The Joy of Metal... and Overcoming Crafters' Block

i shared last week my frustration with my carpal tunnel and my metalsmithing class... well, this week was MUCH better! as embarrassed as i am to share the picture above, i'm showing the "piece" i completed in the first class (on the left) and the much more acceptable one on the left. yes, i know we were learning the basic techniques of sawing, piercing and filing - but i was kind of disappointed to come home with the little rectangle. i showed it to the husband, who gave me a sweet little look of pity and said that he could probably do that. (how supportive!) he also said that the little squiggle in the middle - my attempt at piercing - looked like a - *ahem* - sperm. i suppose it does.

anyway, this week, we starting working on our first official project, which is a pendant in brass or copper. i chose a simple heart design - both in tribute to my favorite holiday, Valentine's Day, and to keep my frustration level down. and you know what? it turned out much better than i thought! i wish i could have tackled something more elaborate, but figure that since i'm just learning, i should try to get my technique down before i attempt to sculpt the Paris skyline in sterling silver. i don't know if i'm just more used to the pins and needles and pain in my triceps now, or if i just forced myself to push through, but i wasn't half as frustrated as i was the week before. and NO, i DIDN'T stop at McDonalds!!!!! YAY!!!

since i've started the class, i've also realized that for a while i must have been experiencing a little bout of "crafters' block". since we got pregnant, i feel that i've slowed down a little in regards to creating. the first trimester, i was so sick and tired that i couldn't THINK of new designs, much less sit in the basement and make anything, and the second trimester came with all the holidays and this carpal tunnel syndrome and all the baby excitement. i spent a lot of time (and $$$) just relisting items in my etsy shop but not really making anything new. now, i think (and hope) that the creative drought is over! i found myself in the bead store with a little basket of goodies and the latest issue of Stringing magazine, and i've been thinking about new things... such as the dragonfly necklace above! i'm really happy with it and hope that this means that i'll be back to intensive jewelry making!!!

Read more...

F*cking Metalsmithing Class... and the Value of Retail Therapy!

i couldn't even post about my class last week because i felt that the whole thing ended up so disappointingly. no, i didn't set any fires, and no, i didn't end up cutting my finger off like i had anticipated, but i did end up crying in the car.

i'm not one to toot my own horn, but i'm usually really good with my hands. with CRAFTY things. (get your mind out of the gutter!!!!!!!) however, this carpal tunnel thingy certainly had me beat at last week's class. i was clumsy and slow - it took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to load the saw blade correctly and then 30 seconds to snap it right off the frame. i am sure my instructor thought i was an idiot, but she was patient and kind with me. the mini-muffin was trying to be encouraging, bubbling around in my belly the whole time, but it really didn't help.

so i went home, tail between my legs, where i poured out the whole frustrating experience to the husband, who listened patiently. after telling me that i should have stopped at McDonalds for some emotional eating, he told me to hang in there and just learn as much as i can and to take my time. which, of course, is the logical thing to think. it's funny how your emotions - and CARPAL TUNNEL - can just take over.

lucky for me though - the results of my latest etsy shopping trip had come in:

this lovely, lovely messenger bag from bayanhippo (http://bayanhippo.etsy.com/), which i had been coveting for DAYS before i finally buckled and bought it!

and a fabulous boxful of stuff from the always wonderful BizzieLizzie (http://bizzielizzie.etsy.com/) who has the most amazing bags in the most fabulous of fabrics. this little baby to the right now holds my digital camera and memory cards and is the perfect size to fit in my ScabbyRobot (http://scabbyrobot.etsy.com/) purse! she also made a wicked cool messenger-style bag for me... sigh! i feel like a celebrity, having this woman sew for me!

i am going back tonight to keep trying. i'm not one to give up easily!!! what kind of example will i be for the mini-muffin if i give up now? (plus they probably won't reimburse me, LOL) i've been waiting so long for this class. hopefully i won't burst into tears tonight!!!!!!!!!! but i probably WILL stop at McDonalds.

Read more...

The Baby Bump and the Metalsmithing Class

so tomorrow i'm starting the metalsmithing 101 class that i've been saving up for since last January! i've been so psyched, you can't even imagine. apparently, according to the husband, i've talked about the class ALMOST as much as i've talked about the baby! wow. that says something!

the only thing that kind of throws a wrench into the whole euphoria about this is that i now have carpel tunnel syndrome - a lovely side effect of pregnancy. however, i'm pretty thankful - no swollen ankles or stretch marks or super huge weight gain YET (yup, my mom did call me to tell me that she gained 70 pounds during her last pregnancy - thanks, mom.) ... just this really awful pins and needles/tight muscle/swollen feeling from my triceps to the tips of my fingers. i'm not sure how happy they'll be in the classroom when i drop my butane torch onto the floor, setting everything on fire!!!!!

speaking of the baby - my uterus now measures 25 inches from bottom to top and i heard her heartbeat again today at the doctor's and it's so strong. kind of like a tiny horse clip-clopping in my uterus. the thought of the mini-muffin having such a strong heart makes me teary. (and so sappy sweet that i sometimes throw up in my mouth.)

Read more...

Really Good Easy Fudge!

ever had one of those weeks that felt like it was neverending? and that it was filled with things that you dreaded doing? and that those things all went terribly, horribly wrong?

i did. but this easy fudge that i made this morning ALMOST made up for it! it is so good - and simple to make - that i had to post about it... mostly so that i wouldn't lose the recipe!

all you need is:

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 300 ml can condensed milk

1/4 cup unsalted butter

heat a burner on the stove on low. not the lowest temperature, but pretty low so that nothing will burn. put all the ingredients in a heavy pot. heat slowly, stir often so that everything is incorporated. it will be a little lumpy as the chocolate chips melt, but keep going. eventually everything will melt together and after about 15 minutes, the mixture will "ball" up and start to pull away from the sides of the pot. (i know that there is a term for that, but seeing as i have no candy thermometer and most of my cooking is done renegade-style, i'm not using the lingo, LOL)

lightly butter, or line a dish or pan large enough to hold the whole mixture with parchment or waxed paper. if you're adding nuts or marshmallows or candied fruit, sprinkle on the bottom of the pan, then spoon the chocolate mixture on top. spread out evenly and smooth the top. cover with saran wrap and put in the fridge for at least two hours.

this fudge had the most AMAZING texture and is rich and creamy. totally comforting and a sweet ending to a horrible week!

maybe it will motivate me to start getting organized today... MAYBE... :)

Read more...