It must be Monday again.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Other Stuff, Painting Stuff

O.k. today’s the day I’m giving up painting again.

This seems to happen on a regular basis now.

This is what I feel like.

Anguished.

Pure droopy melodramatical anguish.

Hence, the above, is a small angusishy photo, because I feel small and anguishey.

(Yes, I know that’s not a word but I’m in too much anguish to care).

I might have to give up jewelry too. I haven’t decided yet, but I think it’s killing me. Slowly. In an anguishy kind of way.

I think definitely a time out is in need.

A time out to clean my studio. To get all the dust out of there. To rethink how to get all the fumes out of there. And to reorganize. It looks as though a bomb has hit it.

All you wanna, need to, I’m new to it all but just have to, jewelers out there, pay attention. It’s a dangerous hobby and could kill you at any time – or cause amputation.

Either way, it’s not good, and is certainly an inconvenience.

Don’t let me put you off though. That weird feeling in my chest could just be a panic attack waiting to happen, or indigestion, but my hypochondriacal self knows those are just lies written to assuage my fear of the inevitable.

That I’m dying.

Again.

–

To help you not die, however, take comfort. I have found this website for you.

You can now rest assured that you do not have to become as anguishy as I have.

There is hope.

–

So, where were we …

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Other Stuff

As you may remember I made this link.

Which was all well and good except that the chain I made with it costs 5 billion dollars as it was so time consuming to make the ends smooth enough so that they wouldn’t catch on your clothes. (This bracelet is still for sale btw if anyone has the 5 billion in cash).

finished bracelet

So, just in case people couldn’t afford the 5 billion, I made a revised version of the link,

this time with balled up ends.

finished bracelet

This one was, by far, faster to make but I’m not sure I prefer it to the first. However, I haven’t made a whole chain out of the link yet so I might like it more then.

See that little divot in the end of the ball?

Don’t laugh, but, I’ve just found out if you use .999 fine silver wire instead of sterling silver the balls come out perfectly. I found the wire to be a lot softer to work with, however, and it has a tendency to kink and bend and basically take on its own shape until you harden it by hammering or tumbling. Is the fighting with it worth it for the perfect ball and the non tarnished finish, I ask myself?

Myself has yet to make a decision on that count.

And, as we’re talking about tumbling …

When I first bought my tumbler a few years or six back I bought the wrong shot and it all went rusty after the first time I used it. But, even though I moaned and grumbled and wondered if I would ever use the thing anyway, I finally bought the correct, stainless steel, shot. Why do they even sell the rusty kind I want to know? When I tried it out a second time I was really put off by how long the thing had to run for it to even begin to shine the silver. I actually ran it for a good couple of hours and when I finally got really fed up with it and opened it up to take a look, the silver was still the same dirty old stuff I’d put in there. And I wont even mention the noise the thing makes, the constant droning, on and on and on, except that it’s really annoying. I even thought about putting it outside to do its thing but it’s that irritating the neighbours might complain.

Fast forward to now when I decided to give the thing another go. It bums me out that other people use tumblers and yet I can’t seem to get the hang of it and so the darn thing has been lurking in the background like a sore tooth, niggling away, and, I swear, just mocking me. So, I braced myself for the noise and disappointment, put some cleaning stuff in there along with the shot and water, and, what do you know, the whole thing leaks. The rubber seal has obviously sat too long in the cupboard. I got out an old empty glaze tub and improvised with that, just to prove to myself that this was not going to faze me, (I’d show it!), but, again, after hours and hours, the silver was still unchanged. I read on a forum somewhere that some people leave the thing running overnight. I just can’t see me doing that. And the bottom line – I don’t even like shiny silver. Must have forgotten that little detail when I bought the darn thing.

I am determined that this piece of no good equipment is going to work for me, however, and so today I am going to give it one last shot. This time to harden my silver, not to clean it, as for the life of me I don’t know if the thing would know how to clean silver if it had to save the world.

–

Here are my newest chain bracelets.

And a tiger eye and silver necklace.

In your face tumbler thing.

🙂

–

It’s all good.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

This weekend was moving in day for B.

I feel as though every bone in my body is broken, (O.K. well maybe just my shins and ankles), and I wont be able to walk again anytime soon. I’m also tired and my face is puffy. I think this is a mystery ailment. I’m probably allergic to heavy lifting.

O.K. so I didn’t lift anything heavy but I did walk up four flights of stairs with light things – occasionally. There must be a physics formula out there somewhere that makes that equivalent to lifting heavy boxes.

One thing for sure is that I am unfit and unhealthy.

I’d like to say here that this is where it stops. That my life is going to change because it’s enough already with the moaning about my weight. But I’m such a drop out when it comes to commitment 🙁

So, I’m just going to try, because, my shins hurt and my ankles feel broken and I’m having to hobble around with my puffy face and it’s all making me feel old, and like a grandmother even though I’m not one, and even though there are grandmothers out there that are more fit than I am, (I’ve seen them), and that it’s not fair of them …

I’m not whining you understand.

–

So, now I’m even more tired and want to cry. (Whining is not for the faint of heart, obviously).

But.

B looks happy.

She is free at last.

We spent the first night there with her, as well as loads of money. Loads of trips to grocery stores, Target stores, World Market store, Ikea stores. All those happy home building stores that I never want to set foot in again – at least for a week.

But, it’s all good.

–

I have a new link, and I’m not afraid to use it.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Tutorial Stuff

Start by cutting the wire. This time I used 18 gauge sterling silver which I cut into 1″ strips. This makes a small link just under half an inch long. I did want a chunkier feel but I’ve run out of 16 gauge wire, and 14 seemed too thick. I’m still bummed out that they don’t have 17 or 15 gauge at Rio, they obviously don’t know that I need wire in every size.

Hammer the ends of the wire slightly,

and sand them.

As 18 gauge wire is fairly thin I used this nail file,

which I stole from my daughter. It works perfectly for small jobs, especially sanding the ends of ear wires. I have noticed, however, that the black ordinary ones seem better than these decorative ones. I know, weird, right.

O.K. now follow closely.

With round nose pliers or your super cool multi whatever pliers turn the end of the wire as in the photo.

Now bend the wire in the opposite direction using a slightly larger part of the pliers.

Now do the same at the other end.

Notice that the curve at the new end looks as though I’ve done it the wrong way round. Don’t be fooled.

Now complete the next curve, as you did the second at the other end, to make the link.

Confused?

I’ll draw a picture.

 Rest assured, once you’ve done the first one, or three as in my case, it gets easier.

You might find that the link has bent out of shape somewhat depending on how well you managed to push the wire over the pliers with your fingers hurting so much, (there’s just something about bending those hard little pieces of wire that does a girls hands in), but, you can take your flat nose pliers and easily straighten the link up.

Now gently squash the middle part together with your round nose pliers.

and use that special little trick to bring the link together more if the ends don’t completely touch the middle.

Now make it a friend.

I joined my links together with a small jump ring

 but you could also join the two together before closing the link.

Then I hung aquamarine beads from it and made it into a bracelet.

But!

Before you get excited,

here’s the thing.

This chain is really nice but I had to do a lot of sanding to shave down some of those curved ends.

See them?

As I ran my finger over it I could tell that without eliminating some of the end curves the chain would constantly catch on your clothing and it would be really annoying.  It took me a long while to get the chain to the point where I was satisfied that it wouldn’t catch. As a consequence this bracelet is 5 billion dollars and cheap at half the price. (Does anyone even know what that means … )

As well as sanding I used my flat nose pliers to push the end flatter to the middle part of the link and that seemed to work quite well. I was thinking of balling up the ends of the wire next time to see how that turns out but I’m not sure if I’ll like it as much.

Stay tuned, I can feel in my bones that there’s more link excitement to come.

–

Here’s B beginning her second day at work.

And no, her desk is not in the toilet. At least I don’t think so …

–

Depressing boxes and dismembered arms.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

This weekend has been apartment hunting weekend. B starts working in Austin today. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute I say. I’m pleased for her, and us. She graduated in May and has been home since then. Love her to pieces, but, enough already. Trouble is now she wants to take all of our furniture. Somehow she manages to tell it like she’s all alone now, and furnitureless. We fall for it every time. The kids look sad and sorry and we say ahhh, poor things, and give them all we have. All I can hope for now is that they leave us enough for the old people’s home.

She graduated as a graphic designer. She’ll be wanting a drafting table next. Unfortunately I have one of those. Maybe she wont notice.

Why are all the apartments so depressing? We must have looked at eleven of them on Saturday and only two of them felt as though you wouldn’t have to kill yourself after living in them for a month. The one she picked was nice, loads of windows and very open. $900 a month though. How do people manage? There were cheaper ones, but, like I said, if she lived in one of those she wouldn’t be around to even see a pay rise so she could move into a nicer one because she would be dead, in her chair, in the pitiful box she called home. I feel happier with her in this one. It seems safe, and happy. It’s on the third floor though. I think this is strategic planning so I’d have trouble getting up there with my stiff knees. Maybe she wont get our furniture after all.

–

We passed this car on the way to Austin.

I was a little worried that they didn’t know there was an arm hanging out of their trunk. P wouldn’t flag them over.

–

Other news.

This has taken a turn for the better, I think.

And,

new bracelets happening daily.

–

Why everyone’s on the moon and is there a good reason why I haven’t thought about getting them off yet.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Yes you heard right, the moon.

I stumbled upon this on-line e-course, that, for some reason I’ll never fully understand, I signed up for. I think I was having a ‘moment’. I’ve written about my moments before. Some of them are dark, moping, droopy moments. Some swirling, anxiety, omg moments. And I’m sure there are plenty other moments in the whole spectrum of moment psychology which I’ve chosen to not admit to. I think the moment I was having at that moment was the one that made me think I needed to take this e course. (Don’t ask me – I still don’t understand).

Anyway, the fact is I’ve only watched the first video, but, it was quite interesting. It was about cleaning out your house, the house in question being your psychological house, but, darn if my real house doesn’t need cleaning too. How did she know! She starts with getting everyone out of your house. Everyone, even your kids and husband, if you have kids and husbands, which is kind of ironic as I’ve been trying to get the kids out for a while now. They all went off to college, and then they all came back again! Now you tell me, is that wrong or what? The exercise is that some people who used to be in your house you might allow back on the porch, some in the garden or the sidewalk, etc. until you have a clear idea of who is healthy to have around and who brings you down, then you can start letting them back into your house. You get the idea. Some people you might need to send further. Particularly worrisome people might have to visit Africa, although that only makes sense if you don’t already live in Africa. Then, she says, there are the Moon People.

At that point I started to get a bit worried about favouritism and who should go where and for what reason and it all got to be too complicated. So I decided to put everyone on the moon. Then I started to think about all the people who would still be too close even if they were on the moon, and, also the moon is rather cool I think and perhaps even too nice for some people, so I started working through the other planets, but they all seemed too close, you know, being in my universe and all, so finally, out of ideas and getting a bit desperate I decided that these people must go into the black hole. For the time being you understand. Only then I got caught up with life without moments and forgot to watch the second video and now everyone’s still up there. I feel as though this is unfinished business. There has been no closure. And that the whole exercise, while quite freeing I have to admit, has left me slightly more worried than before I started.

To all my Peeps I feel that I must explain. There really is no need to feel upset that you are on the moon, I did it only so that I didn’t discriminate, (well, except for the black hole people that is. Maybe they should come back to the moon). I imagine you all in some kind of statis really. Happily bobbing around, just hanging out. Down here, in real life, you’re all still around, but I really must get down to watching that second video soon.

–

Links, murder and Atticus Finch.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Books and Stuff, Jewelry Stuff

Lots happening with the links.

As you can see I’ve made quite a few of them.

If you remember, this was the first piece I made with them.

And the second.

Then I got a bit carried away.

I even made a little something to go with them – just because.

Other jewelry news is that I’ve finally started to pay attention to pricing my work properly.

Thanks to Danielle who is also a jewelry maker and who has helped me begin to see the error of my ways, I have begun to work with a pricing formula. I have to say that this hasn’t been easy for me. Yep, the whole self esteem, lack of confidence, stuff comes back to bite me each and every time, but, and this is an important but, I am getting better at it. The more I work on perfecting my craft and the more I realize that what I want to do with the money I make from it is very important to me, the easier it’s becoming to take myself more seriously. Man, and it only took me fifty years!

Thank you Danielle for your nudge.

In between making the links I finally finished listening to, To Kill a Mockingbird. When I make jewelry I can only listen to audio books with earphones if they’re on my i pod. To Kill a Mocking bird is on c.d. and as I hammer a lot and plug my ears with the christmas gift, I miss a lot of the narrative so this time I could only listen when I was painting.

You wont be surprised to hear that it was as brilliant to listen to as it was to read. Sissy Spacek was the narrator. My favourite part each time is the part where Scout, Jem and Dill go to the court house when Atticus is sitting guard outside. Very powerful. Now I’m back to the murder mysteries, (don’t ask me why, maybe my therapist can enlighten me). Inspector Linley this time. I’ve seen this on the t.v. and have to say that I don’t really care for the actors in it, particularly the sullen side kick. But, she’s exactly like that in the book so who am I to criticize. The audiobook is just o.k. it hasn’t really grabbed me yet, although, again with the female impersonation. Why? is all I have to say. Why does the very nice male listening voice, have to try to play the woman as a woman? It never works. The women always come over as weak, pathetic, whiney, girly, silly people – and not in a good way. Just read me the story will you. I can imagine the rest.

Not that it upsets me or anything …

–

Silver and grunge copper.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff
sterling silver

 

sterling silver with opal bead

 

copper with red creek jasper bead

 

copper, sterling silver, and opal bead

 

copper, sterling silver and some bead I can’t remember … sorry

 

copper, sterling silver, czech glass beads and little seed beads

 

Interested in buying one of these? Just leave a comment and I will list it for you on Etsy.

–

 

The tale of two links.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Tutorial Stuff

Wondering what else you can do with those links?

You remember the ones.

Well fret no more.

To find the post with instructions on how to make these click HERE, however, I will recap.

First make the links.

This time I used 16 gauge sterling silver wire and I worked on them in a slightly different way than the first post – just to keep it exciting.

Cut 1″ lengths and hammer each end as before.

Then bend them over your super neat pliers and bring the ends together with flat nose pliers.

You will notice, with some frustration, that the two ends wont come together completely flat. Things like this bug the bejeezus out of me,

so,

gently squeeze together the round end of the loop just enough to bring together the flat ends.

It doesn’t seem much but this solves the problem. Just be sure not to squeeze the loop so much that you flatten the round end too much, you still want a nice looking loop at the finish.

This is where I changed it up.

The first time I made the links I drilled the holes in the ends before I made the loop. This worked very well for me but you have to make sure the holes line up after you bend the silver into the link.

This time I drilled the hole after I made the link.

Now, apparently I drill the same way I fish.

When I get a bite I reel the thing in as fast as I can until the fish is almost speared on the end of the rod, then I whack the hell out of it with the priest until it’s absolutely dead. Not the mostly dead as in my last post you understand. All dead. I can’t stand playing with it by casually reeling it in. I can’t stand its not knowing I’m going to whack it on the head. I just don’t want it to see it’s coming.

This is why I don’t fish any more.

Back to the jewelry.

When I drill I tend to push that bit down into the silver like there’s a race on. There’s no messing around, I just spear that thing like I don’t want it to see it’s coming.

Yesterday I found out, once again, that my fishing technique is not necessarily the best approach to drilling.

Feel free to learn from my mistakes, they might just save your life someday.

NOTE:

If you are not holding the link tightly enough (I use an old pair of pliers so as not to get my fingers too close) and you jam that bit down like someone who wants to get catching a fish over with as soon as is earthly possible, you will likely take your eye out.

In this instance the bottom end of the link didn’t want to stay put as the drill came down through the first end. Because I was happily going full guns with the drilling the link caught up in the bit and whipped itself out of the pliers. This has happened before (I’m a slow learner), but this time, and I don’t really know how, the link flew off into the room. A Final Destination moment for sure.

I quickly found out that, in this instance at least, slowly but surely wins the race and that, however much I don’t want to admit it, my high school metalwork teacher was right. Always respect the machines, however small and innocent they appear.

Moving on.

Once the holes have been drilled take out your preferred sanding tool and even out the ends into perfect rounds.

This is my tool of choice,

Next you will need some 18 gauge sterling silver wire which you cut into just under 2.5 cm lengths and bend in half.

Thread the loop into two of the links.

Now comes the tricky part, although if I did it, you can too.

Hold the links in your soldering tweezers and ball up the ends of the wire with your torch.

This is only tricky because you have to be careful not to heat up the flattened ends of the links too much else they melt too.

It’s also tricky if you have short tweezers. Then you’ll find you burn your fingers constantly until you wise up and buy a longer pair. Took me a year. Told you, slow learner.

Hold the new link with a pair of round nose pliers and bring together the balled ends slightly with a pair of flat nose pliers until you have a good shape

Carry on joining the links

until you have a bracelet length, or a length for whatever else you want to use a chain for. (See that link that hasn’t come completely flat together? Annoying).

Now, if you had thought ahead you would have already made your clasp before you closed up the last link. If you’re me, however, you wouldn’t have,

so,

find some 16 gauge wire and wrap a small loop from the end of it around the last link.

Solder this together making sure not to solder the loop onto the link. You want it to move freely.

Now make your hook clasp, pickle the chain, dunk it in liver of sulphur and polish to a nice sheen.

A bracelet.

Just for you.

–

Mostly dead.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Well it’s Friday.

Damn if this doesn’t happen every week!

I like Fridays but they’re coming around too quickly for my liking. I start on Monday thinking its a new life, a new start, a new, bright, wonderful opportunity to rock the world, lose weight and make beautiful, interesting, different art, and then before you know it its Friday and I’m left wondering what the h*ll happened? Where did all my new opportunities go?

They went to next Monday, that’s where they went. And that ain’t getting to be so cool anymore. Before I know it the only new opportunity I’ll be getting is what it feels like to be old, grey(er), and practically dead.

That makes me think of Billy Crystal.

(Just love the way the mind works. Keeps me smiling that’s for sure).

If you haven’t seen, The Princess Bride, you should. It will restore your Friday’s lost opportunity mood into a, I think I’m going to smile forever, mood. That’s unless you’re all dead of course, in which case there’s not a lot to be done about it.

I don’t know about you but I’m feel better already.

I think I’m going to get out there and rock the world today,

Friday or not …

–

Baby steps.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff, Painting Stuff

Today I am going to work on this,

and this,

I’m going to try to keep with the acrylics on the first one. The bottom one, because I’ve already started over the acrylics with oil pastel, I’ll finish with the pastels.

If I can follow through (always my problem) with the acrylics I think I will prefer the top painting to the bottom one. The oil pastels seem less spontaneous to me although I love the richness of the colours. (You can’t tell here as the photograph is bad).

I applied to the art festival I do each year. This time I applied to take some paintings as well as my jewelry. I’m just not sure though. I’m always saying that maybe next year I’ll be ready. Ready to display my jewelry in a more professional manner. Ready to sell my jewelry as a proper business. Ready to make a real effort at painting, etc., etc. But next year is always the same as this year. This is why I’ve applied for painting also.

I don’t think my paintings are very good. I’d like to work on them to a point where I feel comfortable trying to sell them but confidence always gets in the way of me even trying (hence the worry wart). This blog has helped me though. I am putting them out there, warts and all (no offense to my wart) and it’s becoming easier to get over myself.

Now, finally, I have sent off some photo’s to the art festival people – even though I have none finished.

(Where’s that darn worry wart when you need him!).

Baby steps people 🙂

–

Sometimes it’s hard being me.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Other Stuff

Especially when I don’t know what I’m doing.

Or rather, I do know what I’m doing but I don’t really want to know.

My acetylene ran out yesterday. It’s been trying to run out for some time now but yesterday it gave a final, (pathetic really), puff and gave out. I made some cold connection earrings instead, but, today I knew I was going to have to go replace the old girl.

The last two I made with my little creme brulee torch.

–

Couple of things I don’t like about replacing the acetylene.

1. What if the neighbours see me lugging that big, somewhat dangerous looking, cylinder around.

2. What if I blow up.

I’m pretty sure the neighbours think I’m strange anyway, so perhaps that isn’t quite as important as the whole blowing up thing.

–

I put the tank in the car, wedging it between the back of the front passenger seat and the rear seat. It’s a sleek operation with all those electrical chair moving buttons gliding the chair into positions it’s never been before. I feel as though I’m preparing for take off or something way more exciting than a trip down the road, even if that trip is fraught with anxiety.

I hold on to the tank all the way to the gas place wondering what it feels like to have your hand blown off, and then I laugh, casually to myself, because that really isn’t going to happen. More likely my whole body will blow up at the same time leaving the hand worry somewhat redundant.

I try to imagine myself in some high trauma job, like bomb disposal, and pretend like I drive acetylene tanks around all day, just because. But, it doesn’t work as I know today is going to be the day I woke up unaware that I’m to be blown to pieces.

I ask S to come with me, but he says no. I ask B to come, but she says no. I feel bad that I’ve asked them. What if I blow them up too. Would that be fair. No. So, instead, I just feel sorry for myself and get on with the job in hand wondering why I have to pick a craft that can kill a person at any time. Perhaps it’s time to take up basket weaving.

Just as I get used to hauling around explosives in the car, I find the gas place has gone. It’s closed down. Abandoned like the Mary Celeste. A ghost shop. I call and they tell me they’ve moved (duh). I download map quest on my phone, (if you haven’t got this, get it, you can find out how to get to the nearest welding supplies shop any time you want with it), I call P when I realize I’ll be diving a fair way further. Does he know how painful it will be to blow up? He avoids the question which probably means very painful.

There’s a bit of a hiccup when the map woman tells me to do a left hand u turn for no apparent reason, but, after a moment of cussing (me, not her) she gives in, recalculates, and I finally find the new shop. I have to admit to the guy that I don’t want to remove the hose and pressure gauge myself as I don’t want to blow up. He reluctantly does it for me. Not in his job description I think to myself.

Now I have to make it home, on the freeway this time, hoping that all the other people on the road wont hit me. I follow a big, chemical tank truck, because it makes sense to me that if I go, we all go, but have to wonder, am I really in more danger than the guy passing me at 85 mph on his motorbike doing wheelies with no helmet, knee or elbow covering. Can you say carpet burn. (I know it will be concrete scrape but just the thought of carpet burns on concrete does my head it).

So I made it home o.k. I did make S take the tank back out to the studio. He moaned the whole way. Apparently it was heavy. Not too heavy for his poor ol’ mum with dodgy wrists though.

I haven’t used it yet. I’m about to go out there now. If you don’t hear from me again, rest assured, it will probably have been quick …

–

Depressing boxes and dismembered arms.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

This weekend has been apartment hunting weekend. B starts working in Austin today. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute I say. I’m pleased for her, and us. She graduated in May and has been home since then. Love her to pieces, but, enough already. Trouble is now she wants to take all of our furniture. Somehow she manages to tell it like she’s all alone now, and furnitureless. We fall for it every time. The kids look sad and sorry and we say ahhh, poor things, and give them all we have. All I can hope for now is that they leave us enough for the old people’s home.

She graduated as a graphic designer. She’ll be wanting a drafting table next. Unfortunately I have one of those. Maybe she wont notice.

Why are all the apartments so depressing? We must have looked at eleven of them on Saturday and only two of them felt as though you wouldn’t have to kill yourself after living in them for a month. The one she picked was nice, loads of windows and very open. $900 a month though. How do people manage? There were cheaper ones, but, like I said, if she lived in one of those she wouldn’t be around to even see a pay rise so she could move into a nicer one because she would be dead, in her chair, in the pitiful box she called home. I feel happier with her in this one. It seems safe, and happy. It’s on the third floor though. I think this is strategic planning so I’d have trouble getting up there with my stiff knees. Maybe she wont get our furniture after all.

–

We passed this car on the way to Austin.

I was a little worried that they didn’t know there was an arm hanging out of their trunk. P wouldn’t flag them over.

–

Other news.

This has taken a turn for the better, I think.

And,

new bracelets happening daily.

–

That’s wart I’m saying?

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Books and Stuff, Other Stuff, Painting Stuff

My worry wart came today.

It’s bigger than I thought, which is good as I have a lot of worries.

As it’s so big I thought I would put it on the mantle along with the others in my menagerie of oddities so that the other people living with me can take advantage of its magical powers.

But it’s worrying me how worried he looks. See how he’s checking out Mr. Angry Pig? That’s a look of sheer terror right there.

Perhaps I should move him. His companions do look a bit thuggish.

–

This is what I’ve been painting.

I’ve almost finished this one,

and I’m working on this one.

I also got these two out and fiddled with them some more.

Almost as creepy as my menagerie?

(Well, O.K. perhaps they’re creepier).

I finally finished listening to the last of the Dick Francis audio books dad brought over. There were five of them.

They weren’t too bad. I found myself comfortably lulled by the narrator’s voice and only had to cringe a little at the bits where he played a woman. The plots were quite thin, however, always starting with the main character and the horse introductions. Then it seemed that, in the ones I listened to at least, there was the usual (or not) amputated hand/foot/leg/whatever, leg in plaster, etc., etc., explanation, which always ended up being due to some unfortunate horse accident … go figure, then the murdering bit, which was fairly low-key in comparison to the other murder mysteries I’ve been listening to. I’ve become used to the whole putting people in a wood chipper in the deep dark woods next to a creepy cabin kind of murder, or the, lock someone up in a decompression chamber for five years and slowly increase the pressure each year so that when it’s opened suddenly the person inside implodes and – O.K. I don’t know if you’d really implode but it’s safe to say that the regular old whack on the back of the head murder seems to be a little, been there, done that, kind of thing really.

Then there’s the falling in love bit, the, I should tell the police but I wont, but I should really, but I wont, bit, then the danger, danger, bit, and finally the, it’s solved, bit.

Fairly lame really.

No offense to the horses.

Needless to say its a real treat now I’m on, To kill a Mockingbird.

–

How To #4 – More links.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff

Cut 1″ lengths of 14 gauge sterling silver wire.

This produces a fairly chunky link – you can experiment with different lengths and gauges to suit your taste.

Now put the music on and bring out the christmas present you got from your middle child who thoughtfully wants to protect your hearing from the hammering – that’s if Florence hasn’t got to it yet.

Hammer each end of the wire until flat then take your center punch, punch the silver and drill a hole in each end.

You can use your fordom but I like to use my drill press (so handy).

But, don’t do this,

because it will bug the %^#@*!! out of you that you got the hole off-center and, however much you try to ignore it, you know you’ll just have to start all over again and the top of your hammer will come off for the gazillionth time and it will all be very, very, annoying. Probably because the hammer you bought only cost you $12 and you know you should always invest in the best tools you can afford …

Still, you can whack the head back on and it will be fine but you’ll more than likely be experimenting with some interesting super glue scenarios in the near future.

Don’t let this get you down.

Take a deep breath then anneal the silver.

Because this softens the metal so that you can bend it more easily, and, playing with fire always relieves frustration.

Now get out these really neat pliers.

(If you don’t have these you can use regular round nose pliers. I wont mind).

Center the length of silver across the third or fourth smallest diameter prong,

and bend.

This will hurt your fingers but hopefully you will end up with all those innocent looking little curved silver pieces that are lurking in the background.

Take your flat nose pliers and bend out the very ends of the silver and then close the loop together.

If you have punched and drilled your holes consistently, i.e., in the same position at the ends of each length of silver, when the two ends of the loop come together the holes should line up. You could drill the holes after you join the two ends together. I find this a little trickier. Experiment to find which technique suits you better. If the holes don’t exactly line up you can fiddle with the loop somewhat. If the worse comes to the worse, however, just abandon the whole thing and try again.

What? It happens.

Now, join the loops together as in the pic below.

Voila!

Links.

This is what I did with mine.

And with only the smallest of injuries.

Then, you turn off your torch and go and see, The Bourne legacy.

Which was brilliant.

Enjoy.

–

For more How To’s see – HERE.

Note: The links to the tools used are only examples of the ones I use. There are many different types available of the same tools, some better than others. If you are beginning your jewelry adventure, please don’t just buy the ones in the links here. Research until you feel comfortable that you are purchasing the right tool for you.

Remember the $12 hammer problem?

Disclaimer: I am just a somebody muddling through. This is the way I do things. I am a wing it, try it, do it wrong, try again, sort of person. I do not maintain that I know what I am doing, only that I am trying to do it. Please feel free to enjoy my discoveries but follow your own research for professional advice and to perfect your skills. Above all, enjoy. Life is short.

The way of the lost.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

I may have got a bit carried away with this one.

The houses are rightly shocked as they are being swept away downstream after the road collapsed into the river.

Well, it’s just a beginning.

Here are the first two.

I don’t particularly like them which is why I think the houses went the way of the lost. I had to free up my frustration. Throw it all in the river so to speak.

This painting stuff will probably be the end of me …

–

I have issues, Wally has issues, we all have issues.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Painting Stuff

I did paint yesterday – after all that moaning.

I also made a decision.

  (I’m having commitment issues as I type. Decision is a pretty decisive word).

The other day I saw an article on Etsy about a quilt maker who decided to make a quilt a day. You can find her shop here. In the announcement on the front page of her shop you can read about her project. I thought it was interesting. Like a journal.

Anyhoo, I’ve been feeling pretty down about my wanting to paint and yet having all these confidence issues having a little war in my head, so, I thought I might snatch her idea and just get on with it.

I bought some small 8 x 10 boards a few weeks ago which seem perfect for the job, so yesterday I just painted. The idea wasn’t to go anywhere but to just let it be.

This is the first acrylic run,

and here I have begun to work the oil pastels in.

(Now I’ve posted them, I don’t like them. Man I was doing so well …)

Again, the problem I always have is, I like the spontaneity of the first one, but, I just don’t like the way the acrylics look. Conversely I love the richness of the oil pastels, but, now it’s boring and too trite.

See, thinking too much. The project was just to let it be.

O.K. so ignoring all that, (as N is apt to say, I am going to choose not to let it bother me), I went out yesterday and bought a couple more boards before I could get to second guessing myself and although I am not going to paint one a day as the quilt lady is, I am going to see what happens as I go along. I am going to start one, and finish one before I go on to the next. That should start to sort out my finishing issues, and then, I am going to list them on Etsy and sell them, that should help with my confidence issues. I thought $50 each, that should help me not be so precious with them, but they take me a long while so I don’t know. (See, getting precious already).

The money will go to charity so there’s another little commitment to help me take it seriously.

Now, here’s the rub. When tomorrow comes, will I have changed my mind – again?

Stay tuned …

–

Here’s a pic of Spencer and Wally snuggling.

I often catch them like this. Wally’s the instigator. Do you think he has issues also?

–

Really?

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Other Stuff, Painting Stuff

I think its going to be a jewelry kind of day today.

I haven’t made anything since my dad was here except to paint. But, I’ve now decided to give up on the painting. Yep, I’ve gone into my, I can’t do it and it’s bringing me down, stage. It generally happens after a few days of, I want to say enjoyment, so how can it go from fun to despair in such a short period of time?

Was it Dick Frances?

I didn’t work on the one with the out of control tree, but, rather, I picked up some half-finished paintings, one of which I actually believe I finished yesterday. My second or third completed piece out of the hundreds (okay, maybe fifty) I have lurking in the store-room. Wowzers. At least that’s a step in the right direction.

And here it is.

in all it’s glory. No windows, sorry E.

And this one, apart from the sky, is perhaps almost as close to finished.

Some windows. Ghost windows, mawahaha. (Too creepy?)

But then I picked up this one – again.

And I think it might just have been the one that finished me off.

There’s something about it that I really like, it’s simplicity perhaps, and the colours, but, I just can’t do it capt’n, I’ve no the power!

Oh the stress in my heart as I think about it.

(O.K. maybe a tad melodramatic).

And then, as if to push me over the edge completely, I found this on Etsy.

Click picture to find Ariel Schoen

And bought it so that I can put it on my bedroom wall and have it taunt me each day I wake up ….

O.K. I’m going to have to stop now. The self-pity is bringing me down.

Time to move on …

On a good note, the red oil pastel all but came out of the sofa. The only place you can see the remnants of the ‘incident’ is on one of the cushions which can easily be turned over and hidden. The stain on the ottoman was the most worrying for me as there is no turning to do, but, it came out completely, as it did on the other two cushions. Oh, goo be gone, white shaving cream and apple scented washing up liquid, you are now my friends for life. How can I have been so dismissive of you for all these years …

So, jewelry it is. Either that or moping on the sofa – and that’s kind of getting old news now. I have an art festival coming up in October so perhaps I need to make some simple, cheaper, items, but really I want to set some more cabochons. I’m not going to let it bother me though. I’m just going to wing it.

$^$!@!# it’s bothering me already.

Really? Is the whole day going to be like this?

–

–

Pissarro and the deadliest colour in the crayon box.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Painting Stuff

An update of yesterday’s painting.

Dick Frances (yep, still with him) was going at it with the whole horse tampering thing and somehow, in the heat of things, I got a bit carried away with the tree. Think I’ll knock it back a bit today.

I’m enjoying the colours especially the pink behind the house for some reason.

–

Soooooo, we had a bit of a bright red oil pastel incident on the linen coloured sofa yesterday. Of course it had to be red and of course it had to get all over and in three of Spencer’s paws so he could ‘innocently’ traipse around more of the deadliest colour in the crayon box. I think he took the opportunity to give us the ol’, ha! I’ll show you, thing for putting him on a diet myself, but I guess we’ll never know.

P was remarkably calm considering the covers are relatively new and expensive. We did the best we could to get most of it out and they are now in the washing machine. I’m not so sure I want to be the one to open it up and see what we have been left with but I don’t think it’ll be so easy to run and hide from this one. As we were trying to hold Spencer down and do our best to get the oil pastel out of his paws without making the whole thing worse P saw the red in my hair and neck and we concluded that it had been on my camera strap. He washed it out for me with dishwashing detergent and extremely cold water. A not so subtle punishment I feel.

Not fair really as after the blue acrylic paint mishap on the old covers I have been extremely careful to change my clothes, etc., when I come in from the studio. And I’m extra careful to get the oil colour out of my hands and elbows.

Perhaps I will be banned from the house entirely soon.

I wonder if Pissarro had this much trouble …

–

A rainy Pissarro kind of day.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Books and Stuff, Painting Stuff

Big storm last night and it looks like more rain today. Right now it’s dark and cosy. A good reading day, but, I’m thinking studio …

A while back I started this,

which turned into this,

then this,

and now this,

As always I think I prefer the first one. Bummer!

Today I’ll be continuing to work the back ground and do something with the tree and sky.

I took it from Pissarro’s – The Red Roofs.

Isn’t it brilliant.

No chance I’ll be caught in a fraudulent act here! Just practicing.

 I’ve been going through a ton of audio books while out in my studio and it’s costing me a small fortune. The last one I downloaded was, I Alex Cross, by James Patterson. It was O.K. a bit more grizzly than the others. These authors certainly have a dark side, it’s a wonder they’re allowed out on the streets. Then dad brought over some Dick Francis, pretty light weight in comparison. That was just O.K too. I think it might be time to get out some real books for a change. I do have an audio copy of, To Kill a Mockingbird, one of my favourite books, and movies come to that, (can you say Gregory Peck!) so I think I might give that a go today.

Who knows, it might just improve my painting skills.

One can always hope …

–

It’s O.K. really :)

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Other Stuff

Update from this mornings post.

–

So, perhaps the hair didn’t come out so well but I had a jewelry sale this morning which topped me close to the $1000 mark.

Okay, so I didn’t really make $1000, as P would be eager to point out to you, as I have never worked my jewelry making as a ‘proper’ business. I pay taxes on the money I receive, etc., but I don’t include my expenses and supplies in that figure – I just get excited when someone buys something from me and then I add up all the money I get for the jewelry and tell P how successful I am :). I consider the expenses and supplies I buy a gift I give myself to be able to enjoy my craft. The other part, the part I ‘earn’, I consider a gift I give back, which in itself is another gift I give myself. One day I am going to get it all together and try to work it properly but right now I am just happy that I was able to send my hard-earned and completely enjoyable, $1000 to Care.

Thank you to everyone who bought a piece of jewelry from me in the past few months.

You are good people 🙂

When Hairy met Scary.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Dad’s gone, the garden is a disaster and I’m getting my hair cut today.

Sounds like it’s going to be a touch and go day.

Actually dad’s going wasn’t as bad as it usually is. I hate to see him go and it always seems as though we just do a drive by at the airport, push him out and speed on. Of course, it doesn’t exactly goes down like that, but, insofar as the, now you see him, now you don’t, trick that invariably gives you that, something’s missing and I don’t quite understand what happened, feeling, it might as well be. But, he got home safely and (says) he had a good time, so I’m going to try not to worry about it.

As for the hair cut, well, that’s another matter entirely.

My usual hairdresser did a runner. Well she was a barber actually as I was too self-conscious to go to a real hairdresser (working on it), and I also have very short hair and the barber cost me $12 instead of the $40 this new woman charges. But, as I said, the barber did a runner. Another, now you see her, now you don’t scenario which is beginning to give me that uncanny feeling that things can change at the turn of a dime and you never know when the next disappearing act is going to happen.

Scary.

Okay maybe that only scares me.

So, I went to get my hair shorn and she just wasn’t there. She had been in, packed up her stuff, and within five minutes had gone. Apparently to California!

What about me? Did she not wonder how my life was going to never be the same again! Did it not occur to her that there could be other, more important, things than having to get out of dodge because you’re in an abusive relationship and things are beginning to get a bit hairy! No pun intended.

(Good for her. I hope all goes well for her).

I tried the other woman in the barbers but it was like torture with the shears going way overtime and her not taking into account that I was actually a woman and didn’t necessarily need my face shaved. So I left and had a bit of a desperate moment knowing that I was going to have to try out a real hairdresser.

It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be and once Kelly (my new woman) pointed out to me that she would have been way more self-conscious sitting in a barbers getting her hair cut with all those men hanging around, I began to realize that perhaps I had got it the wrong way around. (I find life very muddling at times).

Long and the short of it (another pun not intended) is that now I have Kelly and I sit in a real hair salon and pay $40 for what could be done for $12 and the poor woman has to sit through me telling her how to do it like the barber did it and end up leaving with a haircut that I have to go home and cry about and know that I can never leave the house again for as long as I live. Well, at least until it grows out.

So, today I have made an executive decision.

I am going to leave it up to Kelly. I’m going to sit back and let her do her thing and see if that works. Otherwise I’m just going to have to shave it all off and never have hair again because the whole thing just upsets me.

It’s just all worry people!

–

Studio time.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Painting Stuff

It doesn’t look as though I did much more to it but I managed to sneak back in the studio yesterday and now I have this.

I’m not sure if I want to put the windows and doors in. I kind of like it without them. My houses always seem to look a bit shocked with them. Like, what the hell’s going on? Why are you looking at me? kind of thing. In this one, without them, they look as though they are checking the viewer out. Especially the ones that seem to be leaning in for a better look.

Too much time alone in the studio do you think?

I love my dad and only really get to see him once a year although I talk to him on the phone three or four times a week, but, I really, really, really, miss my studio. Three weeks is too long a separation. I feel like a kid whose mum wont let her have an ice cream 🙁 but he leaves on Tuesday and I can definitely make it until then. Then I will miss him and wish I hadn’t been so desperate to do my own thing.

So, no Ellen, I don’t think I am going to put the windows in but I will put the cross on top of the church and the grave markers in the church yard. Does that tell you something of my morbid side? Just pretend you didn’t read it, I’m quite normal really …

While I was deciding what to do next with it, and while dad was watching t.v. with P, I took this one out again and tried to like it.

See those little shocked houses. It’s like they’ve been caught in the act. Don’t ask me what act but they look extremely guilty if you ask me. Now this one will have to chill in the studio until I can get back in there. Dad and P are going fishing on Sunday so lets hope I can figure out something to do with it by then. The only bit I like about it is the sea. Those waves just draw me in. I also like the feeling that everything’s bathed in late afternoon sun, it makes me feel warm. The tree needs a trunk though and the river looks more like an industrial canal which kind of blows the feeling.

Oh well …

–

Getting loose with Michael.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Painting Stuff

Just can’t get anything going with my dad still here but I did work some more on this yesterday.

It went from this,

to this,

to this.

Really not sure about it yet. I somehow think I prefer the choppy feel of the second, but I’ll wait and see.

I love colour. If you were to meet me you would never guess as I’m a jeans and black t-shirt girl, but, inside I’m bursting with colour. My alter ego.

I’d like to loosen up a little. I’ve begun to realise that I’m a little tight with my work. Never really working outside the box. As a consequence I feel that everything tends to be a little predictable. I think I might start to give myself a few minutes of free painting before I start on a piece, a bit like Michael Phelps flaying his arms around on the starting block to loosen himself up before the big swim. Good grief, I’d dislocate something bad if I attempted even a fraction of that arm swing! Still I’m thinking the whole loosening up analogy is a good idea, except with my brush instead of my body.

It’s all about safety people!

Here’s what I’m talking about.

I started with this collage,

and went on to paint this.

I think it’s a lot more exciting.

So …. that’s what I’m up to. What about you?

–

Meanwhile …

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Not a lot being done around here. I didn’t take any new photos to list but I have been buying up all the bead supplies on Etsy …

People aren’t allowed to visit me any more because I turn into super sofa sitting girl with my veins plugged into the computer.

Here are some things I was doing before my dad visited.

I want to feel excited about the jug but know it wont come out the way I want it to. I usually end up giving the ceramics away because I just don’t like the results, so K and E, no fighting over this one …

Let’s hope it comes out O.K. so we can have some peace around here …

–

Why I’m not an Olympian.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

I’m going to try to photograph and list some new items of jewelry today. I’ve been a bit behind in everything since my dad is visiting, which is absolutely fine by me. Priorities are everything, right 🙂

Been watching some of the Olympics. Loved that the Brits got a bronze in gymnastics. I didn’t even know we had a team! And the synchronized diving. Good grief. How good are those guys. I really enjoyed watching the Mexicans. Wow is all I can say.

So, today is going to be more of the same. Just kicking back, enjoying my dad and enjoying the Olympics.

Does this make me wish I’d tried harder at P.E.?

Not on your Nelly!

I was never that good at sports. I remember being fairly good at making up time as the fourth leg in the relay. I had a good eye for tennis and squash and really liked javelin – don’t ask me why, could have been something to do with sharp pointy things and anger issues. But I just couldn’t cope with the jumping sports. I suppose the long jump was O.K. and the triple jump somewhat fun, but the high jump was just freaky. God only knows how those people do the pole volt! I do enjoy watching that on t.v. though.

I was a complete failure at field sports. Especially when it was my turn as goalie. The anxiety from waiting for someone to whack the ball at you in field hockey was just too much for me. And it hurt! What was that all about! They give you that little stick and you’re supposed to defend your goal with it! That’s almost like using chop sticks to eat. The pressure of letting your whole side down as they watch you jump out of the way of the ball was unbearable.

Not a good time in the showers after that I can tell you.

Gym was awful. I had, and still have, no upper body strength. It was humiliating not being able to get up that rope and to top it all we had to wear those silly black knickers.

Diving – I couldn’t even get up the ladder to the platform, and swimming … I want to be near the water, not in it. All that stuff up your nose and in your ears. It’s not normal people!

I would opt for badminton, thinking it was an easy option. No it wasn’t, and volleyball just meant bruises all up your arm.

I remember thinking that I’d never make it back to school alive when we did cross-country. That would teach them when they found me dead from exhaustion in a ditch somewhere. And I can only thank god we didn’t have horses on the school ground.

Non stop cricket rounders (don’t ask) was fairly fun though.

On the whole I think it’s fairly safe to say that sports were definitely not my thing. Some might think I’m somewhat a wimp – but I’m still alive.

How smart is that …

–

Kitty Fashionista.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Here’s Wally, waiting for his nails to be painted.

I took all the cats in for their yearly this week, and yep, while dropping them off mentioned the doggy pedicure – again. I couldn’t help it, I think I’m still in the baffled and amazed stage. S, who helped me with the cats, gave me a swift kick to the shin. I think I embarrass him. He told me I was being rude. Oh well.

I thought I had heard it all on animal bizarre-ment. Nope. The assistant then told me that some kitty owners also get their cats pedicured! What the @%^*#$$!! Problem is, she went on to tell me, because cats claws are retractable they have trouble drying them so it’s not so popular.

Not so popular. There’s a clue. I just can’t imagine why.

Anyhow I got to thinking about it and, obviously, Wally’s been thinking about it too – he was probably kennelled next to a feline fashionista while he was waiting for his shots. He’s been giving me the, here are my nails, go on, do it, hint, every time he sits next to me since.

I suspect he’s always wanted to try out the transvestite thing. I think that’s why I love him.

I just don’t get it …

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Yesterday we picked Willow up from the groomers. Yes, bless her heart, she was shaved again. I know she’s a girl, I know she’s a cocker spaniel and should have all that cocker spaniel hair, but – we live in Houston, and it’s hot. She also loves to ditch swim. Yep in the ditch. She doesn’t like clean water. She will not go in the pool although we think that’s a depth perception phobia rather than a cleanliness phobia. No, she has to frolic in the muddiest water out there. And she ends up stinking. She is a stinky dog. So, I get her shaved. I actually love the way she looks when she’s shaved. She looks fit and lean. With all her fur on she looks podgy and grimy.

Anyhow, we picked her up and as we were waiting a lady, who looked quite sensible and normal, was there picking up her two dogs. Cute dogs. As she took them out to the car I noticed that one of them had red on its nails. I just got a fleeting glimpse but it was definitely red and it worried me. What manner of nail eating disease could result in such a vivid, horrific, colour? But I knew it was too red and too uniform to be anything normal. I turned to the girl at the counter and admit I felt a little stupid, as surely, surely, it couldn’t be nail polish. But yep, it was. I asked, what on earth?! I asked, why?!! I even had my incredulous and amazed face on. The girl looked at the dog’s chart, and, honest to god, answered as though this was not the strangest, most bizarre thing on earth. With a straight face she told me it was a ‘female’ dog. End of story. She all but added the word, duh! at the end.

And? I wanted to ask, but obviously the female thing was answer enough for her.

Who was I to question the madness.

I just don’t get it …

–

I’m sorry Willow that I didn’t get your nails polished.

Maybe next time I’ll treat you to a blue rinse.

–

Florence Nightingale and the fluoride thing.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

I found Pickles.

Blending into her surroundings.

It’s obviously her turn in the orange chair.

I don’t have an orange chair. This one came home with one of the kids and, just to jar me out of my aesthetically calming environment, somehow made it downstairs to the living room. Still, if it helps Pickles blend …

–

You haven’t heard from me as I’ve gone into one of my hypochondria dips.

It could have been the fluoride thing. It doesn’t take much.

I haven’t exactly gone into a fetal position but now I have this weird feeling in my chest.

I just know it’s bad …

I feel doom lurking. All the things that I love to do are potential death traps.

When I talk to P about my worries that I’m dying, he just says, we’re all dying. That doesn’t help. When I talked to the doctor about my ominous chest feeling, he just says it’s a mini panic attack trying to get out. He could be wrong.

Florence Nightingale was a hypochondriac. Apparently she spent 50 odd years in bed thinking she was going to die at any minute. She lived to be 90.

Oh the irony …

I don’t want to be a Florence Nightingale, but it sure as hell is hard to get out of bed some mornings – especially if one of the only things that you want to get out of bed for is to go into the studio.

The Death Trap!

So, I’m just going to have a little pity party here. Better out than in – right.

And then I’m going to get up and pretend I’m not a hypochondriac.

It doesn’t work but I’m going to go with it anyway.

–

O.K. Pity Party Over …

–

 Now, I’m going to list this on Etsy, and post the pair of earrings I sold last night 🙂

I think I’m up to $300 now. Going for $500 before I send it off to charity.

Oh, and look what I found yesterday.

They sell for $5 and they say that every $5 spent goes to Africa – so I guess that means all of it 🙂

You can find them – HERE.

Great gifts for young people. Or even old people.

Maybe they’ve got one for hypochondriacs …

It’s going to be a good day 🙂

–

While it’s been raining.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Here’s what I’ve been working on while it’s been raining.

I finished this

and this,

now they’re waiting to be fired.

I made some of these,

these are also waiting to be fired, after they’ve been cleaned up. They are going to be little triffid plates.

I made one of these

But I think I’ll only make the one. It’s huge! and it’s one of those pieces that I like but am not too sure why I like it.

I also made one of these,

which is sweet in comparison.

And one of these,

While making all these I listened to,

The girl who played with fire – Stieg Larsson.

and

The scarecrow – Michael Connelly

and am now listening to

One step behind. – Henning Mankell

and

I’ve  also been loving these

Spencer chillin’ as only Spencer knows how to chill.

Wally trying to casually hang out on the mantlepiece but giving himself away with the, I’m keeping my eye on you, stare at Willow who is obviously annoying him.

And here they are later

Doing some more chillin’. Wally has to sit with some part of his body on you at all times.

My new stones came 🙂

and so I’ve been sketching.

And I finally made this.

which is kind of weird, and reminds me of some kind of tribal woman.

And then I found this.

In the store room. It’s kind of wow and … bright.

Nonetheless I feel a painting moment coming on …

_

Rain, computer trauma and hypochondria.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

It’s raining – again. The pool has overflown. It’s been raining for days. Last summer the most water the garden got is if we spat on it. Terrible times for lots of areas that lost homes to fires here in Texas. This year no doubt there will be homes damaged by flooding. I haven’t checked the news yet but I suspect this might be the case for some homes today. I hope not.

That said, I love the rain. Not the drizzling, every day the same, grey, dismal kind of rain, but, the black skies downpour with thunder and lightning kind. Not so keen on the pool overflowing though.

Dropped my computer.

Placed it on the table and it slid off.

Fortunately it still works and the power cord still fits. Wasn’t really sure what that screwed up socket is but am told its the ethernet. Don’t use that so I guess I’m o.k. The screen is a little off it’s hinges but so far seems to work. Been pushing for a new one but the people who think they’re in charge say no. I have to learn to look after my things, they say … I might have to ignore them but we’ll see. On the whole I think it gives it some kind of character, at least I know which is mine.

Just found out that the flux I’ve been using contains fluorides. Now, I’m not too sure what this means. I know from the warning on the tube that its perhaps not good, but, my hypochondriacal self doesn’t want to find out the specifics. I tried looking on the internet but just couldn’t bring myself to click on the articles.

NOTE: If you’re reading this and know – please don’t tell me as I’ll have to curl up in a fetal position and not come out again.

I do know that my thyroid has been off and I’ve had to up my meds for it. I also know that fluoride affects this. Whether it’s the same kind of fluoride, I don’t know, but I’m now on the look out for a good, non fluoride, flux. I’ve found a few but am holding out for when I’m sure. I’m also looking into a better extractor fan for over the solder area. P set up one for me a couple of months ago but I don’t think it works. I haven’t the heart to say. (O.K. I do and I did, but I appreciate that he made it for me). I don’t really want to spend the $800 or so price for the one I found on the jewelry sites, so I’m going to see if we can’t explore different versions of the one P made. Just bigger, better, stronger – without the six million dollar price tag. S is home from school now so I might set him on it. He’s pretty good at figuring things out.

Other than that, not a lot going on really. Been doodling. Been making stuff. Put a ‘0’ on my ruler – finally. Been moping around trying to find the next book to read. I think I’ve settled on, House of sand and fog, by Andre Bubus, although I can’t hold my breath on it. Been trying to lose weight but have put on five pounds. Think that’s my thyroid thing, at least that’s what I’m going with.

Same ol’ stuff really.

–

Monday gloom.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Dentist this morning 🙁

Only a cleaning but the trauma of dentistry in England in the early seventies has left its toll. Our local dentist was a Mr Hoolian, aka, (o.k. only by me), Mr. Hooligan. Hated him. I’m sure he was a nice man but he had all of those sharp whirring tools, and all that smelly gas stuff.

I’m freaking myself out now.

Think of fairies, he would say with a sickly grin as he put the big black rubber gas mask on my face. Sure I thought of fairies. Big, grinning, evil fairies, hovering around me, thinking evil, vicious, stuff of nightmare thoughts.

Freaking fairies. Never been a fan since.

–

Oh the problems …

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff

I only rocked the world a little bit yesterday. P came home early from fishing. No fish he said, which I think is code for, I had nibbles galore but couldn’t catch a thing. But, to give him the benefit of the doubt, there were no fish … in the whole lake, or sea, or wherever he and S went.

Because they came home early, and because I got out of bed late – not my fault, Spencer needed company – I didn’t make it into the studio until 2-ish. I didn’t paint as it was worrying me. It’s like I’m scared of it or something. Another strange but true fact. (I might have to start listing this phenomenon of weird, doesn’t make sense, ness for research purposes). Instead I put chains on all the pendants I’ve made. That’s something else I tend to put off as it really bothers me in case I get the length wrong. I know, how difficult is it? We’ll just have to mark it down as another strange one.

I have a couple of rulers but I also marked out a ruler on the table in front of where I cut the chain. It was annoying me that the thing kept moving as I worked so this is a great solution – except I forgot the ‘0’. Man, I need a whop to the head sometimes … or maybe that’s what went wrong in the first place.

So, even though I thought they looked suspiciously short each time I cut a length of chain, nope, I didn’t double check. You know, the old carpenter’s adage, measure twice, cut once – didn’t do it.

So, all my chains are now 16” instead of 18”. Not a terrible problem to fix but more a slap the forehead, for heaven’s sake girl, what on earth is wrong with you, kind of problem.

One thing’s for sure, I definitely have a reason for listening to my strange truths.

These are the victims,

and here’s a little something else I’m working on,

but I can’t figure out how to fix the clasp yet.

Oh the problems …

–

Friday. Again.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Other Stuff

Do you think Spencer One Eye could be more comfortable?

I can’t make the bed until he gets up.

O.K. that’s not true. I probably wont make the bed anyway.

Soooooo, it’s Friday. Again. I’m not up either – only because I don’t want Spencer to feel the odd man out. I’m a good pet parent like that. Always aware of their psychological health.

I have a bit of a headache and I’m still tired from P waking up at 4:30 to go fishing. You couldn’t get me up at that time of day to meet the Queen. She’d have to wait – at least until after I’d had my first cuppa of the day. Also, Spencer has rearranged himself closer and is purring loudly, a cosy feeling not to be taken lightly – I have to soak up the love else it be wasted.

To be honest, I spend a fair bit of time in bed in the morning. I generally wake up at 7 ish. (Recently more like 6 ish, which is a bit of a bummer but what can you do). I try to go back to sleep, but eventually realise that my brain has started to work overtime on all the things it wants to do. I try to ignore it and pretend I’m asleep, but eventually have to give in to the fact that that’s it for me, even if I am tired – which seems like always.

 I really need to stop playing wordfued until midnight.

But then I drink the cup of tea that P has made for me, I love him for making my tea, and check my e mails, which are all junk mail!

How is it that I’m getting mail from the scooter store?

At first I thought it was a real scooter, you know like vespa scooters, and mods and rockers and quadrophenia, and all that.

From Jolly Edition – HERE.

and I thought, ahh, they must know me.

Then, when I clicked, I found out it was this scooter. (I can’t even post a picture of it, it’s too disturbing).

And I thought, what the #&*%@$! only I used real letters (in my mind) and felt really old and that maybe I would stay in bed for the rest of the day.

A helpful tip here – don’t click.

After the e mails I either surf for a while, or read, or make notes, or just continue thinking until I’ve sorted out the whole universe thing and am ready to start the day. Sometimes I might write a rambling blog post on anything that comes to mind, or a paragraph of a new book I’m thinking of writing, or sometimes I just dwell, in that droopy way I’ve talked about before, on things that are usually not worth dwelling about.

Today is a bit of all of them. But now, I’m ready for the day to begin and I’m thinking I might do some of this

But, yesterday I made this,

which I’m kind of loving …

so I might have to touch these instead.

From Silurian Era
click photo

I also bought a new rivet making tool which, as an aside, reminds me of my dad as it smells of grease. My dad was a mechanic and it’s a smell I like – strange but true.

From Forgeron on Etsy
click photo

So, I might end up making rivets instead.

What ever it ends up being I’ll not know until I get out of bed.

So, Happy Friday you people out there. It’s time to rock the world.

–

To wholesale or not to wholesale …

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Painting Stuff

Still working on this one …

And also found an old one to work on …

I’m really enjoying the finger painting.

I also made a few more pieces of jewelry. I’ve been wondering whether to approach some shops or galleries with my jewelry, but after figuring out material costs and the time I’ve spent making the pieces, I wonder if it’s actually worth my while. It’s getting to the point where I’ll have so much finished jewelry hanging around that I wont know what to do with it.

–

Oops. I did it again!

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff, Other Stuff

Maybe there is no hope for me.

Chrysocolla and Malachite
Red Creek Jasper
Tiffany Stone Bertrandite Opal
Mexican Crazy Lace Agate
More Crazy Lace Agate
Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper
Even More Mexican Crazy Lace

You might be able to tell that I have a thing for Crazy Lace Agate. NOT my fault – look at it!

My only hope now is that I might be able to save others.

For all you jewelry makers out there that struggle with cabochon addiction.

Run!

Do NOT click – HERE.

There will be no turning back.

–

Please, don’t let THIS –

turn into THIS …

–

You have been warned.

SAVE YOURSELF.

Acting out.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

‘As far as I’m concerned, if a person desires to write, it’s worth trying to find a way to do it, even five minutes a day, and what happens to the writing afterward is a separate issue. The act of doing it has enormous value on its own.’ – Aimee Bender.

–

I read an article this morning on Oprah’s website. I don’t really watch or read Oprah. I’ve got nothing against her but sometimes I get tired of all that, 10 things you can do right now to feel good, stuff. I get depressed when I don’t do the 10 things, and beat myself up for not trying hard enough, and walk around with my droopy mood on, and well, generally feel worse than I did before I even knew there were 10 ways I could feel good in the first place.

But I quite enjoyed this one.

(Read full article – HERE.)

I love writing. It’s one of my favourite things to do. It’s also one of my most scary things.

I’m just not that good at it. I love words, I love configuring them, playing with them, reading them, but I suck at grammar. What the hell they were teaching me at school beats me. Maybe I was away sick that day.

But, I still love to write. I definitely have the desire. I have two books that I’m fiddling around with and I have the best time when I actually allow myself to sit down and write them.

I’m realizing more and more that I am scared to do a lot of things that I love to do, which seems ridiculous when you think about it. It’s not like I want to go sky diving and throw myself off a cliff or something like that. So this article was very inspiring to me.

The quote above is exactly right. For me, the act of writing, or painting (especially these two out of all my creative outlets), is reward in itself and I need to stop worrying about the outcome and enjoy the process for what it is. I laugh out loud when I write. It’s a wonderful thing to crack yourself up and not feel as though you’re losing your mind – well, maybe not losing much of it …

So, I’m thinking maybe I need to get me a, ‘keeper of the contract’, friend … (that’s my texan comin’ out y’all) … and start letting loose on the old typing skills.

I think I can manage one hour a day.

 –

And, no, you can’t read it …

I made a box.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Jewelry Stuff

And put an amethyst in it.

I know. I said that amethyst was banned from my studio,

See here.

But it seems I am a glutton for punishment.

The design of this pendant is really more a pocket than a box. I’ve been wanting to try something like this for a while now but wasn’t really sure how it would work out. I had resigned myself to having to use glue to keep the stone in place so that it wouldn’t fall out. I thought it would be too tricky for me to get the size just right and that the pocket would either be too large or too tight, but, in fact, the amethyst fits absolutely perfectly – no glue required. I even amazed myself.

Now ask me to do it a second time …

I’m hoping, when I make one again, (because I know I’ll have to), to refine the box a little as I think perhaps it’s a little chunky. But, on the whole, I’m happy with it. I’ll give it a 7/10.

–

A disturbance in the ranks.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

The troops are gathering.

And they’re looking pretty determined.

Wally is keeping a close eye on them, whilst appearing nonchalant.

And Spencer is on high alert.

In a shrewd feign of guarding the jewels.

Pickles, not photographed here, is undercover.

Some might think that she is slightly ashamed of her body weight, but she is, in fact, a stealth cat bred for her amazing ability to avoid detection in covert operations.

Everyone is in their place. The atmosphere tense. Now, we just have to figure out why …

because it beats me.

–

Finished.

Started.

–

Also started.

From past experience I can tell you that this last ‘started’ will probably not be ‘finished’ but will remain in a suspended state until I get my act together.

The act of which is also suspended …

Until un-suspended, it will bore a hole in my nerves until I throw all caution to the wind and decide to ignore my lack of faith and attempt to finish it.

Then I will promptly ruin it and vow never to pick up a paint brush again – until the next time.

–

Off now to make some more jewelry for Spencer to protect.

–

Neverwhere.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

I woke up dreaming that my dad had died 🙁 Very sad. It set my day off badly. I called my dad and he was fine, but I still felt sad.

So, today has been a drooping day. All of me is drooping, especially my face which kind of bothers me as it also feels as though thick sludge stuff is trying to ooze out of my skin, and, of course, now I’m older I have more skin for it to ooze out of. So there is a lot of thick, heavy, sort of greenish/grey sludge stuff, everywhere. I’m trying to visualize it as a form of face mask, you know, the happy, nurturing, cucumber on the eyes sort of face mask, but it’s not working. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a face mask before so my visualization is off. I don’t know.

So I made a cup of tea and found N sitting on the sofa watching Animal Cops, or something like that, about all the poor abused animals that the S.P.C.A. goes around rescuing. That cheered me up 🙁

So I went into the studio and stood there looking at all the stuff I could do.

Then I walked over to the chair and sat there looking at all the stuff I could do.

Then I came back into the house for another cup of tea – the procrastinator’s friend – but it was obviously an Animal Cop marathon, or something, because those animals were still on the t.v., and, to make it worse, Sarah McLachian kept coming on singing, The Eyes of the Angels, in that sad animal abuse advert. Look away people, save yourselves, is my only response to that. Especially when you’re having a drooping day.

Finally, Sarah, and the idea that I could listen to my new book, got me back into the studio.

I finished the Death Book the other day, which was quite handy considering, and had bought, and already started listening to, a Neil Gaimon book – Neverwhere. I chose him after I listened to his commencement speech, and because we already have a few of his children’s books in the house. Now he seems like a really nice person and I think we could be friends, but, and I hate to admit this, I had to stop listening to it. I liked listening to his voice, I liked listening to his words, I guess I just wasn’t up for listening to the story he was telling at that moment. Which is a shame. So instead I settled on my old, go to, genre, murder mystery, and chose (sorry Neil) The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler- Olsen.  I can’t tell you that it’s any better than Neil’s book, but, a good murder sorts everybody out, doesn’t it. Put’s life into some perspective.

Here is an update of my finger painting.

(I have to admit to using a pallet knife also.)

This kept me happy this afternoon.

No drooping allowed when you get caught up with making something.

This week

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

I’ve been finger painting.

Which I love, except now I have paint all over my bra strap.

I’ve been pallet knife painting.

Which I also love and it’s a little less messy – bonus.

And, I’ve been doing, whatever the hell this is,

Really not sure at the moment.

It started off as an acrylic mess, don’t they all …

Well, mine do …

Then went on to be an oil pastel mess.

then it turned into a boring blur thing.

with a creepy rat like creature on wheels in it.

Like that’s normal, right?

And now it’s as you see in the first painting.

None of them are finished. All of them will probably never see the light of day again. But, I really enjoyed myself painting them, except for the creepy rat one which is a little disturbing and has been annoying me from the start.

So, get your paints out people, put on your old bra because it’s really upsetting when you get blue all over your new one, and knock yourself out painting with your fingers.

It really fun.

This just out. Guardian angel on sick leave until further notice …

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Please, if you are sensitive, and can’t handle the gruesome,  look away.

This is not a happy sight.

I think I knew when he accepted the job that nothing good could come of it. Well, o.k., I admit I gave him no choice in the matter, but, as far as I was concerned the job was his from the minute I set eyes on him. All he wanted was to play football. Tomatoes meant nothing to him. But I needed him, and, in my obsession with growing the perfect vegetable, I disregarded anything that he might want.

In essence, I abused my power.

Just because something can’t walk, or talk, or feel, just because something is made from (what the hell is that, plaster?) something other than flesh and bones, doesn’t mean it was right to dismiss, out of hand, the look of pleading on his little (plastic?) face as I banished him to the far corner of the garden in order to satisfy some need in me.

I should have realized when he first turned up on our doorstep that he wasn’t here to interview. He wasn’t even dressed for the job. But, I ignored all that thinking how generous it was of me to open up my home to this small, lonely, creature. Admittedly  I felt a twinge of uncertainty each time I saw his desperate face staring at me from across the patio, but, in spite of this, I turned my back on him and walked away.

I would have the perfect tomato, dammit.

For a while, all seemed well. He seemed to have resigned himself to his fate. I truly believe that when he set eyes on the vulnerable seedlings I delivered into his care, he couldn’t walk away.

And so he stood, with nothing but his football to remind him of his hopes and dreams.

I’m sorry (resin?) gnome thing. I’m sorry that Willow tore your foot off and ruined your hat. I’m sorry that we eventually found you lying face down in a muddy puddle yards from your post. I don’t think I will ever be able to make it up to you, but, it hurts, you know, to be the recipient of your revenge.

O.k., so maybe I overlooked you, I abandoned you, I abused you,

but really,

what did these tomatoes ever do to you?

In better times …

Playing with Pixlr

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

I’ve been playing with pixlr and I’m liking this scratchy effect although I’m not sure it would sell my jewelry for me 🙂

It’s great what you can do with these programmes and this one is free if you want to check it out.

It just takes a minute to figure it out and then you’re off. Trouble is tearing yourself away …

Now I’m off to eat something before I waste away …

I am a slow reader and proud of it …

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Books and Stuff

I’m still reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I don’t think I’m so much a slow reader, but rather, I tend not to read until I go to bed. Occasionally I read during the day, on the weekend perhaps, but usually I have other things I’m doing so I find I’m reluctant to spare the time during the day.

Sometimes I feel embarrassed that people are thinking, ‘She’s still reading that book!’, and that’s interesting to me. Why should I worry about what other people think? Why would I imagine they have even noticed what I’m reading at all? But, it’s still there. The feeling of being criticized. Bummer.

Which brings me to the next book. Or rather, audio book.

Dying to be Me by Anita Moorjani.

I’m not really sure why I bought it except I’ve been wanting to get another audio book to listen to when I’m in the studio. Usually I pick books that I don’t really want to spend the time ‘reading’ but think I might enjoy. Two recent ones were, Shutter Island and Mystic River, by Dennis Lehane. I enjoyed both of these, especially Shutter Island and David Strathairn’s (Mystic River) voice is really nice to listen to …

Back to Anita.

I’m thinking hard right now, but, I still don’t know why I bought it.

I was probably having a ‘moment’. A, ‘help me someone, I’m falling’, day. Whatever it was, I bought the book and listened to most of it yesterday while making my latest piece of jewelry, … which I’m not sure I like.

See, another ‘moment’. I have quite a few of them.

I’m working on it …

I enjoyed listening about her (Anita’s) background, albeit, impatiently at first because I just wanted to get on to the dying bit. (I’m a little morbid like that which is probably why I have ‘moments’).

However, I got over that and started to relax into enjoying hearing about her culture, etc. In fact, as an aside, I love the whole Hindu thing. The stories about the deities, etc. Creation Myths, particularly, are some of my favourite stories – in all cultures. Thinking about it, I probably was a Hindu in another life, and Jewish, and a monk, and a witch, and a servant (which is why I hate housecleaning), and …

Back to Anita.

The connection here is the criticism. How, she (Anita) felt that her whole journey towards her premature death was because she had never allowed herself to just be herself. How she had molded herself on how she thought she should be because of external pressures to conform. That she came back from death and was completely cured of her illness when she finally saw that as we are one with the universe, we are complete. And we are loved because we are complete. And that she became ill in the first place as she was living a lie.

How in the world is it that we all grow up with this sense of having to be a certain way, or read at a certain speed, to feel that we are acceptable? (That’s a rhetorical question by the way as I know full well what my story is, what’s yours? … )

So, I’m listening to the book. I get exactly what she’s talking about. I certainly believe that – we’re all connected to the universe – stuff, and, before you start rolling your eyes, I am not one of those sentimental, new wave, pop culture people. I’m English guys, hello!

Anyway. Long story short, or, long story thankfully coming to an end, whichever way you want to look at it – I’m a little disturbed now.

I still don’t know why I bought the book. I get what she’s saying but now my hypochondriacal, woe is me, self, is really concerned that this, answer to everything, just wont work for me because I’m too caught up in being, well, hypochondriacal and woe-ish. That I’m one of those, I just don’t get ‘it’ even though I get ‘it people. Which probably means that I really don’t get ‘it’ after all. That I’m just being suckered (did I mention I was cynical also?).

I feel more worried now than I did before I listened to it. And, I didn’t even know I was worried in the first place.

So, even though I bought the audio book and don’t know why. Even though I (know) I get it but (feel) I can’t do it. Even though I somewhat believed I was being suckered but still listened to the thing. I think I’m going to stick with, The Secret History, for now, and just read about those kids in this book who are so screwed up that I’m relieved all I have to worry about are my ‘moments’.

 Now, I am going to stop worrying about whether people think I’m a slow reader or not and finish the darn thing.

Baby steps people …

Keeping it simple.

Published on by coldfeetstudioblog Category: Other Stuff

Yesterday I wrote a long post about the African Green Opal. It was really boring – so I deleted it.

So, until I don’t feel so boring I’m just going to keep it simple, fumble around WordPress to get my bearings and try to get my umph back from wherever it’s gone.

These are my sterling silver lovelies. What do you think?