Blown glass at last

Long story short:  Last October (I think it was October) - I finally got a chance to blow glass - and it was fantastic.  Here are the three pieces I managed during my time on the hotshop floor....

Piece one - a short tumbler that I flared the edge on...check out the rank amateur punty butt and subsequent stress checking:

 

Next go - a tumbler again - this time with a raised trail detail:

And lastly, I used frit on the gather before the blow, did another raised trail detail and then added a small lip to make a beaker:

 

 

...if I ever get time to blog again, I might post more details and pics of the process...(anyone interested?)

They are not likely to let me back on the hot shop floor again, and so if I want to continue with this, Im going to need that bush block where I can build my own....what a sweet day dream!

While we are on the subject of Hotshops, Hot glass and pics of pretty things on a linty white towel....here is the paperweight I did last April (I think it was April....)

 

 

Is been a hectic year - and - it doesn't look like slowing down soon - what are you all up to?

 

But where will I find the time?

Common problem Im sure - for example - here is what my home office looks like on a good day...

Which as you can see, features two computers runnning different tasks.  LOL to the right of the photo is the outer shell of a bathrobe I started making for myself.....in August 2011!!!  In between working a part time job for someone else, I freelance at a couple different things AND try to study 10 hours a week (in a bid to build a new home business for which I need paper credentials, as opposed to just real-world ones...or what used to pass for the real world anyway.)

Im not complaining.  Im #justsayin'

Then, I found the corpses of some of my frog friends.  I dont know why these guys died, but when I found them rotting in the empty plant pot they used to shelter in during the day, well, I just couldnt leave them there.  I scooped them out and put them in a dry place in the sun for a few weeks.  The bones are so fine!  Here they are on a bed of salt before being completely covered in salt. They have been in the salt a few weeks now, I dont know how it will affect them.  When I get around to it, we will see.

And somewhere in the last few months, some stars lined up to push me back in a direction I left behind...I dont know if I even can still make beads...my hands and neck may not allow a good end result....but you know what?  I MISS MELTING GLASS and experimenting with the chemical reactions and the whole process of creation.  So what if what I end up with is an expensive mess - life has got to have some fun, right?

 

I am slowly building my kit up again, and savouring the anticipation.  I will stick with the hot head for awhile, see what comes of this - if I even have any time for it - it doesnt have to be beads - it could be something else - the transformations are still taking place - not all of them ones we would wish for - all the more reason to learn to have some fun where one can?



Bromeliad: Neoregelia Blushing Tiger, blooming

Orchids are a wonderful group of plants to grow, but you spend a large part of the year tending plants that appear happy to do stuff all for you. I thought it would be nice to have some colour going when the orchids were not in bloom...but what could be happy in the same environment?

Bromeliads!

And so it came to pass that I acquired some Bromeliad 'pups'. It was very difficult to choose which to try because the variety and colours are staggering! Quickly I realized that a new addiction could be in the making, and have learned not to even open the emails and catalogs that come along anymore - its just too much temptation.

This is my Neoregelia "Blushing Tiger". Ive only had it a few months and already its bloomed for me - what a charming envoy for its species - but I must not cave in! I must not order more plants...till at least next year.

Calm before the storm

Non-verbal goings on

Leaf Cutter Bee in Cosmos

Snagged a few minutes this week for photography, at last. It must have been my week for insects as I bagged a few goodies, the first of which to share is this Leaf Cutter Bee. Ive seen their handiwork about the garden, and Ive seen them muscle bits of leaf into cracks in the brickwork of my house. Too bad they are too busy to wait till Ive got the macro lens on.

Unknown Australian Wildflower

I do not know what this little charmer is called - am still looking for a wildflower field guide to Australia.

Ive been having trouble with my vision for awhile now, and blurry photos have become common. I dont know they are blurry till I get them up on my screen in full size mode, very frustrating! Ive tried compensating by using the auto-focus feature, but so far, not much joy there either. Will keep trying to find a work-around that works for me.

Yes, I have been to the doctor for this. It is a complex problem that there is nothing they can do for. Fairly typical of me, if I do say myself. I seem to be prone to being difficult. I will have to bring you up to date on the situation with my hands soon too...perhaps next time?

Battered hull

Abalone 2

Abalone 1

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Still cant talk, sorry folks.

Urchin 2

Urchin 1

Sunset out the back

Interesting, boring, and kinda gross

That is the interesting bit above. See, I want to experiment with infra-red photography - without doing surgery on my camera.

I could spend $60 for a filter which will give near-infra-red effects...$60 bucks!...they're dreamin'! And they want about that much for the fabled 'neutral density filter' that I would use alot more, and covet hotly.

All of which explains why the other day there was the shot with the red cellophane over the lens (just held on with a rubber band), and now today: this is a combo of red and dark blue cellophane, its getting there, dont 'cha think? Curiosity may also be a mother of invention.

All that could also constitute the 'boring' content too, depending on which way you are inclined.

Whatever.

Check out the colours of the bricks and sky - no post-processing here.

And for the gore lovers out there, heres my incision. It is nearly two inches long, keyhole surgery is for wimps! Beats me why they just steri-stripped it back together instead of tying a few stiches, (probably a cost cutting measure).

Aurora in her fave window

A month or so ago, I got this shot of Aurora in her favourite window. I like how her dark fur allows the reflection of the iris to show.
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Hand less painful today, but Im having some numbness I dont care for. A lovely bruise is beginning to show above the wrapping. Stitches come out on the 27th, and I can hardly wait. It is so weird to be suddenly dependent on someone else for your own basic care (hair, shower etc). The Most DH deserves some sort of prize.

Roses and Rosehips

Regular readers will remember, that I am pruning my rose bushes a tad early this year. From that, Ive gleaned some lovely rosehips and even roses to bring inside. The micro-climate in my garden keeps them blooming, albeit on mostly bare branches, right untill winters bitter end.
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I seem to be sailing at a more even keel on this new med. Iam looking forward to seeing the actual psychiatrist in September - I want a qualified opinion on what flavour of impairment I am experiencing. Pity you have to be in such bad shape before they let you get that. (((diatribe deleted)))

So, tuesday the 18th is the big day for Carpal Tunnel surgery #1, knock on wood it isnt cancelled again. I have been practicing doing things left handed for a couple weeks now, and I hope I will be able to post through the week. However, if I should go missing, dont worry. Keep safe out there!

Sticky Beak, by any name

The Eastern Spinebill, enjoying our ever popular Grevilliea Scarlet Sprite. Apparently this is THE nectar to get through the winter on. I have more shots which better illustrate this incredibly handsome fella, but I couldnt resist sharing these more candid shots with you.

More info: Eastern Spinebill at Birds in Backyards
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I frequently call the Spinebill a Nuthatch. This is a throwback to my days in my Country of Origin. Similarly, there are still times I find myself walking to the wrong side of the car. (Either to the drivers side when I am a passenger, or to the passengers side when I am driving).

White Plumed Honeyeater

As promised, a shot of the White Plumed Honeyeater, now to sift through the shots of the Spinebill and see if I got any good ones of him....well, maybe not right now, but soon. Promise!

White Plumed Honeyeater at Birds in Backyards

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Sweating, staring. Seeing the GP tommorrow. Dont know if I should stick with this med or jump ship. Feels totally queer to be me on this stuff.

Assimilating an altered reality?

Amanita Muscaria or fly agaric, info at Wikipedia. Shot on a cold rainy day in a conifer forest last April. Tempting though it was, we did not collect either of the two specimens we found that day, so it is not this fungi that alters my reality of late. However, it does make a fitting illustration for my present state of mind.
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Its day five of the new anti-depressant. My heart is trying to escape my chest. The whoosing sound in my ears is fascinating. Dont much care what is undone around here. Light sensitive, as though with migraine, but there is only an average headache. Spending alot of time sitting. Staring. I cant remember to breathe.

Re-de-lumped

From my big backlog of pictures, this sunset from last March speaks most to me today, so here it is for you. It was a spectacular one, and fleeting, as are all sunsets.

So yesterday was the second go at my benign-so-far breast lump. They went deeper in and further around this time to get 'clean margins' to lessen the chance that it will regrow, which it was already doing. Joy. Some parts of being a girl have no glamour.

Between the ears, I saw the GP Monday and she agreed, sounds like the anti-depressant had conked out. We theorized that as it wasnt working, there was nothing to wean off, so thats a small win. It means I could start a new one the same day. Today is day four, and the general rule with anti-depressants is that they need to build up in your system, and it can take up to a month to see improvements. Often sooner, but a month is giving it a decent chance. Fingers crossed this one will work as nicely for me as the previous one.

I dont think everyone who is depressed HAS to be on meds. But sometimes there is just no sense suffering needlessly.

And here my body says I should get back to resting, Thank all of you for your kind messages and wishes. They are each much appreciated. Mwah!