Leave a Comment

Posted on October 18, 2011 by claytonhill

WWU … Nope

Not talking about this weekend, other than to say I got through it – and the countdown has begun …

The last two mandatory in-services (at least for October … I HOPE!) are this week.  Can’t wait ‘til I’ve put my time in and they’re DONE!

Studio news:  The flooring and cabinets should arrive this week, so I’ll be busy painting when I’m not at the hospital.  I’m so excited to see the room evolve.

I do hope to run the kilns soon, at least with some simple projects … But for now, it takes a back-burner to all of the above.

count down

1 Comment

Posted on October 13, 2011 by claytonhill

What you can do with 2 adults and 4 kids …

hot tub adventurea little ingenuity and a lot of determination.  We had a small ‘adventure’ yesterday … DH and I decided it would be worth the time to pick up a free hot tub for the studio deck.  (I did mention that I’m a brat, right?)  Four hours later, we successfully moved the mountain!  But you have to see the photo and try to get the right mental image here …

That tub was on a sea-wall deck, almost four feet below the backyard.  Steps were too narrow to ‘simply’ carry it out.  Plus, it was in a lake community (houses packed in pretty tight) … So, DH brought the 4 wheeler attached to a snow-mobile trailer ON TOP of his hauling trailer for us to drive through the bulk of lower Michigan.  The only thing missing was Granny sitting on top of the whole heap in her rockin’ chair!

beverly hillbillies

We’ll be picking up a few other items (book cases, display shelves, etc. … not free, but – quality built and frugally priced!) later this evening.  Let the adventures continue … Smile  But, now – it’s time to get ready for work in-service number one …

Leave a Comment

Posted on October 12, 2011 by claytonhill

Not moving fast enough …

I’m now reminded of what makes me CRAZY about renovation/building … I want it (the new studio) done YESTERDAY!!  But, I’m trying to be patient … and frugal.  I keep reminding myself – ‘this is NOT a living space’ … no one will be photographing it for ‘House Beautiful’ … but – I’m a brat!  I want what I want … so, I’m struggling with myself again!  Aarrgghh!

I did manage to get some of the dye-sub photos taken and uploaded.  Also did some needed house-work and bill-paying … but there’s nothing going on in the studio.  Which makes me a little bit nutty.  Tomorrow, I have the first of four (life-draining) work in-services …

To add fuel to the melancholy, my youngest (teenage) daughter created a disappointment last night.  With (barely) a blink of the eye, she tried  to lie to me … I realize the bulk of them do, but why???

So, I found myself surfing for up-lifting sites …  and stumbled on this pic … it made me smile!  Happy Halloween, ya’ll …

Happy Halloween

Leave a Comment

Posted on October 10, 2011 by claytonhill

WWU … Can’t we all just get along???

I’m an ER nurse.  That makes me a member of the ‘human services’ field – much like law enforcement, DHS (Dept of Health/Human Services; Child Protective Services; Community Mental Health; social workers), EMS, central dispatch, etc.  As such, there are things (situations, issues, complaints, statements) that cannot be ignored … The “right” things are said, the warning-bells go off, action must occur …

It can be UNBELIEVABLY frustrating when this calls for cooperation amongst services.  We had that this weekend.  In these situations, the ER becomes reliant upon some/all of these other services to do their job.  When that doesn’t happen, the ER has to demand they do their job.  Even if it means the ER staff (often, that would be the persistent, annoying, dog-with-a-bone ER nurse … ummm, ME! ) becomes the squeaky wheel, climbing the chain(s) of command, waking davidandgoliathsleeping bosses, helping develop back-up plans C, D, E and F to provide the necessary services.  I can’t begin to explain how time-consuming, exasperating and mentally draining this process can be through the middle of the night … I was a strong [patient] advocate this weekend.  I believe I did right by my patients.  I don’t think I made any new friends in the human services field, though … 

Studio news:  The flooring, cabinets and counter tops are purchased for the new studio.  The next few weeks will be busy-busy painting and installing stuff.  The fun part for me is that I get to squeeze in an additional 24 hours of mandatory work in-services over the next two weeks, too!  Can’t wait!

I think, for now, I will be combining my current (glass) shops with dye-sub (vs. opening a new shop).  So, I’ll spend some off-time (HA!!) this week (?) listing mugs, coasters and night lights in both shops …

But for now – it’s time to let go of my weekend-wounds, rest up and shift gears …

shifting gears

Leave a Comment

Posted on October 7, 2011 by claytonhill

Productively non-productive …

It’s been that kind of a week.  Lots of running around, researching, cleaning, meetings, commiserating with friends … all good (and needed!), but … my warm glass studio is cold this week.

It’s been a yo-yo kind of week emotionally too … from DARN SANE to a childhood friend [when we were kids, we’d meet daily and talk non-stop.  As adults, we meet up every few months … and talk non-stop]; Excitement over designing the new studio to worry over the budget/costs involved; Happiness for our oldest son, who turned 17 years old today, to (the annual) depression over the loss of my ‘baby’ and the realization that I’m old …

We’ll be heading out to the home-improvement super-store to order cabinets and flooring, then wrap-up the day/week with a birthday celebration.

birthday celebration

Leave a Comment

Posted on October 3, 2011 by claytonhill

Another weekend bites the dust … AKA WWU

Thank goodness!  I found myself wondering too many times this weekend, “What were/are you thinking?”  Such a wasted thought process!  From high-school intoxicants (who have school suspensions, legal ramifications and loss of driving privileges to face) to fellow health care workers and some of the things they say or do … People are amazing.  And tomorrow morning is the DARN SANE meeting – arrrgh!  The good news is I’m meeting up with an old friend later in the day … that’ll help!

But in the meantime, I enjoyed a few minutes out on the partially-constructed studio deck this evening … I have pictures:

deck-views studio-deck studio-renovation=mess

There’s (obviously) still a LOT of work to do – but I can see it completed (in my head – fighting for space with all the other images and voices up there).  Overall consensus, we [the voices and I] will love it!!  Smile  It’s 12 feet off the ground, and has such pretty views – especially this time of year.  We’ll be finishing up the deck and making flooring decisions this week.  Then I can start choosing wall colors, while continuing to bag up the trash and clean up the junk.

(Current) Studio news … not sure.  The next few weeks are going to be tied up with (tons of fun) meetings and competency in-services for work.  They drain me (already!) … so I’m not feeling so creative or inspired.  I’ll work on it …

Leave a Comment

Posted on September 29, 2011 by claytonhill

Crummy – but working on it …

Had a first for my little rural county last night … 2 back-to-back SANE calls from unrelated assaults.  Our program provides treatment for rape victims 13 yrs old/older.  Both of my patients met criteria, but barely … OMG!  What is going on with my community!?!  This will require major therapy (shopping) for me … and I’ve locked myself in the studio.  Of course, I’m still on-call for the next 6 hours …

spoon-rest-blankIn an effort to help me through my depressed mood over the state of our society, DH changed the blade in my ring saw to a ‘super cutter’ … I can now slice through quarter inch glass like it’s nothing … It helps.  I’m cutting blanks for bright, colorful future spoon rests.

Ran both kilns yesterday (the studio was quite toasty through the night) … a de-bubble program for the coffin and a new blank from the production kiln.  Here’s the latest blank … I was shooting for bright, Caribbean colorful.  It’s pretty and colorful, but doesn’t exactly have that “Caribbean” feel … Hmmmm …

colorful-bowl-blank latest-bowl-blank

And I have some new ornament ideas I’m trying to work through from a production standpoint.  Keeping myself busy … Yeah, it helps.  This pic does too … Smile

cute

Leave a Comment

Posted on September 26, 2011 by claytonhill

Good Cop/Bad Cop … AKA WWU

While I had many patients this weekend – some sweet, cute and/or overall pleasant – I also took part in the care of an out-of-control teenage behavioral-medicine patient … Of course, that’s the one that won’t leave my head.  Very sad.  Due to life’s circumstances, she’s had a tough time of it.  However, that does NOT justify cursing like a sailor and screaming at the top of your lungs in an ER (requiring 3 officers on stand by), just because you aren’t getting your way … While I watched a [much] younger, newer nurse struggle with ‘bonding’ with this patient, I felt compelled to step in and play the ‘bad cop’ … tough love, setting limits, establishing consequences … and getting results.  It temper tantrumcertainly felt like this was the first time this young adult was exposed to my type of care.  While she was most definitely vocal about her objections, we were able to work our way through her emergency room needs.  It bothers me, how many children I see controlling parents by way of their bad behavior … I believe it’s contributing to a generation of kids that lack impulse control, anger management and coping skills … overall poor mental health!  Very sad! 

Studio News:  I have a hankering to make some large platters and bowls – fall colors, greens/purples and bright Caribbean colors.  I think I’ll spend some time this week working on those … as well as continuing with ornaments and painting.  And – I’m hopeful DH and I are close to deciding on and locating the new studio flooring.  Something durable that won’t cost a fortune!  Hmmm … I can dream, right?!  Smile

Leave a Comment

Posted on September 24, 2011 by claytonhill

New projects unveiled …

So – here it is … I can take your digital photo and turn it into glass jewelry … IN COLOR!  Here’s what I did for a friend – a badge reel and magnet of her baby, Miss Molly!

molly   DSC09061

And here are some badge reels that I was playing around with as prototypes:

support ribbonangry bird badge reelangry bird pig

There are some limitations … the photo needs to be of one central item (i.e. NOT a busy background with lots going on), and of good quality (larger file size) or the image will be fuzzy/grainy … But – how fun!  Pendants, pins, magnets, badge reels, ornaments … Oh my! Smile

And here are pictures of the other projects I’ve been playing with – ornaments and slumped bottles (scroll bottle bowls and large magnum bowls):

 green-scroll-bowl DSC09077 magnum-bowls

Now it’s time to shift gears, step away from the studio and be a nurse … [sigh] … OK.  Let’s get this party started!

Leave a Comment

Posted on September 23, 2011 by claytonhill

Moving Right Along …

A good, productive day.  Plan C looks to be working – should be able to share some photos soon.  Got most of the work competencies done [heavy sigh].  And, I’m getting pretty good at this wire-wrapping stuff, if I do say so myself …

You know you’re married to an alright guy when:  (Forget feminine health care products … ) HE goes to the store for you to purchase jump rings and beads … Smile  Of course, it might have been because he didn’t want me stepping foot in an art supply store – but, I was on a roll in the studio, so … I’ll hit the store next week.  Winking smile

Also had time to take more photos:

Dichroic-tree-ornaments  grinch-ornament-set

The coffin is running with slumped bottles, the production kiln has ornaments cooking.  I like it!  I made a large (stock) pot of potato soup, played with all the kids (both two and four-legged), and I spent some time in the future studio – mentally designing and configuring.  Yep, a good day!

Follow Clayton Hill Studio on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 394 other subscribers
Follow Me on Pinterest
Archive: Clayton Hills
Clayton Hill on Etsy
Flickr Photos
CHS-Peacock-PlatterCHSFairyWing0603001656adragonflyFused glass dichroic heartfused glass dichroic 'opal' necklace
More Photos
My life in … categories
January 2026
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  

Blog at WordPress.com.