Pretty Pretty Bang Bang

I admit I’m a little spoiled since I live with a man who can fix almost anything technical. I take for granted the fact that my computer works well and has updated software, my television remotes talk to each other and my iPhone has a remote that controls my stereo. All of this is thanks to the amazing mind of my husband, Steve. All of his knowledge means that I tend to take for granted that he can figure out anything technical and don’t get overly impressed. Yesterday, he impressed the heck out of me and reminded me that his mind works on a different level than most people I know.

I arrived at work and started planning my day which included updates on our website. When I got on the Internet my homepage, which is our website, would not load. I tried another program. Nope, nothing. I sent an email to the company who designed and hosts our website copying the error message I’d received. In the meantime, I tried other webpages to check if it was a problem with the Internet in general or our website. Since other pages worked, I knew the problem was unique to our page.

An hour or so later, the owner of the company, Barron (yep, that’s his real name) called me to help me solve the problem. We went through a series of checks and restarted the computer  but couldn’t get the page to load. We tried to access it on another computer and it was fine so the problem was specific to my computer. I told him I’d call our regular IT guy, since I knew Steve was having a busy day, and see if he could help. Unfortunately, I left two messages with him and never heard back. Apparently he was having a busy day too.

Last night Steve wanted to go look at glasses so we headed to the mall after dinner. On the way, I began telling him about my website problem. I started at the very beginning by telling Steve I’d received an email last week from Barron letting me know our website was being moved to a new, more secure server and I would have to login to my email on Monday with my username and password. Before I could continue Steve said, “Let me guess. Your computer didn’t ask for your username and password.” I was stunned. He was right and when I told him he informed me that he knew exactly what the problem was and that he could walk me through it over the phone on Thursday when I work again.

I was really impressed. I’d spent most of my day, off and on, working with Barron and trying to get a hold of the other computer guy and no one could figure out what was wrong. I start telling Steve the story and he’s figured out the problem before I can even finish! I’m amazed at his knowledge and am constantly surprised at how quickly he can figure out things. I’m so glad I married him. I mean, I love him and all, but the tech support is a great added bonus!

One thing about reaching the age of 40-ish is that keeping up with the trends becomes tricky. On one hand, I like knowing what’s in style and working trends into my classic pieces. On the other hand, I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard. That can age a person in no time flat! Editing is what it’s all about when it comes to dressing well at any age.

Today I stopped at Sam’s on my way home from the gym. I was a sweaty mess, but didn’t care because, well, it’s Sam’s and I was on a shopping mission. It was 8:30 am so the store wasn’t crowded and I doubt anyone noticed me. I got in line beside a women who looked like she was well into her 50s. She was overly tanned, but attractive. What struck me was not her tan or her age, it was her outfit. The entire thing, head to toe, was from Banana Republic, a store I frequent and love. Well, you might be thinking, an outfit from BR seems appropriate, yet somehow she came off as trying too hard. The plaid boyfriend shirt paired with the ripped boyfriend jeans and platform woven sandals looked, well, odd. Perhaps it was that she was too perfectly groomed or her outfit seemed like something off a mannequin. Whatever it was, it screamed fashion victim and made her look older. Ok, the tan really made her look older, but the outfit was what caught my eye. I’m against tanning in case you didn’t realize it by now!

I own the Banana Republic boyfriend jeans she was wearing and I tried on the same shoes and didn’t think they were inappropriate for me or my age. Perhaps I’m kidding myself, but I’m thinking the real problem with her outfit was the way it was assembled. I think the jeans would have looked better with some ballet flats or low-top Converse tennis shoes. Or maybe the shoes could have been worn with the same shirt and some dark skinny jeans. Whatever it case, it made me wonder if I’m kidding myself when I run around wearing my t-shirts and Converse sneakers. Nah, I’m not tan!

On Wednesday I received an email from Valerie asking if I was interested in having a garage sale. Having vowed in the past never to have another one, I naturally said yes. Thus began an avalanche of weekend projects for Steve and I.

Saturday Steve wanted to spend some time working and getting organized for the upcoming week and I had afternoon plans with Valerie so I knew we couldn’t accomplish much. I did manage to organize the attic, push bins of garage sale crap to the opening so we could put it in the garage and get three loads of laundry done before I left the house. Steve had plenty of time to organize his week and promised we’d work together in the garage on Sunday.

Today we spent some time drinking our coffee and enjoying the paper before getting started. The only thing I needed to accomplish inside was vacuuming but I didn’t want to do that until we were done traipsing in and out of the garage. I suggested we set up a card table and start putting garage sale crap in our empty plastic bins. We would tackle pricing and cleaning later. We started at one end of the garage and organized one section at a time. Steve and I both are easily distracted during projects so we really tried to keep each other focused on the area we were cleaning. Halfway through we took a break to take things inside we wanted out of the garage and to have lunch. Once inside, we stayed focused on putting away the things we’d brought in before heading back out. The last thing I wanted was a clean garage and a messy house. We did take a little time to arrange my children’s books in the loft and create a lovely reading space for my favorite nieces. I now have my beloved Little House On The Prairie books, my Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew books and my Charlie Brown dictionary set on the shelves. I even have a small table and lamp which makes it a perfect reading spot.

Here’s the other side with the twin mattress providing a nice place to lounge.

Once the loft was organized and arranged it was time for us to go back to the garage. That didn’t last long as Steve got a call from work (and is currently back on the phone with them) so I continued cleaning his workbench. Normally I would never mess with his work space, but he hasn’t really set it up yet so it’s become a dumping ground for assorted crap. I put things in piles so he could sift thought them once he was done with his call. In no time we had the workbench clean, the shelves re-organized and all the garage sale stuff boxed and stored until the sale (May 7-8 at Valerie’s).

I’m finishing the vacuuming and Steve’s back on the phone with work. Once that’s done and I’ve had a shower I think we both deserve a beer.

Project number four is done for class and ready for tomorrow’s critique. The assignment was to create a ring that had a moving part (or two, or three depending on the design). My last project had two moving parts so I joked with Sarah that I’d already completed this assignment. Of course I knew she’d just tell me to create something more intricate than the last piece but that just didn’t seem possible to me. Besides, I was mentally exhausted and wanted a break but, being the overachiever I am, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

My first idea was to cast those plastic telephone keychain parts from the 70s. Remember the Trimline models that had a handpiece separate from the base? I found some on eBay and planned to cast them to create a telephone ring. Then I thought about a piece that incorporated pinwheels that moved when the wearer blew across the ring. Both sounded fun, but I just couldn’t wrap my brain around them to make something I was excited about. I thought about what Sarah had told us at the beginning of class, when she created the syllabus, that she wanted us to have a cohesive collection of rings at the end of the semester. Many of my pieces had tube set stones in them so I decided to continue that look. My idea was a ring that had a line of tube set stones across the top that slid from side to side. I made a sample and it was a complete disaster but I knew where I’d made mistakes so I could easily correct them. I took the sample to class where one of the students, Sammie, suggested I set stones on either side of the tube and give them enough room to twirl around thus creating movement from side to side and around the bar. Good idea even if it meant more work. I decided on faux garnets and Cubic Zarconias for the stones to give it some interest and contrast.

I went home determined to carefully measure all my parts to insure this ring would be a success. I filed my tubes perfectly straight. I used both digital and manual calipers to measure my pieces and mark my holes. I cut the seats for my stones and they fit perfectly. I was feeling really good about things. I put the ring together, soldered the bar that held the tubes in place and cleaned up the entire ring to prepare it for the stones. Then I set the first stone. Hmm, it wasn’t setting right. Guess who forgot to measure the depth of the stone? Dammit! Well, there was no turning back since I had no room to raise the bar so I had to make it work. To the untrained eye, it looks good. To me, and anyone who’s ever set a stone, it’s a mess. But I’m pleased with the outcome anyway.

Here’s the finished product:

The ring fits my middle finger and measures about 2″ wide. It’s comfortable to wear but a little thick. If I made another one I think I’d curve in the sides to better fit my fingers. And I’d certainly measure the depth of my stones!

This morning, as Steve and I were enjoying our coffee, Steve commented Home Depot had vegetable and herb plants buy one get one free. We’d been talking about a vegetable garden for several years now but hadn’t taken the time to actually get one planted so this year we decided would be the year we’d really do it. Yesterday, Burl was kind enough to deliver the tiller so we could work on the south section of our yard and till a garden. When we moved in, I dubbed the area “Stonehenge” because of a weird stone bench that was built/constructed/left by previous owners. I have now renamed it “Gardenhenge.”

I offered to help Steve outside even though yardwork isn’t one of my favorite things to do. Sundays are housecleaning days and I get really crabby if my floors don’t get cleaned. Plus, the kitchen was wrecked from cooking at home all weekend and I wanted to give it a deep cleaning. Still, I was interested in helping with the garden so I gamely went outside to work. We decided to switch off between tilling and ripping up the weed barrier on the berm still in the front yard. We planned to use the dirt from the berm in the garden, but removing the barrier proved to be more challenging than we though. We got about 1/4 of it done. Luckily we didn’t need the extra dirt and can chip away at the berm over the next couple of weeks. I want the darned thing gone!

I used the tiller for the first time and while it wasn’t a complete thrill to use, I didn’t mind doing it. Things would have been better if I’d had better gardening gloves. Unfortunately, I lost one of my good ones last year so I think I’ll have to invest in a new pair. The suede ones I have are stiff and the seams rub against my fingers. Anyway, I do love using a new tool, but think the power washer will be more fun when we re-stain the deck soon.

We bought four tomato plants, six different pepper plants, two basil, one dill and some lavender. We had just finished planting everything and were quite pleased with ourselves when the neighbors stopped by and informed us it was too early to plant tomatoes. Well, hell. Why would they be for sale if I couldn’t plant them?! We figured we’d cover them at night when it gets chilly and keep an eye on them. I told Steve they were either going to be planted here at our house or risk dying on a pallet at Home Depot so it was a crap shoot (or crop shoot) no matter what.

So we’ve planted our first garden and hope for a success. I figure with enough water, sunlight and covering at night we just might succeed. If all goes really well, we’ll need someone to volunteer to take the extras. Maybe we should start our own vegetable trade. Anything good started in your garden?

I love having friends who look out for me! Normally, I’m the one people call when they’re in need of shopping advice, but every so often I hear from someone who saw something and thought of me. Today I opened my email to find a message from my friend Miriam who had found a cool chair on Craig’s List. Miriam has very similar taste to mine when it comes to furniture so naturally I was intrigued by her email. We’re both in love with mid-century modern designs and both of us aspire to own Bertoia chairs. Steve and I have often said the next chair we’d buy would be an Eames chair and ottoman. You know, the classic black leather chair and ottoman with chrome legs and bent plywood frame. It’s still manufactured by the Herman Miller Company and can be bought new – for about $4,000. Yep, it’s out of our price range. Finding an original vintage one is pretty much out of the question unless we’re willing to sacrifice condition or take out a loan against our house. I found one online for a mere $7,000. Why should I have a chair worth more than my car?

Fortunately, there are knock-offs to be had. Unfortunately, most are pretty crappy chairs or are also in bad condition. Being a bit of a vintage snob I want an original. Being practical, I understand this probably isn’t possible. This morning, Miriam sent me a link to a new Craig’s List listing for an Eames wannabe chair and ottoman. I liked what I saw and liked the price so I gave the seller a call. She was really nice and said we could come out and see it right then. On the way to her house I thought to myself that it would be funny if I knew her. She had given me her name and I didn’t recall anyone named Natalie, but the thought still crossed my mind. I laughed when she opened the door. We’d worked together years before at PBS and I always knew her as Nat. She said she’d wondered, when we hung up, if she knew me. Naturally, she bargained with us and we got a good deal.

Now we’re home, the chair is in its place in the living room and we’re really pleased with the results. The old red leather chair is on Craig’s List and I’m hoping to sell it soon. With any luck, we’ll break even!

If you’re a regular reader of this blog you might remember a past post of how I was struggling with my latest ring project, an Identity Ring. The assignment was to create a ring symbolizing who I am. Ugh. I couldn’t think of anything interesting. I know a big part of my identity is my sense of humor so I wanted to capture that in the ring. Things that make me smile or laugh are important in my life. As I thought about who I was (no small feat, try it sometime) I realized that along with humor and my adoration for all things vintage, was my love of music. My parents introduced me to music at a very early age. I think I received my first records player (a real one) at the age of five. My dad played the guitar and I played the piano and sang all through high school and college. Music is important so it was only natural to incorporate that in a ring.

Once I’d established the traits of humor, vintage and music, the design came easily – a tiny record player. The first step was finding a clear piece for the top. My initial idea was something domed, but I soon realized that would not only make the ring huge, but was impossible to find. I was just about to give up when I found exactly what I needed in my own studio. Years ago I’d bought a stacking pillbox set at the Container Store. The lid on the top was perfect. Once I had that piece in place, the design started coming together.

Because the ring had to include enamel, I decided to enamel a tiny record and a speaker front. Slowly the design began taking shape, but it wasn’t without its problems. First, I wrecked the original turntable top. I had misaligned the rim with the top when I soldered it at school and couldn’t get it corrected. So I made another one. Then, the enamel started giving me problems. Some enamels don’t work well when fired directly onto silver and orange/red is one of them. Of course, that was the color I wanted on the speaker. I fired that darned thing so many times I really thought I’d have to start over. It’s not perfect, but it looks good. Finally, there was the hinge. Hinges are tricky because they require precision in order to work correctly. When they are done on a flat surface, they are fairly easy to line up and solder. When they are done on a curved surface, it’s another story entirely. I did a sample and got it to work after three attempts. I felt pretty good about doing it on the real piece. That feeling didn’t last long. I made seven attempts before finally getting it to work. I slightly warped the top, but was able to correct that. As I was reshaping the bottom piece, one of the hinges (or knuckles as they’re called) fell off. Grrr. Two more solderings and it was on. All together I had nine attempts on the darned thing. And it’s not perfect, but it works and that’s good enough for me.

All I had left was final assembly and polishing. Once I had the whole piece together, the hinge in place and the enamel glued on I stepped back and took a look at my three week creation. I must say, I’m a little impressed with myself. It looks exactly like I envisioned it and that rarely happens in the art world. Let me know what you think!

Here’s a view of the ring on my finger with the lid closed. It’s held closed by tiny magnets (1mm in size):

Here’s what it looks like with the lid open. The arm of the turntable actually moves:

Of course, the record can be changed:

Here’s a view from the side. I deliberately made it so it could stand on its own and be a sculpture:

When I was growing up, my mom referred to infrequent church goers as “C & Es” meaning they only attended church at Christmas and Easter. Now I’m one of them. I didn’t plan it that way, and I consider myself a spiritual person, but attending church has never completely appealed to me.

As a teenager, I was very involved in a local Presbyterian church youth group and really enjoyed it. I even attended the classes required for church membership and became a member of the church. When I got to college, I never attended church because I was too busy with my social life. Ok, I was probably hungover on Sunday morning but don’t tell my mom! Anyway, shortly after graduating from college I dated a guy who had grown up attending church regularly so I started going with him to a Baptist church. After the relationship ended, I kept going, was baptized and joined the church. I enjoyed it and looked forward to Sunday mornings.

Then I got married (the first time) and we didn’t go. His family was Methodist and he wasn’t a church goer so I slacked off. When Steve and I got married we didn’t attend either, at first, but became involved in a small Baptist church several years into our marriage and eventually joined. Then, like many churches, the congregation split, friends left and we weren’t happy with the minister so we quit going.

It’s not that I don’t believe in God or hate anything spiritual. I pray and have a deep faith, but I just don’t show up at a church on Sunday. Truth be told, I don’t like many organized religious ceremonies. I don’t want to be entertained by a band, read Powerpoint presentations or get involved in church politics. I’m oddly old-fashioned about my religion. Give me a solid hymnal and a good minister and I’m pretty happy. I want to think while I’m there. I want to learn more about myself and how I should live my life. And I don’t want to act like I’m someone I’m not.

So Sunday I’ll go to church with my mom and Burl and pray to hear something meaningful at the “Contemporary Service.” I’ll try not to roll my eyes as the band plays or look bored as the Powerpoint presentation is on the screen. I’m not a member, but a guest so I will act accordingly. That’s how my mom taught me and her word is about as close to the Gospel as you can get!

Several months ago my good friend (and fellow metalsmith) Sarah and I were talking about how we needed a group of other metalsmiths to bounce ideas off of. We wanted people whose work we respected and who were a good fit to the two of us. The first person I thought of was Nena Potts, a local jeweler and all around fun person. Sarah suggested Carolyn Ruff, another local jeweler and great person as well. Sarah and I, as the founding members of the group, decided four people were enough because, well, we had the best of the best in our opinion. Nena hosted the first meeting (and by meeting I mean happy hour) and a new tradition was formed.

Last night was my turn to host and, as usual, the group didn’t disappoint. Nena has been struggling with show rejection, a large show piece she’s been working on and basic creative roadblocks. Boy, I can relate. She took out her showpiece so we could begin oohing and ahhing over it and, as luck would have it, she dropped it. Only a foot, but far enough to chip off a piece of enamel. We all felt her pain. A chorus of curse words from all of us went up and more wine was poured. Bummer, Nena! Sarah, being the professional enamelist of the group, assured her it was fixable even though she’d glued in the top. Still, a sad moment.

Sarah and Carolyn didn’t bring anything new to show and it was apparent that all of us were having a little creative difficulties as of late. I showed the pieces of my next ring design and everyone seemed to really like it. Basically, the whole concept of the group is to get together, drink some wine and chat about geeky metal stuff that no one seems to want to hear. We discussed how the economy has affected us and what shows we were planning to do or apply for over the next year.

Next meeting is in Nena’s studio and we’re planning to bring our show photos for a group critique. Since Nena and Carolyn have done the show circuit for so many years, I’m excited to get some feedback from them regarding the shots I submit. I’m so glad to have these great women in my life!

Ahh, Spring. I love waking up and hearing the birds chirping. It’s so nice to have a break from the cold, grey days of winter. Naturally, most of the sun shines during the week and the weekends are cloudy and rainy, but I still love the warmer weather and watching all the trees bloom. I have spent some time thinking about what to plant in the garden this year but most of my creative energy has been focused on my wardrobe.

Let’s face it, I don’t need a thing. I have plenty of clothes and most of them are worn very rarely. Still, I like to plan what I think I need to fill the gaps. This year, my purchase plans include a new purse, white jeans (can’t alter the old ones) and possibly a dress for a wedding. I bought a gorgeous robin’s egg blue linen sheath last year but I’m not sure if it’s going to fit. I’ll try to get it altered because I’d really like to wear it, but if that doesn’t work out I guess I’ll have to go shopping. I’d also add to this list a pair of nude sandals. I’m thinking something in a bootie with lots of straps and maybe some funky hardware. I’ll know them when I see them.

I’ve started the closet purge and am shocked and a bit appalled at the amount of clothes I want to get rid of. Over the last year or so I’ve tried to shop smarter, and I think I am succeeding, but I still have too many pieces that I never should have bought in the first place. I’m hunting for a good resale shop to sell them to but haven’t found what I think is the right place. The funny thing is that I’m always a bit reluctant to get rid of things because it seems like I always want them back as soon as I sell them. Still, I don’t have the space and I’d rather have fewer great pieces than a closet full of ok pieces. Stacy London would be so proud!

What’s on your spring wardrobe list? What can you not live without? I’d say my skinny jeans and Converse tennis shoes are at the top of my list. I also like well-fitting t-shirts and funky sandals.