Classes at Kate's

Well, yes. Its been awhile. But enough of that. I'm back to it, here and elsewhere. A new year fast approaches and with it a new class venue. My good friend Kate Richbourg has offered me some dates to teach at her studio in South San Francisco. Classes are posted in my Etsy store, you can sign up any time.
While these are not brand new classes they are longer with more work and kiln time. Kate's studio is lovely and spacious with all the bells and whistles...you'll love it!
Hope to see you there!

We went to the county fair Ed and I, and it was as fun as I remember,  not the heart pounding fun of teenagers out for an evening without adults, but the immersive fun of sensory overload....

How do you store your bits?

  I had the great good luck to take Joe Silvera's Polishing with Power Tools on Monday night. I mentioned that I had a great storage system for my bits and Joe suggested I post about it here. If you are interested, let me know and I'll work up a little tutorial so you can make your own. I asked the better half to make this one for me, although I did a bit of customizing color once it was done.....
 

This is a recycled cigar box with a block of wood added. Drilled holes to hold bits upright and visible. Dyed the wood under the bits to make it pretty and left part of the box open for supplies. Pretty easy and stores nicely.

looking out - looking in

I think what I like the most about photography is the looking. Being out and looking in, being in and looking out. With the looking comes the seeing, the amazing in the ordinary, the beauty in the decay, the kindness in us. All kinds of philosophy up in here...

A production run.

Yes, its been a creative dry spell. I've knocked it back by trying my hand at a short production line of bronze clay Unbreakable hearts. Some pink, some golden all destined for sale via Jess Imports. These are just before a nice long tumble to shine up and harden the fine silver rings at the tops. These are 6 of the 12 I made in this run. The new fast fire bronze is silky to work with and a bit tricky to fire. Several pieces in the lower part of the firing box failed, not sintered. They will be missed.

is it a real photograph?

More new pics using the hipstamatic app. Is it still a photo if its taken with your phone? No time in the darkroom, no chemicals, no stains on my clothes...its cheating right? What to you think?

My take on a victorian eye painting. Love that PS.

Into SF

A quick day trip to San Francisco yielded these two shots of light poles outside Moscone center.... very War of the Worlds...what do you see?

nights and days in the desert

Back in town and back to work after 15 days in Tucson...gem shows, dinner with friends, hanging with Jess and Natty, new contacts, new beads, glad to be home again...not a single cactus picture this time but great neon all over town.

Last day of the year photos on the first day of the year post.

It seems predictable that I post on new years day and not much for the rest of the year. Trying hard to work on that now....

Cool grey days make the colors and textures pop. This is a great time for color photos and portraits outside. Shoot in the early morning or late afternoon for shadows and texture detail.

light show

One of the best light shows in Berkeley is the 4th St stroll...

No there, there

Walking a neighborhood is the only way to see it, is it Oakland or Paris?

letters

a gift to the hardest working mom I know.....letters collected from oakland, berkeley and beyond...

more local color

Loved this, its on the top floor or a parking garage in Berkeley, there is only the Up and no sign for the Down ramp. I'll have to come back after dark to see if it still lights up....

The persimmon harvest is good this year, a bit small but sweet.

Close up inspection of the moss reveals a little forest of plants, remember to walk carefully...

A few new pictures of November in Northern California......I am so lucky to live here, now.

new stuff

the title sort of says it all, its been a productive time around the bench....in this shot, samples for new and updated classes, Craftsman Necklace, Netted Focal Beads, Herringbone Flower Earrings, and wait for it.....

Torch Fire Copper Clay! its not bad, not as lovely as silver but boy is it cheap! Torch fire or kiln fire make lots of stuff........

New years resolution?

the last one.........

Since the Fall of 2010 is now totally over, I feel much more like coming out of my shell and posting a bit more. They say bad things come in threes and those were three tough months, September, October and November!!

Onto new business. I've been cooking up a storm the last two weeks, it goes with the winter weather, cold, rain, more cold.... Today's feast, potato latkes, made with zucchini and spinach so good!

In the pan......

Art Fest '10 Port Townsend

Peace rocks!
Looking at the Straight of Juan de Fuca....
Post cold war moss.
Arty traveling companion and navigator, Lisa!
Not bad for upside down at arms length.
To the Lighthouse!

At the bunker
Wet beach with rocks.

Well, months have gone by and I'm not blogging much.... I'll do more..... especially since I'm on a photography kick.

Art Fest was a good time and I've added another location to the 'gotta live here sometime' list. North Beach in Pt Townsend. My new favorite beach. Tons of beach glass, good strolling and lots of doggies...

Images of work done in paints and wax coming soon......