Bag of tricks!

So I have my open studio tonight, which is bench time at the workshop where I can (hopefully) drill/solder/ polish all the little things I've cut at home.
Since my explanation of my home set up always leads to questions (Srsly! It's just a block of wood clamped to my bookshelf above a cake pan also clamped to my book shelf) I have included some photos of that as well.
Wish me luck tonight!!
Here are 12 things I have started at home displayed in the sanding tray my darling husband made me:



Here is the cutting block on the bookshelf:


Here is the cutting block with the drop pan:

Home set up!!!

I am now able to cut metal at home!!!
This is a huge break though for me as it means I can really use my bench time at the work shop well. I have me a saw, cutting block, files and sand paper which is all I really need to cut and shape things at home. It's all very exciting. I have several projects on the go that I will hopefully be able to finish completely on Friday. Also so excited to show my teacher all the stuff I've done independently. She is always so encouraging and supportive. Hopefully everything will turn out well. Still trying to wrap my head around actually making something to sell. so hard to attach a dollar value to all my hard work, especially as I like jewelry so much that I just want to keep it all! I know without a doubt now that this is what I want to do. It's just a matter of finding a way to make it work. Wish me luck, and hopefully I'll have good news after Friday!

Ring-Ring! ..hello who's there? It's a success! :)

Huzzah!
I set three stones!
It was so stressful, I wouldn't be surprised if it took years off my life! My teacher said she was proud of me! I also used the big scary buffer (It's not as scary as I thought) to make my ring super shinny.
It's not *perfect*.
In fact, I can tell you exactly where all the flaws are.....
But I won't ;)

When I grow up I want to be a Goldsmith!

For now I'll settle for amateur silver smith....
As the Internet has already probably told you, I've opened a jewelry store over on Etsy, and joined forces with Jen over at Pássaro Bobo.
What the Internet may not have told you is that I've successfully completed my level one Silversmith at the devil's work shop, and will be starting level two at the end of February!! (Huzzah, it's so exciting!)
The first course was a fabrications course, and it was mostly just filing and sanding and buffing. Ha ha no just joking, there was other stuff too.
By the end of it I have completed three pendants and one ring!


I don't actually have photo of the ring....should do something about that I guess.
Anyways, When I have finished level two I will be allowed to rent bench space there and make really pretty things to sell (which I fully intend to do!)

Back to work and a Beautiful Calendar!

Two things:

First: I'm back at work Huzzah!

Second: I'm selling a calendar Huzzah!


Okay so first things first, yesterday I went back to work for the first time since my life fell apart for a second time this year. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, it didn't exactly fall apart, it just changed dramatically. In fact My perspective has changed so much, the way I'm going back to work is completely different.
As much as my family is short on cash flow right now, (with me being off work for so long and for the second time this year and with Andrew in school, which is going really great btw) I've decided that it's not worth it to work the way I did before.
I made this decision not only because the closing shift is the hardest shift with the most work (physical and clerical) and I don't think I should always have to be the one to do it, but also because since I moved it now takes an hour to get home by bus. I don't get paid any differently for always closing so, why should I put up with it? Not fair. Plus it's far more work crammed into the short period after the doors are closed than can actually be done so I never actually get out the door at 9:30pm. Meaning the earliest I can possible ever get home is 10:30pm. Which is alright once and a while, but not everyday, especially when I have to be back there the next morning to receive shipment at 7am!!!
Since I've now said I'll only work up until 6pm on week days except one day (I'm not so unreasonable, so I gave a little there) , only one day on the weekend (so Saturday or Sunday, but not both) and I want two full days off from work every single week (As apposed to one full day off and two half days with only four hour shifts) I'm engaged in a bit of a battle of the wills. I guess time will tell if I will be accommodated, or if my boss will simply decide that she's going to knock me down to part time (which she can do since I've changed my availability). If she does, it will be time for either a second job, or a new job entirely. I suppose time will tell......

And now for the fun stuff!!
In early September I had just finished putting together a beautiful collection of butterfly photography in a calendar which is available from Lulu. Due to my my surgery and recovery and all the other badness that happened on September 10th, I never promoted it. Since there's no time like the present, I'd better get to it. Wanna buy a calendar?

FAQ'S

So Sarah, why did you decided to be a total sell out and put your beautiful fine art photography into a calendar format?

Well, aside from the fact that the slow economy means most people just don't have the kinda of disposable income required to purchase a large beautiful print and I'd really like my photography out there and up on people walls in any format, the real reason is my Dad. My darling Father (god rest his soul) was never the most supportive when it came to my artistic endeavours. He would always hem and haw about the investment required in making prints and framing, also he just couldn't believe that people would actually spend that kind of money on fine art photography because hey, any one can take a photo right? Well, when I put together my "Beautiful Ontario" collection for our show back in 2009 (wow has it only been a year? Feels like forever since I had a show) My Father gave me that the absolute highest praise he could ever give a photograph. He said "Sarah, these are good enough to be in a Calendar!!" Sadly, he did not see the "Reflections" collection and sadly this collection never made it to print or to show. But hopefully Dad would think these were good enough to be in a Calendar too!

I see on the Lulu website my Calendar will ship in three to five days, wow that's so fast! Does that mean I have to pay a redonkulous amount for shipping?

When it says "Ships in 3–5 business days" That means it will take 3-5 days for the printing process to be completed. These are available for purchase on consignment which means that there is no warehouse full of calendars. Lulu only prints the calendars that have been paid for, this way I don't actually have to invest any money for them (only time and love). How much you will pay for shipping and how long it will take you to get it depends of the type for shipping service you choose and the place you are having them shipped to. I would highly recommend that you get yours sooner rather than later to avoid the holiday rush.

$15.00 + shipping is pretty steep for a Calendar why is it so expensive?

Well, nobody does anything for free, the base price for this calendar is $12.49. Which mean that while I set my own price, lulu wants $12.49 for every calender of mine that gets printed. Considering that I think $15.00 is pretty reasonable!

You know Sarah, I have so much disposable income and I want to give it all to you to support your artist endeavors don't you have anything to sell me that is more expensive ?

Well, gee wiz thanks! (okay maybe I made that last one up but I'm gonna go ahead and answer it anyways!) Some photographs from the Reflections collection are available in book form also from lulu. They are not all the same ones in the calendar but there is some over lap.

Halloween Night 2010

You would not believe how long it took me to make this costume.
It was definitely worth it.
As you can see Benjamin was a skeleton.
Andrew and I were Necromancers or Skeleton Keepers, cause you know, bones won't just get up and walk around all on their own!
We hooked up with a blood thirty panda who was "thirsty for bwud!" and a pumpkin, who well, let's be frank, slept pretty much the entire time.
Good times, Good times.

The Panda swung the skeleton round into the a jack-0-lantern (No, not The Pumpkin, The Pumpkin was sleeping in her stroller) the jack-o-lantern rolled down the hill, spilling tea lights all over, trying to catch the leaves on fire. So I went after the fire, perceiving it to be more dangerous, making it possible for the Panda to run off with the skeleton while I could only shriek "ANDREW! GET THE PANDA! GET THE PANDA"

Fathers Day at Center Island 2010

Out and about!

Slowly, slowly, I'm venturing out of the house and trying to actually do stuff again! Last Friday I went over to my girl friend's house with my boys for dinner and watched some videos. I was really worried that it would be too much for me, but it wasn't it was nice and relaxing!
On Wednesday I walked slowly (two blocks maybe) to our local. I was thinking that since I am no longer drugged up I could maybe have a good old fashion drink, unfortunately by the time we got there I was so exhausted that I had to give the alcohol a miss, I did however enjoy nachos and ice tea.
Then yesterday day oh boy, I went to Scarborough Town Center with my Mum, had lunch and did some shopping. It was hard, I'm not going to say it was easy, because I'm still pretty weak, but it's sure good to know that it's possible. I went to three different stores to try on dresses, and I found three lovely ones at the last store we went to.
It's taking a really long time but I've gone from being stuck in bed covered in bruises with brief painful trips to the bathroom, to walking to the living room to sit on the sofa and getting on the computer, to venturing down stairs to watch movies, to actually leaving the house and walking around in the world!
I still find that everyone else moves way too fast for me, and I still get really exhausted if I try to move too fast or do too much. The most important thing is, even thought it's taking a long time, I am making noticeable progress.

All quiet on the Western front....

I've not been online much lately I know.
My computer died (so sad I know, my husband is trying to give it a new ghost so hopefully I'll have my very own working computer once again) as you've probably already heard.
Well I've not been idle.
I'm actually working on a new book of photography.
I think it's almost ready.......
.......to be continued.

Workin' Girl.

Wow.
Such sheer craziness!
In the last month my life has been turned upside down, shaken, stirred and then latterly flipped!
There have been huge developments and major changes, definitely a transition time.
First of all Andrew (aka The Husband) was laid off. His company down sized and they let a ton of people go. Even though he'd been there for over a year he was the last one hired so there was no chance they were going to keep him. A few days after that my Father (who lives with us) was diagnosed with cancer. As a result of this my Mother (who also lives with us) left her job to be with Dad. Which I wholeheartedly support, but, with Andrew's recent lay off, that meant NO ONE in our house hold was actually working, or earning money.
Yikes! So, last week I gots me some employment. Only part time for now, as I'm easing back into it slowly (it has been five years after all). The husband is taking really well to his new (unpaid) job as primary caregiver, but there are still a few bumps to bump over. Going back only part time is making it a lot easier on all of us.
*Side note: I'm getting really frustrated with constantly having to justify/explain this decision to people.*
And yes, I'm afraid I've gone back to retail. And yes, I know I swore I never ever ever would, but lets face it folks, under current circumstances there's no way I'm going back to school, and retail is what I know best. BUT, (and yes it is a big butt ;) I really really like this company, and it's one I've shopping at for years. I like s it, and I can say with integrity, "this is good sh*t, I would buy it and I think you should too!" So through Christmas at least I'm just working as a part time sales person, starting way at the bottom, with the intention of moving up afterwords. (provided that I can cut it and the company really as good to work for as it seems at first glance.) So yeah, I am resigning my post as a stay at home Mum. I'm now a going to work Mum.
That's all the really big stuff.
It's been hard, I'm not going to pretend this last month has been in any way easy it hasn't been, but I'm coping as well as can be expected, and I even manged to make a book while all this was going on!
Anyhoo, feel free to say some prayers for me, or send me some positive vibrations, or light me a candle, or do what ever spiritual thing you would do to love and support someone in my current position, goodness knows I need it.
Peace y'all

Great Success!

We're up!We had a great launch party last night.
So many friendly smiling faces, and so much support.
The install was insanely stressful and a lot of really hard work (for Andrew) but seeing it all there put together I know it was all worth it. (Andrew agrees). My full exhibition is now available for viewing online in the gallery section of our website (link on the right.) Check it out and let me know what you think.I'll post pictures from the party if any come my way. I didn't bring my camera because I knew I wouldn't be able to host and take good pictures at the same time.
Here is a bad photo from my cell phone of my wall!

Mistakes you can make while framing....

Not that I or anyone I know have made any of these mistakes or anything
*ahem*

Mistake #1 Putting your photo in the frame, putting the mat down, attaching the hooks to the backing, stringing the wire, putting the backing in, fastening the clips, screwing the backing into place, turning the frame around and noticing that the glass is not clean and there are little specks on your photo.

Mistake #2 Putting your photo in the frame, putting the mat down, attaching the hooks to the backing, stringing the wire, putting the backing in, fastening the clips, screwing the backing into place, turning the frame around and noticing that you actually strung the wire at the bottom of the frame instead of the top. D’oh!

Mistake #3 Going to unscrew the backing and realizing that you have completely stripped the screws when you put them in.

Mistake #4 Cleaning the inside of the glass of the frame, putting the picture down with the mat, checking it (see #1 & #2) finding a speck, taking everything out again and cleaning the glass again, putting it all back in, finding the specks still there, repeating and repeating until you figure out the speck is on the mat and not the glass.

Mistake #5 Misplacing one of your highly specialized tools and deciding that your finger nails will work just as well, breaking your fingernail in half, thinking “wow, won’t try that again”, putting everything together and checking it (see #1, #2, & #3) only to find the broken half of your finger nail under the mat. Ewwwwwww!

Mistake #6 Getting distracted while you are framing and going away half way through, then coming back after some time, thinking everything is put together then picking the frame up and having everything fall out because you didn’t actually screw the screws in.

Mistake #7 Dropping all the small screws on the ground and then wondering if you really need all the screws that came with it (You really, really do.)

Mistake #8 Calling out the wrong name in bed (Oh wait, that might actually belong on another top ten list…..)

Mistake # 9 Framing until the wee hours of the morning when you are so tired that you do not realize that you are making all the above mistakes repeatedly.

Mistake # 10 Greatly under estimating how long it will take you to frame all that stuff and procrastinating so that it’s all left until the last minute so that you are forced to stay up until the wee hours of the morning framing.

Status update: All ready to go! WOOOOOOO!

It really isn't about who wins or loses....

And I'm not just saying that because we lost seven nil. (Was it seven? I lost track after a while)
The point is I had a great time, I got lots of fresh air and exercise, and I have something fun to look forward to every Sunday evening.
Who cares if I suck?
And why shouldn't I suck?
I've haven't played since like what? Grade six?
So I need to learn how to play, before I can stop sucking. (Anyways It's not as though I personally brought the entire team down all by myself.) Everyone has to start somewhere, and how will I ever improve if I don't play?
I actually came up with a pretty good working strategy, if the other team has the ball and the player is thinking and trying to aim, I just run right at them as fast as I can as if I'm totally going to steal the ball from them. Then they are forced to make a quick move as apposed to a good move. (There is only a problem if I actually reach that other player. Then I'm just standing there all like "Ohia! Can I has dat ball pleeze?" and making some feeble kicks in the generally direction of the ball.)
Some one came up with the brilliant idea of going early next Sunday to practice before the game. And there was even some talk about maybe possibly getting snazzy matching jerseys!!
The best thing about the game last week, my team totally supported my effort, and instead of commenting about how much I suck, they said that I played with heart.
Awwwwww!
How sweet and supportive is that?
I'm really glad that I got stupidly drunk at a birthday party and said I would join the team! Because I don't think I would have shown interest other wise or taken this huge risk.
Sure it would be nice to win a game or two, but I'm much more interested in getting exercise and having fun. I know I'm not a rock super star (or is that a soccer super star?) but I think I'll get better the more I play. Especially with all that lovely encouragement.
So THANK YOU team mates!
And lets play!
Woooooooooooooo!

A snowy excursion

So I've really had enough of being cooped up in the house. I've repeated "if it were only summer, if it were only summer." so many times over it could be my mantra. But sadly it is not summer, and making my way though the snow with such a tender ankle is difficult at best (especially when the side walks have not been plowed.)
But enough is enough! (Or so I thought this morning.) I said to myself, "It's Sunday and I want brunch so I'm dam well gonna go out and get it!" One of my major problems with leaving the house thus far (aside from the obvious ice and snow) has been that I couldn't get my boots on. Squeezing my foot into a winter boot requires ankle contortion that I was not able to preform. As you can imagine, living in Canada, wearing regular shoes in this weather is not an appealing option. Well, I stopped wearing my tensor bandage on Friday, and I've been (gently) stretching my foot, so I figured I'd give the boot a go. Well, it wasn't exactly painless but I managed to get it on. The journey was slow and treacherous, but Andrew, Ben and myself eventually made it to Wimpy's and had brunch. Surprisingly, getting the boot off was way worse than getting it on. And now my ankle is doing a slow and steady throb. But All in all it was really worth it. Now I can go back to my hermitage, having braved the outside world, until the next fit of restlessness takes me and I have to leave the house again. One thing is for sure. I'm not ready to take Ben out alone yet. It's unbelieveable how many times that boy falls over into the snow. To be honest, I think that he may have been doing it on purpose!