Track Lighting

This is the connection to the ceiling controlled by a wall switch. This electric was already there for a pendant light I chose not to have when the house was built. They simply put a cover over it and it’s been patiently waiting all this time.

I purchased all the components from Menard’s, Quantus, Lighting. Distributed by Menards, but made in China. Apparently only available in store.

Let there be LIGHT !!

Newly installed track lighting in my studio. Thank you, Paul, friend and patron. Three more eyeballs yet to be acquired and installed. I will finally be able to work in there without task lights clamped all over the table !!!  The difference it makes is indescribable.

Can a chair make a difference?

This new chair will give my back better support, raise and lower  more easily, and brighten the room.  The plastic wheels don’t roll very well on the carpet, so next I will get a mat for that area of the floor.

I began the day by rearranging the sewing table and moving some stackable drawers.  I won’t really know if this is a good solution or not until I actually begin working on a project. I’ve learned to organize as I go. I need things easy to  reach and convenient for staying on track with the project. Not sure what that will be yet. Something small, as I have not used my machine in several months.
I like this layout better.

When I walk past the doorway it’s more inviting. That’s a good thing.

fighting with the needle

While working on embellishing one of my mini-quilts and “minding the gallery” at the Plainfield Art League, my friend Darcy came by to see the exhibit and took this somewhat telling photo. Since this is a new situation for me I didn’t have all my necessary tools with me. 

Next week I’ll make sure I bring the pliers for pulling the needle through. These mini-quilts are many layers whose construction is fashioned with glue, fusible web, and even paint. Some of the beads I use have little tiny holes requiring considerable effort to push/pull a thin beading needle through without having it snap in two.

Here’s my table set up in the front gallery space.

That doorway in the corner leads to the classroom. I can sit here working and visit with patrons as well as explain my art making process, just like at an art fair. Only the weather is much better in here and there’s “facilities” behind the classroom.  All and all a pretty warm deal. I think it’s 19 or 20 degrees outside.

New Digs for Plainfield Art League

Well the computer stuff is really giving me the fits!!! So I figured I’d take a ride even though the snow is causing less than perfect driving conditions. Of course I live in the Chicago area, so what do I expect?
I’ve signed up to “mind the gallery”, this is a volunteer organization after all, beginning this Friday afternoon, the 29th., and every Friday thereafter. This new place is so spacious and wonderfully bright. I’ll take interior photos while I’m there on Friday, also will be there this Sat. afternoon.
I will bring work to do, and work to show and tell you about and even sell to you when you come by to visit.
I feel it’s a good thing for those of us who have home studios to get out and into other working environments occasionally. Particularly those of us without a family around to distract us from intensivity. That’s a word I just made up, but I think it fits the situation. 
I can get way to tangled up in trying to resolve a computer problem that I make myself a bit crazy!! Actually, having this BLOG helps, someone to talk to, you are out there reading, right?
I feel as thou my left brain/right brain are battling one another for attention sometimes. It’s gets all conflicted in there.  All too intense!! OK, I’m going to post this now and go make a nice hot cup of tea.

Accessible Studio Space

Well, I was on a roll there with the picture taking at the gallery!!!! Then, as too often happens, a family crisis requires all ahead STOP!!!! But now, with this crisis over, I took the opportunity yesterday to clean off my work table that had become the major dumping ground for things that had no home, or would take too much time to find their home, or couldn’t get to their home!!! WHEW, it was a big job, but such a burden lifted. That “nothings happening there” feeling every time I passed by that table was depressing.

Much of this reorganizing began with a decision to rearrange work areas and accommodate a newly diagnosed condition of posterior tibial tendonitis in my left foot. (this was NOT the above menioned crisis). I had surgery on the right foot 4 years ago for a ruptured tendon, putting me in a wheel chair for many months, so I am hoping to deny that solution for this left foot.

Standing long periods of time on a concrete slab with only under layment and vinyl tile does not aid the hoped for recovery. Much of my work cannot be done sitting, but I hope to become more aware of opportunities to restructure my working style and give more attention and consideration to this condition. With that in mind, I arranged specific areas to sit and work. Lots of supplies needed moving from other rooms and organized storage developed that can be easily reached from a rolling chair or tall stool by simply turning around. My previous working method was to just ‘run” elsewhere in the house to look for “exactly the right thing” needed at the moment, and return with it to the current work in process. Being “at work” will determine how much success or “needs more tweaking” of the arrangement has been accomplished. I also purchased a label maker and plan to identify what is where, saving time “rummaging around” looking for things.

I know many other successful artists have many and greater challenges than this every day and have found or developed ways to accommodate and continue the work. I will keep you updated on my progress.

GLASS DESIGN WORK AREA

Took this shot this morning, cleaned up and put everything away when I finished last night. That project is now in the kiln. I loaded it first thing this morning, right after making the coffee. This kiln is not automatic and so it requires careful monitoring during the ramp up to temperature, soak, cool down and annealing phase. Also I am keeping a written firing schedule while I learn this kiln and what the work I choose to do requires. Today's project has now gone through the cycle to the annealing phase, thus enabling me to turn it off, unplug it, and allow it to cool to room temperature. So now I am free to move on to other projects. Fortunately, for me, this kiln has a window in the lid so I am better about

NOT PEEKING, which could shock the glass and cause it to crack.