time to start building....with clay

Today is the first day of Second Semester at my school.  This makes me VERY happy.  I love second semester as all my Art Classes convert to Ceramics!  This is hard work but the kids are happy, eager and Spring is around the corner.  I do think that having something 3 dimensional that actually can be gifted and or be funtional is very important in feeling fufilled.  Being creative is one thing, but incorprating that creative vibe into being handy and productive is an additional accomplishment.  There must be some psychological theory with a fancy name in a very large book or on the internet somewhere proving this but it doesn't even matter.  My kids are happy when they can provide for or fufill a need. That might be by making a napkin holder that's a bit wacky.....but it's usefull.  Everyone likes to be useful. 

impatient

I just realized the reason I can't stand staining wood is because of the waiting.  It always takes so stinkin' long to watch it dry......even in the sun! My dad likes stain.  He doen't like to cover up the "beautiful wood grain"...but I love color.  Paint is definately where it's at.  I was working on my website this weekend and when the professional (head sister Sheryl) asked for a color scheme. I was giddy!  who knew? I knew.....but it didn't occur to me I could have a scheme.....I just wanted it done!  I think I might be impatient.......like with the stain situation.......hmmm. Did you know you could look up "color schemes for websites" on the internet?  Yes you can....why you ask?  Well it is because you need a special "recipe" for the colors called hex #'s.  I've seen that before in my use of Photoshop, but knew it didn't concern me.  We cruised though a few and I picked one.  Just wanted to move on...  But then I realized I could look at them all......just like paint swatches!  I love paint swatches.  I remember as a kid looking at the brochures with the Glidden paint squares glued all in a row.    The reason I know it was Glidden as that was the paint my father used.  "It's the best......"  The guys down at the Eugene Glidden Paint Store knew him by name.  He was a teacher and a painter during the summer.  Ask me what TSP is and I know from working with my dad.  I too, am a painter.  I was amazed by the names.  "Sediment"...just a fancy name for brown, right?  I've always thought I'd be really good at coming up with the fanciful names.  It's all in the marketing.

 The next project is a Kitchen Island.  I've been contemplating what style, size etc.Thus far I have option 1 with plans:  (link below photo) This plan is super but I'm too cheap to fork out for untreated cedar posts.  I just don't feel like using used for this.  It'll be around for a long time. I realize I could use 2 2by 4's but I'm thinking they'd be sketchy......and it'd show. 

http://ana-white.com/2010/03/plans-michaelas-kitchen-island.html

or Option 2


 http://myrepurposedlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/diy-kitchen-island.html

this option is to start with a dresser or similar and alter to the needs of the cook..... this is a great idea.  Totally got this idea from this gal's blog.  But she is there to share and motivate......ding....light bulb went on. I don't have a dresser in mind.  So the hunt goes on.  I do like this idea though. 
One important factor is that the husband needs to be able to pull up his stool and eat there.  Drop leaf would be good idea.  I'll keep searching.

finally...I'm done

 I started a project weeks ago.  I started without the proper tools and I am testiment that it was not a good idea to "get by" without them.  I have learned many lessons.  I am now a better carpenter.....a little frayed around the edges, but wiser.  Thank goodness that this is not to be inspected by my father.  I seem to judge my work to his.  I suppose that's a good thing.  He did have his levels of "quality".  If it was to be seen by all and judged there were no shortcuts.  This latest project is for my sanity and for my hubby's clothing.  Since he refuses to actually use his dresser, he is reduced to a cubbie system. (ana-white.com)  I have also learned that I prefer natural wood to composite "simulated" wood products.   I hated the drawer hardware.  They were a pansy pieces of crap....to put it nicely. Can you tell it was my first time? This was one area that I called in help and luckily he could keep his cool, as I was ready to hock them across the road.  I recently bought a book all about building drawers.  I believe I should sit down and learn. 
  Well today is a new day!  No school, no half done projects haunting me.  The question is...."what shall I build next?" Below is a very bad photo of the finished product.  My apologies for the phone photo, but it's here and paid for so it'll be good for now. ...I think the most important thing on the list today will be.....to get cat food. 

There will be no building today.

a little bummed that there's no snow....

Well, the rain has started again!  I was secretly hoping for a big snow storm that would take us by surprise!  No luck.  At least it's not 20 degrees.  I will have to get into my shop this evening after school.  In the mean time I'm planning my next "Knock-off Wood" creation...I wanted to show what you can do if you have a husband that saves trinkets and treasures.  Everything is very cool.  Ticket stubs, matchbooks, Mr. Peanut, guitar pics, Old pens, receipts (from his first Mac-Intosh Computer), old tins, baby books, poker chips, business cards, coasters, patches, lipton tea ceramics, doodles from church.....the list goes on.  I just realized i was finding all these little "treasures" and they didn't have a home.  I'd ask him what it was and he'd tell me that it was from his grandma or it was something he dug up on the farm when he was a kid or it was from aunt Alice or......  Now I totally understand about keeping this type of stuff.  I to have a secret collection myself. But I decided to finally starting a collection together in one box.  When the box was full and I had the perfect frame....these shrines were born.  Theses frames are from IKEA and were very affordable.  Actually should of gotten a few more.  Establishing a background is a important first step when creating a collage / assemblage.  I used photo copies of a few photos and some flat items (like coasters, ticket stubs, or doodles) a craft paper grocery bag and some snippets of note/letters that he wrote to me over the years.  The pair on the right are only 12"x12" and include more miniture type objects.  I created the larger version with more of a photo / flat type item theme.  I attended a crafty girls weekend up at Driftcreek Camp on the Oregon Coast Range.  while the other ladies were scrap booking or quilting..my sister and I arranged, rearranged and then arranged again to get all the ingredients just perfect.  We used hot glue to adhere them.  The photo above was very difficult to acquire with out reflections...so sorry.  But for now you can at least get an idea.  Gotta run and get off to my real job......Art Teacher.  How many days til summer break?

doors again

I started thinking about how I've used doors and found this photo.  The photo is a bit slanty, sorry.  It's a hall tree.  The legs were purchased on ebay from back east and originally from an old kitchen table.  The top flips up for hidden storage and I added hooks for keys and a vintage garden tool for decoration.  The door was unusually narrow so it wasn't too heavy.  Weight can be an issue. Once I get all the top quality ingredient together sometime the creation ends up weighing a ton! I hated to see this one go.....but I've learned you can't keep every project.  I often wonder how Ana White finds a place for all the things she builds....I'm betting her friends and family get a rotation.  I should of kept this one.  

Another one of my favorites is this bench.  It has a door frame as part of the back.  I will be making another like this soon as I scored the cedar fence boards this week.  All I need now is to finish my current project, but it's been so stinkin' cold.