SO you know that padlock I've been slaving over for a while now? I got very excited because it was going to be finished last night. SO excited, in fact that I mindlessly made a little bend in the brass leaf spring inside of it before assembling it. A little adjustment that I did not check for functionality before RIVETING THE FACE PLATE ON. Um yeah. That resulted in a weak connection inside the lock where the brass tongue engages the notches in the shackle. Result: weak lock. The shackle goes in & clicks at its stop like it ought to, but snaps loose from the lock with a little tug. GREAT. Once the face plate is riveted on there's no getting in there again. So it's done whether I like it or not.

It's my first one, and I have three more lock bodies already made to try again on, and I know what the problem is so in the big picture it's fine. And it does lock, it's just not very strong. If I'd used leaf spring steel instead of brass, this would not be a problem. And if the tongue were a little thicker...

But FUUUUUCK. T came in and tried to problem-solve for/with me at a very bad moment bless him. This is the point at which I decided I was done in the shop for the day. The screaming and throwing of things was avoided. But let me tell you it was damn close to that.

He also broke the front door key off in the lock, causing me to come home  to let him into the house and miss the final session of the sewing class. It wasn't a huge deal because the last session was just work-time for finishing up projects (which I can do at home), just very annoying. Perhaps I should have noted it as an ill omen of events soon to come :)

Maybe I'll do something easy today LIKE HINGES (hahahahaha).

I sent myself out first thing this morning to do something positive. Went to Wink's Hardware and bought sandpaper and checked out their stock of springs, spring steel wire, and tubing. Wink's totally rocks. Minor retail therapy.

Also had interesting dreams about my Grandmother's death completely out of the blue last night. In the dream she died in a completely different way than she actually did and instead of doing what I actually did I had a period of quiet calm time to mourn. I cried in my dream, which I never did more than once, briefly, in actuality. Instead of almost all the attention being on my mother and her crisis about that, I was allowed to pay attention to my feelings. It was really quite good.

Alright, breakfast has been eaten, the coffee consumed and now it's time to scrape up my gumption and walk back into the studio again.

Save What You Can
(at Quaker Pagan Reflections)

Today was a school studio day, and a good one it was too. I wouldn't trade my home studio for anything (except maybe a bigger one with more/better gear in a house that I own, but that's a whole other barrel of tarantulas) but working by myself does get a bit lonesome sometimes. Getting myself out of the house and out to where other folks are working and having discussions and solving problems is stimulating, even if it's pretty causal, and even when the conversations are minimal because everyone's concentrating on their own stuff.

I miss it pretty severely when I'm not able to be in that environment every once in a while. I also realized last week at sewing class that I do just flat out love being in a class. I love being shown and trying new things, I love the problem-solving and the questions and answering, I love the organized progression, I even love the homework. I will give myself homework if not given any, or given an insufficient amount.....yup, I'd be in school right now if I could find a way to swing it full-time, without taking out (more) monstrously huge loans.

Eight hour day concentrating on new territory in the land of fabrication & mechanisms, made good progress....then home, chili lime ginger salmon and veggies leftover from last night, iced coffee and 1/2 a clif bar...write in journal a bit & make some sketches then maybe read a bit. Perfect day. Pooped, but happy.

And I have a new friend here, a lovely venus flytrap that Aylee gave me to say sorry for being late today (totally unnecessary!). It's all spring green and blush pink with those looong eyelashes... I think it's going to flower soon, too, since it's sent up a central stalk with what appear to be non-leaf buds on it. I've never seen a venus flytrap flower before, so I'm kind of excited about that.

Now my thoughts turn to marbles. I think I'll go look at some.

The soldering & cutting I got done today on ML#3 was just a hair less tedious, just a pinch less like slogging through concrete than it was on ML #2 and the last components of 100 Names. Enough to tell me I'm improving, though (or at least that I am having a good studio day- I'll take either one).

Did a fair bit of writing & noting of data about 100 Names yesterday but don't really want to share any of that until the piece is done. Felt good to get it out of my head. Have also been taking photos of the making process all along the way, which along with notes about the piece will appear with images of it when complete. Continuing work on the final component- the padlock. This is my first experiment in spring-loaded lock mechanisms. Hopefully I'll be able to assemble something that functions well with a key, but it's tricky. I'm only ankle deep but already the immensity of everything I don't know about mechanical engineering here is intimidating the hell out of me. One. Step. At. A. Time....

Transmission of force is fascinating.

Having to think about relative hardness and softness a lot, and about tempering or lack thereof.

In the mean time, I'll have a beer and look at the nice interlocking teeth I made for the locket today and be happy about that.

Surprise! T's vacation is this week, not next week like I had planned for! Ah well, just means some rescheduling and rearranging of various plans. Since we're pretty much staying in the area it's not that difficult. And since I'm not supposed to be making more than minimal plans anyway (he said he had that covered...) so much the better.

We went to see Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings last night at the Waterfront Blues Fest and let me tell ya- holy shit - that was a great show. $10 and a couple of cans of food for the food bank was an extremely cheap ticket price too. The woman is amazing. If you get the chance to go see them DO. And wear your dancing shoes.

Going to that show completely turned around the shitty mood I had been in all day long.  Aylee, I was having your day from last Wednesday- the soldering gods were definitely NOT with me. 'Nuff said.

Afterwards, pear brandy and splitting some molten lava cake & ice cream at Kennedy School. Today, breakfast at Francis and then who knows what. Well, I suspect T knows, but he's not telling yet :)

T also brough home an Alan Moore novel we haven't read yet- Voice of the Fire.  Each chapter is a story from various times centering around the same geographical region. First story is set in 4000 BC, and the dialect it's written in is hard to adjust to, but very much forces in-between mind in the reader. And since it's Alan Moore, it's everything to do with story magic. Enjoying it so far.

I wonder where we could go to pet some goats today? hm... the zoo maybe?

Also went down to Newport with xaos23 on Saturday, to go to the aquarium and wander about town. Was just great. The oddwater exhibit was ok. The seals, jellies display, and the passages of the deep tour were still the best, though. I could totally spend hours in there if it weren't so crowded.

I think this week's going to be like a lovely box of marbles :)

And a link to a story about some people who get extra gold stars- goat rescue.
(courtesy of contentlove )

rrrr!

 

My, what a productive day so far. Took the 4 lock bodies further, until I could not really proceed without a wire/drill bit gauge. It's time to start making and installing the many small parts for the insides of the locks, can't really eyeball that, hafta measure...so...must wait for access to the right measuring tools. Attached the largeish back plates and decided to try a soldering technique said to be good for long seams and was able to make it work rather well (for my first time trying it). 

Then picked up Monster Locket 3 where I left off. Re-drilled some incisor holes in the lower jaw, soldered in the little teeth (without melting them this time) and then shaped the halves to go together. Closed, there will be a black stripe of a (shadowed) opening about 3mm wide between/around where the  3 upper and 3 lower incisors rest against each other. the lower "tusky" teeth will overlay the upper lip, and the very tips of the upper canines will overlay the lower.

Made three items yesterday that I would have found very difficult to do last summer.  They were only moderately tricky, and I'm making a fourth one in silver today (handformed lock body frames). Took a little adjustment as I was out of practice using a 2-gas torch, but fortunately a friendly instructor was there to help me with the initial tweaking. Today, the backplates and more spring testing.

Also picked up some Bettye LaVette and Cassandra Wilson I hadn't heard yet at the library. Belly of the Sun is great so far. I love the library, looooove it. Good stuff, free. I think August will see me donating a little to both the county library and to the extremely useful Ganoksin Orchid list.

Anyone out there in lj-land have experience with using neem oil to treat black spot on roses? I have a couple of plants that are hurting pretty bad, and unfortunately I didn't get around to applying the neem until late last week and again today. Does it work well? Only if you catch it early? (hope not) I soaked the soil with the mix as well as spraying generously. Hoping for the best...

Neem does not taste good in case you ever wondered.

I harvested a huge bowl of snow peas again today, the last of them I think. the pods are still thick and crunchy but the peas inside of many of them have become large too. I've never had snow peas where I've eaten the actual peas. They're pretty yummy. The cilantro/coriander is starting to seed out since I let some of it bloom. There are some hard green seed globes. I may experiment with cooking with the green seed pods, as I've only ever used dried brown coriander seed before as a spice. I'm guessing they pack a bigger, zestier punch. I'm thinking perhaps chickpeas + tomato + some sort of garlic, coriander seed, salt & pepper mix.

Sprawled in the sun on the grass with Mr. 6 for a while. Divine.

Re-mowed the concentric squares in the side yard and they look even more intentional now. Even if some of the longer grasses in the shade have fallen over a bit. I think it's way more interesting than plain lawn.

Jumped through the appropriate unemployment benefits hoops today and was really surprised that I actually made more money this year than last year. Then I was less surprised when I considered how much I worked. On review, I used ALL of my vacation time and gaps between shows to go work other jobs. Dear Gods I am so lucky to be able to do that- I can save summer break for studio work because of it.

Cooked a lot and did yard things today. Dinner was a-mazing if I do say so myself. Now it's scotch & coffee with a cookie, then a couple of hours of sanding fun on the Monstrously Big Project That I Love So Much My Fingers Ache. Maybe I'll finish the rough sanding tonight. That would be nice.

First, a genuinely happy goat for  where_is_mel 

Exhibit A: happy goat

The song playing on the computer right now is "Do the Kinkajou!". Unless I'm mis-hearing the lyrics. Either way, it's a perfectly charming swing tune from the 20's or 30's. It has cheerful accordion.

Hah! Just looked it up- it IS called "The Kinkajou"! Love it.

Exhibit B: kinkajou

Sewing class was great tonight. I had doubts about my ability to concentrate on it after all day concentrating on other things- research, tests, metalwork. Was pretty tired and brain-fried going in. But it moved slowly enough that it was actually pretty relaxing. The first half of the class covered things I was already familiar with anyway.

My boss's partner managed to get in the same class via a cancellation. It's nice to go with someone I know. I think we'll probably have a standing cheap dinner date for the next 3 Thursdays before class, should be fun. I love the fabric I found for my project too: vivid sky-turquoise with gold crescents. Going to be my new bench apron. It will velcro to my bench so that anything I drop (or flies out of my hands) will hopefully land in the drape of the apron and not make it all the way to the floor.

Got home form class & T had bought me a beer and more strawberries (since he'd eaten all of mine). Kind of blew my food plan for the day but now I feel all warm and beer-glowy.

Looked at all the damage I undid on the monstrously big project and felt proud of myself. I will definitely be starting a solutions and recipes book for the chemical and technical end of the metalwork, to serve as a journal as well. If I write it down it will stick in my head better. And if it doesn't, well, at least I have it written down somewhere.  Monstrously big project was obviously not finished by Solstice :(  Oh well, it takes the time it takes. Gods know I haven't been slacking.

I definitely need to be kinder to my fingers particularly my right thumb joints. Sore again. pooh.

Will be going out to the school every Wednesday now until end of August, except for when I'm out of town for a week in Aug. Need ebony veneer, want to get hopping on that lap steel fret board. Can't really make it without using the big shear out there.

TOO MANY PROJECTS!
(hooray!)

You know just when you think you've made the last link in the chain come to find out you need, like, 16 more. Ah well.
There's a new cat's claw moon out tonight. Might have to be some witchy chanting happenin' in the garden tonight ;)
Made with Love. And a hammer.

I dreamed this morning that all T's pens had little hats.
Today is snow pea pickin' day.
I just mowed concentric squares into the part of the yard that is lawn.


Read that a friend's musical is getting workshopped in New York- way to go 0 !

I think the little gig in San Diego is very nearly a go now. Got an e-mail from the department head 2 days ago wanting to confirm my availability in August.  YES. I wanna.

Pretty sure I had a hangover all day yesterday and didn't realize what it was until a ways into the day. I just can't do more than a couple of drinks anymore like I used to. I felt like someone had dragged me up a gravel road behind a truck and then stuffed my head with cotton. All day long, even with loads of water & ibuprofen. No headache. Just felt like crap all day. Sheesh, getting old sucks. I blame the persuasive whisky-drinking string section & pretty brass player.

My booty is noticeably higher than it used to be and this pleases me.

Still wish the mood swings would just stop already.

Ok studio time now.