studio. Darn too-small propane tank anyway! I’ve talked to DH about getting a real (house sized) one out there … maybe now is the time. It’s a balmy 44 degrees in there right now. Without water (drained the pipes in preparation for Snowmageddon). Of course! I have 3 custom orders I need to be working on!

Itsss’all good. I’ve used the time to do some knitting: hats! (BTW that invisible crown stitch was a royal PAIN!)

I made candles tonight … favorites like butterscotch, crème brule, apple cider, Caribbean punch, and watermelon cotton candy. The basement smells amazing!

And, I have some wine brewing: Raspberry Peach Sangria and Wildberry Shiraz. Next week I’ll get a white percolating (kiwi pear sauvignon, I think).

With –30 to –40 wind chills, all my pooches are inside (we have heated kennels, but not for this crazy weather) … so I have four-legged love everywhere I turn, although their favorite hangout is the kitchen. Hmmm – a lot like my two-legged family!!! Stay Warm Y’all!

BTW – 4 months smoke-free … just sayin’!

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
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5	6	7	8	9	10	11
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Clayton Hill Studio

Site of my fused glass life

The good, the bad and the ugly …

What a week ….

Too much learning … ???

Frustration …

Just because …

Watching grass grow …

A good day …

Busy with baby steps …

Knitting central …

Knitting, candles and wine … Oh my!

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