Need to Update

Ok, I need to update.  I've been busy, and not, doing stuff all the time, and not feeling particularly productive, you know that summer feeling.  The garden is half weeded, though I've done more weeding this year than I've ever done any year.  The house is tidy, but the floors are filthy.  Some studio work is done, but there is a lot more that is not.  The children are well loved and chauffeured, but also spend too much time watching tv.  I fell off a rickety piano stool while trying to close some vents and survived, with some minor dings and dents.  I let a walnut tree branch slam into my eyeball while pruning, but again have survived.  I went on a summer school field trip with the kids.  I've gone to gazillions of under-8yr-old baseball games.  I've been trying to reduce our energy use - oh too much to think about.
Back to the studio...
This is all put together, and still needs finish work, in the studio.  It's a special order, but I'm planning to make more, at least one or two more.

These big 8 inch grape leaves, and the big 8 inch oak leaves,  are on sale in my Etsy Shop and at Main St. Station in Viroqua. 

I'll put up more pictures in a few days, maybe zoo pictures, maybe sketchbook pictures, maybe drawer pulls?...

I have so much to show you!

 Thanks so much for the input on the slideshow.  I am going to use the slideshows in my portfolio pages, rather than placing each photo individually onto each webpage.  I think it will be easier to update the collections in photobucket and will look more professional on the portfolio pages.  The only drawback is that they probably load quite slowly for dial-up connections.    For the most part, the portfolio pages are directed toward Design Professionals  (who probably have speedy connections) and to generate interest in private commissions. 

For those of you who asked, the butterflies were indeed gorgeous.  They were a private commission that I did about 3 years ago.  L (on blogger), your profile is private, so I can't contact you off the blog.  You can always email me at kassmiles at hotmail.com for more info.  I am teaching 2 chasing & repoussé workshops later this summer, so I will plan to make a few more butterflies while I demonstrate.  But what size?

Now for many photos...

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First, here's some images that inspire me, from my yard and garden. 
This should help me refine those bamboo joints and add a few leaves. 

I just love the texture, motion, and gesture of this garden vine.  I can't remember if it's a cucumber or a melon...  In any case, it will manifest in my artwork.

And a grape leaf.  Again, look at the gesture, the motion of the leaf, like a dancer.

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In Progress, It's got legs now.

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New pieces to sell.  Again, these will go to Main Street Station in Viroqua first.  If you want to buy one sooner, email me here or convo me on Etsy and I'll set up a reserve listing for you.

 Grape Leaf Candleholder about 8 inches maximum dimension

Some Jewelry for your Wall, each leaf is about 8 inch max dimension.

Or you can be bold and wear them as Pendants...

It's Art that you can display on your Body or your Wall.

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Finally, this is a commission that I made for a client who gave it to her husband as a Father's Day gift.  It's a hook that hangs from the ceiling, to display an antique tool.  You're getting the upside down view here, as I did not want to mount it to the ceiling for photography.

photobucket slideshow test

Coffee and Gin - Stirred not shaken

I was tagged again for the 7 weird things post, this time by The Mommy & Me Boutique.  I usually try to make these things part of a larger themed entry, but I'm lazy this morning.  Well, ok, I themed it, but I'm too lazy to go take pictures, edit pictures, and flesh out the text.

Here you go:

1. I drink instant coffee every morning.
   
2. I like the cheapest generic instant coffee.
   
3. I like it with Splenda and Lots of skim milk.
   
4. I like it to be lukewarm.
   
5. When I have an evening cocktail I prefer a dry gin martini.
   
6. The vermouth really isn't important.  The gin and the olives are.
   
7. I can drink tons of coffee, but one alcoholic drink an evening is my limit.

Bag It and Ship It

 Since I'm still not getting a lot of studio time, I thought I'd show you how I recycle (or upcycle) grocery bags into shipping envelopes and stuffing.  I have plenty of boxes when I need them, but never enough envelopes.  I hate buying envelopes.  It feels like such a waste of money.  I re-use large envelopes whenever I can, folding them over, taping on new address labels, whatever it takes...  When I finally run out of used envelopes, I turn to the pantry, and my collection of grocery bags, both paper and plastic.  If you've purchased any of my work, you may have already gotten an envelope like this.

First I take a grocery bag, cut down one fold, cut off the bottom and then cut the sides into 2 large pieces.  Each large piece consists of one short side and one long side of the bag.  One of the large pieces makes up a shipping envelope big enough for a few chasing tools or a pendant.

Keeping the grocery store text on what will be the inside of the envelope, I fold it over, length wise, overlap the edges about an inch, and tape.

Then I cut the ends, to make a flap on each end.  I always do this very early in the morning, before 7am, so I need lots of coffee.

Now one end is taped and my envelope, stuffed with card and tissue wrapped jewelry or tools is ready to go.

Then I pull out my stuffing material, usually plastic grocery bags. 

I stuff it all in the envelope

and tape it closed.

other side

I weigh it on my kitchen scale

Add one ounce to be on the safe side, and either use paypal shipping for a label or the usps postage calculator to figure out stamps.

Then it's ready to go- a simple sturdy brown paper package.  Jazz it up with a drawing or stickers if you must. 

There are templates out there.  Start with your own computer in the Works or Office files to find a few that you didn't know about.  Do a Google Image Search for "box template" or "envelope template" to get all sorts of ideas and patterns free online.  (You'll have much better results with Google Image than with regular Google.  Trust me.)

coming soon to www.knitsteel.etsy.com

 I wasn't going to do smaller pieces for awhile, but I changed my mind.  These will be on Etsy soon.  One of the 3 bracelets is already sold, but the new owner still has to choose which one.

steel oak leaf bracelets with some added goldtones over the steel

This is on my husband's arm. On my arm it goes way up on my upper arm, right at or under short sleeve level.

more leaf pendants, 2 steel, 2 bronze

Thank you!

Thanks for the prayers, good thoughts, meditations, well wishes and healthy energy! (my non-denominational thanks)

Husband is home and is doing tons better than he was before he went into the hospital. He is temporarily (we hope) diabetic due to the large amount of a specific drug he has to take while also on antibiotics. He's also still too shaky to manage the needle on his own. While most women do dream of jabbing their husband with a sharp needle at least once in their marriage, it's not nearly so satisfying when you are feeling sorry for the guy.

So near the end of your prayers (etc..) include a few thoughts of patience, natural calming brain chemicals, and extra studio time for me. Art settles me.

Now don't let this little update post stop you from browsing through all of my other entries and photos. I cherish every comment and compliment on my work.

 Has it been over a week since I posted last?  This has been a crazy week.  My husband got sick 2 Sundays ago, with low blood pressure, extreme weakness, extreme fatigue, achyness, and more.  We went into ER twice and they sent him home, saying that they couldn't find anything wrong with him.  Grrrrr.  Finally they called on the following Sunday and said that one blood test showed bacteria growth and to bring him back in.  At that point they finally gave him IV antibiotics, admitted him the hospital and got him all hooked up to all sorts of meds.  He can't just have antibiotics.  He needs all sorts of other med adjustments because of his immune suppressants.  Once he finally got to see an infectious disease specialist she figured out right away that he has ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne bacteria similar to lyme's.  Most people don't show symptoms or recover completely on their own, but because of his immune suppression, it led to a serious infection, to the point of sepsis.  So I'm irritated that they didn't admit him on the first ER visit, based on his immune-suppressed status and his symptoms, especially since the I.D. doctor (seen on the 3rd visit) said she could diagnose the ehrlichiosis based on other markers in his blood tests....

Anyway, he is recovering well in the hospital now and may come home today, depending on test results....

As you might imagine, I have gotten almost nothing new done in the studio.  I have gotten some computer work done, pursued a few commissions via internet, and met with a few business contacts on promotion and on a potential commission.  Before this all started, I did finish up a few objets d'art, more beautiful leafy pieces.  These are small pieces, oh maybe 7 or 8 inches max dimensions, some smaller,  for the wall or table.

I really love these little pieces.  They are individual small works of art that I can sell under $50, making them accessible to a wider range of people.  Right now they are for sale in-person at Main Street Station in Viroqua, or you can contact me directly through the blog. 

I keep thinking that there's something else I wanted to say..... but I can't think of right now.  If you are a mom and an Etsy seller, visit the Etsymom street team blog at http://etsymom.blogspot.com
That's not what I'm thinking of, that I can't remember, but it'll do for now ;).