Not so bad

All in all, we made it through the storm really well, especially compared to some of the folks in New York and New Jersey - our hearts just go out to them. 

I knew that the skylight needed to be replaced but I think this moves our timeframe up a bit. Not sure we can accomplish it before winter but something has to happen by spring at the latest. Unfortunately the whole thing may have to go and be replaced with a dormer of some sort.  I will really miss all that natural light.

Hurricane Sandy

We hunkering down here in south central PA. Hurricane Sandy is suppose to make landfall within the next 2 hours or so and the eye will be passing perhaps just over us sometime after dark. Not thrilled about that. We've been told to prepare to shelter in place and probably be without power at some point. 

The super great skylight in my studio is proving not so great - its leaking. We've had this happen before but I definitely think its worse this time. I moved supplies around and everything is safe. I baked a tray of beads and other pieces this morning to keep me busy if/when the power goes out.  

In a nut shell

So here is the Kathleen Dustin hollow box/purse class in a nut shell...
- make nut
- cover nut
- extricate nut from shell
- shell becomes box or purse

Here is my C+, unfinished effort.

Kathleen didn't grade us; I graded myself. And never mind the C+ ... everything I learned (the tips, the material knowledge and the skills)  will certainly all be applicable to anything I do with polymer. And more than a purse, thats really what I wanted, just to learn more about the material from a master!

More details about the class soon...today I must get the household back in order.

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

I started some necklaces that incorporate my recycled beads a couple months ago. Now that I'm taking a permaculture design course and just finished reading the recycling section I'm re-visiting them. I feel challenged to overhaul my studio to better reduce materials, use and re-use... everything.

Jacob's  Ladder and Recycled beads. 

I have a bag of scrap sterling - I'll recycle that myself once I get a larger amount. My studio has "pools" of lighting for different areas so I only turn on the lights I need.  I keep my paper usage to a minimum and use mostly recycled packaging. (Speaking of which, if you haven't already, check out Claire Maunsell's diy solution for shipping using cereal boxes.)  All of my scrap, soft clay is used for Reef pieces and to make grey clay. In fact, the Kathleen Dustin class next weekend requires 1 lb. of scrap clay and I'm thinking, "I have no "scrap" clay!" I will indeed "fake" some scrap clay.

Unfortunately carving after curing produces Cured Scrap Clay... ARGH! This is my real hurdle right now.

Help me learn - how do you reduce, re-use and recycle in your studio?

Hi. I knew I had to show up here "in person" sooner or later. 

As you can see, I am so busy these days I don't even have time to look at the camera ;-)