This year's card, Part 3

Scoured the internet looking at label image ideas.   I found this great looking one which will be perfect.  I used Photoshop to edit and clean it up so I could use it as my mailing label!  I love, love, love how it looks.   Handmade envelopes are ready, too.

Working on embellishing my card images.  And of course, my printer needs ink so no printing as of today.  Ordered ink and it's on it's way!

Inspired

I finished a two week road trip and being in a car all those miles sure stunted my creative soul.  Normally, I make stops on my trips that inspire me, but this trip was way different.  The destination was a family wedding, driving was the goal.  I was able to stop and visit a few friends who are creative souls and I realized how I haven't been in the mood to work in the studio.  Before I left I cleaned up my studio space and I'm glad I did.  Today I started making some necklaces.  I haven't made jewelry in a long time and it feels good to get back at it.  Next I'm going to finish my soldered pendants!

Pendants

Geez I can't seem to get motivated to work on my pendants!  I'm having a block!   How do you get motivated and inspired?  I'm gonna step out of the studio and go explore with eyes wide open!

Pendant making

It's about time I got back into jewelry creating!  I have all these design ideas in my head and I've been sitting here sketching them out.  So now I'm done with the pendants...round and heart shapes!  I will be adding beads and chain to them!   I'm working on the actual design of each piece and then will set with resin.  I'll keep you updated!

Art Journal Mondays

Today I begin an art journal journey with my young friend, Reagan.  

She is a academically gifted smart young lady with an artistic side.  She loves to read and has been reading since she was probably three years old!   We began with a kid's book, of course and she was assigned to gesso the pages.  The plan is to paint, paint, paint the whole time she is in the studio.  The goal is let her be free to express her creative style.

Studio time

I don't always mind nights I can't sleep because my studio is inviting.  I got lost in there tonight and finished some pendants.  These designs have been dancing around in my head for weeks.  One thing I used was metal buttons.  I have quite the collection and I came across something about pounding metal buttons.  I loved the look and especially love the how they look with the bigger beads.  I can't wait to wear these...oh yeah , they'll be for sale!

Some updates & thoughts

Anyone who knows me, knows I have no concept of time.  I have no schedule, I rarely do anything the same, all things I make are one of a kind.  Taking my “having fun” in the craft room to working in my studio is where I'm at right now.  I have a blog, a Facebook page with a new web address, a logo, a business name, business cards, email and working on a project to log my creations.  Getting things together is a never ending process and I know there’s no time schedule to this creative journey I’m on. I named my business brokenwing, I have a collection of angels in my house and the thing they all have in common is every one of them has a broken wing and they’re perfect.  It’s one of those things I couldn’t explain how each one ended up with a broken wing that needed to be glued.   What it taught me … it doesn’t need to be perfect to be perfect, which describes my art, my jewelry, my photography, my cards, my studio, my home, everything Jobi.  My Facebook page address is www.facebook.com/the.brokenwing & my email is 

brokenwing @cox.net.  Here's my logo.

Studio time

Been hanging out in the studio this week.  At this moment I smell like solder!  Been soldering all morning.  I started my week bending wire for earrings and soldering chain links I'm gonna use for earrings.

 

  
I had bezels made in the shape of hearts from a previous day in the studio.  I also added a round cooper wire to the design.  The cooper wire was tough to bend and even tougher to cut.  But, I found a handy heavy duty wire cutter in the tool box....it worked wonderfully!   I had already cut metal and filed down the edges.  It was time to match pieces.

 

This is what I did this morning...soldering soldering soldering.  I love this part but I must admit it's a smelly process, I must have my ceiling fan on and the window open.  It's breezy today and that helps move the air around in the studio. 

I'm taking a break from the studio for the next few hours to meet friends I haven't seen in awhile.  I love working in the studio and boy it does take so many steps to end up with my creations.  Break time!

Studio time, again!

Back in the studio and really working hard.  I'm painting, I'm soldering, I'm making chain, I'm making earrings, lastly I'm making pendants!

I have to slow down on my ideas and projects.  I plan to attend a show in December and if I could just make all the cool Christmas stuff I want I would be a happy crafter! 

 

Studio time

All the copper pipe is cut and on to drilling holes tonight.  All the wires are cut & wrapped.  Next to set plaster then on to my designs .... hope to set resin by the end of the weekend!  I also hoping to get some bracelets made and some more etching metal.  On the other hand, the weather is absolutely wonderful and I may need to go to the garden section at Home Depot and get some plants. 

Rearranging, cleaning and purging!

I needed to clean up some space in my studio for my sewing machine, needed to clean out some space in the office for treadmill, needed to find space in the bedroom for some rearranging of the bed to make room for a cool stack of books that I removed from my studio book cabinet to make room for my jewelry making stuff and supplies to make room for my sewing machine, full purging circle!  I went through my collect of books & magazines.  Soap making, wood projects, paper crafts, cement, scrap booking, lots of quilting, gardening, paper making, home decorating, potpourri, and lots of good reading.  Most of the magazines are scrap booking and paper craft.  I don't need any of them, so I'm purging magazines!  

 I moved all the good reading books into the bedroom and made a really cool stack along the wall.  All I need is a comfy chair (and time) to read them.  Actually I think I've read most of them.  One thing led to another and I found myself cleaning, reorganizing, and purging more stuff than I intended when I began.  I found a collection of photos with no common theme and realized I need to spend time on photos and photo albums.  I have too many envelopes!  I have too much paper ephemera.  But I do have tons of cool stuff!

 

It's the end of the weekend and I got it all done.  Bed was moved under a window and not sure how that's gonna work out.  I like it but not good for TV viewing for Tom.  Overall, I love the changes in our bedroom.  I love the changes in my studio, sewing machine on one table and jewelry on the main table with lots of room for supplies.  Treadmill in office, a little crowded, but who cares for now.  I may move it to the patio now that the weather is cooler and by cooler I mean under 100 degrees, haha.  I have a pile of books & magazines to give away!

Maximus still hanging out with me late into the night

When Maximus was just a puppy he would stay with me until I went to bed.  He always laid under my chair.  That was three years ago!

 

Here we are just the other night.  He still lays under my desk near my chair.  He's tall enough to see over the desk.   This night he decided he needed to watch what I was doing.  He's the one to tell me when it's time to call it quits and go to bed.  He's my loyal companion way into the night.

 

Another use for them old hard cover books

I saw this on Pinterest a few weeks ago and thought I have tons of old books laying around.  So while watching football over the weekend I folded up these two books.  I love the concept and the design.

 

I love the idea of using it for my business card collection.  I think I will use them for my Christmas card display this year.  Maybe paint the book covers red, hummm....

In the studio, etching metals.

I've been wanting to try etching metals, again.  I haven't done it in a long time.  I use a chemical called PCB Etchant Solution which you can get at Radio Shack.  It's mainly used in computer motherboard circuit work.  Make sure to use safety glasses and gloves when working with it.

 

 

I clean up the metal strips and stamped images and drew designs on the strips.  I used a permanent ink pad and a sharpie.  I also stamped some of the copper rings.

 

 

I used a glass dish and remember not to ever reuse the dish for food.  It belongs in the studio now.  The metal strips  are placed on clear packing tape with the design side up.  The strips are floated on the solution but I did place the rings right into the solution. 

 

 

I set the timer for one hour, but I got busy and ended up letting the metal sit for two hours.  Since my PCB solution was old it needed two hours to get the results I wanted anyways.

 

 

Here's how they look!  Awesomeness.

 

I bent one of the strips into a bracelet and love love love it.  I will experiment with a clasp of some kind and maybe some embellishments.  Stay tuned....

This is the strip I stamped circles on...way cool.

 

Meghan in my studio

This is Meghan, she's visiting from New Hampshire.  She's an awesome young lady.  Normally, most kids her age don't care to spend anytime in the studio.  Meghan was completely different.  I asked her to go with me to run errands and she said she would rather paint.  She had noticed my artwork and asked how to paint it.  She said she wasn't a painter and I told her she could do it with some guidance.  I showed her Kelly Rea Roberts book, Taking Flight.  That's how it all began with Meghan.

 

 

Meghan wearing my magic tiara.  The creative universe is open!

 

Meghan picked out some scrapbook paper and punched squares.  We glued them to a piece of wood.

 

We whitewashed the piece and practiced making our angels.

 

 

 

 

 This is Meghan's painting.  She did a great job and loves glitter!

 

Here's our paintings.  Meghan's is done but mine is not finished.  I loved the way it's turned out so far.

Progress....

I've been working hard in the studio.  My hands look awful and feel so dry.  Desperate need of a manicure.   I smell like chemicals and solder even though I'm burning a nice scented candle.   I didn't leave the studio much today except to eat and sit outside for dinner. 
When I think about a day like this I count my blessings and know not everyone can do what they love.  I finished some necklaces and I just love them.  Tomorrow I'll be finishing the rings and I'll be all ready for the the Mercado at Purple Lizard this weekend. I'll be sending out a text blast and reposting here and on my Facebook pages about the Mercado. The weather should be perfect.
Dang... I need to take a road trip with Senor Flato Stanley...SOON!  The project is overdue!!

In the studio this week

I'm having so much fun in the studio finishing up on all the jewelry pieces I've made.  I counted over 30 pendant pieces.  Today I begin the process of making chains and embellishments.   I wish you could join in the fun!

Projects

Got the craftroom painted and I love it! Now to move everything back in. I must purge stuff and organize it as I had it. I can't wait to get back into my space. I'll post pic once it's all put back together. Otherwise, it's still way too hot in AZ.