ponder press – Page 9 – custom keycaps, jewelry and crafts handmade in Seattle

Long time coming

Wow! How is it that I haven’t posted anything in so long? Could it be the back-to-back work trips that took me to Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal, New Hampshire and Vermont? Indeed, I think that’s the reason.

On the trips I came close to finishing a shawl, worked on Morgan’s socks and read two books. (I loved both The Book that Matters Most and Dumplin’. Both had something that I needed, and I can’t say that it’s only coincidence that I read them when I did. I love how books often reach you when you need them most.

I’ve been home for a week now, and I’ve been able to get quite a few things done. (Including some gardening and work on a birthday present.)

To help get myself focused, I set out everything that I’d like to finish in time for the market. I’ve made a decent dent, but there’s still so much to do.

(Before you get the picture parade, I will start by saying that I know I need more process photos. At this time of year, at the heart of market prep, it’s hard to slow down and take photos. I mostly just want to get things made!)

All of these pieces are waiting for some bead embroidery. I really want to tackle the yellow and black piece of resin, even though I’m not sure that it would be a big hit. I know, I should start with the lucite.

These three pieces used to be wire wrapped together. And then … some Mickey Mouse comments prompted me disassemble them and turn them into a pendant and earrings.

I turned this “Mickey Mouse” head upside down and think that this look, with wire-wrapped crystals joining sections of chain, is pretty good.

I’d socked away these purplish beads and when I unearthed them, I know that I needed to stamp on the big one. I kind of love it. The owl is pretty great, imho.

After the class I took on coloring metal, I was inspired to do these piece. The pink-and-blue one says “Love.” I did another Love piece with a backwards “e.” Oh Stephanie … I may have to wear it myself.

These are the three wood-burned discs that I colored in. I covered both sides of each pendant with resin.The one on the bottom right is the backside with some pebeo paint. It’s pretty cool. I’d love to dangle some crystals, but that would make it a little uncomfortable, if someone wanted to wear the other side facing out.

These three are made from either paper clay or polymer clay. That reminds me, I’m taking an image-transfer-on-polymer-clay class in two weeks. Yahoo!!!

Another polymer clay piece, painted with crackle paint and acrylics. I love all of those fire-polished beads. That is the Stephanie color palette. No other colors need apply.

I can’t jury for journals until the second Saturday of May, so I have a little extra time to finish the journals I’d like to make. Remember the image transfer journal cover that didn’t work out? I just pasted some scrapbook paper over those eyesores and here’s how the outside will look on both sides. I love it! I added some sparkly embossing powder, which doesn’t really show up in this photo. Guess you’ll have to pop by the Redmond Saturday Market and check it out in person.

Journal cover. I think I need to move away from underwater themes soon.

OK, it’s time to pack up some projects to take the East Side. It’s Easter and my brother’s birthday. We’ve got a double celebration in the works!

It must be true, I saw it in a dream

Some collaged grungeboard that needs to be sprayed with a fixative (just waiting for some non-rainy weather) and then made into a journal.

The other night I dreamed that I was back in Muncie, Indiana, finishing—I believe—my journalism degree. Graduation was looming, and I discovered some jewelry-making classes. The first one I was going to take was something like “working with big beads.” We had to pick out several big “beads,” which weren’t really beads as much as trinkets and what not. Once I saw the bottles of nail polish, I knew that we were going to change the appearance of those items and turn them into “beads.” I wanted to go back and get a small plastic chicken leg that I’d seen, but the instructor (a woman who taught PR classes in the Journalism Dept. at Ball State University when I was there in the late ’90s) had packed them all up.

I was so excited about this class and the whole series of classes/jewelry program. People were hassling me because I hadn’t signed up for the fall semester, but I told them that I’d only just found out about the program. I needed to jump into class, but I could hardly wait to get online and see what other classes were offered.

And then I woke up. At 4 a.m. I started looking into classes at Pratt and Danaca Studios. I found an image transfer on polymer clay class I want to take. And, I’m tempted by a master class in working with metals. I’ve done a little of that, but I just don’t trust most of my metal skills.

There’s much to think about these days. The best time for that is when I get in my creative zone. If only I could pinpoint when I’m most apt to get answers. At least the dream, I think, was getting me to think about things in new ways. Paint a plastic chicken leg? Why not?! I’ve used the stamp that says “It must be true; I saw it in a dream” twice this week. Maybe my stamps are affecting my dreams.

And the real kicker is that when I got to work (in real life), my badge had given up the ghost and wouldn’t let me in to the building.

On a note of thing rooted in reality, I tried two image transfers onto painted backgrounds. On, those remaining bits of paper out to get me. Grrr …

Maybe these two will become journal covers. Maybe not. It all depends on my battle with paper fibers.

Image transfer onto painted grungeboard. How those little bits of paper vex me!

Look how much lovelier this guy is when he’s a little damp and those fibers are out of sight.

Another image transfer on a painted background. Again, still so many fibers to remove.

Looking better — at least until it’s dry.

Here’s a quick glimpse at the rest of my creative week.

One of the two elephant journal covers. I think they’re ready for assembly. Now to get the signatures ready. I think the “cover” of each signature needs to be a sheet of colorful paper.

Various colored or enameled circles. The earrings are complete. I need to figure out and finish the pendants.

One of my next beaded bezel projects. It’s not sparkly, but I do think it will be lovely when it’s done.

Two two pieces will be turned into earrings. I’m really excited to make these happen.

Lastly, before getting out of bed this morning I began to wonder how easy it would be to bead on craft felt. I know it’s floppy, but an embroidery hoop might just do the trick. I have some fun printed sheets (why??) and think that the colors and prints could look great with beads. I suppose I’d better go and find out.

It’s nothing some new art supplies can’t fix

I took Monday off for some crafting time, and it was very much what I needed.

I broke out my wood-burning tool, glitter acrylic medium, beads and more. Monday opened the door to wanting to create, and that feels good.

These wooden circles have been sitting around for ages. So, I took some stencils, traced some images and got to burning. I’m not a master, but it is fun.

I used iridescent gelatos as water color. Very fun and relaxing. I do need to do something with the back sides and then seal them before they will be featured as pendants.

Mostly I’m trying to use up some of my inspirational bits and bobs. There’s no sense starting from scratch.

Here’s a quick visual journey of the rest of my week.

Here are a few of the earrings that I colored/painted/glittered up and embellished with crystals. These are four of the more than a dozen pairs I completed.

Here are a variety of pieces that needed to be strung, fixed with resin, beaded around, altered or assembled.

The top right two pieces will likely go to mom. I feel like I did very little to construct them and just can imagine selling them. The open circle on the bottom right is made from glitter, resin and dried flower petals from the roses I got when Slinky passed away. (sigh …)

While I was fixing a few pieces with resin, I finished a few more that incorporate foil, glitter and dried flowers. Oh! I bought a primrose yesterday and already have petals tucked away in a book. I also bought some seeds to plant that I will grow, then pick, then smash, then turn into jewelry. I’m ready to get that ball rolling.

Lastly, here are the journal covers I showed last week. I have a hope they’re salvageable. I have some ideas, but that’s what I said seven days ago. If they’re notsalvageable, that’s why the art gods gave us gesso!

Work and taxes

I don’t have much to show for this week. Taxes and work stuff ate up a lot of my evening time. That’s OK. I finished one sock for Mirgan. I worked on a birthday gift. And, and fixed some jewelry for me. (Luckily, it wasn’t something that I’d made that needed to be repaired!) And, best of all, I’m taking Monday off as a craft day. I need it!!

Another non-productive thing I did this week was read a chunk of a journal from ’94 into ’95 that made me appreciate time and maturity. Being in my 20s was fun, but also foolish and self-indulgent. I’m left to wonder if I just had a lot more energy, or if the unknown of what lay beyond library school was enough to keep going and feeling unfettered and full of life and possibilities.

The offending Crayola stamp markers. Can you imagine anything worse than a puppy paw peace sign on your leg?

One of the highlights was the last page, decorated with Crayola stamp pens. I remember the night Jeff forbade me to stamp on his legs—I’d already stamped on mine. When he fell asleep, I made a puppy paw peace sign on his leg, with Asha as my accomplice. He was livid when he woke up. Come on, man! They were washable. There was no need for that kind of outburst. Maybe I was bratty, but I think that was the clearest sign that he and I were not meant to be together.

Now, some (cough) years later, I still love stamps, colors, markers, paper, journals (and puppy paws and peace signs and …). That love is evidenced by these journal- covers-to-be that I started weeks ago. They’ve languished on my kitchen counter until today. I know, I shouldn’t have covered the whole thing with napkin, but I did. And, it’s what I’ve got to work with.

Tissue paper over board. I love the elephant.

So, I took a stencil and added some color. My next step will be to go around the edges with some dark color—maybe one of the Tim Holtz oxide dyes that I’m eager to try. Then some shiny metallic paint, some gelatos used as water color, a hight of glitter and … they should be great. At least that’s how the finished product looks in my mind.

Step 2 is complete. I recognize that another many steps are to come.

Another recent experiment with paper happened around the time of the inauguration. I took some pages out of a pro-“Agent Orange” book and started by covering them with gesso. I realize now that I should have added a second coat *and* taped the pages down better. Anywho … This is what I came up with. I do kind of love the metallic foil dots! Neither is perfect, but (imho) it’s better to make something, anything, rather than nothing at all.

That needs to be covered up. STAT!

Thank you, gesso.

Seems like a relevant sentiment considering current events.

Do I think this is amazing? No? Am I glad I made it? Yes!

Playing with patinas

This week disappeared in a blur.

I took the day off on Friday, and Morgan and I hopped the ferry to Bainbridge for some breakfast and wandering around. It was what we needed.

Our view as we sailed away from Seattle. Despite the gray skies, it was actually a lovely day.

At the art museum’s gift shop Morgan tried to teach me the lesson of pricing my items correctly. I just don’t know that it stuck.

Last night a gallbladder attack impinged upon a good night’s sleep. So, I spent a good couple of hours watching videos about Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. I’m bummed that only parts of Tonya’s story were told back in 1994. I’m not making any comments on guilt or innocence, I only know that she had certain circumstances working against her that I didn’t hear about back then.

After less than four hours of sleep, I’m about as sleepy as a girl can be. I’m trying to keep moving, like a shark, to stay awake

Enough of that! Last night I turned the ankle on the first sock. I’ve reached the fast part and am for sure in the home stretch. Yahoo!

Earlier in the week I worked on two gray sheep. It’s fascinating how the bodies take on a life of their own no matter how I try to repeat a shape.

Dark gray sheep.

Light gray sheep body with 5 mm sequins. They are too small.

Yesterday I took a class on applied patinas. Liver of sulphur is fun, fun, fun, but I most enjoyed adding color. It’s always nice to have new uses for craft products that I already have. Iris blue might be my second favorite Gilder’s Paste color after German silver.

Liver of sulfur and a general metal pickle just waiting for us.

So many pieces to be textured and patinaed.

Copper and brass colored with alcohol inks, vintaj patinas and gilder’s paste. The oval in the middle on the left has a lovely heat patina. I’m afraid that it will disappear once I seal it.

While looking for the metal pieces I worked on in the heat patina class last year, I found these painted filigree pieces. These are what I call inspirational, not aspirational, clutter. I see them and am inspired to make something with them. I’m only kind of bummed that they’re all painted and not bare and ready for what I learned yesterday. On the other hand, that fact that they’re ready to be finished or incorporated into something means that I’m kind of ahead.

Filigree pieces that have been painted and glittered up. Most things really are better with glitter.

OK, time to keep on moving. I can feel my eyelids getting heavy. Maybe I should give in and take a little nap. Grr … I do not care for feeling this way.