one way or another

growing pains. i seem to experience that often.  usually during the middle of new work getting made cuz thats when i realize that i dont know things or have things that i need.   if you want to keep raising your own bar, if you wanna lift that sucker high up over your head it takes some massive push.

dilemma: i know i need a better cutting tool that isn't going to melt the pipes when i cut them to reduce grinding/clean up time but more importantly, for a better, more 'true' cut.  and for efficiency as well since not having to do so much grind/clean up means less time/waste AND things wont wobble.

 i could get a 14" portable dry cut saw that starts at around $430.  if i can find one without the carbide blade its 100 less but i need at least 2 blades and those, if i want a good one is easily $150 each.  that isn't that daunting but what IS daunting is the more i read about these machines the more i'm seeing dudes in forums always talking about chipping blade teeth, having problems with that and ending up buying more blades or needing excessive blade sharpening done.  i'm figuring if the dudes are screwing this up what kind of chance do i have?  i'm a moron most times and am envisioning the massive blade breakage already.

also...the more forums i read about these machines the more i know, while they ARE better than the abrasive cheap ($200) chop saw that i have, they are still a joke in the fabrication world.

what i probably need is a horizontal band saw.  they can be semi portable, although they will weigh about 130lbs and i probably wont be able to lug that outside, down the porch stairs and onto the parking lot unless i can also hire two gladiators. keep in mind even these are on the bottom of the totem pole but superior than the above tools.  from what i'm seeing you could easily spend 3-5-10,000 bucks on a good cold cut saw.  but realistically speaking i need $800 or so and a place to work in. thats it.

mmmmm
next on my mind:  i need an art studio i can work in so i dont have to wait for nice weather, available parking space or lightweight tools to lug around. i have outgrown this little parking lot set up FOR SURE. what i NEED is more money to buy a good tool. what i NEED is perhaps some mentoring.

dream on grasshopper.

do i shop around for a studio? i am still just making my rent/bills/food and now that all sales on etsy have stopped i'm back to cleaning next week.  it will take a massive leap to find a smaller apartment and then try to rent a studio that will allow me to make more noise than the average artist. i feel confined and stuck in a big big way.  i also know i need more education about metal  and tools.  i might need to find someone locally that is willing to show me stuff...keep in mind this is texas and i talk like a yankee....it is going to take a miracle i think. i have found that fabricators, unless they are artisans...just dont get the artist mindset and its like talking two languages.  i realize i no longer am in a place of wanting to be an apprentice because my work is too important to me to give up right now.

all i know is i feel ready for more change. i have a few prototypes of pipe/vase/container and flowers ideas with even more ideas in my head but for sure they exceed my capabilities.  it's a frustrating spot to stand in.  even if all i want is some tools right now it is maddening as we can't find any of these machines in stores around here.  tod and i spent way too long at home depot, our puny little home depot that doesn't carry the tools i want.  supplies yes, tools no.  i can't find a variable speed grinder to save my life there...  forget about the dry chop saws, the cold saws, the horizontal saws.  how ya supposed to know what you are buying if you can't even see it? online feels like hit or miss when you aren't sure what you are getting.

mmmmm
maybe i am stuck in primitive a bit longer. 
working on and trusting something will present itself as a solution before i wear myself out.
working on having a better attitude and being open for whatever.
i always feel like i am at the very beginning all the time.  like i still know nothing.  which i suppose is better than knowing it all and being bored.

this and that

below i talked about the candle holders being limited edition and that i would be uploading more to etsy. bout a day later i realized i dont have the desire to put them on etsy right now.  not in the mood to take pictures, it's cold and eye watering out there and i think i'm almost burnt out on photo taking/editing right now.  my shop is full.  juicy.  ripe.  got plenty up there. that and i would make more if i had that better machine.  so i'm selling them privately and holding onto whatever is left and letting it percolate.

i finally hit some sort of wall.  i wanna do this and that and need to do that and this and end up floating around like a lost soul.

i have my found object flowers laying around.  i wanna start some pendants.  i wanna make some more puzzle head sculptures. i wanna make more furniture.  my studio is a disaster.  i'm in limbo. so i flit around and take care of this and that.  fix that organize this.  i'll find my way. i continue to find homes for things that i no longer want the burden of selling.  the more i do it the freer i feel.  there is conflict sometimes about giving art away or having it reduced to seduce.  i still worry it devalues  things but my desire to move on supersedes the desire to hold out. hold on. 

so. i look forward to whatever is next.  i think i have pretty much burnt out on the vases.  it feels complete.  other than what is on etsy i have maybe 45 in stock.  as they continue to sell i will upload the rest on etsy where i'm thinking they will bode well in spring and in the meantime give me time to work on the next pipe dream.  still have a big stack of pipes and plenty of ideas about what to do with them.

so.  if you are interested in some candle holders let me know.  i have about 14 left.  big ones are $15 and smaller ones are $12.  i have six indian reds (above photos $15 ea).  one of those six has a jagged top instead of smooth. Sold em all thank you!!

i have two black ones that are 'small'  for $12  SOLD THANK YOU!

i have the three yellow/silver ones one of which has pink in it and a jagged top.  those are $12

Sold em all thank you!!

i also have two white birch ones of which i dont have a photo but will gladly email you one if interested and one crackling red.  whites are $12 and crackling $15.  most of you now how to reach me...message me on facebook, email or leave comment here.  have a good weekend ya'll!
they are all gone!! 

yeah kinda like that

i keep going on and on about how crate and barrel has their limited edition 'peppermint bark'.  way back when, when i was a massage therapist that is...i had a client who turned me on to that stuff.  for christmas they had me over and we sat down to watch a video and they presented me with that peppermint bark stuff and i went nuts. i REALLY went nuts when i realized i could only get it during christmas.  it was like...well like crack.  and i had to wait til next hear to get it.

dare i compare my candle holders with that?  well ...okay. i will.
i have sold a handful of them privately and the few i put on etsy are gone.  i went on a little work rampage this weekend and am finishing up putting bottoms on them and need to sand/sign them and poof, a limited edition christmas candle holder collection will be here and hopefully gone til next year.  i realized that making them all year long was counter productive as you cannot charge THAT much for a few inches of pipe.  the work is almost all the same, i still have to cut, grind both ends, fashion bottoms and grind them and apply the cold weld to affix said bottoms.  oh and paint the inside with rust convertor. so.  this little collection is it...i might make some for christmas in july for etsy.  heads up. they will up in a few days. i ordered some votive holders/candles that will fit these (another thing is candles come in a gazillion sizes and i don't want to suddenly be in a position to have to make a million different sizes and i would because i like to please people) for those of you who don't want to search for the perfect fit.

i will have a new color too...indian red. will post on facebook when they are up. aloha

friday new art finds: george e ohr

this week's friday new art finds is crazy, eccentric, genius George E Ohr.  (thanks to tod for turning me on to him).  i had never heard of him or seen is work until tod brought home a big book from the university library. i was stunned when i looked through the book.  his pottery is alive.  it is sensual and imperfect and stunning.  he did things that no one had ever done and as far i as know, never has to this day.  you can read about 'the mad pottery' via this smithsonian magazine article.

i'm excited to hear about the frank gehry building that now houses his work at the Ohr, O'keefe Musuem of art in Biloxi, MS.  you can read about that here. 

you know me, i just wanna show you pictures and let you find your own thread to follow.  enjoy! if you can find the book you will have a blast soaking up all that creativity.

glazed ceramic, 1857- 1918

at the MOMA

these pictures do not do justice to his work.  the book is much more interesting and i was loving his unglazed pieces the most.  the shapes, the sandstone deserty look to them blew my mind.  anyone heard of him already?  been to the museum?

done!

hats off to people who do big shows all year long.  really.  it's just too much for me on so many levels (and this was just a table show for gods sake).  i appreciate the opportunity to do it but now that i've got two under my belt in a few weeks i realize how stressful and long the days are when you are behind a table all day watching people walk by and look and comment (or not). forget about the lugging all the stuff to and fro your car twice in one day!  galleries and online is much easier and less arduous.   but i have to be thankful for those who showed up and bought my work.  my new candle holders were a hit and i sold about half of them.  sold some flowers, a handful of vases and one of my wood trays!  got lots of good compliments and mostly tried to absorb all the smiles and look of 'delight' when people took a closer look at my stuff.  made me happy.  i am exhausted and have had a big headache all day. guess i'm just not a people person, it's a lot of stimulation and i felt trapped most of the day.
i had the wherewithall to take a few photos before the action started so you can see the pipe troupe.  will upload my candle holders on etsy after i take some decent pictures of them..probably tomorrow or monday.  over and out.ps a BIG THANK YOU to Cynthia...she put this whole thing together and did all of the marketing etc. You can see some of her watercolor paintings on the wall behind my vases.  She was next to me...I'd post her photos but I sent them to her and I'm sure she will post them on her blog and talk about how horrible it was to be next to me all day because i was panicking at one point and felt like abandoning ship.  there was a look of utter incomprehension on her face like 'how can you panic HERE?'.  i love you cynthia ....

 

 

 

 

sneak peek

so here is the obvious.  pipe votive candle holders!  i still need to test them out (burn candles in them).  the red pipes were big enough i could buy a glass votive holder so those are good to go.  the smaller/thinner ones are going to be just candles in there so i want to see how they fair.  the all aluminum pipes, i'm thinking it will be a breeze to scrape out the wax, in the other pipes i have no idea.  i suppose one could put aluminum foil under the candle....i have no clue yet.  today i'm putting finishing touches on them (sanding the bottoms to smooth them and even any outer edges) and will test a few out tonight.  i like the idea of this.  i like it alot.  what do you think?