i splurged and bought a kiln!

I really should have known better!

I recently found out about this great glass supply store in Toronto that offers several courses and seminars and stocks a lot of glass (for stained glass and for glass fusing) and all kinds of tools and accessories. Essentially everything and anything you need when working with glass. I checked out their website last night and found out that the store is in west end fairly close to where we live. I decided to go by today and just 'take a look around.' I walked out with multiple sheets of glass, cutting tools and a totally kick ass kiln!

Initially I was considering a smaller kiln but Alex was with me and talked me into getting the bigger one. His reasoning was that I might outgrow the smaller one. This model allows for bigger projects, higher temperature firing and is digital and programmable. I probably should have bought a used kiln to start with but I was overwhelmed with excitement and project ideas as I roamed the store and Alex was pretty encouraging so I decided to get the kiln RIGHT THEN.


This is a Coneart kiln. 14.5" interior diameter, 6.5" high. Kanthal A-1 elements in the lid. The walls are 2 ½" of premium firebrick. The jacket and fittings are all corrosion resistant stainless steel. The box in the front is a Bartlett 3 button controller - suppose to ensures precise control for heating and cooling. It has software for 4 user programs, which will be very useful when I start slumping glass (for bowls and plates) instead of just making fused pendants.

The glass I bought: I really love the swirly sheets. I think I'll save those for slumping.


I also bought some broken bits and treated myself to these cool beads.


I'm usually not this impulsive and tend to be fairly 'frugul' in terms of what I'll spend on myself so I'm still trying to reconcile this purchase. It's not exactly buyer's remore that I'm experiencing but a fair dose of guilt that the money could have been better spent. That being said, I'm pretty darn excited to get started! I'm hoping to fire my first batch tomorrow after Alex installs a seperate power outlet for the kiln (he's so safety conscious!).

I already have a list of other supplies I want to get - this is going to be one expensive hobby. Stay tuned!

cottage bathroom reno

The cottage is now closed until next summer...bummer. I love going to the cottage and am sad to think that I won't be relaxing on the dock for another 6 months. We spent this past weekend driving around prince edward county looking at the beautiful fall colours, visiting some artisan studios, doing a little shopping, drinking a little too much pec wine and visiting the local mircobrewery (Barley Days). When all the fun stuff was done we got to work and closed the cottage up, drained the water system and cleaned up the yard. 

Since I have nothing crafty to post (I bought some jewelry making supplies but need to get sheets of silver, copper and brass before new projects get started) I will share some photos of the new bathroom that went in at the cottage in May.

Here is the old bathroom built by my grandfather.  A tiny room just big enough for a sink and toilet. And no hot water. Don't you just love paneling? 

 

Here's Alex hard at work taking apart the bathroom. We decided to take out the wall/doorway and extend the bathroom by taking over some of the hallway.  

Voila! The new bathroom. After extending the bathroom into part of the hallway we were able to get enough space to add a shower stall. BIG improvement if you've ever had to use the "shower room" off the garage. 

Still a tiny room but at least it's now a three piece bathroom with hot water! I really like the tiles we used and the backsplash Alex made. It's hard to see but there is black detailing and a black ceiling that looks pretty neat.  

final jewelry projects

Happy Thanksgiving everyone (well, for those north of the border anyway)!!

My silversmithing class ended the other week and I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of my final projects. I had SO much fun at this class and am really looking forward to taking more courses. Silversmith level 2 will be starting in December but I don't think I'll be signing up for that. I'd really like to but in order to make it to class on time on Thursday evenings I had to leave work early and speed like a demon from Waterloo into downtown Toronto. I was only late for one class but once winter hits with it's snow, sleet and ice it'll be a whole other story. I think it's best if I wait for spring to take another course. I'm planning to sign up for metal printmaking, which starts in May.

In the metal printmaking course we'll learn how to etch a design onto a steel plate which will then be "roller-printed" onto a silver or copper plate. We'll also be taught other surface techniques such as "paper stamping," "reticulation" and "piercing" used to create handmade filigree. I can't wait!

For my final project I decided to make several silver pendants with an "animal" theme to them. I was planning to give them to my dissertation committee members but now that they are finished I don't want to part with them! I decided to cut out bones and a paw print, as well as make a punched out design (which was harder to line up than I thought, hence the misshaped design).


I kept the 2 bones that I carefully sawed out and soldered them onto a piece of brass for a pendant for me to keep. I wasn't able to get this piece done in class and had to leave it in the pickling solution. I just picked it up on Friday and still need to sand it. There was some slatter/overspill from soldering the 2 metals together so I need to sand that off and then clean up the piece.


I also made a simple brass pendant by punching holes with different sized bits. I tried to give the piece a brushed finish. As simple as this pendant is, I really like it.


And here are my main projects that were completed during the 6 week course.