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 ;-) 

Busy

The boys have the day off today and I am busy, busy in the studio. October will be an especially full month with Christmas orders starting in earnest (one would hope at least).

New Fragment Necklace

One big event for me in October will be a 2 day Kathleen Dustin workshop! I've wanted to take a class with her for quite a while and put myself on the waiting list for one at the Philadelphia Area Polymer Clay Guild.  I am thrilled to have gotten a spot!

Isn't it funny

Isn't it funny how things happen sometimes? I was considering diverting attention from rings for a while because I feel like people feel unsure about buying them online or about polymer clay ones or something.  "Some business decisions are sad." I thought, because I love rings.  

Then what do you know?  I was asked to write an article about rings and my process. 

So I am (quite happily) working through some ideas and the how and the why of it. (Thank you Sage at The Polymer Arts Magazine, for the excuse to do something I really wanted to do anyway!)

Semi - DIY

We encourage art, handmade and cooperative projects around here. This DIY/IKEA hack was my suggestion but Ben is doing all the work on our Custom Lack coffee tables.

Ben's work, partially complete

 I've seen similar tables with the legs custom painted before but I really wanted a personalized piece of family furniture where one of Ben's drawings could take center stage so I asked him to draw on the stop of stackable IKEA tables. (I think they're $7.99 each.) We can use one or both put together or stack them in a corner when we don't need them.

Ben did a quick sketch and set to work. He lightly sketched a basic outline with pencil right onto the tables. It was his idea to have the design work all the way across two tables so they look like one big drawing when placed side by side (see photo 4). They're a very dark brown but "read" as black so we chose white, oil-based, fine point, Sharpie paint pens which have a great finish and give him a lot of control. 

When they're complete we're going to coat them with a matte varnish so the paint doesn't scratch. A friend also suggested having a piece of glass cut to fit the top if you are going to stack them and want an upscale, shiny finish.

Have a great weekend! 

The End of Summer

We are squeezing the end out of summer vacation fun with school officially starting on Wednesday. 

I usually do a bead clear out this time of year so there will be some in the shop throughout the next week. I'm breaking my own rule of never selling any of my carved beads - only a couple though. 

Updating the shop

I'm processing photos to get some new pieces in the shop today. (A necessary but least favorite part of the job.) I've worked all week to do as much curing as possible before the heat wave hits so I don't have to have the oven on today. This weekend I'll sit in A/C and carve and bead...and bead and carve. 

Buoy Necklace...with pink. I know, PINK? I'm truthfully not a pink person so I'm not sure how this happened.

Maybe I'll listen to some Rockabyebaby; they turn pop songs into lullabies. Imagine putting a baby to sleep to I Want to Rock All Night by Kiss - these folks can make it happen!  Walking on the Moon by the Police is probably my favorite. (scroll down and click the sample). Hysterical and yet comforting at the same  time ;-)  Have a great weekend!