This isn’t really news…
…but my website has been changed a bit. The logo is up with the words “coming soon” sprawled across it.
Sorry for the shitty picture, it’s too early for me to make any attempts at a proper photo.
There are about 30 lampworked glass mushrooms there. Each one is made by hand and annealed in a digital kiln. They’re not going to be in my line when I put it out, but if anyone likes these I might put a few up on Etsy. The metal parts are all sterling silver. They sell for $50 a piece. If anyone is interested, you can let me know by sending me a message.
Up at 6am putting together necklaces for a local festival.
Pictures to follow.
How To Tuesday.
I apologize for not posting this last week like I said I would, I’ve been so busy.
This is a really simple instructional about wax carving. More than anything, it gives an idea of what’s involved, on a very simple level, and it shows the kind of tools you will need to begin. This is also, in a sense, a response to the dozens of questions I’ve received about wax carving. I hope that this answers some of them.
If you are happy with this instructional, I would very much appreciate a directory recommendation. :)
http://www.tumblr.com/directory/recommend/art/thesugarbee
1- Use a *divider to mark the dimension of the ring on the *wax ring tube.
2- Use a *jeweler’s saw to cut the ring form out of the wax tube, rotating the wax to make sure that your cut is even all around.
3- Use a the coarse side of your *double end wax file to define and smooth out the initial form of your wax ring.
4- Use a *ring tube sizer to shave wax out of the inside of the ring until you have your desired size, switching sides as you go along to make sure that both sides are even.
5- Use *escapement files and *graving tools to carve your desired form into the wax. You can do almost whatever you please at this step. Your only considerations are thickness for strength, and comfort on your finger.
6- Use fine sandpaper to smooth the wax.
7- Use an *alcohol lamp to soften a *sprue which you will attach, with *sticky wax, to a blank spot on the bottom of your ring.
After you have attached the sprue, the ring will be ready to send off to the caster.
*The tools listed can all be purchased at Rio Grande. I don’t have any affiliation with Rio Grande, I just purchase all of my supplies from them.
I’m so, so sorry.
I didn’t have time to put together a How To Tuesday for this week.
My power went out and I wasn’t able to take pictures on the one day that I had time.
There will be one next week.
Thank you to everyone who recommended me to the directory… If anyone feels like doing it again, I’m just going to leave this here:
http://www.tumblr.com/directory/recommend/art/thesugarbee
(I know, I’m asking for a recommendation even though I didn’t post anything… I promise I will next week.
(Via nowihaveablog)
This is a photo of the view from my deck, taken on a very foggy morning in early Spring.
I’m currently putting together a How To Tuesday for next week.
It’s going to be a very simple intro to wax carving. After that, I’m going to do an instructional about making earrings.
I know it’s a bit shameless, but again, I would love it if anyone feels like recommending me for this week’s Tumblr Tuesday:
http://www.tumblr.com/directory/recommend/art/thesugarbee
Thanks, everyone. I hope you enjoy next week’s How To Tuesday.
This is a glass butterfly that I made when I was in Italy.
A few updates:
I’ve been very busy with a bunch of things. I am trying to finish my jewelry line for the fall season. There is a LOT to do. I’m sorry that I haven’t been posting very much.
I want to thank everyone that has sent me a message about the kittens. I had 48 messages within the first 2 days. Since then I’ve received 68 more. I can’t believe how kind everyone has been. Thank you so much. I would reply to every message, but I don’t want to spam everyone’s dashboards by replying to over 100 messages.
I would really appreciate it if anyone feels like recommending me to the directory for Tumblr Tuesday. I had posted a link before that took people to the fashion section, but I’ve since looked through the fashion section and I don’t really think that I have a “fashion” blog. The link I’m posting now is for the art section.
http://www.tumblr.com/directory/recommend/art/thesugarbee
Again, to everyone who sent me a message, thank you so much.
I haven’t really been on for awhile because of the whole kitten thing. I’ve been pretty depressed.
I took an hour to make this last weekend. I’ll probably finish it this week. I hope to have it cast pretty soon so that I can wear it.
I want to thank everyone for your kind messages. I received over 50 messages in response to the kittens dying. Thank you so, so much. Your kind comments really do help.
I would really love it if anyone feels like recommending me to the directory.
Again, thank you so much for your kind comments. I hope to start posting with more frequency sometime soon.
The last kitten died.
This is just… miserable.
I don’t even know what to say. At least she/he died while she/he was asleep. The last kitten died over the span of 30min, gasping for air every 60 seconds, then every minute and a half, then every 4 minutes… and I’m not even sure how that’s possible. They had all the necessary care. I’ve cared for kittens whose mother abandoned them before, but this has never happened. The mother will usually know whether or not they’re going to live, but even then… they are often able to live if they’re taken care of properly. I feel a little dead inside.
Another sad update.
A second kitten died about 2 hours ago. She was the smallest one that had the cord wrapped around her midsection.
It’s absolutely heartbreaking.
I worked as a vet tech for 3 years and I was an animal control officer with the SPCA for 2 years. In all of that time, I never lost a single baby. This is just horrible.
The last kitten is doing ok. I’m not confident that she’s going to make it, but I’m desperately hoping that she will.
One of the kittens died.
She was kind of sluggish and hadn’t been responding very well. It’s only been 3 hours since they were fed. She died within the last 3 hours. The other two are still responding, but this isn’t a good sign for them.
Kitten update.
All of the kittens have made it through the night. The small kitten with the leg problem is doing much better. She’s by far the strongest and most energetic of them all. Her one leg is still a bit sluggish, but I’m becoming more and more confident that she’ll be ok.
Today is my birthday and I’ve decided that these guys were the best birthday present ever.
The kittens are doing well. They ate a good amount and they’re sleeping soundly.
I’m still worried about the littlest one that had the cord wrapped around her, but I’m very hopeful that she will be ok.
