Category Archives: Life

A close up of a bench pin….

“Oh Tigger, where are your manners?”
I don’t know, but I bet they’re having more fun than I am.”
— A.A. Milne

The Intergem gem show came to Seattle a while back; and I thought I’d share some pictures of my new raw materials. On Jasper: Jasper & Agates have to be my favorite stones. Give me a nice cut of Condor Agate over whatever precious gem is in vogue any day. Tell any child who’s just found an agate on the beach that it isn’t as incredible & precious as a diamond. Jasper has so many faces it can fit any style of jewelry. Some of my favorites look like landscapes, or waves. I have one piece I haven’t set that looks like a sailboat in a storm as Chris Van Allsburg would imagine it. I read The Wretched Stone at a very young age & it’s stayed with me. Then there’s ocean jasper. It’s just cute.

I already have sketches laid out for the tiny green square that looks like an owl peering out at you. When we’re back from vaction {I will be blogging from MN for the next two weeks, because it turns out you can still stalk Etsy when out-of-state} the plan will be to set up a soldering area so I can start working properly again! I have an acetylene tank and torch tips and everything, and wooooow is that a nervous feeling, no matter how comfortable you might be with those things before you bring them into your house. {*Update: sold the acetylene tank & setup, bought myself a mini torch. Same level of heat, much finer control.}

I’ve done a lot of research, taken a number of soldering classes at the studio, & I’ve been working on my own there for three months or so, & I’m not too worried. It just takes practice. I’m looking at some welding tables with steel backs, just little 12″ x 12″ things; but I’ve also seen people who have set up a soldering station on a wooden Ikea shelf nailed into a wall! I know I need a tripod, mesh screen, asbestos-free board, I have tweezers, flux & solder…and I need to find a tiny yet functional crockpot for pickle…thank goodness for Goodwill & their endless supply of barely used crockpots.

I have a nagging feeling that I need a flex shaft.

I have a new favorite supplier on Etsy; she merits a mention here, for anyone wanting to pick up some pieces of their own…or for me! {I know, it’s not all about me…sigh.} I do really try to pass on the love when someone really wows me in the customer service department; this woman was exceptional.

Oh, and go listen to “Television” by Peggy Sue & The Pirates. It’s so cute!

♥ Momo