Show and Tool

Here is my latest shipment from Rio. The tall, telescoping arm to the right is to hold my Foredom Flexshaft motor. This is one tool I cannot believe I have done without. It is going to make using that tool 100 times easier---and I'm not exaggerating at all. Imagine if the motor to your hand mixer weighed 3lbs were separate from the lightweight beaters, you had a long cord between them plus the cord from the motor to the wall to manage all while you are trying to beat lumpless mashed potatoes. I have dropped so many pieces of metal (scuffed, ruined, lost) trying to juggle too much and polish or drill. It's just dumb I haven't prioritized this until now. It will actually screw right on to my bench.

Speaking of my bench, I'm trying to decide what's going past the blue door with me. I'm thinking about "frankenbenching" a wooden round table I own for teaching. One reason I would not do this is because it

will certainly eat up the real estate in the studio. (My concern is keeping space for painting.) I could always bring in a portable round table just for class days. Hmmm. Once I figure out what I am doing I will be so thrilled to bolt that pole down and permanently hang my motor.

I needed that new manual hold drill/punch. It's the third one I've purchased and I know it won't be the last. They just wear out. To Jim's credit, his lasted me at least 3 years. The one before it lasted about 90 days.

The center positioning dies are a luxury purchase. These will center align the silver in my disc cutter allowing me to cut perfect circles within circles (washers). I am excited about this purchase because I have made one seamless ring from a washer before (I didn't believe it until I did it) and it's something I intend to do more of now that I have this tool.

The silver will be formed soon. Three more sentiment bracelets will be made and delivered. ...and one of my lucky friends has a thoughtful Valentine who has commissioned a special ring. I hate to buy sheet silver when I have so much scrap I could make my own. I think my own sheet is prettier and more organic but maybe that's because I know the hard work behind it? Some day I will own this and this and then it will be possible to literally squeeze every dollar of my scrap.

Wouldn't it be so Gift of the Magi if I sold my scrap to buy the rolling mill? or to pay for another semester with Roger who has the tools? So far it just doesn't compute. Until then, the scrap pile grows. It's not a bad thing to let that pile grow the way silver is going up these days. It's okay that my tools are growing with my knowledge and my hobby time/studio space. (I've been so busy I've had a new torch for a year and still don't have gas in it!) Once I am teaching and really using the tools I do have, I expect these things will be justifiable and more easily afforded.

The rainbow glass is just plain pretty. Since I don't really care for silver set glass worn on my body---I know, weird, right? I love wearing glass that floats freely like my Murano heart/earrings from Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary. The glass is barely set in gold---the glass heart dangles from a pin and the earrings are glued onto the slightest pin settings. I just dislike how metal backed glass (bezel set) stops light (on 3 sides!) which is the best thing glass has going for it next to color (you can't have color without light)---I might stick it in the kiln and make some more Christmas ornaments or refrigerator magnets with it. This small sheet was on clearance when I placed my order and it was too good to pass up!

Having a hobby that affords me the chance to grow in skill and with tools is truly priceless and not something I take for granted. I am ever so grateful for those of you who keep me afloat.