Wedding Jewelry

I'm posting some wedding jewelry ideas for a client - her colors are sage green and lavender, her theme is dragonflies and butterflies and each piece is to be different, just like the women who will be her bridesmaids. I think these necklaces came out beautifully, but the photos... are not great - I'll re-shoot in better light soon.

Return Air Ducting

Things are coming together! I know, it doesn't look like it, but trust me, we are one step closer to being done. Frank has been working hard all day on this and it's almost done. After I built some of the components (cut duct, pieced things together and taped up), I mostly stood around handing things to the poor guy on his back under the studio. Here is how it's looking on the inside so far - these two ducts will bring fresh air in to replace the toxic air the fan (which will be centered between them) will exhaust out. Under the studio, they run about 10 feet and have mesh to keep the rodents out.



And here, a picture looking under the studio - doesn't it look like it's about to blast off?! I'm happy this part is done, but I think Frank is estatic about it.

Studio Progress

Not too much happened all week, but today we made some big progress. I finished insulating and Frank finished the support/cross beam things in the roof and then prepped the ceiling for sheetrocking. Not very interesting BUT then we got into some good stuff. At the last minute as we were about to cut the holes in the wall for the return-air vents, I got a bright idea. Frank isn't calling it that, but I am. He's more along the lines of "pain in the butt idea", if you get my drift.

Anyway, my idea was this: instead of having the make up air come from the wall behind me while I torch, blowing cool damp air past my head on the way back out of the vent hood, why not have it right under the vent hood itself and duct it under the studio so that it's clean air coming in? Why not? Well, other than the pain-in-the-butt factor, and the more-money factor and the more-work factor... it sounds like a great idea. And so off to Home Debit I went and got all the materials needed. And Frank started cutting holes and putting it together. It's too dark to get a good photo, so I'll share a boring insulated wall one instead. I'm really excited, it's going to be so GREAT!

New Site Design - Done!

A few minor tweaks, the addition of some yummy chocolate brown that pairs nicely with the Blue Between blue, and here it is - a brand-new, easier to shop, online jewelry store!

New Site Design!

As I said earlier today, I've been working hard on my site - I want it all spiffy and pretty and running great so I can concentrate on melting glass and making new jewelry... and I was almost there (just the earrings page left to go) when all of a sudden I got the urge to give it a fresh new look.

Normally this is something that I wouldn't just "do". I'd design it, sleep on it, ask around... and then do it. But not today... I just DID IT. And now I've got major butterflies in my belly... and I can't find anyone who will tell me what they think - are my friends and family ignoring me or are they really working or in meetings? Oh, Luke said he liked it. He seemed honored that I asked him... but I'm not sure he knows what it used to look like. Ah well... let me know what YOU think, if you don't mind. Thanks!

Now:



An hour or so ago:

New Bracelets for Sale

I've been working hard on my website, trying to make it more user-friendly. I hope everyone likes the new lay out! I'm still working on the earrings page and realize I desperately need some new designs there. Stay tuned...

In the meantime, a few new bracelets have been added:

     

I love my new studio... even if it's not done yet

Inside construction began today. Frank and I built my workbench - the base of it - which will eventually be covered with my stainless steel top. I insulated part of it (extra thick insulation that will hopefully keep the fan noise out of the studio), and Frank worked on making the support beams "prettier". Yes, PRETTIER, because if you know me at all, pretty matters!

Studio: Phase 1-Done

The construction workers are all done with the studio (they still have some clean up to do.) The doors are on and even have door knobs and locks.

The rest is now up to us. Outside, we need to give her a bath, put a porch on, and she needs a skirt and some flowers planted around her. Inside, we are insulating, putting up prettier support beams, building a work bench, sheetrocking, painting, tiling the floor.... lots to do. Really a lot, but I hope to be melting glass SOON.

New Necklaces for Sale

I listed 4 new necklaces and one old one that I'm finally ready to part with. These four are on my website and a lampwork wheel necklace is on Etsy.

Vent Hood Progress

I've made a little progress on my vent hood. You can see the details on the Bead Studio Page if you like.

Power for the Studio

The electricians did their rough-in today. My studio has it's own circuit box, outlet boxes, light boxes, an in-wall heater (it will be right at my feet when I'm at the torch!) and switch boxes for the lights and blower. And a light for outside.

It's not all that exciting to look at yet - but if you are curious, you can see some of it on the Bead Studio Page.

Studio Progress

Roof is finished, including skylights. The door is hung, but something is wrong with it. Also, I bought the wrong doorknobs so they need to be returned. But close, very close. I can stain/prime/paint or whatever I'm going to do now and then put on the decorative slats so the siding matches the house. And build a porch of some sort. And.... oh it's not that close really.



The electrician is here today wiring it up and installing a wall heater. I need to call about the door problem and find out what that is all about.

I made a studio page for those of you who want to see the progress all in one place - it's going to be good for lampworkers because I'll be setting up the ventilation system and showing step by step photos of it - it's a very mysterious and confusing project for us girly artsy types who don't know what end of the fan (blower!) the air even goes in through! Check it out on my site: The Blue Between Studio.

Magnolia Tree About to Burst into Color

My Photos on Cards, etc.

I started a little cafepress store yesterday that turns my photos into greeting cards and postcards and prints... if anyone is interested, please take a look! Thanks :)

Blue Between Photography

blossoms

First daffodil from the yard...

Paintings on Etsy

I added a few of my small paintings to my Etsy store... just to see what would happen, really.

http://BlueBetween.etsy.com if you are interested! Thanks :)

More Studio Progress

Today was exciting! They got the roof up and mostly shingled. Getting close!

Snow

Woke up to this today. It's all melted though... well, just about.

Studio Roof

They were only here for a few hours this afternoon, but they got the roof framed.



And holes for my two skylights!

Studio Doors

My doors arrived this morning, and the guys are up on the studio building the roof now.

Paintings

I've been painting this week as I try (ever-so-patiently) to wait for my glass studio to be finished... it's more fun than cleaning the house or doing yardwork, that's for sure, though there's a small part of me that keeps thinking I should make some jewelry or at the very least get going on the taxes... but no, painting it is. And coughing... it's going on week 2 of this flu thing that has been going around. Luke and Frank seem to be almost over it so I should be soon too, since I was the last to get it.

So I've been painting girls of all sorts. Fat mermaids, expecting ladies, and this face that was not supposed to be as realistic as it is... nor as cartoonish as it is... but it is what it is. Luke says she's me, but she's not really.

Studio Build, Day 4

A floor, 4 walls, an opening for the double doors and some roof! Isn't it HUGE? It does not at all look like a cozy little garden shed. Not at all. It does look like a great big garden studio though.

Studio Build, Day 3

Doesn't look like much, he wasn't here for very long though, so it would be hard to expect a wall or anything. I did get a floor, I shouldn't complain. Maybe more tomorrow.

Studio Progress

Wow, this thing is NOT turning out the way I envisioned it. It's going to be way high off the ground and now it will need a little porch - not planned for, can't picture it in my head even. And the windows didn't work out so I ordered French doors - the price for them caused Frank to stop breathing... so I canceled that order and went with a slightly less expensive set of glass doors aka "Store Doors" - without the French grids or separate panes - maybe I'll add a grid to them in some other day. Or faux them with paint or something... Or just plant lots of flowers all around so you don't notice... or something. Crazy day, I feel like I could use a do-over. The builder guys are cute though, and like dogs, especially Zoe, the one you either love or hate - they love her, always a good sign. One of the guys went on and on about how nice my house was, how much character and how interesting, what a great layout, blah blah blah. Was very nice to hear instead of the typical "You traded your nice house in Carnation for THIS???? And you paid HOW MUCH for it???? Are you CRAZY???" Even if it just means there is one more crazy person in the world that sees this house the way I do, it makes me feel a little better. Huh.

Anyway... here's a shot of the progress... more tomorrow.

Shaping Up

Good news, the pipes under the new studio are no longer in use. The yard is all marked up with red, yellow and orange paint and little yellow flags to show where NOT to dig. None of them point to the studio. Things should start moving forward again this week. The contractor is having a hard time finding windows in the style I want so I'm thinking maybe double french doors and no windows. That will still be lovely. And some climbing peace roses growing up the wall next to the door. Perfect!

Have been spending a ton of energy in the yard - spring is springing up and I'm taking advantage of the little bit of sun and dry weather to get some things done. I moved a rock border and bagged some yard waste and then did something I'd been wanting to do but had been to chicken to try... I trimmed up my camelia bush and turned it into a tree. I imagine there are those who would think what I just did was criminal, but I really like it - it opens up the space, mirrors the old rhody that has been trimmed up to a tree shape and lets me think about planting some boarder plants along the fence. I'm happy and really, that is ALL that matters.

Before:



After:

Happy Valentines Day!

Luke delivered some stargazer lillies to his little girlfriend, her name is Lilly, and when he handed them to her he said "Lillies for my Lilly". He also brought over two chocolate hearts, and said he was going to say "Hearts for my heart" but he didn't end up saying that part. He came back skipping and grinning. I could just eat this little boy of mine up, he's so darn cute and it all comes from inside. Sweet talker, just like his dad. What a pair I've got, huh?

In my next life...

... I want to play with baby tigers. I wonder how I could make it happen in THIS life?

Pop!

Spring Crocus

I've got good news and bad news...

...which would you like first?

(I can't tell you how many times Frank starts a conversation this way. I'm not sure why he feels the need to balance the good with the bad, but he does. He says this so often that Luke is doing it now too... and look, I just started a journal entry this way. And I HATE it. I don't want to hear the bad, and if I can't get the good without the bad, don't give me any of it. Of course I never say that... but look, I just did. So there.)

Anyway... the bad news is these pipes. They are running under my would-be studio. All work is on hold until a "locator" comes and gives us his opinion. I can't imagine these pipes are connected to anything real anymore... but better safe than sorry.



The good news is our new bathroom console is getting delivered this weekend. I got such a great deal on it - it was $900 total, regularly $2200 and the very next day when I was checking the measurements it had gone up to $1299. Overstock.com - do their prices change daily or did I just luck out in a very big ($400) way?



Oh and more good news... because I want the good to weigh more than the bad. These little cutie pies are coming up next to my front walk. Spring in February. Always a good thing.

Studio Build: Day.01

Not a whole lot of progress, he ran out of concrete - I guess there was more digging than anticipated. I took the dirt and started filling in some of the many holes in the yard. Need much more dirt. Anyway, tomorrow will see the holes filled with concrete and then they need to dry... and THEN they start building. Hopefully on Wednesday. Valentines Day.



And then there's the good ol'girl. She loves it when we spend so much time in the yard. I do wish she wouldn't lay in the garden beds, especially where the tulips are coming up.

Oops! Change of Plans...

The studio won't fit diagonal without cutting down the old rhody tree... so it's going square in the corner facing west. And also, it's going to be 9X13 now instead of 10X12. And I'm adding in two little skylights, one on the South side and one on the East side. The contractor doesn't know yet, I hope he won't mind! We've been working all weekend getting the site ready for the contractors tomorrow. Hope it all goes easy from here on out!

New spot - see the ropes in the far corner?



New view, standing where the door will go: