Clayton Hill Studio

Posted on May 18, 2012 by claytonhill

Beading Expert … Oh YEAH!

My bracelet is DONE! And, while I can’t say that I ‘enjoyed the process’ so much ( – more like a dedicated, JONESING addict meets Determined Insomniac) … it’s DONE – and I LIKE IT!!! So much so, that I wore it while grocery shopping. Cuz, YOU KNOW – nothing says ‘Classy Cougar’ like a flashy-BLING-bracelet when coupled with comfy sweats in the produce aisle …

So now, as a ‘Beading Expert’ … the ideas are flowing. I want a complete set (pendant and earrings) … to finish off my ‘ensemble’! Winking smile

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Posted on May 16, 2012 by claytonhill

So far – so good …

Cuz INSOMNIA is my friend!!!

It’s all good! I’ve started my peacock bracelet … it was touch and go there for a bit, as I struggled to interpret/decipher ‘beading language’ and FOCUS really old eyes on tiny ‘lil beads, but I like what I’ve got going:

I’ve glued my peacock mosaic – just waitin’ for her to dry. Then I can add the border and ‘grout’ (with glass) to start round one of firing. I’ve also gotten a couple of new blanks made:

WWU: While I’m annoyed that there seems to be a reoccurring theme when I work Mother’s Day weekend (LIFE-SAVING Enemas … REALLY?!?), my family salvaged my celebration and … among other gifts and LOVE, I have a bouquet of flowers to enjoy (and PRESS!) Winking smile :

[PS – have decided I am taking Mother’s Day 2013 OFF WORK!!!]

We (okay, I) worked through the weekend frustrations productively and got flower beds weeded and the garden is tilled … now to get the veggies purchased/planted. And [fingers crossed] – I think I’m seeing new growth on our Chayotes … Surprised smile

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Posted on May 12, 2012 by claytonhill

Possessed …

But, you know, in a good way!

Came upon a few inspiring images and caught ‘a fever’. I’m working on a peacock platter, fused mosaic style. Here’s the rough lay-out. Now to decide on the mosaic border – clear irid, pale yellow irid or white iridescent glass … I’m leaning towards the white irid.

And – I stumbled on this image (yeah, that darn Pinterest, anyway!) … So have ordered the beads for my own spin on it … (DH, it wasn’t my fault, I HAD to!):

Lastly, this image … cement cast counter with embedded recycled glass. I want a small, pub style table out on my studio deck, so I’m thinking I’ll try my hand at making this for the table top. But, more research is required first (like how to do it!) … Winking smile

But, for now, the ER beckons … back to work I go!

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Posted on May 10, 2012 by claytonhill

A note to Gravatar users …

who I assume are also WordPress users …

Over the last few months, my ‘lil glass-n-craft blog has been visited and ‘liked’ by a few folks … all of whom I’d love to reciprocate by visiting their blogs – but I can’t. There isn’t any link to many of the gravatar images.

It’s simple to fix – just click on your gravatar image, go to your profile settings to edit, add your blog address/title to the ‘My Links’ tab … and TADA! It will end up looking something like this (mine, if you want to see it), giving readers/perusers an active link to your blog. (And this is where I will admit that I JUST updated my own gravatar!)

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Posted on May 9, 2012 by claytonhill

Producing in the Studio … AKA The Picture Post

I’ve been busy with some studio projects …

My mosaic butterfly is done. Now to decide what to do with it – frame it, make a mobile, hang it as a sun-catcher, or leave as is …? (Not the best photos, but the second one does show off some of the iridescent clear glass around the butterfly …)

Had a coffin de-bubbling run for some of my newer blanks:

I’ve been making papers and used one to make a cute ‘lil post-it book/holder/thingy (and YES, the pressed flower is UPSIDE DOWN! Dohhhh!):

I smashed up/flattened a penny for some metal stamping and played with really cheap air-dry clay for tags ($0.75 at WalMart, now I know why …):

And, I currently have a pressed-bar/boiled glass experiment in the production kiln. Here’s the ‘before loading’ set up:

Lastly – we got our Round Two Chayote experiment planted. We tried growing them last year and it was a bust, so finger’s crossed they work just like this, this year:

BTW – Here’s some info about Chayotes (also called ‘Gator Eggs’ … how could I NOT love them???) … Winking smile

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Posted on May 7, 2012 by claytonhill

Umm … Happy Nurse’s Week!

Wow – this weekend kicked some butt (namely mine) … From young adults on hallucinogenics to extended family with unsafe vitals, throw in a fellow co-worker getting SICK (requiring-ER-care sick!) to bike accidents that won’t soon be forgotten – all intermixed with ‘FLU’ complaints … I am SO GLAD my ‘tour’ is over!

(My week ahead:) … I will celebrate Nurse’s Week doing absolutely NOTHING remotely ‘Nurse-y’. I have a few appointments this week, but the rest of the time I’ll be working towards playing in the studio! I have plans to run the coffin kiln with blanks, I want to try pressed bars, there are some cute recycled paper ideas in mind, and SOMEONE needs to start thinking about summer plantings! Oh – and with Mother’s Day coming up, I think I’ve ‘scored’ a trip out to our local glass supply shop!

But in the meantime – I’ll leave with our Zeus, acting as a warm, squishy bed for Yogi-Bear … Too Cute!

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Posted on May 4, 2012 by claytonhill

Dabbling and fun!

Had just the tiniest bit of time to play in the studio this afternoon … No time to get involved with a big project. So – I decided to play with some metal stamping …

Hmm – easy enough. So then I thought, why not make a plant marker … Used what I thought was a ‘cheap’ spoon. That bad boy was tough. My little girly hammer and ‘anvil’ weren’t even touching it! So down to the man cave I went, in search of some TOOLS. Got it to flatten – but can’t get my stamped images to show up. Hmmm – I’ll have to give this some thought – or maybe find easier to stamp (thinner) spoons …???

But now, it’s Family Time. Taking the kids to the movies for ‘The Avengers’ … I’m excited! Smile

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Posted on May 2, 2012 by claytonhill

Pressed Flowers …

Cuz, you know – I had to look into it. Pretty cool! Quick, easy and should look great in my papers …

I walked around the yard, collecting bits of Spring flowers and interesting leaves:

Then popped my samples into this ‘lil thing (Microfleur press), nuked them for less than a minute … and Voila! Magic and beauty all in one! (Only burnt one … my lone Clematis. Burning them does NOT smell good – fair warning!)

And – a better photo of yesterdays blank:

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Posted on May 1, 2012 by claytonhill

Funk, but workin’ on it …

Had my monthly DARN SANE meeting this morning … Arrrgh! People are evil and sick! I hate knowing this …

Now, locked in my studio … I am determined to work through the mood-funk. This means Adele is blasting on the stereo, my most inspiring photo slide show (art/project ideas) is playing on the screen and I putter and play with glass.

It’s helping … I’m making progress on my butterfly. It’s ready for ‘grouting’ with frit so it can be fired.

My kiln is cooling down from a blank run … What to do with this piece? Bowl, vase/pendant lamp or spoon rest? Hmmm …

My bottle bowl experiment is done. I like it, but not well enough to offer up to the shops. It’ll sit in my studio to inspire other ideas … or catch dust. Whatever … Winking smile

Meanwhile, DH, my camera and ‘nature’ are trying to help my mood, too. DH has placed my hot tub (the one from the front yard!) onto the studio deck and is finishing up the railing …

And … Check this out. We have what I call Brown Flamingos (ok, so they’re actually Sand Hill Cranes) who’ve adopted us this spring. I zoomed in with my new camera (AMAZING ZOOM) and look … they have a baby!

I plan to play in the studio until it’s time to create in the kitchen (make dinner). Time for an army supply of comfort food!

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Posted on April 30, 2012 by claytonhill

WWU … WHINE

I don’t do whining. Can’t stand it. When a voice hits a certain octave, my lip snarls – all on it’s own. This is not a good ER nurse trait … I worked with a great crew this weekend, and it was pointed out several times how much more tolerant they are … Hmmm. I’ll try to work on that …

My own whine: Our institution has taken up their own version of the WalMart Team Meeting … every Monday I have to sit through this (WITHOUT snarling!!!)! Where philosophical (B.S.) quotes, ‘important’ tidbits of “pertinent facts”, future process changes, etc., are read to us – like we’re kindergarteners – unable to make out the big words on our own. After 48 hours of nursing fun, too little sleep and general fatigue – I can’t begin to tell you how much I detest these gatherings. But I dutifully endure them, and clap and cheer “Goooooo TEAM!” at the end of every one … so that I may give report to the oncoming shift and GO HOME(!) …

Where my studio awaits … Smile

The (studio) week ahead: Will continue to play with paper making; will grind and process the next stage of my dichro cabs; will figure out what new project to focus on with the production kiln; and will research an interest/idea … Stone Engraving! (How cool!) I want an ‘address boulder’ at the end of my driveway …