Indirect making of things

I make things.  True statement.

It's a work in progress.

Gardens are kind of different, though.  I grow things, but really, the rain and the sun grow things.  I just tend to them, pluck out their adversaries, and their fruits.
More time in the garden, and it is really getting somewhere!  The tomato plants are growing like crazy, so is everything else, for that matter.  
And, the garden is still tame.  Which is saying something.  We put grass down on the walkways, and we have all soaker hoses this year in hopes that we won't waste water or over water the plants-- or just water their leaves.

The sky is bright blue today, a few clouds floating about.  Hopefully I will have time to venture to the garden to work.




Most importantly, though, more studio time today.
I cleaned and organized my studio the other day, which of course was like a trip down memory lane.
"Ooooh. I made that?"
and
"Oh, I should finish that.  That was a good start.."
and
"Why isn't that in the scrap bin?!  Yuck."

But, the small changes I made to the set up made the room a lot easier to work in.  So I definitely look forward to that!
Just a little more to finish on this ring, and it should be done.  *fingers crossed*
Photos to follow of the ring (but not until she gets it!)

How I started my summer vacation.

Now that I am really, truly done with school (again) my days are somewhat open.
That doesn't mean I don't have a lot that I want to do.  I have PLENTY to keep me busy.
But this "Free Time" should be good for the garden.  And my jewelry making.

Periwinkle Before.
Choking out my cute
little pansies!

I weeded in front of our house today.  Periwinkle- it looks nice, but it takes over, and that doesn't make me too happy.  So I pulled that out until I couldn't stand it anymore.  Good enough for now!

I also planted some cute yellow flowers that I picked up at the Mother's Day Plant sale at Landis Valley Museum.
I'd post a photo of them, but it's RAINING!!!! And I think I would even classify this as a downpour, so I'm not going out there!

After a few beautiful, sunny days, this weather is just what the big garden needs.  (Good thing I got some cucumber seeds in when I did.)

The thing about this rain, and the free time, is that it just makes me want to take a nap.  It just seems like the right thing to do on such a grey afternoon.  I'm holding out though.  I can make it through!

I do have a few projects going on right now:

The original ring. 

°Remake an engagement ring. (I must admit, I am glad to be redoing it.  I think it will look SO much better this way than how I originally made it.)  It is a rough diamond (great for those of us with self-diagnosed OCD who thrive on symmetry) and I tried to put it in prongs first. It looked so out of place.  So now, bezel it is.  And my, how I do love bezels. I was lost for a bit trying to design this ring, but then I realized, HEXAGON!  I love working with hexagons, and this stone lent itself to using a hexagon.  The puzzle started to make sense.  After photos coming.


°Make a pearl bracelet.
°Design some earrings for some friends.
°And, I am trying to decide if I should invest in a torch for lampworking (making glass beads.)  It would be an awful lot of fun...

I miss my co-op, and my classes.  It hasn't even been a week yet since I finished student teaching.  Luckily, I have lots to keep me busy (see above), but I realized that I certainly do like to teach- I think going back to school was definitely worth it.


The sun is breaking through the clouds now.  Maybe I'll find a rainbow.

Gardens love the rain, too.

The garden this year.
Hopefully it will be epic.
Or something awesome, at least.
Two Saturdays ago, we prepared the garden.  It was all chopped up and turned over- the dirt was like sugar.
So stakes and markers went it, hopes are always that there is enough room to get to things once all the plants suddenly become ENORMOUS.

The guys moving some dirt around.

So this most recent Saturday, we went up and started to plant- Hoping to make it just before the rain.  

It worked.  We watered all of the plants, because, just like if you wash your car it Does rain, if we didn't water the plants, it wouldn't rain...  Funny how that works.  (Even though it is a huge storm system, I swear the rain would have at least been delayed over us!)

Tomatoes, sweet peppers, lettuce, onions, carrots, radishes and squash went in.  

Some of their soon to be neighbors are still growing in little cups in my studio, and others haven't been purchased yet.  

We finished up at the garden and had plenty of time to spare before the rain came, but it did, and it was accompanied by some great flashes of lightening followed by claps of thunder.  

The rain continues here while other areas are promised snow.  There is a tinge of jealousy from me about that.  I know it's getting late, but I have seen snow in May (8 hours north of here, but hey) and there is something magical about snow.  

Maybe next winter.  

I am excited.  

But for now, I will tend to my garden with the help of some wonderful friends, and enjoy the fruits of our labors.

What should I make now?

Time is still flying by.
I feel like I am standing by railroad tracks, and the train is just whizzing by me, giving me no chance to catch a breath.  Just waiting for it to give up it's hold on me.
The amount of things I want to accomplish in the next few weeks are, well, a lot.
I would especially love to make some jewelry. I have been surrounded by metalsmithing, and designs and ideas are suddenly easier than usual to come by.  I should take advantage of that!

But, back to the ideas of time, and flying...
I tied some flies the other night.  And fished with them the next day.
Standing shin-deep in 48° water, watching the fish in front of me, (all too often ignoring my flies), time almost stood still.  Just a few hours really did go by quickly, but it was more like a cat nap.  Falling asleep and awakening right away, but feeling really refreshed and ready for anything.  That's what fishing was like the other day.

I should do that more often, too.

quick recap

The past few weeks have flown by.
In that time, I have:

My first (and only) three beads so far. 

•Learned to make glass beads. (Lampworking)

•Started an example project for my Metals I class. 

(I forgot how dirty copper is!)

•Pruned the heck out of this holly tree (with help from my neighbor)

After

I also visited my family for Easter, during which I:

•Turned a birthday bunny cake into something that looked more like a cow with long ears

•Didn't get around to dying eggs.  (oops!)

•Saw SNOW!!!

What a week

I love to learn new things.
and to remember how much I love what I know.  Like metalsmithing.

I started my new placement this past Monday.
If you are wondering about more teacher samples, the answer is "probably".  Twist my arm...
Fine metals and glass.
Darn.  [Dripping with sarcasm.]
I made my first glass beads today, which was completely awesome.
I can't say the beads are amazing, but it sure was fun.  If there is a torch involved, count me in.

It is just so exciting to think about the projects I want the kids to work on.  In part because it makes me think about what I want to work on.  It is really inspiring for me.  

I am not sure where this experience will take me, but I am looking forward to finding out.
It is always fun to be able to tuck another skill under my belt.
Onward and upward!

Robot putty

Next mission:

Bas-relief ROBOTS!
I must say, who doesn't like robots?
The fun looking ones, at least...

So this is what I made today after school. 

("Another teacher sample?", you may ask.  "Why, yes.")

I miss clay something fierce- and while this was fun, it's not quite the same as throwing :(

**Side note**

Millersville University Pottery Sale is coming up. March 22-24.  

I can't wait!

Anyway, I didn't quite finish the top, since the clay was a little too damp still.

But, I love the Jetsons.  

And I can't wait to see what the kids come up with!