Ahhhh … Paradise!
‘Nuff said … 😉
Clayton Hill Studio
Site of my fused glass life
Uh Oh …
I just ‘attended’* another glass class … A new technique – and now the ideas are flowing! It’s not my fault … DH gave me the ‘go ahead’ – so that makes it more his fault than mine, don’t’cha think? Just a FEW supplies needed … 
I may get my studio addition AND a glass furnace (‘glory hole’ – for glass blowing) yet!
*Glass Patterns webinars … no travel required.
Ahhh … Friday
Brings about the end of another week … but a good week. A few things from the studio: New slumped bottle, “Cocktail”; more boiled blanks – I’m still working out the tweaks, but I like them, while slowly building up to a load (for the coffin) of [eventual] bowls and what not; and I tried my hand at silicone mold making … Hmm, I wonder if it will work as I hope?
Did a coffin-load of bottle slumping. I was excited about this – a red Raspberry Absolut bottle. It didn’t appear to be ‘coated’, so I had hopes it would stay red after slumping … Oops – NO JOY! And – most of the white enamel (lettering) burned off too. Bummer! The rest of my bottles faired well, though.
As a special Friday surprise – I was honored with a feature on a fellow crafter’s site: Krafty Max Originals … Thanks KM! And so – to round out our Friday (and Lent, I suppose, although we’re Baptist) – we’ll be having Fish Fry for dinner, thanks to our local Catholic church. Yum!
An evening with the twins, pooches and DH before we roll into the weekend … 
Another Deadline Met …
And now, we can close the books on Christmas 2012. It was touch and go there for a bit, as DH and I were struggling to get to the bottom of the punch list, while enlisting the aid of our ALL-TOO-EAGER teenage offspring. But we made it, had a fun family evening and my Martha Stewart image is maintained for a bit longer. And, everyone loved their homemade gifts – my step-mom cried over her Lucy present. Awww …
So, with a clean house I can move on to other projects (like my messy studio) and take a quick breather before the next deadline … ‘PARADISE’ – which will be quickly followed by ‘Close of Tax Season 2012’, 
‘Catch up on Work Competencies, part 86’ and whatever else life throws my way. But it’s good – right now we’ve earned a break (yeah, OK, I’m writing this before I head off to 24 hours of weekend ER nursing fun – so technically DH has earned a break) … Yep, it’s all good.
Time to get ready for work …
Busy … what else is new
WWU: I love this* … it so appeals to the sarcastic me. Oh how I wish we could implement it at work. I’m including a copy from the internet, as I don’t know who to credit for this brilliance! (I saw a printed copy being passed around at work … if you know – please tell me.) *BTW – the explanations are PERFECT – a must read! 
As to other WWU – I may or may not share some later. I had some interesting cases, did some good work, and struggled through some annoyance (DARN 20-somethings, anyway!) … But, we have a busy week ahead. Getting new carpet later today in our freshly painted rooms (living room, stairs, hallway), a few meetings (DARN SANE!), some deadlines to meet, chores to be done. This won’t leave much time for the studio … But –I am working on this: A glass rendition of my parents Yorkie, Lucy. Here’s the tweaked photo and here is what’s cooking in the kiln now. Fingers crossed …
Full Moon, Fractured, Floundering … equals Frustration
As I drove to work this past weekend and finally laid eyes on the very low in the sky VERY FULL moon, I found myself repeating ‘Crap … Crap … SHOOT!’ on the whole drive in … Where the full moon weekend, along with crazy weather, made it’s presence known. Fractured minds was the focus. From established diagnoses to newer, lesser-accepted complaints – the amount of energy-expenditure (on behalf of my patients, and thus me) was … noteworthy – and bothersome! I’m still thinking about it (the science behind it, and the day to day reality – both to the patients, families and the nurses that care for them) …
Then I came back to my ‘haven’ … home and my studio. I’m having a rough week (or two). The ideas are bubbling over, so quickly that I can’t seem to grab hold of one long enough to play. So – I’m scouring the ‘net, and adding to those ideas. I ALMOST feel manic at times … Which is when I tell myself that idea gathering isn’t nutty.
Anyway … all of this leaves me frustrated! But, it’s okay. I’ve got other stuff going on: The living room is painted, new carpet will be installed on Monday; I’m gathering new recipes to try like a wild-woman; I’ve found a Netflix series to start and catch up on (it’s called ‘Being Human’, ironically enough); and I’m fumbling in the studio … I’m still fighting feelings of frustration – a lack of focus combined with a need to CREATE! But, I’m working through it. I have a [pitiful] few examples to share:
I read an art/glass blog (5 years worth) this week, and I understand that ideas pause, pulse(!), fluctuate and move into other directions – add to it that life continues, and I get it … I’m moving in a forward direction, at my own pace, while life influences combine with deadlines, chores and responsibilities.
I’ll leave with a quick pic of one of those responsibilities … The Yorkie pups are 2 weeks old today – cute little buggers.
Birthdays, chores and studio news
Happy Birthday to DH! And to celebrate his special day … we’re painting the living room. Two tons of fun, let me tell you. But we’ll be having Christmas (with my dad) here in just a little bit, so we’ve got to get busy! Good thing I love a challenge.
Speaking of challenges – with this cold weather we’re currently ‘enjoying’ … Brrrr! … my water pipes are frozen in the studio. DH has his furnace (in the downstairs of the barn) on now, trying to thaw ‘em out.
Meanwhile, I finished my Maggie panel. I would mat and frame it, but all of those supplies are currently behind my living room furniture … DOH! Maybe next week.
And, I’ve played with some freeze-n-fuse pieces. Tried to get tricky and put glow powder on top of the moon/sun … didn’t work – oops! But overall, I like it and my head is spinning with ideas.
The Yorkie babies turn one week old tomorrow. They’re doing great as they adjust to life on the outside (- and Mom too). We’ve still got a long way to go, but I feel so much better once we get that first week ‘under our belt’. It will be a couple more weeks yet before they open their eyes and several months as they grow out their hair … so they’re still looking very much like ‘doberman mice’ …
In honor of the ‘Old Guy’ – we’ll take him to our favorite family restaurant for dinner tonight. It might lessen the pain of aging (when he sees his birthday discount on the bill) … 
My little Peanut …
Playing with frit again. Here’s a tweaked picture of my Maggie Rose – from a few years ago, before she got chubby. [The poor girl has so many nicknames: Mags, Peanut, Fat-Butt, Magnolia Rosebud … she comes to all of them – especially when food is involved.] Anyway, here’s my glass rendition … fusing in the kiln as I type. Fingers crossed!
Too tired to worry …
WWU: Oh how I wish we could get through this flu season already! I took care of some folks this weekend who were producing … um … ‘body fluids’ in so many WRONG colors and shades (and we won’t even mention the textures or aromas!) … And now, it would appear various strains are spreading among my co-workers. I may just have to call in sick to avoid getting sick this weekend … Hmmm.
But I’m not going to worry about that just yet. DH and I had been talking about repainting several rooms in the house. Yesterday, he decided it was time to work on our kitchen/breakfast nook. We got it done in one day, while taxiing the twins to and from school events. [Now, only three more rooms to go … all with vaulted ceilings. Oy Vay!]
When I climbed into the hot tub at midnight last night to soak the weariness, along with some paint away, I figured I was going to sleep really well … But – no. Our CJ had other ideas … She decided to start labor last night. By noon today, we added 3 new (Yorkie) babies to our family. Mom and pups are doing great so far – all four are eating! [Fingers crossed!]
So, I’m in my studio for the first time this week. Too tired to muster any energy to create. Although I did get a few photos taken and some computer work done. Maybe coffee will help …
Sometimes you’ve just got to play …
It’s not that I didn’t do ANYTHING this week. I did. I cleaned out my ‘shipping room’ … so DH could build a new, much needed shelf on the right wall … some place for all of those (new) boxes to go:
And while the rest of my studio is in desperate need of cleaning, tonight I decided it was time to play. Not sure just what the end design will be with these dragonflies … but I like them; And I’ve got a little jewelry/knick-knack tray going into the baby kiln … fingers crossed.
I did get a few new items to play with – to see if/how they can be applied to warm glass projects. Maybe I’ll clean tomorrow … Sure. Laters …
Clayton Hill Studio 