My Studio Is,...

Inadequate.

Today's "Blog It!" topic at Flaming Hot! is, "My Studio Is,..." and that's the first thing that popped into my head.

I make do with my little corner of the garage and still have fun, but there are a lot of improvements I'd like to make. I don't really have an adequate ventilation system. I work next to the garage door with the door open and a fan blowing on the other side of me. That gets cold this time of year!

This is what I want in a dream studio. I want a cute little shed in the backyard with a torching workstation on one end where I'll have a ventilation hood, my kiln, and all my glass and tools. On the other side I want a jewelry making workbench with lots of organized storage for all the different jewelry making components I collect.

I want a sound system so I can listen to my music. I want a little couch or comfy chair so friends can visit me and chat while I work. I want some running water and a sink, and oh, yeah, HEAT. Then I want to decorate it in a funky artistic way.

For now, though "inadequate" will just have to be, um, adequate, I guess.

The Strange Woman Next Door

Today I was wondering, not for the first time, just what my neighbors think of me out in my garage playing at my torch. When I make beads I take my MP3 player and headphones out to the garage with me. I can't even imagine making beads without my music. In fact, today, I spent ten minutes looking for my MP3 player before I could go out and turn on my torch.

So, there I sit, with my torch, which is a bit loud, and my headphones on my ears. I work with the garage door open, and I sing my lungs out. No one has ever asked me about it, but I wonder just how strange I appear, or worse, just how bad I sound. It doesn't matter really. Singing while I work is a completely involuntary response. Nothing I can do about it. Besides, it wouldn't be fun any other way. Still, I can't help wondering.

Bead Chores

There is one thing about making beads that I do not enjoy, the chores. There is just no escaping chores no matter what one does in life, is there? I'm practically allergic to chores of all kinds, I don't know why, and bead chores are no exception.

Still, I do them because, like anything else, to get to the good stuff they have to be done.

Here are a few of my bead chores:

Mixing the bead release and dipping the mandrels in it

Occasionally cleaning my work surface, still lots of time before that becomes necessary.

Cleaning the beads after they come out of the kiln

My Corner of the Garage

I'm off to go clean my garage. I'll be working on my workspace this week in between shuttling kids to doctor appointments and art classes, in between birthday celebrations, (We have TWO this week.) and in between other mom duties.

I took a picture of my neglected workspace to give you an idea of what I'll be doing this week. It's kind of sad. That shirt hanging on my workbench has been there for two years, ever since I turned off my torch for the last time. I wear that shirt when it's chilly, and obviously I fully expected to come back and torch another day when I laid it there.


And here's a picture of me at work a couple of years ago.



Okay, that's enough. I'm motivated now.