Possibilities …

possibilitiesHave spent a good amount of time learning the ins-and-outs of CorelDRAW, vectors, masks, more advanced photo-manipulation, filters … ‘til I thought my head might spin.  But it’s all good.  It’s ruminating around in there and I’ll eventually figure it all out.

Here’s a lil picture I was playing with last night … IF I can master it AND figure out the best process for screen printing – I may end up with something fabulous.  But in the meantime – I think it’s kinda neat:

The kilns have been running and I’ve been taking photos (when my head feels like mush from tutorials and manuals).  I even hope to get the coffin-kiln loaded later tonight.  But here are my cabs – fire polished and ready to assemble into … whatever.

DSC05427finished-cabs-10-19-12DSC05435

And, I’ve played a bit with the plotter.  Made a decal for DH’s car – he loves it.  This is the test piece – to see how well I’ve learned.  So far, it’s holding up well – and hasn’t fallen off of the Envoy … YET … ?!?

chneos-decal

Still more learning to get through with the plotter, as I fine tune the cutting techniques for more detail in smaller images … Yep – baby steps and POSSIBILITIES …

Have I mentioned? …

I LOVE MY STUDIO!!!  I told DH ‘I’ll see you on Saturday’ … and I was only half-joking!

vinyl-decals-Neo-and-YorkieMy plotter has arrived, she’s installed and after 5 days of confusion, electronic and software grief … she’s up and running.  I LOVE IT!!!  I have days upon days of learning  to do/knowledge/experience to acquire – but I’m getting the hang of it!

Here’s what I put together today … a Neapolitan Mastiff and Yorkshire Terrier decal.  Check it out!

And here’s Maggie scoping out the plotter.  Once she realized there was nothing edible about it, she promptly ignored it …
Smile

graphtec-plotter

I’ve also gotten a few other dichro cabs prepped for the next stage, and managed to get a custom night light put together.

latest-cabs   requested-nite-lite   new-cabs

Well – gotta go.  More playing to do … Have a great week all!  I’ll leave with a quick pic of Zeus … such a handsome guy. 
Smile

Clayton-Hills-Zeus

I’m going to have a GREAT WEEK!

Had a great time at the wedding.  Gorgeous folks, lots of friends, good times! (and us …)

KPandDH

My ongoing subpoena saga – the case has been delayed again!  Woohoo!  New summons will be issued … which means the county boys get to track me down again!   But, it also means I don’t have to be up and moving in a presentable, pleasant fashion later this morning!  YAY!!!

So I can play in the studio.  I have some different ideas with dichro cabs I’m in the process of working out.  We also tried sand blasting and glass chalk … it didn’t work, but you’ve got to take that first step sometime … (pre and post firing)

sandblasted-glass-chalk-tri fused-glass-chalk-experimen

My current dichro cabs have all gone through round one of firing and are now ready for grinding, shaping, re-firing, finishing and fire polishing.  Smile

fired-dichro-cabs

WWU:  All I can say is THANK GOD I only had to work one day this past weekend.  Two words: FUNGAL MENINGITIS … WTH!  Who’s idea was that?!? Makes the H1N1 scare look like a party (cuz that one had the really cool plastic bubble tent room, after all) …

ante-up-inflatable-anteroom250x290

Stolen studio time …

What a week!  But, I don’t have to work tomorrow (friend’s wedding) – AND I was able to carve out some studio time (it’s what insomniacs do) … so, a good week!  [Throw in an unexpected visit to my grandparents, two ‘fast food’ meals – YUM!!!, and home made Nacho’s – loaded, of course!]

I’m loving my new ‘technique’ for dichro cabs/badge reels.  So much, it’s got the ideas flowing (hence, SOME of the insomnia).  Here’s the first load ready for firing:

dichro-cabs-ready-for-firin    latest-dichro-cabs

and what I worked on tonight (BTW – my calculations have the baby kiln running for the next 4 days – LOVE THAT!!!):

tonights-dichro-cabs

Next week will be just as ‘fun-filled’ – but you know, I love stress!  Smile And, DH and I upgraded our phones (Droid Razr Maxx – if you’re curious) … different enough from our last smart phones, so that we have a (BIG) learning curve ahead, but it’s all good!  I love internet searches for ‘support’ and YouTube videos …  Winking smile

droid razr maxx

The never ending subpoena –

is now set for next week (!) … Sooo – I was available to attend the DARN SANE meeting!  By the time I got home, I was completely bummed and disliking people.  Needing a fix – I spent the afternoon playing with puppies, in the sunshine and beautiful fall colors:

Neapolitan-Mastiff-pup-autumn   

BonitaFrankieEva-8-wksZettieClayton-Hill-Neo-pups

And Mighty Zeus was ‘keeping watch’ on me and the gang (BTW – that ridiculous collar is DH’s idea of ‘manly-sexy’ … ??? … poor Zeus!):

Zeus102012    ZeusOct2012

Played with some dye-sub.  Made a new mug (continuing with the Neapolitan Mastiff theme) … I like ‘em!

Clayton-Hill-Neo-coffee-mug

Now, locked in my studio and feeling a bit more upbeat – I am ready to play with glass! Smile  (And, we’re NOT talking about the full moon we had this past weekend or how it [apparently] affected our ER patients!)

But I love it … grumble, grumble

Not having a fun week.  Too busy.  I didn’t get my chores done in time to go to a work outing tonight (- ER folks know how to have some fun too, darnit!).  AND – I’m missing my studio! [Lower lip sticking out, feet stomping]

But – my week is full of puppies, family time and good food, so I need to stop grumbling.

OK – that’s better.  Sun was out today, so we had some romp time with the pooches.  I have cute pics (*Don’t ask me why Zeus is trying to be in the MIDDLE of my arborvitae … silly guy!):

7-wks-oldEva,-Portia-and-Bonitaportia2wilma'Blue'bonitaZeus-9-12

I have my email correspondence done for the week; SANE call is over; I made a ginormous pot of yummy Potato Soup; we only have to go back to Metro (DTW airport) one more time (tomorrow); and Friday is a family celebration with my dad … This is all good stuff!!! 

I’ll steal some studio time this weekend in between work.  I hope.  Maybe.  That moon is starting to get awfully full … Ohhh SH*T!!!  Maybe not …

big-moon-tonight

Oops – I’m doing it again …

I apparently can’t help it and I don’t THINK there’s a med for it …  I’m scoping out a new hobby and chomping at the bit!  Since DH has put a temporary kibosh on the ‘L’ addition to the studio (so – no room for a potter’s wheel yet!) … I’ve found something interesting that’ll fit in my current space.  I’m still in the research phase, as the ‘package’ I’m eyeing is definitely equal to a house payment.  But, you know, I’m obsessed now – so it’s just a matter of time … [evil chuckle]

Moving on … Since I’m feeling guilty about neglecting my glass, I was productive in the studio last night.  Got all three kilns running (oh, I love that), some listings pulled together for the shops, and ideas are churning for my next project … Here are some pics – Coffin loaded with my latest trial of special, bling slumped bottles:

bottles    bottles-2

Finally have the cab load running for the final fire-polish; And the production kiln is loaded with spoon-rest blanks.  (I’m hoping this is the last run on these two before slumping – but we’ll see what happens when I open the lid …)

cabs-9-19-12    santa-fe-spoon-rests

And, I finally listed the Earth Platter to the shops … She’s a big one, 15 inches with a neat organic feel.  I like it!!

Earth-Platter-listed

Let there be … DRAMA!

Oh My Lordy!  People, particularly 20-somethings will never cease to AMAZE me …  Their oral-diarrhea is outmatched only by the size of their egos, and this sense of ‘you owe me’/entitlement is baffling!

With that said – I choose to move on from the drama, and play in my studio. 

I tried a new technique for etching dichro, and I’m liking it.  It allows me to play with software, paper-craft supplies (an e-cutter, mine is a Sizzix Eclips) AND glass.  Pretty cool!  The learning curve is all about the Eclips and learning about SVG graphic files – which are new to me, but I love learning!  Here’s what I pulled together from my first attempt:

etched-cabs-9-14    sizzix-eclips

Neo-news:  The babies are getting so big, playful and fun!  Next week will be all about vet visits and making arrangements for some to move on to their new homes … Sad smile  But in the meantime, I have pictures:

Mack Francesca-yawning Eva

WWU – last weekend was overall nice (minus one life-saving enema).  I was loving the little sliver of a moon!  Here’s hoping this weekend ‘moves along smoothly’ … [Ba-dum-bump!]

sliver moon

Warning – Stay Away at the moment!!!

It’s not safe up in here at this time!!  I’m cussing like a sailor and ready to take my frustrations of all things electronic out on anything that moves!!!

2.5 hours … 150 minutes of fighting with the wi-fi, my computer, my printer (and don’t even get me started on the stupid battery in my phone that refuses to take a charge!) … all while the sun was shining and I COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE POOL!!!

But – NOO … I decided that I wanted to make a dye-sub gift for a friend who is soon to be married.  gift(YESSS, I waited ‘til the last minute – but I don’t recommend going there  right now!)  After convincing the computer it would be best to cooperate with me, my specialty printer (um, yeah – the one with special-order ink cartridges that cost as much as many car payments!) decided it was “Low on Ink”!!!  Oh no … REALLY?!?  Aarrgghh!

It’s okay … while all of the electronic components in my studio are now sporting new names (i.e. Dumb A$$, Jack A%%, and Di*k Weed, along with the beloved computer, MF’er), I think I can feel my blood pressure starting to ease now.  Maybe …

Time to go to the party … WITHOUT the gift!  Dammmitallanyway!!!  It would have been cute, too!

Huh … maybe

Here’s my glass clay experiment.  Not sure what happened with the red hat, but Santa is solid … kinda neat.  Might just need to play with clay again …

Glass-Santa-ornament-pre-fi   Santa-glass-clay-ornament

Also played with ‘faux dichroic’ … not the instant success I strive for, but definitely worth playing with again …

faux-dichro-1     faux-dichro-2

The babies (neo mastiff pups) are 4 and 5 weeks – too darn cute!  They’re all eating various stages of kibble now, which means most of them climb right in the bowls … silly babies!

Dooley 5 wks old  Eva-blue-female-pup @ 4 wks  Mack 5 wks old

Today marks the two year anniversary of my ‘lil blog … amazing to me when I think back!  Here’s hoping the next two years continue with my studio, hobbies and interests.  Who knows – maybe I’ll convince DH we NEED that barn/studio addition!  Winking smile  Yeah, MAYBE …