Clayton Hill Studio

Posted on November 23, 2012 by claytonhill

Thanksgiving …

I have a lot to be thankful for … Thanksgiving went off without a hitch, no one got sick, I got through the day with minimal thoughts of – and NO ACTUAL – maiming of family members(!), and with all of these left-overs – I won’t be cooking for several days! Winking smile

But seriously – while it was a busy week, and next week will be too (darn it!), it was good. Lots accomplished, good quality family time, and some stolen studio moments … AND, my never-ending subpoena is finally OVER (!!!) … until the next legal blood draw walks through my ER door. [Cue ‘western show-down’ movie music …]

(Neo) News from the Den: Tess and pups are doing great – finally got around to getting some pictures. While Tess is starting the transition back to ‘normal’ food, we’ll start to introduce the pups to gruel next week … always good times, with the pups BATHING in formula, rice cereal and canned food. While it may be good for the skin – it sure is awfully sticky on their coats and my floor! Smile

Played a bit in the studio tonight … have some new and requested cabs ready for the next stage; And my Grinch is all painted/fused. The red got wonky (??? I don’t know what happened!) … DH says it looks neat, ‘kinda shaded’ … I don’t like it. So I’m thinking of playing with some flexi-glass to get some actual red (powder frit) for his hat. We’ll see. But, then what – trim around it for an ornament, stick it in a picture frame … ??? IDK, we’ll see.

And as Michigan has given up it’s 60 degree temperatures to plummet back to fall/winter weather … it must be time for DH to start thinking paradise/travel thoughts … [fingers crossed!]

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Posted on November 20, 2012 by claytonhill

Happiness and contentment …

Had our ‘semi-annual’ dinner with childhood friends … I love these ladies! We come at life from different view points and experiences, while still having so much in common. One of those shared interests is our love of dogs, so I made a couple of quick gifts.

Now, with full belly and content mood, I’m back in my studio – ready to ‘create’ … Here’s my screen-printed Grinch, ready for stage 2 firing.

I’ll work on a few more cabs and maybe start to tinker with some glass paints. And while rooting around in my closet, I came upon some long-forgotten frame ornaments … so, I put a transparent and dichro scrap cab in it and I think it’s cute – with additional possibilities …

Hope to catch a few more blocks of studio time this week, but – we’ll see. Will be taking my youngest daughter to see the final Twilight movie, along with some last minute menu shopping; Thursday will be all about food and family; and Friday is filling up with a few necessary errands and appointments. Time to get busy …

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Posted on November 17, 2012 by claytonhill

Oh … I’ve done it now!

While being sick, to boot! That’s my excuse, anyway … I have been dreaming about the ‘Cadillac’ of glass paints for a LONG time now. Umm, not anymore … I ordered ‘em! Cuz, my screen printing equipment arrived, and I realized I needed more enamels! I’m just waiting for those to arrive …

In the meantime, I feel like I’m battling the worst hangover (EVER!!!) – WHILE being 3 months pregnant (the stage when every smell – or EVEN the suggestions of smells make you nauseated) … it’s not ME up in here, I’ve been over-run by viruses! [That’s my official excuse if DH sees the invoice for my Cadillac glass paints … just sayin’!] I did manage to cook dinner for the Fam … while they were going on and ON(!) about pork chops, turkey, Thanksgiving dinner and (I swear) just about any other intense aroma/odor they could think of to make my gut roll! But – being the tough nut that I am … no vomiting yet. Just lots of chills and body aches … SWEET! I have to work tomorr … uh, later today!

Ehh – whatever. No vomiting means no wimping out. So, I’ve played in the studio a bit. Trying some different screen printing techniques. The dove is on a previously slumped piece of DH’s glass (glue chip) … so fusing it twice meant it lost it’s ‘glue-chip appeal’. But, it’s a starting point. Then, I screen printed the Grinch (he’s my hero) – stage one. So far, so good!

And, I played with etching irid glass – this time 90 vs. 96 … 96 etches better. But, now I know …

Also moved my cabs along. Had a mishap, and produced joined-twins … DOH! Made the decision to ‘surgically’ separate … and it turned out well, I think. I should be able to refinish/fire-polish them back to individual health!

Which is what I’m hoping for me … I need to kick these virus cells out and take back command of this ship!

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Posted on November 14, 2012 by claytonhill

AADD …

Adult ADD. Is it an actual diagnosis? … Can you DEVELOP it? … Or CATCH it (like a virus)??? I think I may have it … The ideas are spinning so quickly (in my head), it’s hard to stay focused. So, then I try making lists (mental and physical) – but there are too many!!!

So much stuff I want to try. Here’s what has me all ‘tornadoed’ [probably not a word, but I have a non-diagnosis … so I can do that!] at the moment: I got a new book; spent some time on Pinterest (it’s devil-spawn, I tell you!!! – But here’s the image that started this latest HEALTHY-manic phase); and I am [apparently] obsessed – in a healthy way (?) -with the idea of creating pictures with glass – using all sorts of different techniques! (This one is a rudimentary screen printing trial, waiting for it’s turn in the kiln.)

Once a FEW more items arrive in the mail (Shhhh – Don’t Go There!) … I think I’ll be ready to try some fritography, using this photo of Zeus as my ‘model’ … If it turns out anywhere close to what I see in my head, I’ll be thrilled. [If it doesn’t – it’s a starting point for the learning curve! Or – yet another reason I may need medication …]

In the meantime, I have some cabs moved along to the next stage of firing: And, I kind of like this – maybe for a key chain (??? … I don’t know, but I like it) …

My experiments from the last post are more ‘learning curve material’ … but I’ll hold on to them – continue to stew, analyze and obsess – until I try again. (I like the gold irid on black – just not seeing an ideal end-design/finished piece yet … capped vs. uncapped, BTW)

No WWU this week – other than to say I was served my 4th (or is it 5th?) subpoena for the case that will not go away!!! Of course it’s for a Monday morning, bright and early – 1 hour AFTER I finish my weekend tour! Aarrgh!

Kay – gotta wrap some orders (the holiday season is here!), kick the kiln on and GO TO SLEEP – before my DARN SANE shift starts – uhh, later TODAY … Hey, it could happen!

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Posted on November 9, 2012 by claytonhill

The Nutty ‘Professor’ …

So, I’ve got a few experiments going on in the studio today. While I was explaining my ‘end goal vision’ to DH, all quick and excited – I realized he was staring at me with this dazed and confused look on his face. “S’Okay,” I said, “trust me!” … “Whatever you say, professor,” was his reply. Here’s what we’ve got:

Not bad for a first pass. A couple of pieces are in the kiln … time to see what 1400+ degrees does with them. And, [of course!!] I have a few additional necessary items ordered that need to arrive … it’s all good – TRUST ME! Winking smile

But – enough for today. Time to let the ideas ruminate around for a bit … and it’s time to meet up with some work friends before I roll into the weekend!

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Posted on November 7, 2012 by claytonhill

Another one bites the dust …

Have passed through another year of life … DH likes to say I’m catching up to him. ‘Course I point out he’ll always be OLDER!

So far, it’s been [another] busy, productive week: Made candles; went to Metro; spent time catching up/celebrating with my family (phone, visit, phone, phone!); did a little home canine nursing (poor Tess has mastitis that we are treating/beating); went to a DARN SANE meeting (YESSS … on my birthday! Double YUCK!!); voted (not going there); and am producing in my studio (two kilns running, as I type)! Oh and – youngest daughter is trying out for the school basketball team [fingers crossed], so there’s daily ‘carting’ going on as well.

I’ll leave with a quick pic of our latest (permanent… for now, anyway – always room for more!) family member – Clayton Hills Jewel of the Neo … Jewels or JuJu, for short. Now that her littermates have left her – she’s ruling like the Queen (toddler) Bee (busy and spoiled)!

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Posted on November 3, 2012 by claytonhill

Cuz Moms CAN!

Been a busy week here at Clayton Hill! But a great week, too! *

I’ve been busy in the studio – in stolen ‘patches’ of time – which may make me more productive (???). I have new dichroic cabs (that will become pendants, badge reels and now … PINS!), as well as some other dichroic jewelry in-the-works …

Flew some pups out at Metro. We now have extended family in Rhode Island and Tennessee. [Pups did great … I know, as I watched their progress through the flight! And, the girls are now being spoiled/loved-on in a one-on-one scenario! … So, I can’t be sad … RIGHT!?!]

I got through my mandatory nursing in-services (for THIS week, anyway!) … I get to be an ER nurse at my facility for another year!

Made a few ‘home-cooked’ meals … Ham meal (with praline glaze and all the ‘fixins’) one night, and today – a big batch of Potato Soup (to tide all through the weekend). Would have made rice pudding (as a CHASER???) – but DH decided to make a dumb, MALE comment before I got started … Silly Boy!

Got all three kilns running a few times this week, too. New slumped bottles (no photos – as I have a NEW idea for them), fused glass ornaments and spoon rests coming!

And … We have 11 new family members! Our Tess finally went into labor. As a first time Mom, it’s always a little nerve-wracking (for all of us – but I feel a lot of it, too!). How will labor progress? Will I miss any subtle clues of distress? Can we (SHOULD we???) do this – or just opt for the c-section?

Tess did great! But we had a few ‘moments’. She was struggling to get number 6 “out of the chute, into the light, and BORN already”! We walked, we paced, we encouraged and commiserated – and then we walked some more. Just about the time I was ready to load everyone up to hit my favorite 24 hour emergency vet, she finally gave birth to ‘the beast’. I immediately started calling him “LOG JAM” … who has become ‘LJ’ (and, within my family, “Little John” – who was also a LARGE infant – born BREECH. Yeah, I’m talking about DH!).

Now, past-trauma forgotten …Tess and crew are settling into a nice routine of ‘life on the outside’. All (-Tess included!) are eating well. Tess, the babies, DH and I are catching up on some sleep.

Meanwhile – Zeus (who is NOT allowed in the whelping area … along with all other four-legged kids …) is hanging out with me in the studio, when DH is on pup-watch. It’s tough – but he loves me. (NO REALLY, he does. He always looks sad!)

Must be time to head back to work! [WHEW! I’m looking forward to S-L-O-W-I-N-G things down … Hey – it could happen!!!]

*Oh yeah – got through HALLOWEEN, too. Thank Goodness we live quite rurally – and the kids are NOW happy with (store bought) bags of their FAVORITE candy! NO!!! – I don’t feel bad about 15+ year olds ‘missing out’ on trick-or-treating! Can’t make me … I won’t do it! IF I’ve traumatized them – they’ll just have to add it to their ‘THERAPY’!!!

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Posted on October 29, 2012 by claytonhill

WWU–the ‘Numbers’ Weekend …

Too many of my cases this weekend were about chasing numbers:

dangerously low levels (potassium AND glucose – separate patients);

dangerously high levels (alcohol AND drug);

correctly predicting and reporting the number of hours someone would need to be monitored through the night before a family member could take them home (again, multiple patients);

Q15 minute circulation checks d/t violent behavior intervention;

a guessing game of the actual number of times a certain high-strung/high maintenance patient would use their call light during one ER visit …

All ending with a quick calculation of the number of hours I will need to soak in the hot tub in correlation with the number of required visits to my chiropractor to overcome the weekend …

Oh well … it’s over for another 5.5 days (or 129 hours or 7740 minutes – just sayin’) …

My week ahead: In between mandatory work in-services (yesss – it’s THAT time of year again!!!), I hope to play in the studio. A visit to my glass supply store late last week [early birthday present!] has ideas bubbling over – along with new supplies, molds and glass!

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Posted on October 25, 2012 by claytonhill

A beautiful day …

So … what’d you do today? I spent this beautiful Indian Summer day playing in the studio with the windows and door wall open … HEAVEN! I also cleaned – a little (umm – not much).

Spent a bit of time taking pictures and ‘doing computer work’ … but when that got boring, I played some more. While listening to the radio, I heard mention of the ‘Frankenstein Storm’ AND – they said the ‘S’ word … [sn*w] NOOOO!! But trying to embrace the inevitable … I decided to start on some Santa ornaments.

This evening, technology and I went another few rounds. I’m starting to think I should take some advanced computer classes (I need to become an expert on wireless, router, configuration settings, etc.) … so that I can be one of those folks smart enough to remotely take over your computer and fix it! I know – I’m too old (they all sound like they’re 12 years old, don’t they!?!) … and since I don’t even know what the name of that particular degree is … I’ll just dream about being a computer GURU! And go back to my glass – with the Tigers playing in the background. [fingers crossed]

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Posted on October 22, 2012 by claytonhill

Dookey!!!

More experiments going on in the studio. This one, while not a success on the pleasing color scale … I think its worth playing with ‘boiling glass’ again:

Continuing on with the ‘dookey’ theme … WWU: Admitting complaint =‘Seizure’ Discharged diagnosis=CONSTIPATION(!) … This ‘story’ tallies up in the SAVE column for my own particular WIN/LOSS scoreboard. But it was mildly painful (for me) …

The ‘loose’ scenario (names, pertinent data not revealed – to protect ME!): I was assigned to the “Fast-Track” wing (=‘QUICK’ in-and-out folks), and a young toddler ‘New Onset Seizure’ is brought in … THIS means – outside of whatever the patient may need – I have PARENTS to deal with …[Oy Vay!]: She’s not febrile; she’s tracking (visually); no evidence of a post-ictal state … This is all GOOD! She’s playing ‘peek-a-boo’ games with me; her fine motor skills are intact and age appropriate; no signs of incontinence ….

This is where I will point out – as an OLD HEIFER E.R. nurse – I am immediately consoled! But … the ‘NEW’ parents REALLY need reassurance!!!! (Like all crystal-ball style. There are no guarantees in life, just sayin’ …) OK, now to get the parents to buy-in:

ME: [Wow – you’re both pretty HIGH-STRUNG! Alright – let’s educate and Keep It Simple (KISS) … ]: “She’s breathing, no airway distress. Typically when someone seizes “ …

PARENT interrupting: “We are TEACHERS! We’ve seen seizures before!”

ME: [What??? I don’t think so …] I start a review of what she – that would be the smiling, alert, tracking, continent patient – is presently doing [… finger intentionally digging around up her nose, if you’re curious] …

PARENT (interrupts AGAIN): “I don’t want to be alone [WITH MY CHILD], will you stay with us?”

ME: [For the next 16 years??? Ummmm … Hell NO!!] “I’m sorry – I’d love to, but I can’t. I have other patients that need me, too.”

We’ll fast forward at this point [… beyond the parent’s scream, blood-curdling style in the middle of the hallway that “She’s doing it again!” ] …15 minutes later – we establish that she hasn’t POOPED today. I flashed back through some 20 years of parenting, established that SHE normally poops a couple of times each day, and realized the stiffening SEIZURE activity was probably MORE likely due to someone NOT(!) wanting to defecate at THAT particular moment in time, learning to control THEIR OWN BOWELS … and MAYBE got through to some CONCERNED parents (!?!) …The verdict is still NOT in … Time will tell

My studio week ahead: I’ll continue to create/upload listings for the shops; I have a couple of new books to learn from; And I will continue with the ‘getting images on glass’ experiments …