A bit of everything.

So just a few things this weekend.  I got a little blurb in the new issue of American Craft magazine.  A two page spread no less.  I have also been such a frequent customer at the local coffee shop that I started getting crazy things in my coffee.  Sad cat.  It was actually a happy cat until I took a sip without looking.  

  

We have been slowly working on the studio here and there.  I added a shelf in the bathroom so we can do all of the finishing in there and close the door.  Having all of the tumblers going at once can be super annoying.  

One of the other bonus things that we didn't anticipate was the North Carolina sky.  It is kind of epic everyday.  I have to admit that lately the sky has been giving up the goods. 

We finally had to turn on the heat.  Last night it dipped down below 40!  The windows got all foggy/steamy.  The neighbors dog scared the shit out of me last night.

We also got a nice gift in the mail from Tim Lazure.  This is a  great tube riveting tool!  We got two! On for the appstate metals studio and one for Liz and I to use in our own studio! 

On another note.  Liz and I drove to Bakersville to see Lynn Duryea's show at Crimson Laurel.  Great stuff.  I didn't take too many photos.  Actually I only took one photo of the show upstairs....which was also great.   You should check it out if you are in the area.  I am a huge ceramics collector so it is always nice to get to see a whole lot of it in one place! They also have a small selection of jewelry.  I thought I wouldn't come empty handed so I made some quick enameled earrings to bring with us.  Lots of great stuff happening here with that stacked pattern (pink)  

Last but not least.  A trip to that area would not be complete without a trip to Knife and Fork.  Amazing as always.  Liz and I split the charcuterie plate which had rabbit liverwurst, pork jowl, chicken liver pate and smoked trout.  There was something else in there along with the pickled peppers.  Some kind of whipped meat with chesnuts.   Sooooooo good.  I am still plugging away on my food blog.  I think I would like to try making pate soon. 

I had to throw this last photo in here because well the longer we live here the more we notice how much we were getting ripped off in New York.  Again I am pretty sure that I paid $7.00 for one PBR in the city.  The only downfall, and I am sure someone is going to point this out.  It is at Walmart.  Big downfall really.  I hate having to shop at Walmart.  It kind of sucks.  

Zbrush inflated chain WIP

two more things

Here are the CAD drawings for the new molds.  I have included little tangs and stands to hold everything up and together.  If it works I will end up TIG welding the little feet to one of the blanks plates so the mold part can slide out of one side.  It will still need a clamp but at least it will stand on it's own while I pour.  The plates are 3/16" thick which still might be too thick.  We shall see. 

I also tested the casting machine and so far so good. It seems to be in good working order.  Working on a Zbrush model to print in wax.  

More additions.

     Just a few additions to the studio.  The stationary planishing hammer came in!  I love this thing. I bought one for New Paltz, one for my studio and now one for Appstate. Our casting machine finally arrived.  Unfortunatly it arrived damaged. It looks like the UPS man dropped it on one side and it dented the crap out of it.  I can fix it but... it kind of sucks getting a super expensive damaged thing in the mail. We ordered it from Rio and they have been amazing helping us out. I am going to fix it myself.   

     Recently we had open house and I had to create more signage for the studio and our little gallery space under the steps.   I also took a break from the studio to do some pickling.  I love the smell of pickles. 

     I have been trying to utilize the spoon molds I had made for the studio.  Two things. One, it is way to thick, and two the pour end should be a the top of the bowl.  I had a few issues so it is back to the drawing board.  I have changed the design a bit to include a stand to hold itself up.  I will post more photos as they come in.  

     I found a bunch of great shelves on craigslist to work as our enameling cabinets.  We also bought new lamps for our workbenches and I laminated the instructions to the salt water etching.  I have so much more I would like to do.  Some of these projects may need to wait till the summer.  

While bouncing around the interwebs I found some interested pieces by Wim Delvoye, who you may recognize from his laser cut victorian construction vehicles.  This new work is a series of repouse aluminum suitcases.