Let me explain...my dear hubby has converted the garage in the back yard into a craft studio for me (hence the Studio 2:14) - a dream of mine...and he saw it as self-preservation! I had completely taken over the guest bedroom in the house - and I had a dream (still do...) of learning to make glass beads - which involves a torch..hence flame. That hubby was not going to allow in the house...lol!
Now that the studio is done, and half-way organized, now when I go out there - it's all right there...waiting for my imagination. Coming in the double glass doors (lots of light), there is a closet (maybe someday a bathroom), and beyond it is my 'paper stuff' area - here I have my paints, glues, paper, scissors, all kinds of goodies to play with paper. That stretches to the corner.
The corner being a bit of wasted space (there is a lazy-susan cabinet below), that is where my stereo sits - so I can listen to the radio or CDs while I work (the TV comes later). Now, on the back wall - the next bit of counter is a solid slab of wood - for all my pounding, beating, soldering, and wire-work. I have a Dremel tool, a brand new soldering iron (to die for!), and my third hand. Close by are the foil for soldering, the glass slides, the wire and all the wire tools.
Just on the other side of that is my jewelry area - it kind of slops over the wire-soldering area, and here is where all the cool dangles, beads, charms, findings etc. are to be found. I have shallow boxes with those cool bead mats in them to corral those round beads, and to keep the project from spreading out too far.
Next to that - and now we've reached the other end of the back wall - is my polymer clay station - with the clay, the cutters, shapes, rollers, and of course, a brand new craft oven for what I make. This will also become where I work with the Melting Pot - which I just got and haven't used yet.
Turning the corner, there is a filing cabinet/junk table, then an end table and chair, and in the corner by the doors - we're all the way round the room now - is my glass kiln. Under that is the huge box of glass I have had for two years, waiting for the kiln to be somewhere where I could actually use it.
So...what's the problem, right? Dream come true...and it is....but when I got out there, I had an awful time deciding what to do first! Paper? Have that class project to work on...soldering my tiny glass goodies (this I did), and making more goodies to go inside? Make jewelry? Earrings - necklaces? Tons of stuff crying out to be used! Clay beads? Nope - this one is waiting for something I need to proceed with a project - so that wasn't a temptation today.
I ended up finishing up a little glass charm for a necklace - used the wrong size foil, and still learning the new soldering iron - but I like how it turned out...even used a little phrase on the back side. I fooled around with a red wire bracelet, adding a clasp, and trying several kinds of dangles to put on it - in the end, think I'll just leave it like it is..
So....here's the little charm...
The charm is one inch square, and the front is petit-point on perforated paper, with lovely textured silver paper on the back - I added some silver stars, just because they went with the fiber colors, and reminded me of night. I foiled it, and soldered it with lead-free solder - the solder has a pewter finish, so it is not as bright and shiny. I sanded it down a bit, to smooth it, and to give it texture. Then, on the back I used part of a phrase that is a rub-on. Experiment to see if it stays put, and if so - does anyone know where I can get really small rub-on phrases?
All in all, I was pleased that I finished one project, and nearly finished another - but I have to get a better plan for my time out there - it is precious, and I don't want to waste any of it dithering around in indecision...any ideas out there?
Tomorrow I'll post the bracelet - be cool for Valentine's - as it is RED!
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