A. Metal Smith and More

Autumn Days

I have not been in my workshop for months. Well, that's not entirely true.  The kitchen is complete and I have moved on to my bedroom and hallway. Everything has found a place, or gets tossed to the bedroom that I use as my workshop.  At some point it will be time to tackle that room-but not yet. I was figuring out what I wanted to do with my very large old oak furniture, stain, paint or throw it away.  I tried an ebony stain, i tried wax paint, and paint with glaze.  I then found milk paint.  I gave away three pieces and kept two, which I then milk painted.  It's perfect.  I found the milk paint in a general store thats a yarn store(in Brooklyn-who knew). I couldn't leave without some beautiful yarn.  My sweater should be done in a few weeks.

This is my new kitchen, well you can see only a portion of it-the light maple side. The other side has dark maple wood.  I think the backsplash tile man thought i was difficult and crazy, not artistic.

This is before paint. And then this is after 2 coats of sea green milk paint. First has 50% white added and top coat has 75% white which give it a bit of an uneven look.

The weather has been beautiful and the leaves have started to turn. I'd like to hold on to these days for as long as possible. My business is doing well, and i'll be ecstatic if the new biller figures out all the problems and I actually start turning a profit.  Making jewelry has not been on the agenda, but when it calls my name, i'll be sure to do a show and tell.

Bath, Bath and Flood

My second bathroom was completed Friday with the exception of a few glass shelves that have not yet arrived. Sunday, I was showering when my son was furiously knocking on the door, all I heard was-"come quick,there's water everywhere", so with towel on I went down two flights to find a flood in the basement. Less than two years ago I had a major basement flood- 2 feet of water, Oh no, not another! Well, only inches, better than feet, and I wasn't alone.  It's all cleaned up and there is no smell and I hope the floor that was put in after the last flood survives.  So what's not new? No Art, no jewelry.  It's sad.  I can't see anything creative in the near future with the exception of making decisions on the next project which is the kitchen. The cabinets are arriving this coming week. I picked pearl colored cabinets for one side of the kitchen and a dark amber for the other side.  I'm finding it very difficult to make so many decisions.  Anyone else struggle with this?  This week I have to pick the lighting fixtures, sink and soon will have to pick counter tops.  Suggestions are welcome. Thought I should share the bath pic with you for that's the closest I came to being creativity.  I guess kitchen pictures will be next-oh my!

Mermaids & Cyclones

Coney Island has an annual Mermaid Parade. It is way cool.  My friend Carol was having a surprise birthday party on the same day for her husband Joe-at Keyspan Park which happens to be in Coney Island too. You couldn't ask for better views, you can see the old parachute jump and beyond that is the beach.   Did I mention that it was a SURPRISE party and I was on the elevator when he walked on.  Luckily his friend Lou saw me and stood in front of me while I faced the wall and Joe just kept talking to his other friends and never saw me.

OKAY, I haven't been great with keeping up with the blog.  Thanks for reminding me Carla. I'll try harder. I really have been very busy, needless to say, very little jewelry making.  A few charm bracelets for gifts, that's it.  Construction continues-one bathroom is complete.  It's beautiful-thank you, Lynne!  The second bathroom project will probably start over the next week, once all the materials arrives.  Last week I went with my friends family to Iowa, actually to the Quad Cities for an engagement party. Congrats to Joe and Angie.  It was the hardest thing remembering when we were in Illinois and when we were in Iowa. My friend Linda lives in Oquawaka, Ill., we met a few years back at a class we had both taken with Keith LoBue. She drove in to meet up with me and we got to spend a few hours together- it's wonderful hooking up with art buddies.

Unfortunately I came back to my Aunt Nancy passing.  In April, I had mentioned that we celebrated her 87th birthday. She was the middle sister, there were seven sisters, now there is one.  They all survived the Holocaust, and eventually reunited.  I don't think I realized, until I was an adult, what a miracle that was.

      Appreciating a sunset.

Faux Bone and more

Last weekend I had the best time taking the faux bone workshop with Robert Danick at the Brookfield Crafts Center. He has lots of energy which exudes in his teaching and is truly a giving artists. He'll give you ideas you couldn't even imagine and will play off any ideas you come up with.  I worked mainly on two bracelets which I sawed, carved, scratched, engraved, did resin inlays, tube rivets, screws and nail rivets, used acrylic paints and shoe polish and wa-lah-here are the finished products: And here is a picture from the class with Robert:

I will attempt to put some jewelry in my Etsy shop.  Wish me luck.  If not I'll be calling my Aussie pal, as usual.  And for those who don't know, my dear friend Marie will be moving from Maryland to New York.  I'm sure she is looking forward to me knocking at her door instead of calling when I have a problem.

With the warm weather arriving I spent my first day at the beach this year.  You never know what you are going to see at the beaches in New York  actually the beach I go to is right across the Marine Park Bridge in Bell Harbor.

Since I am renovating the house, new kitchen and bath, it is not likely that I'll be working on a lot of jewelry so I'll give you an update in about 2 weeks.

Alive and Well

My girlfriend, Lynne and I were driving back from Virginia last week and we were only an hour away from home having a great ride. First my cousin called to inform me my Uncle had died, ten minutes later my son called me to tell me my bird (a red factor canary) had died. When returning to work a few days later I had found out that one of my patients had died. The joy of art and soul is now in the shadow of much mourning My Uncle Alex was a Holocaust survivor, a chef and an amazing sculptor. My canary, little Gabi (which is his English name), was sick so I am happy he is in a more peaceful place.  My kids buried him in my backyard with a picture of all of us. My patient, was a mother of a 2 and 4 year old who I diagnosed with breast cancer while she was breastfeeding her youngest.  So very, very sad. I think death, once you mourn,is a reminder to appreciate life and have many joyous moments.

AandS was a wonderful retreat, from my ride down with friends Ruthy and Steffi.

Spending time with my wonderful friends Carla and Marie

To Vendor Night, where Lynne helped me at my table

An excellent class with Ann Baldwin

And my favorite class with Misty Mawn. Such incredible energy and allowing yourself such freedom with the canvas.

Last night I went to Hunter college for my cousin Jana, chairman of the dance program was honored with an award from the President. She gave a great acceptance speech and I was touched that she mentioned me.  She also had some of her students perform.

This weekend I will be taking a class with Robert Danick at the Brookfield Craft Center.  I have been playing with plastic in my work for the past year and bought some of Robert's faux bone.  It reminds me of the plastic in the rummy-Q game pieces.  I was cutting up game pieces and using them in my jewelry. I then found his web-site danick  and started playing with his plastic. It comes in different thicknesses and very easy to use. I'll give more visuals when I'm back from his class.

Art & Soul

Leaving in the morning for Art and Soul, in Hampton, Virginia. Just finishing packing and taking care of last minute odds and ends. People not of my art world think it's crazy that I'm packing tools, clay, and paints, and old t-shirts to go on vacation.  Will be back next week and will fill you in with all the details of the trip.

Textures of Spring

We have had snow, rain, and cold this spring. Finally sun and mild weather has graced us.  I could smell, touch and taste the pleasures of this past weekend.  Friday evening was spent at the Blue Water Grill in the city with my children. At the end of our meal our waitress bought us champagne, earl grey ice cream and a cake with a candle. They knew it was Breann's birthday. The restaurant keys in  the phone # you make a reservation with and links it to a registration card you once filled out. There are 15 sister restaurants, so you may not realize as we didn't, that they had any information about us. It was a nice surprise.  Saturday I walked around Lambertville with my cousins  and we sat outside for dinner at the Hamilton Grill, then watched the sunset over the river. Mark is not in the pictures for someone had to take them.

I wanted to do some blue green patina's on my pieces this week in anticipation of the warmer weather.  The first piece is silver which I sawed, cut and rolled, soldered and the longer bar across the bottom is silver tubing wrapped with copper wire.  I used Jack's to Patina.

I used the same techniques with this piece but the copper disc is dapped.  The cord is leather. The bone on the cord comes from the beaches of Australia, courtesy of Marie. and the cord is woven so the leather can be lengthened.

Rainy Day

We are having a very rainy day as they predicted.  Actually they called it a Nor-easter and plans to spend the day with my cousins were canceled. I wanted to take pics of my current projects but need sun to do that.  I am showing an older piece which is etched copper with a piece of silver riveted on.  Hanging in the center is an amber resin bead and an african red vintage bead.

Last night I spent time with my surrogate daughter Manju, who will be sworn in as a diplomat for the U.S. State Dept. this June. It is so wonderful to see her grow into a strong, articulate women pursuing her dreams. I live vicariously through her adventures, and I can't wait to find out where she will be assigned.

Can't have to many art supplies-well, that's not entirely true, you can have to many for the studio space you have.  And I ran out of space a long time ago. For my birthday my cousin Fern, sent me a bead wrangler. If any of you have tried it,let me know what you think.  I love bead crocheting, and find it's a great project you can carry with you on trains, planes and automobiles... The problem is the completed ropes don't go great with the jewelry I make and I hate the way the finished ends look.  So my cousin and I made a deal, I'll make the rope and she will finish them off.   

Update

Who ever said this was easy- lied.  I just lost my last 2 posts.  Marie, my dear Aussie friend and ghostwriter is not answering her phone. If not for her I would not be up and running and if I lose this one we will go back to the ghost writer.

My new practice is also up and running and I'm doing much better with it than this blog.  The patients are coming, they show tremendous allegiance and love the atmosphere as well as the friendly staff (so do I). It's in an Old Victorian House, circa 1910.  There are 3 GYN's and 1 Internist and a Spa-how cool is that?  For those who don't know, I had a hospital based private practice which I cultivated the past 12 years.  Recently they closed the practice. The reason: they chose to go with a physician based model.

I will be vending at Art & Soul in Virginia, in May, so I need to take time to make jewelry.  There is little time with work and this month of holidays and celebrations.  Passover was spent with my relatives in the city and we celebrated my Aunt Nancy's 86th birthday. Today is my son Sean's  24th birthday. Feeling quite old at the moment. Tonight we will have dinner at home and Shiela is baking the cake. Saturday we will be celebrating with my soon to be 26 year old daughter, Bre.  Sunday we will spend Easter with my girlfriend Lynne and celebrate my birthday. (age undisclosed at this time-can't welcome the number before it's time).

I will try to post once a week, these are pins I kept from the Journey Series.

Journey Pin:

Copper, silver, hinge, solder      

paint based transfer

Banner banner ? What banner!

Well with all good intentions we'd made the blog banner only to discover that for $4.95 a month you dont get to customize your banner...really!
Anyhow progress has been made.  There is jewlery to be viewed in a couple of newly  created albums and I look forward to hearing what you think!