Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Fun with Metal and Torches

Week two of a fabulous online class with Deryn Mentock.  It's so much more than I expected - not just learning new things, but learning new ways of old things.  Jump rings, clasps, head pins, wire wrap...fun to practice.  Finding tools to do all sorts of cool things is maybe one of the best parts! Learning more about wire and torches.  Yep.  It's all good.

She is an excellent teacher and the class is so well organized and paced.  

I wish my photographs were half as good as her videos!  Not to mention wishing my work was anywhere near as professional.

This spiral is my favorite so far.  I have a thing for spirals of all kinds. This one sort of looks like a fiddlehead fern.  Not that it's a bad thing.

Maybe next week, I'll have to nerve to move on to sterling silver.  Maybe.

A Little Bitty Flea

Every couple of months, we have a "sidewalk sale" in our neighborhood.  It's a mini-flea market is what it is.  10-12 vendors set up on both sides of the sidewalk next to Clare Graham's studio.  It usually falls right between the PCC and the Long Beach Flea Market, so I can get a teeny tiny flea market fix.

I only got four things but each one is fabulous!

The necklace has 5 strands of glass beads. Think of the repurposed jewelry I can make with that!

I love these little bottles of watch parts from Elgin. I put them into shrines and necklaces. The last one I sold was bought by a woman for her daughter-in-law - whose maiden name was Elgin.  She was so thrilled.  For myself, I always think of my brother, who lives in Elgin, Illinois. In any case, I love them - and the color of the label.

Here's a closer look.  The watch face will look great embedded in a book cover.  The hinged watch crystal is big to put in a book, but I may find a way to use it there anyway.

In the meantime, I'm just overflowing with ideas for those little tubes.  There was another whole tray of them available. I hope I won't regret not getting them..

Back to School

Looking forward to taking this online class with Deryn Mentock.  The quality of her metalwork is so solid.  I really need to learn some new techniques and practice, practice, practice.  I'm hoping this will give me the push I need. If you're interested, there's a link on the right.

Seems like everyone is either giving or taking online classes.  How about you?  Are you teaching online?  Taking classes online?  Any you can recommend? 

 

February Flea and the Shift

I've had some rough times lately.  Nothing major, but a collection of tediously constant bumps in the road.  It's wearying, you know?  You start to wonder.

But Sunday, my luck shifted in a big way.  I had the most fabulous day at the Pasadena City College Flea Market.  Did so well with find after find that I never even made it to the indoor part.  I mean, when you run out of money, you need to leave, right?

Last month, in the rain, I visited the few outside vendors and saw a great piece I wanted, but the price was way too rich for me.  This month, it was still there and he made me a great deal.  

Partly great because it included this:

I have been looking for ages to find a smaller paper cutter...and there it was!  I'm so excited.  Now, I just need to find some paper that size.  The great deal piece will show up next post.

Found boxes and boxes of watch parts that I picked through and came up with a bunch of great stuff for my books and jewelry.

This aged wooden box feels so good in the hand and will be useful as well.  That blue and white box contains a never been used bakelite button, like a doorbell button - great for a book cover.  

Would you wear a necklace with a glass shaker on it? Too scary?

But they're cool, right?  How about this?  It's a pencil sharpener.

Wish my bank gave those interest rates now.  

I have a regular flat cigarette tin with this design but never saw a big box like this. The colors are so beautiful, especially the sides.

This will go on a necklace, but I don't know how I'll be able to let go of it.  It is such fun. The pencil still has lead and there is paper inside.

Now, I don't want to hear anything from Gina about this next item.  I know, I know...I have a lot of these already. That's why it's called a COLLECTION.  Seriously, I needed these to fill the container on the porch.  I'll post a picture of it next time.

The box included a chalk cube and a little bag full of cue tips (get it?  q-tips?).  They are actually quite neat and will also be a great embellishment.  The cue tips, folks, not the pool balls.

And finally.  A sign for the extra bedroom....hee-hee.  Y'all come on down, y'hear?

 

Actually, that image is only the final for today.  Two more great finds to come...

Deconstructing the Studio

I have emptied the studio in a fit of early in the year, well-intentioned reorganization.  Seems that all around me, other artists friends are doing the same.  Must be something in the air or water. Global warming?  Here is what happens first:

So sad to throw away so many pens, but they do eventually dry out or get used up.  On the other hand, I still have these:

I've removed all the decorative items from the studio space and it looks so empty!  I now have about a dozen cardboard boxes full of treasures.  No wonder the studio was so cramped!  Now, I'm setting up stations for painting, metalwork, bookbinding and journaling.  I'll post the progress over time and hope this reorganization prompts me to be creative!  

Are you purging at home, work or studio?

I'm in Love!

After looking for years,  I finally found it.  Pasadena City College Flea Market. About 100 years old.  Clean.  Works great. Feels good in the hand. A bit pricey, but hey, these things obviously don't come along that often.

I first encountered one in Keith LoBue's class. Ah, the things I have learned from Keith. The Master of Tools.  He was singing the praises of this little gem. And opined that they were easy to find - sounded as though they were practically lying around every little sale and flea market.  Right.  Maybe in Australia, Keith!

So, what is the name of this new love of my life? It's a hand vise.  For all those times when the bench vise is too big and the pliers is too small.

Oh, ok, I know I am weird. But really. 

This is the new love of my life. 

Sorry, bub.

 

Score!

Look what I found at Pep Boys yesterday!  OK, call me crazy, I know, but I am inspired.  Can't wait to turn these into......something.

Sometimes, it take so little to make me happy.....