Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox
Design Journal
A Journey in Art Jewelry
Design Journal
A Journey in Art Jewelry
Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox Design Journal
The studio is just about packed
What a great response to my Tool Time Tuesday Post. Thank you all of you that responded to it and left me comments. I have to say, it means a lot to me when you take the time to comment. It really makes it worth it to me to do them. I honestly almost didn't post that one because I was afraid people thought it would be a stupid one. I am glad that wasn't the case. Thank you again for the feedback. I love it when I come on here and have comments. It makes my day!
Oh, I have a piece that I made a little while back. I didn't show anyone because I want to use it as a project in my book. But now that I will be teaching it in March at the Fraser Valley Bead Show in March, the picture will be out there, so I might as well share it with all of you. You can tell me if you like it or not.
Wow, what a week. I think I just about have it all done. There are the little bits of odds and ends here and there, but for the most part, I think it is just about done. I even have all the holes in the walls patched and now they just need to be sanded and painted.
I was really hoping to be further along than this, but that just can't happen according to plan, right? On Monday my baby had to go in to have her tubes in. She was fighting a bit of a cold at that time, but we were all comfortable in going forward with the surgery. Well, the past couple of days, her cold has improved and then gotten worse. Last night my husband and I were up all night with her and we each had the pleasure of a cold shower. My poor baby had a fever of 106. I have had my kids have fevers up to 104, but NEVER 106. OH MY GOODNESS. With multiple cool baths and showers, a couple of rounds of tylenol and an antibiotic on board, we finally got the fever to break around 8:00 am this morning. Of course, by that time, we had had only about 2 hours of sleep. Talk about miserable, for all parties involved. Today she has been super clingy and we still haven't gotten much accomplished. I was really hoping to have all the packing done here in the basement with all the boxes moved upstairs and ready to be loaded into the truck in 2 weeks. Oh well. At least I still have 2 weeks..... right?
So you want to see what I have been up to?
This is where the polishing machine and bench used to be.
Watch as the ventilation system comes down.
I have removed the vent hoods.
This is the shelf we built to hold the dust collector that I use for my ventilation motor.
Now the vent system is down and you can see the blower that I use for moving the air out of the studio.
My rolling mill looks like it has been met by a rather large group of spiders.
This shelf keeps getting empty and filled back up as we move things around while packing everything up.
All the copper is packed up and the pegboard has been taken down. The boxes on the floor are coming out of the storage room and we are culling and sorting them to see what to toss and what to keep.
The vise has been removed and even the bottle jack has been removed from my hydraulic press. We just need to wrap it up and move it upstairs with the rest of our stuff.
My peg board (wall of hammers) is down and the storage drawers are all empty and packed away.
All the mirrors and wall art has been removed. You can actually see all the pictures from the studio sitting on the cabinet there in the corner. I just need to take care of some chemicals and get them disposed of and that will be done.
So there you have it. Once we get all the boxes up stairs and a bit more organized, I will take a picture to show how many boxes I filled. It is actually kind of embarrassing that I have as much as I do. But when you consider that I teach classes, it kind of makes sense for me to have multiples of various tools.
Oh, I have a piece that I made a little while back. I didn't show anyone because I want to use it as a project in my book. But now that I will be teaching it in March at the Fraser Valley Bead Show in March, the picture will be out there, so I might as well share it with all of you. You can tell me if you like it or not.
Wow, what a week. I think I just about have it all done. There are the little bits of odds and ends here and there, but for the most part, I think it is just about done. I even have all the holes in the walls patched and now they just need to be sanded and painted.
I was really hoping to be further along than this, but that just can't happen according to plan, right? On Monday my baby had to go in to have her tubes in. She was fighting a bit of a cold at that time, but we were all comfortable in going forward with the surgery. Well, the past couple of days, her cold has improved and then gotten worse. Last night my husband and I were up all night with her and we each had the pleasure of a cold shower. My poor baby had a fever of 106. I have had my kids have fevers up to 104, but NEVER 106. OH MY GOODNESS. With multiple cool baths and showers, a couple of rounds of tylenol and an antibiotic on board, we finally got the fever to break around 8:00 am this morning. Of course, by that time, we had had only about 2 hours of sleep. Talk about miserable, for all parties involved. Today she has been super clingy and we still haven't gotten much accomplished. I was really hoping to have all the packing done here in the basement with all the boxes moved upstairs and ready to be loaded into the truck in 2 weeks. Oh well. At least I still have 2 weeks..... right?
So you want to see what I have been up to?
This is where the polishing machine and bench used to be.
Watch as the ventilation system comes down.
I have removed the vent hoods.
This is the shelf we built to hold the dust collector that I use for my ventilation motor.
Now the vent system is down and you can see the blower that I use for moving the air out of the studio.
My rolling mill looks like it has been met by a rather large group of spiders.
This shelf keeps getting empty and filled back up as we move things around while packing everything up.
All the copper is packed up and the pegboard has been taken down. The boxes on the floor are coming out of the storage room and we are culling and sorting them to see what to toss and what to keep.
The vise has been removed and even the bottle jack has been removed from my hydraulic press. We just need to wrap it up and move it upstairs with the rest of our stuff.
My peg board (wall of hammers) is down and the storage drawers are all empty and packed away.
All the mirrors and wall art has been removed. You can actually see all the pictures from the studio sitting on the cabinet there in the corner. I just need to take care of some chemicals and get them disposed of and that will be done.
So there you have it. Once we get all the boxes up stairs and a bit more organized, I will take a picture to show how many boxes I filled. It is actually kind of embarrassing that I have as much as I do. But when you consider that I teach classes, it kind of makes sense for me to have multiples of various tools.
Tool Time Tuesday - Let Your Tools Do the Work
Thank you all for the comments and emails of love and encouragement. I really do appreciate it. I know that things are going to be great in Washington. They are going to be great no matter where I go, because that is how we are. We can roll with the punches with the best of them. I was very excited to go to Dallas. I was sad that it fell through, but I am very excited about going to Washington. I have always LOVED the rain and the lush trees and forests. I never even thought that Washington would be an option to live in because my husband hates the dreary weather here in Ohio. LOL. We will have to see how he handles it in Washington. I hate to even think about it, but it might be another place that we only live for a few years.
Although I did tell him that if we aren't going to settle down in Vancouver, that he has to move before Riley gets into High School and then we stay where ever that is until she graduates. It is only fair to her. But I am really hoping he likes it in Washington so I don't have to move again.... after I get into my dream house that is.
So, did you think I would never do another Tool Time Tuesday again? It sure seems that way huh? Well, Before packing all my tools away I tried to make a couple of videos. So here is a really short one on letting your tools do their job, specifically the Flexshaft and drill press/drill bits.
It is a common mistake that I see people doing. By slowing down a little and letting your tools do the job they were meant to do, you increase the life of your tools and make things a bit safer for you too.
Although I did tell him that if we aren't going to settle down in Vancouver, that he has to move before Riley gets into High School and then we stay where ever that is until she graduates. It is only fair to her. But I am really hoping he likes it in Washington so I don't have to move again.... after I get into my dream house that is.
So, did you think I would never do another Tool Time Tuesday again? It sure seems that way huh? Well, Before packing all my tools away I tried to make a couple of videos. So here is a really short one on letting your tools do their job, specifically the Flexshaft and drill press/drill bits.
It is a common mistake that I see people doing. By slowing down a little and letting your tools do the job they were meant to do, you increase the life of your tools and make things a bit safer for you too.
The Studio is Closed....
It has been so hard and I have been in total denial that this was ever going to happen. Especially when you consider that we have been "going to move" since June and things just kept changing and getting pushed back. But Saturday my friend Valerie came over and we started packing.
The very first thing we packed was my Guillotine Sheer. That sucker is HEAVY. I am not looking forward to packing and moving the rolling mill. haha Slowly but surely the studio is being emptied of its contents. Although, we are taking things out of their places and putting them on the top surface of the tables, so it hardly looks like we are making progress.
It really has been hard to pack everything up though. It is the closing of a chapter that I opened here in Ohio. I have done so much with jewelry here in Ohio. When we moved here my baby was only 10 weeks old. I didn't know a soul in Ohio. I had only just started making jewelry and didn't really have a clue as to what I was doing. I just knew that somehow I had found a hidden talent that I didn't ever think was possible for me to have.
I remember looking for classes around in the area and all I could find were simple stringing and beginning jewelry classes. But I already knew those things. I actually drove back to the DC area so I could take a bezel setting class. Six months later I began teaching classes here in Ohio. Once again, I took my skills as far as I could on my own. I enrolled in a couple of metalsmithing classes at the University of Akron. That was SOOOO much fun. I met some of the most amazing artists. I also saw a lot of crap passed off as "art." But it was a really good experience for me all the same.
In teaching my classes and talking with the students at the university I found a need for a group that could pull artists together with people that support the artists. 3 years ago right now, I sat here at my computer with a friend and decided to take the plunge and start a guild for the Jewelry and Metal Artists here in Ohio. This February they will have their 3rd Anniversary. We have had some bumps in the road, but it is growing and its membership includes some of the most amazing, caring and giving artists I know. I have also made some of the very best friends I have ever had.
We currently live in the nicest home we have ever had. I have great neighbors. My girls have friends right next door.... and I have the MOST AMAZING studio. or, I HAD the most amazing studio.
My time here in Ohio has also seen some amazing accomplishments for me. I have written a couple of magazine articles (I know, I need to write more.) I have been in several books. I have been introduced to some wonderful artists and techniques and created wonderful friendships in the art world. I never would have dreamed I belonged in the art world. How does a computer programmer/trainer go from hacking and teaching code, jump into the world of art jewelry and succeed?
I have not done many shows. I don't sell a lot of my jewelry. But that has been a decision based on the fact that my family is still so young. Not only that, but my real desire is to continue doing what I do best, teaching. I am an okay jewelry designer. It is not something that comes easy to me. But teaching? Oh, I CAN TEACH! Just ask any of my students. I was just biding my time and waiting for Kate to enter Kindergarten and then I was going to take the world by storm. I was going to teach at all the shows and really get things going doing what I do best. Then we had a surprise setback. So I Will bide my time once again and wait for Kiari to get into kindergarten. Then I will take the jewelry world by storm. LOL.
We are going into a rental home in the Vancouver area (that is over 1,000 sq ft LESS than what I currently have - My current studio space is about 1,200 sq ft). I haven't seen the house that we will are renting. I have no idea how much room I am going to have for my equipment or if I will have room for classes. So for now, the plan is for me to work on my craft. I want to get back into learning new techniques and making my jewelry better. I am working with really cool tools. I am in the process of writing a book. I haven't decided if I will self publish it or see about working with a publisher. But my goal is to have it out by the end of the year. I would like to teach some classes in Tuscon next year, as well as other places.
This March, it looks like I will actually be teaching in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I am so excited about that. I will keep you all posted on how things progress with that.
I am excited and nervous and apprehensive all at the same time about this upcoming move. I am going back out West. I didn't really ever want to do that. I have simply LOVED living out in the East. I LOVED LOVED, LOVED the DC area. I would have loved to go back there.... if only they didn't have such yucky traffic. I adored the lush terrain of Virginia and Ohio. I am so glad that of all places in the West we are going, is to Washington where it is not only LUSH but BEAUTIFUL. I am nervous about starting all over again. Starting over with friends, my business, a new unfamiliar area, everything.
The one thing I have to say about that though, is that I have already had people in the area contact me to ask if I will be teaching classes, or if they could come over and be friends. I have "Friends" that I have known since just after my daughter passed away 7 years ago. I have known them for years, but I have only met two of them. And even then, I have only met each of them once before.
I know this is getting rambly, but it has been good for me to get this all out there.
So here are a few pictures of the studio packing progress.
This one took place over several hours, but it is so sad. My wall of hammers, full and happy. Then, it started to get thinned out a little.
And now, it is empty. 
My wall of hammers is very sad.
This is 7 lbs of stainless steel shot being dried out and prepared for storage. Sigh.
This is where I I do a lot of my clean up. The sink is there on the left. In this first picture I had already packed away my ultrasonic and started to pull chemicals out from the cabinet. But you can still see my tumblers and other tools.
Then in the next picture, everything is packed away. The chemicals are all packed away, things are cleaned off and it is now ready to be moved out.
So much to see in this first picture. My polishing bench has a TON of tools. I keep all my mandrels, calipers, stencils, bezel setting tools, etc. The little table just next to that is where I do all my drilling with my drill press and flexshaft, etc. Watch as it all gets cleared away.....
Tools are disappearing from the polishing bench and shelf above the drilling station.
Oh, how sad. All the tools are gone. Just the polisher and flexshaft need to be packed. I am waiting to pack the flexshaft because I have one more video to film before packing it away. 
If you look closely in the back there, you can see my soldering station. All the torches are still lined up ready to do their work.
Now things are packed away. No more soldering surfaces or tools. The torches are still there since I need to take them outside to release all the gas in them.
This black peg board is where I keep all my tools that are for sale. They are all now packed away and a bunch will hopefully be sold on Tuesday when I teach my final class in Ohio. I will be teaching at a local bead shop.
This thing is just a mess. I keep so much on here. But hey, I know where it all is. LOL.
It is even more bare now since taking this photo. The top shelves have nothing bust dust on them.
What a process. But wait till you see the final photos. Hopefully I will have it all done by the end of this week.
The very first thing we packed was my Guillotine Sheer. That sucker is HEAVY. I am not looking forward to packing and moving the rolling mill. haha Slowly but surely the studio is being emptied of its contents. Although, we are taking things out of their places and putting them on the top surface of the tables, so it hardly looks like we are making progress.
It really has been hard to pack everything up though. It is the closing of a chapter that I opened here in Ohio. I have done so much with jewelry here in Ohio. When we moved here my baby was only 10 weeks old. I didn't know a soul in Ohio. I had only just started making jewelry and didn't really have a clue as to what I was doing. I just knew that somehow I had found a hidden talent that I didn't ever think was possible for me to have.
I remember looking for classes around in the area and all I could find were simple stringing and beginning jewelry classes. But I already knew those things. I actually drove back to the DC area so I could take a bezel setting class. Six months later I began teaching classes here in Ohio. Once again, I took my skills as far as I could on my own. I enrolled in a couple of metalsmithing classes at the University of Akron. That was SOOOO much fun. I met some of the most amazing artists. I also saw a lot of crap passed off as "art." But it was a really good experience for me all the same.
In teaching my classes and talking with the students at the university I found a need for a group that could pull artists together with people that support the artists. 3 years ago right now, I sat here at my computer with a friend and decided to take the plunge and start a guild for the Jewelry and Metal Artists here in Ohio. This February they will have their 3rd Anniversary. We have had some bumps in the road, but it is growing and its membership includes some of the most amazing, caring and giving artists I know. I have also made some of the very best friends I have ever had.
We currently live in the nicest home we have ever had. I have great neighbors. My girls have friends right next door.... and I have the MOST AMAZING studio. or, I HAD the most amazing studio.
My time here in Ohio has also seen some amazing accomplishments for me. I have written a couple of magazine articles (I know, I need to write more.) I have been in several books. I have been introduced to some wonderful artists and techniques and created wonderful friendships in the art world. I never would have dreamed I belonged in the art world. How does a computer programmer/trainer go from hacking and teaching code, jump into the world of art jewelry and succeed?
I have not done many shows. I don't sell a lot of my jewelry. But that has been a decision based on the fact that my family is still so young. Not only that, but my real desire is to continue doing what I do best, teaching. I am an okay jewelry designer. It is not something that comes easy to me. But teaching? Oh, I CAN TEACH! Just ask any of my students. I was just biding my time and waiting for Kate to enter Kindergarten and then I was going to take the world by storm. I was going to teach at all the shows and really get things going doing what I do best. Then we had a surprise setback. So I Will bide my time once again and wait for Kiari to get into kindergarten. Then I will take the jewelry world by storm. LOL.
We are going into a rental home in the Vancouver area (that is over 1,000 sq ft LESS than what I currently have - My current studio space is about 1,200 sq ft). I haven't seen the house that we will are renting. I have no idea how much room I am going to have for my equipment or if I will have room for classes. So for now, the plan is for me to work on my craft. I want to get back into learning new techniques and making my jewelry better. I am working with really cool tools. I am in the process of writing a book. I haven't decided if I will self publish it or see about working with a publisher. But my goal is to have it out by the end of the year. I would like to teach some classes in Tuscon next year, as well as other places.
This March, it looks like I will actually be teaching in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I am so excited about that. I will keep you all posted on how things progress with that.
I am excited and nervous and apprehensive all at the same time about this upcoming move. I am going back out West. I didn't really ever want to do that. I have simply LOVED living out in the East. I LOVED LOVED, LOVED the DC area. I would have loved to go back there.... if only they didn't have such yucky traffic. I adored the lush terrain of Virginia and Ohio. I am so glad that of all places in the West we are going, is to Washington where it is not only LUSH but BEAUTIFUL. I am nervous about starting all over again. Starting over with friends, my business, a new unfamiliar area, everything.
The one thing I have to say about that though, is that I have already had people in the area contact me to ask if I will be teaching classes, or if they could come over and be friends. I have "Friends" that I have known since just after my daughter passed away 7 years ago. I have known them for years, but I have only met two of them. And even then, I have only met each of them once before.
I know this is getting rambly, but it has been good for me to get this all out there.
So here are a few pictures of the studio packing progress.
This one took place over several hours, but it is so sad. My wall of hammers, full and happy. Then, it started to get thinned out a little.
My wall of hammers is very sad. 
Then in the next picture, everything is packed away. The chemicals are all packed away, things are cleaned off and it is now ready to be moved out.
So much to see in this first picture. My polishing bench has a TON of tools. I keep all my mandrels, calipers, stencils, bezel setting tools, etc. The little table just next to that is where I do all my drilling with my drill press and flexshaft, etc. Watch as it all gets cleared away.....
Tools are disappearing from the polishing bench and shelf above the drilling station.
Oh, how sad. All the tools are gone. Just the polisher and flexshaft need to be packed.
I am waiting to pack the flexshaft because I have one more video to film before packing it away. 
If you look closely in the back there, you can see my soldering station. All the torches are still lined up ready to do their work.
This thing is just a mess. I keep so much on here. But hey, I know where it all is. LOL.
What a process. But wait till you see the final photos. Hopefully I will have it all done by the end of this week.
Only 3 weeks to go.
I know I haven't been on here since before Christmas, but things are really getting crazy now. At first, we thought we would be moving over Christmas break. I really wish we had. Then all this craziness would be done and over with. But at the same time, I am glad we are still here. I am having fun fitting in the last visits and classes. I am getting more and more nervous now that we have only 23 days left.
I went out to Vancouver back in December to do some house hunting. I found my DREAM HOME!!!! We can even afford it.... if we didn't want to have money for anything else. So, for now, we have found a nice little rental home and will save our money and pray that my dream home stays on the market long enough for us to get a really good size down payment.
The girls are getting excited to leave. Though my oldest (Riley) is unhappy about the timing. We move the day after her 12th Birthday. Her Birthday/Going Away Party will be held the weekend prior. Kate broke my heart the other day when I asked her if she was excited to go. She said, "Yes, but why do we have to leave all of our friends?"
Kiari is oblivious to all of it so far. But she has her own problems to deal with. I had noticed that she was not hearing me and she is delayed in her speech by about 4-6 months. I took her over to have her hearing tested and they got the same results as I noticed. She has quite a bit of fluid in her ears and will be having tubes placed on Monday. The interesting thing is, she has never had an ear infection. I guess she and Kate got my bad ear genes. We just have issues with the fluid draining. In fact, I get to have my ear surgery done again too. Oh Lucky Me! NOT! But my surgery will wait until after we get settled in Washington as well. See? Never a dull moment in my home.
In the midst of all of this I have somehow finally found a way to work on a few new pieces.
Last week I had a couple of students over and we made some simple wide band bezel set rings.
Saturday I had some friends come over for a Fold Formed Pea Pod class. This was a fun one. I love the sound of hammers in my studio.
This was a bracelet I was working on for something that I hope to announce soon.
The past couple of nights I have been working with my oldest daughter. She wanted to learn how to solder, so she made the top ring with the black onyx. I made the bottom ring with Red Coral that I bought in Tuscon back in September.
I have a few other pieces that I have been working on as well, but you will just have to wait and see my book when it is done for those little beauties.
I have also finished recording a few new videos for Tool Time Tuesday and would like to get them done before I move, but they may have to wait until we get settled into our new place in Washington. My studio will be packed this weekend. My best friend Valerie is coming over to help me get everything ready for the big move. This is not going to be fun. Anyone want to come over and help clean and touch up paint? Anyone? Anyone?
Well, I have two final classes here in Ohio. On Friday night I will hold my very last class here in my beautiful studio. Oh, that just made me cry. :*( I will be teaching the fold formed cuff with they hydraulic press. I have one or two spots open if anyone would like to come. $65 - Includes all materials. Class starts at 6:00 pm.
Next Tuesday night, I will be teaching my Spinner Ring class at Beadtini Boutique, in Copley, Ohio.
It really is starting to hit that we really are moving. Now, I just need my beautiful home to sell. I hope whoever buys it loves it as much as we have. It has been our nicest home yet.
Well, off to clean out more crap that I don't want to move.
I went out to Vancouver back in December to do some house hunting. I found my DREAM HOME!!!! We can even afford it.... if we didn't want to have money for anything else. So, for now, we have found a nice little rental home and will save our money and pray that my dream home stays on the market long enough for us to get a really good size down payment.
The girls are getting excited to leave. Though my oldest (Riley) is unhappy about the timing. We move the day after her 12th Birthday. Her Birthday/Going Away Party will be held the weekend prior. Kate broke my heart the other day when I asked her if she was excited to go. She said, "Yes, but why do we have to leave all of our friends?"
Kiari is oblivious to all of it so far. But she has her own problems to deal with. I had noticed that she was not hearing me and she is delayed in her speech by about 4-6 months. I took her over to have her hearing tested and they got the same results as I noticed. She has quite a bit of fluid in her ears and will be having tubes placed on Monday. The interesting thing is, she has never had an ear infection. I guess she and Kate got my bad ear genes. We just have issues with the fluid draining. In fact, I get to have my ear surgery done again too. Oh Lucky Me! NOT! But my surgery will wait until after we get settled in Washington as well. See? Never a dull moment in my home.
In the midst of all of this I have somehow finally found a way to work on a few new pieces.
Last week I had a couple of students over and we made some simple wide band bezel set rings.
Saturday I had some friends come over for a Fold Formed Pea Pod class. This was a fun one. I love the sound of hammers in my studio.
This was a bracelet I was working on for something that I hope to announce soon.
The past couple of nights I have been working with my oldest daughter. She wanted to learn how to solder, so she made the top ring with the black onyx. I made the bottom ring with Red Coral that I bought in Tuscon back in September.
I have a few other pieces that I have been working on as well, but you will just have to wait and see my book when it is done for those little beauties.
I have also finished recording a few new videos for Tool Time Tuesday and would like to get them done before I move, but they may have to wait until we get settled into our new place in Washington. My studio will be packed this weekend. My best friend Valerie is coming over to help me get everything ready for the big move. This is not going to be fun. Anyone want to come over and help clean and touch up paint? Anyone? Anyone?
Well, I have two final classes here in Ohio. On Friday night I will hold my very last class here in my beautiful studio. Oh, that just made me cry. :*( I will be teaching the fold formed cuff with they hydraulic press. I have one or two spots open if anyone would like to come. $65 - Includes all materials. Class starts at 6:00 pm.
Next Tuesday night, I will be teaching my Spinner Ring class at Beadtini Boutique, in Copley, Ohio.
It really is starting to hit that we really are moving. Now, I just need my beautiful home to sell. I hope whoever buys it loves it as much as we have. It has been our nicest home yet.
Well, off to clean out more crap that I don't want to move.
Potter USA Shot Bag - Quick video and Review
Well, "tomorrow" got delayed a day or two, but that is just how things are rolling in my house for a bit.
I had began using the new shot bag offered by PotterUSA. Can I just say, I LOVE THAT THING!?!?!? It is beautiful in every way. Here is what Kevin has to say about the new shot bag:
I have to say, that I really do like this bag. It is so much nicer than any of them I have ever used. (no, I don't get paid for this either. It is my honest opinion.) Perhaps I should start making Kevin pay me.... hmmmmmmm.
Visit the PotterUSA Website to order yours. The bag is $55.00 US.
PotterUSA is also holding a sale through Christmas day. 20% off all dies (you may have to be patient for some of them as they fly out of there so fast!) $50 off a 20-ton press frame and they have a lot of new tools being offered, including the new and improved, Koil Kutter.
I hope to be back with another Tool Time Tuesday this week. We will just have to see how things play out as we prepare for Christmas in our household. It sure is an exciting time, especially with a 5-year-old. I love that age so much. Everything is magic.
I had began using the new shot bag offered by PotterUSA. Can I just say, I LOVE THAT THING!?!?!? It is beautiful in every way. Here is what Kevin has to say about the new shot bag:
Silversmith's Forming Bag, 8 inches in diameter, about 3 pounds, Ships in medium, flat rate box ($10.50 USA)
Made of heavyweight English Bridle leather. The leather is domestically sourced from a premiere tannery out of Pennsylvania - Craig & Wickett.
They are stitched by a good friend of mine who is a professional saddle maker. First, he bonds the leather with hide glue, then they are stitched with a double row of heavyweight thread and filled with fine grain, clean sand. Then the edges are burnished and polished. The bags come very firm. They need to be broken in. I prefer sand to shot. The sand holds the form better, the shot tends to roll back in place.
These are nicest forming bags I've ever used. These are definitely the nicest forming bags available.
I have to say, that I really do like this bag. It is so much nicer than any of them I have ever used. (no, I don't get paid for this either. It is my honest opinion.) Perhaps I should start making Kevin pay me.... hmmmmmmm.
Visit the PotterUSA Website to order yours. The bag is $55.00 US.
PotterUSA is also holding a sale through Christmas day. 20% off all dies (you may have to be patient for some of them as they fly out of there so fast!) $50 off a 20-ton press frame and they have a lot of new tools being offered, including the new and improved, Koil Kutter.
I hope to be back with another Tool Time Tuesday this week. We will just have to see how things play out as we prepare for Christmas in our household. It sure is an exciting time, especially with a 5-year-old. I love that age so much. Everything is magic.
Still here
Wow, where does the time go? My babysitter has been out of town for the past 3 1/2 weeks. Can you tell? I can! With her out of town there is absolutely no hope of me getting into the studio with my now very mobile baby. This next year is going to be very interesting.
Just 12 days ago, my little surprise baby turned one year old. Can you believe it has already been a year? She had a doctor's appointment last week (shots and all) and she is doing so well. She weighed in just under 19 pounds and a lengthy 29 1/2" long. She is long and skinny just like her dad and sisters. She is on target for everything that a 10 month old should be doing. (remember, she wasn't due until February 12.) So we are quite happy with how things are going with her. She is still the most difficult of any of my babies, but her smiles and loves make it all worth it.
I spent the weekend in Vancouver, Washington. When we thought we would be moving there this weekend, I had booked a trip. Of course, just 15 hours later I found out we wouldn't be going until February. So the trip was already booked and I took the opportunity to get together with a couple of friends and get to know the area a little bit better. I also found my dream home. I don't suppose that anyone has an extra $162,000 that they would like to give me do they? That is how short I am from being able to purchase the home. Sigh, Oh well. I hope whoever gets to own my dream home enjoys that thing. It was perfect in nearly every way for me. It screamed "This is MELISSA'S HOUSE!!!!" Perhaps it will continue to scream that and nobody else will buy it. LOL. Of course, I won't hold my breath.
In the meantime, I will just try to get things squared away and ready to pack up. The big move will most likely happen in just a mere 8 weeks. That is going to go so fast, especially with the holidays upon us.
Kevin Potter has sent me a lovely package of new tools. Included in this was the BEAUTIFUL shot bag I ordered a little while back. Oh, that thing is something else. I have several Shot/sand bags. They are for sale for about $25. They are made with a medium/large grain, have a suede leather exterior and are stitched okay, when compared to this new one from Potter USA. I use my existing shot/sand bag under my bench blocks when hammering on my bench blocks. It is great for dampening the sound and padding things a bit.
But the bag from Potter USA is a real treat to have. Even if you did nothing more than just look at it, sigh, it is a piece of art! I thought about building a wire holder and hanging it on my wall, and I still just might do that. It will give me a unique way of storing it at any rate. The video is uploading to YouTube right this very minute. I will make another post tomorrow to talk a little more about it.
Kevin Potter has been hard at work making a lot of new tools. I am very excited with what he is coming out with. Dave Arens, the maker of the Koil Kutter has retired from making the product and has asked Potter USA to take over production of the tool. Kevin, being the smarty pants that he is, has made the tool even better than it was, if you can imagine that. I will be making a video of how to assemble and use that over the next couple of weeks. There is a new set of chasing tools on the production line, new stakes, even a new jewelers saw (Squeals of delight.) So keep watching for some new tool reviews and videos soon.
I have also finished going through a lot of my tools and supplies. I will be listing the items I have in stock that are for sale on my website soon. I hope to have those posted this next week (my baby sitter returns home this weekend.)
So, until tomorrow, Good night.
Just 12 days ago, my little surprise baby turned one year old. Can you believe it has already been a year? She had a doctor's appointment last week (shots and all) and she is doing so well. She weighed in just under 19 pounds and a lengthy 29 1/2" long. She is long and skinny just like her dad and sisters. She is on target for everything that a 10 month old should be doing. (remember, she wasn't due until February 12.) So we are quite happy with how things are going with her. She is still the most difficult of any of my babies, but her smiles and loves make it all worth it.
I spent the weekend in Vancouver, Washington. When we thought we would be moving there this weekend, I had booked a trip. Of course, just 15 hours later I found out we wouldn't be going until February. So the trip was already booked and I took the opportunity to get together with a couple of friends and get to know the area a little bit better. I also found my dream home. I don't suppose that anyone has an extra $162,000 that they would like to give me do they? That is how short I am from being able to purchase the home. Sigh, Oh well. I hope whoever gets to own my dream home enjoys that thing. It was perfect in nearly every way for me. It screamed "This is MELISSA'S HOUSE!!!!" Perhaps it will continue to scream that and nobody else will buy it. LOL. Of course, I won't hold my breath.
In the meantime, I will just try to get things squared away and ready to pack up. The big move will most likely happen in just a mere 8 weeks. That is going to go so fast, especially with the holidays upon us.
Kevin Potter has sent me a lovely package of new tools. Included in this was the BEAUTIFUL shot bag I ordered a little while back. Oh, that thing is something else. I have several Shot/sand bags. They are for sale for about $25. They are made with a medium/large grain, have a suede leather exterior and are stitched okay, when compared to this new one from Potter USA. I use my existing shot/sand bag under my bench blocks when hammering on my bench blocks. It is great for dampening the sound and padding things a bit.
But the bag from Potter USA is a real treat to have. Even if you did nothing more than just look at it, sigh, it is a piece of art! I thought about building a wire holder and hanging it on my wall, and I still just might do that. It will give me a unique way of storing it at any rate. The video is uploading to YouTube right this very minute. I will make another post tomorrow to talk a little more about it.
Kevin Potter has been hard at work making a lot of new tools. I am very excited with what he is coming out with. Dave Arens, the maker of the Koil Kutter has retired from making the product and has asked Potter USA to take over production of the tool. Kevin, being the smarty pants that he is, has made the tool even better than it was, if you can imagine that. I will be making a video of how to assemble and use that over the next couple of weeks. There is a new set of chasing tools on the production line, new stakes, even a new jewelers saw (Squeals of delight.) So keep watching for some new tool reviews and videos soon.
I have also finished going through a lot of my tools and supplies. I will be listing the items I have in stock that are for sale on my website soon. I hope to have those posted this next week (my baby sitter returns home this weekend.)
So, until tomorrow, Good night.
Tool Order and JINX
Well, I must have jinxed it. LOL. We are not moving in 4 weeks after all. It looks like I have closer to 12. So we are still moving, but now I can breathe and relax and not have to do it all so quickly. Of course that would all come about after I have already booked my trip to Vancouver in 3 weeks to do some house hunting. Oh well, guess I will just go and get to know the area a little bit more. Perhaps a February move will have more mild weather than Christmas? Fingers are crossed.
If you have sent me an email in the past couple of days asking about tools and such, chances are, I have it and just haven't been able to get back to you just quite yet. Things have been busy, especially with the changing schedule and figuring everything out. I am sorry and I will be in touch. Since I am not going as soon as I thought I was this also gives me a little bit more time for this order. I will still be placing it this next week. I was hoping to have it done today, but other things have come up that I had to take care of first. Not only that, but there have been a lot of questions about Tube setting tools and such. So I thought I would take a bit of time to answer them for you now.
I have had a lot of questions about which burs and sizes to buy when it comes to tube setting stones. Here are the tools I use every time I create my tube settings from scratch (or at least from a premade length of tube.)
The stones I tube set are typically 3, 4, 5 & 6mm. So here is what I use:
I am trying to work on a locket project using the hydrualic press. I am trying to figure out how long to make it, but for now, I think it will be a Saturday class that is about 5 hours long. If you are interested in this, please let me know.
Beadtini Boutique
Wire Angel
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday, December 1, 2011
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Spinner Ring
Saturday, December 17, 2011
10:30 am - 1:30 pm
If you have sent me an email in the past couple of days asking about tools and such, chances are, I have it and just haven't been able to get back to you just quite yet. Things have been busy, especially with the changing schedule and figuring everything out. I am sorry and I will be in touch. Since I am not going as soon as I thought I was this also gives me a little bit more time for this order. I will still be placing it this next week. I was hoping to have it done today, but other things have come up that I had to take care of first. Not only that, but there have been a lot of questions about Tube setting tools and such. So I thought I would take a bit of time to answer them for you now.
I have had a lot of questions about which burs and sizes to buy when it comes to tube setting stones. Here are the tools I use every time I create my tube settings from scratch (or at least from a premade length of tube.)
- Thick walled Tube (outer diameter is .5mm larger than the stone I am using. The wall thickness is approximately .5+mm)
- Tube Cutting Jig (I currently have 2 in stock - $35.00)
- Jewelers saw & Blades
- Miter Cutting Vise (I have 2 in stock - $60.00)
- Files (flat, cuts 2 & 4)
- Burs (Setting and round)
- Calipers (Digital - I got mine at Harbor Freight)
Choosing the Right Bur
So how do you know which bur to use? You want to use a bur that is just slightly smaller than the diameter of your stone. For instance, if I have a 6mm stone that I am going to set, I would start with a 5.9mm round/ball bur to get the depth of the tube close to where I want it to be. Then I would switch to a 5.9mm setting bur to complete the setting.The stones I tube set are typically 3, 4, 5 & 6mm. So here is what I use:
- 3mm stone
- 3.5mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 100452)
- 2.9mm Round ball bur ($3.40)
- 2.9mm Setting bur ($4.05)
- 4mm Stone
- 4.5mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 400427)
- 3.8mm Round ball bur (4.05)
- 3.8 Setting bur ($4.85)
- 5mm Stone
- 5.5mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 100429)
- 4.70mm Round Ball Bur ($4.75)
- 4.70mm Setting Bur ($5.35)
- 6mm Stone
- 6.5 mm outer diameter heavy walled tube (Rio 400431)
- 5.90mm Round Ball Bur ($4.75)
- 5.9mm Setting Bur ($5.35)
Upcoming Classes
I am still working on my schedule, but if you have a day that works for you and you would like to take a class, just drop me a line and let's work something out.I am trying to work on a locket project using the hydrualic press. I am trying to figure out how long to make it, but for now, I think it will be a Saturday class that is about 5 hours long. If you are interested in this, please let me know.
Beadtini Boutique
Beadtini Boutique is located in Sawmill Run at
1245 South Cleveland Massillon Road, Copley OH 44321
To Register for classes at this location please call:330-668-4717
Wire Angel
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday, December 1, 2011
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Spinner Ring
Saturday, December 17, 2011
10:30 am - 1:30 pm
MOVING!!! This time, I think, for real.
Well, the contract hasn't been signed, so I hope I am not jinxing things, but he has given notice here in Ohio and the preparations have begun. Dallas is out and I am sad about that, particularly now that the cold weather has settled in and this moves involves my family traveling on I-80 during Christmas Break. That is something I said I would NEVER do again. It is not fun and this time, I will be towing a trailer full of my equipment behind me. YIKES! So prayers for good weather and roads that week would be greatly appreciated.
So where are we going? Well, we are headed way out WEST. We are moving to Vancouver, Washington, just outside of Portland, Oregon. I must say, I think this will be a better fit for me. I was really worried about being in nothing but heat with no mountain or lush landscaping in sight. Our goal is to save every penny we can and buy a place up in the mountains and build my dream home and studio. And the best part of that is, my hubby will still only have about a 30 minute commute. To some people that may be a long time, but it is shorter than he has now, and it is much better than our hour minimum we had when living in the DC area. And if I can live in the landscape I dream of, it will be worth it. I just hope students will feel it is worth it for the drive up to my studio for classes.
I am not sure what I am going to do about classes and making jewelry over the next year while we rent. We aren't finding any homes that have the space necessary for a studio set up. There are a couple, but the rent is so high that we have decided it is better to save that money and use it as a down payment for my dream studio... er, I mean home. The next couple of weeks, I figured I would document a little bit about packing up the studio. If anyone has some great ideas they would like to share with me, I would greatly appreciate it. Everything in my studio here is NEW, well, not new, but I didn't have it before we bought this house. So I haven't ever had to move a studio like mine before. It really is daunting. My husband and I stood in the studio last night and we are both a bit horrified at the task sitting before us. Yes, I have a tool problem. So sad.
Last week I mentioned that i am going to be placing a couple of tool orders. I was hoping to place it tomorrow, but I think it will be more like on Friday (No later than Friday.) This is a great time to get your Christmas Lists out and let me help you get some fun stuff for your studio. I will also be selling some of the tools and equipment from my studio. No, you cannot have my rolling mill, bench shear, hydraulic press, or sand blaster. You can order a hydraulic press through me if you would like. Contact me for details if you are interested.
I figured I would share some of the tools that are being ordered by others. If we get enough of them, I can usually get it for a little better price. I am listing the retail price here on my blog. Depending on the item, I can usually save you about 10% and sometimes 15% or 20%.
When I first saw this dapping set, I was really hesitant to get it. I have a set that "looks" like this that I purchased from Harbor Freight. Well, my HF set is wonky and the punches are not all round. Some of them have a slight point to them. When I was first starting out, they served me well. It was $35 well spent. But these are closer to $70 and I was a bit gun shy. Then one of my students ordered one. I pulled it out when it arrived and looked them over. I was totally impressed that the daps were all rounded beautifully. Now they aren't as nice as my Pepe set, but they are also about a 1/3 the cost. So this is a really great "middle of the road" tool. If I could fill my shop with nothing but Pepe tools, I would do it in a heartbeat, but since that doesn't fit my budget, this would be a great alternative.
Retail: $69.95
So where are we going? Well, we are headed way out WEST. We are moving to Vancouver, Washington, just outside of Portland, Oregon. I must say, I think this will be a better fit for me. I was really worried about being in nothing but heat with no mountain or lush landscaping in sight. Our goal is to save every penny we can and buy a place up in the mountains and build my dream home and studio. And the best part of that is, my hubby will still only have about a 30 minute commute. To some people that may be a long time, but it is shorter than he has now, and it is much better than our hour minimum we had when living in the DC area. And if I can live in the landscape I dream of, it will be worth it. I just hope students will feel it is worth it for the drive up to my studio for classes.
I am not sure what I am going to do about classes and making jewelry over the next year while we rent. We aren't finding any homes that have the space necessary for a studio set up. There are a couple, but the rent is so high that we have decided it is better to save that money and use it as a down payment for my dream studio... er, I mean home. The next couple of weeks, I figured I would document a little bit about packing up the studio. If anyone has some great ideas they would like to share with me, I would greatly appreciate it. Everything in my studio here is NEW, well, not new, but I didn't have it before we bought this house. So I haven't ever had to move a studio like mine before. It really is daunting. My husband and I stood in the studio last night and we are both a bit horrified at the task sitting before us. Yes, I have a tool problem. So sad.
Last week I mentioned that i am going to be placing a couple of tool orders. I was hoping to place it tomorrow, but I think it will be more like on Friday (No later than Friday.) This is a great time to get your Christmas Lists out and let me help you get some fun stuff for your studio. I will also be selling some of the tools and equipment from my studio. No, you cannot have my rolling mill, bench shear, hydraulic press, or sand blaster. You can order a hydraulic press through me if you would like. Contact me for details if you are interested.
I figured I would share some of the tools that are being ordered by others. If we get enough of them, I can usually get it for a little better price. I am listing the retail price here on my blog. Depending on the item, I can usually save you about 10% and sometimes 15% or 20%.
When I first saw this dapping set, I was really hesitant to get it. I have a set that "looks" like this that I purchased from Harbor Freight. Well, my HF set is wonky and the punches are not all round. Some of them have a slight point to them. When I was first starting out, they served me well. It was $35 well spent. But these are closer to $70 and I was a bit gun shy. Then one of my students ordered one. I pulled it out when it arrived and looked them over. I was totally impressed that the daps were all rounded beautifully. Now they aren't as nice as my Pepe set, but they are also about a 1/3 the cost. So this is a really great "middle of the road" tool. If I could fill my shop with nothing but Pepe tools, I would do it in a heartbeat, but since that doesn't fit my budget, this would be a great alternative.
Retail: $69.95