Tattered Saints

The Jewelry Making...

Since taking the enameling class and the two metalsmithing classes, I'm kind of hooked on the jewelry making thang.  It appears to be my latest "Enthusiasm".   I had started this piece in class a couple of weeks ago, then missed last week due to illness.  I did a few things to it in class this week, then finished it up at home yesterday:

Whooeee, that's a pretty cool picture, isn't it?  Hubby bought a new camera for me and this is my first time trying it out.  It's a Canon EOS Rebel T3.  You may (or may not) recall that my old camera (Canon EOS Rebel XTi) has a problem with the flash not working.  I can still use it in places where I don't need a flash, but the new camera is kind of neat with a stabilizer in the lens and other awesome stuff that I probably will never figure out how to use.

The dog remains unimpressed:

I'm still not feeling all that great, so I haven't accomplished much this week.  The good thing about not feeling so great is that I really don't care. 

Happy holiday weekend, everyone.

Maintain The Happy...

I think I've mentioned before that I'm usually in a pretty good mood, as long as there is nothing going on that involves drama, noise, fussing, annoyances, demands, requests or someone trying to force me to do something I don't want to do.  The past week or so has been trying my ability to maintain the happy, however.  First, I was sick.  Went to the doctor.  Got some medication.  Took all of the medication.  Doctor's office called and Oh, guess what!  A culture showed that the medication we gave you will not help!  Woo hoo!  So, back to the pharmacy and I am now the proud owner of a different type of medication and the whole process starts all over again. 

 My previous rant about my coffee maker was premature, although I still think the Keurigs are junk.  I ended up unplugging the thing in a fit of anger...I was close to throwing it out the door...but I let it sit for a bit and later after I calmed down, I plugged it back in and now it works.  For the moment.  Woo hoo.  I am still on the hunt for a really nice coffee maker...one made in Italy or Switzerland.  My own little form of rebellion is to try very hard to never again buy anything made in China.  Good luck with that, Randi.  

I'm still trying to figure out if I want to and am able to bring my enameling kiln into the house.  I'm not really happy trucking out to the carriage house studio to use it, although there really isn't a darn good reason for me to have a problem with doing that...maybe I just need an attitude adjustment. 

Gotta go do laundry, which will do nothing good for my attitude, I'm sure.  Cheers.

 

Unbelievable...

My Keurig coffee maker has stopped working.  I bought it March 13th.  OF THIS YEAR!!!!  And it's not as though I use it excessively.  I usually have two cups of coffee in the morning.  That's it.  I paid over $100.00 for this piece of junk.  Un-freaking-believable.  Chinese crap.  I'm sick of it.  My first Keurig lasted a couple of years.  That was ridiculous.  The second one I bought made the coffee smell and taste like plastic so I returned it.  This one lasted...two months?  What. The. Hell.  It's going to go back to where I bought it and they can ship it back to CHINA with my compliments.  

Trash. Junk.  

Bugger. 

So Faux...

It's a new week and I have a few things planned.  I got busy this morning and finished the dry brushing on the bench.  Yes, I had actually only finished the one side when I took a picture of it last week.  oh, what you don't see behind the scenes!   I have more painting I want to do this week...the architectural pieces or corbels or whatever they're called and the BIG ONE... the china cabinet in the dining room.  The one with the bubble glass that I strongly dislike.  Meh.  We'll see how that pans out. 

I was sick last week and still don't feel totally up to par.  I won't bore you with details.

I'll leave you with a picture of the faux mercury glass...with a faux candle in it.  So faux...so good. 

 

Bye.

More Adventures In Furniture Painting...

I haven't posted much lately about my adventures in furniture painting.  I still have several pieces I want to paint, as time and energy permits. 

 This is the bench that I re-upholstered (can it possibly be???) two years ago.    

Here, you will find the "before" pictures:

                                                                                     http://tatteredsaints.typepad.com/tattered_saints/2010/05/deconstructed-upholstery.html 

I've wanted to paint it since the upholstery job, and finally did.  I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen with a dry brush over it of Pure White.   I love the way it makes the carvings on the wood just pop:

I painted a wash stand with the same color combination, but that's pictures and a post for another day.

Happy Friday, everyone. 

 

No More Tangled Up In Blue...