More exciting things happening

I find myself with way more things to do now that I am not teaching and I am on a little break from the workshops.  I have been trying not to spend too much time on social media.  As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure I am going to cancel my personal facebook account and maybe only have my artist account.  Since my father passed away a number of years ago, the people who were connected to him have been activated on facebook. I am not sure if they know what social media is let alone how it could be useful instead they post hate-speach and misinformation (radical right wing nonsense).  I have tried to engage a number of times with them "Hey I know you, what are you being this way?" Well much like telling my wife to relax, its like throwing gasoline onto a fire!  So instead of wasting time with them I am now removing them from my life, along with all the other nonsense on facebook.  So if you need me I will be here, on instagram OR on twitch!  https://www.twitch.tv/arthurhash

So a couple of updates!  First we are launching another round of Rhino workshops the intro is almost sold out! https://courses.thebenchri.com/  Before that starts up I have been trying frantically to get the studio setup for some free lance modeling jobs I have coming up. So the 3D printer has been a priority. This will be the first time I am using the wash station!  

Also, last week is was my birthday and it was amazing. So much love. A good pal of mine sent me some truffles from the milk bar! (Loring you son of a bitch! I almost ate a whole box by myself!)  Liz bought me a canoe! I made myself a gorilla ring, I got some fancy to-go cocktails form ISCO spirits and there was an awesome zoom gathering!!!

Oh man.  So much love! Thank you everyone!

Work has been crazy busy!  Its like the holiday season is happening now! I am literally cranking out four to fives rings a day!! Bananas! I recently did an insert ring (two bands that receive an engagement ring) and a "copy ring" which is were someone has a ring they love but it is costume jewelry and I have to make it into a "real"  ring. 

We also made pizza and went for a couple hikes here and there. 

Liz has a big virtual event coming up at work https://metalwerx.com/marketplace 

I am going to try and post more.  I should have a store update soon along with some fundraising/auction items for the fires out west, BLM and of course the ACLU.

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Bad news then good news and then more bad news...then more good news?

I had to take a quick break from the blog because life has been a little nuts.  First, the workshops have been going off without a hitch! Really great.  Everyone seems to enjoy them and I am figuring out quickly what is working and what is not working. We are moving on to more advanced specialized courses and hope to have more to offer soon. https://courses.thebenchri.com/  If anything it has been great to interact with people even if it is over the zoom. 

A bit of sad/bad news. Liz's mother passed away.  It wasn't a surprise but it was still tragic.  Liz's mom had been sick for quite some time.  She has been living down in Florida for over ten years now and for the last year Liz's father moved down there to take care of her.  We got a call around three weeks ago letting us know that she wasn't long for this world. After talking about it, we decided that Liz would go down there to be with her before she passed. Flying was insane apparently. The airline promised that the plane would be at 1/3 capacity (it was full). She has been away for three weeks now. I hope she can return soon. We haven't decided how she is going to get back.  Since flying was crazy she might drive but it is almost 24 hours without traffic. UGH. I hate that I couldn't comfort her when all this went down. With the workshops and work I have been working 12 hour days. 

With a lot of states going into phase two I have been called back into work.  Which is crazy.  We have been busy! super busy! Like Xmas busy.  I guess everyone is scrabbling to get their weddings back on track and want custom engagement rings....right away! I am lucky that I don't have to interact with the public and the owner of the store is providing masks at the door and there are four or five hand sanitizing stations around the store. 

Our studio is in full gear.  We finished insulating and the drywall has gone up. We don't have long now before we can move it.  We still have the outside, the flooring, the lighting and the ventilation. I bought all the furniture and it is now living in our bonus room (I may have jumped the gun on that) The cats have been using them as a jungle gym. 

More projects!

So many things! 

I have been trying to pack in the projects this winter break. I recently got my ring and bracelet back from Shapeways. I have also been trying to get some other projects buttoned up including a folding knife design that I have been working on for a while now. I laser cut a prototype in acrylic and it is almost there. I will have some tool steel and stainless waterjet cut to speed things up a bit. My access to precision steel working equipment is limited so the waterjet cutting should helpt. I also got my copy of the Imagine Peace Now exhibition catalog. It is very nice!  You can purchase a copy here:  http://www.imaginepeacenow.org/supportus