Creative Play

A lot of catch-up this month...  Yesterday I picked up and vacuumed the entire house in one day.  Yes, I threatened the children with the loss of any small toy in the vacuum's path.  I also cleaned toilets.  I didn't dust, wash counters, tidy the studio, change sheets, or fix the dishwasher latch.  I did quite a bit of de-cluttering, tossing toys and a lot of upholstery swatches that I'll never use.

This is what I'm crocheting, very slowly.

The kids have been Shrinky Dink'in for their school Valentines.

I've got 20 oak leaf drawer pulls ready to go.  Need some?

I'm working on a few steel oak leaf bracelets- play again, while I work up to some major wallpieces. 

I'm taking a tig welding class at the local tech college. I've had the tig welder for about six months, for the bronze railing.  I did a good art welding job, but I know I can do a whole lot better technically with some skilled guidance.   Somehow I let the instructor talk me into taking it for credit.  I'm the only woman in the class.  The students range from right out of high school looking for an employable trade to middle aged workers looking to update their skills and have some better job options.  A few people are there just for fun.  I suppose I'm there to be a better Artist Blacksmith.  It's cheap, about $138 for a 2 credit course with 30 class hours.  I know how much it costs to run a tig, so I know that's definitely cheap when I factor in the instruction and supplies.  I also notice how much more frugal I try to be with the supplies (compared to the other students), since I'm self employed and I know how much it all costs.
It seems that the only dilemma in having a woman in a male-dominated welding class is whether the men can swear or not , which is much more their dilemma than mine.  (I do appreciate their thoughtfulness.) Other than that, there are no problems.

I almost forgot a picture of the one week old dove babies.

I am a bit perplexed by their coloring this time around.  The one in back is darker than previous chicks, so maybe it will be a wild color variety.  The one in front may be another violet neck although I am hoping for a white dove.