What's Happening at the Work Bench

Every studio should have it's resident cat.....

 This is my resident cat; "Patches" (aka Patsy Cline...long story, don't ask!)
Patches is the perfect studio cat, she "pussy foots" (sorry, couldn't resist) around my work bench, disturbing nothing.

Then we have the Quality Control Cat; "Girlfriend"

Unlike my Studio Cat, Patches,  "Girlfriend" is chaos on 4 legs!  She wants to be in the middle of everything, the center of my attention, and wants to be up close to everything I am doing.  She is always on the job!



A client wanted some ideas for a pair of large hoop earrings, with a Spanish flair, so here I began to make some sketches and try out some different stones.  Working first in Copper

Swirls and curves give a nice Spanish feel...


Here comes Quality Control again!!

"Yes, Girlfriend, I know it is time for a cuddle break".

It is a bit difficult working with a cat in your lap; but I wouldn't have it any other way!




I am happy with the end result; Quality Control did a great job!
  I will be adding these earrings to my Etsy shop this evening.

Copper and Carnelian Large Hoop Earrings

   

A Sunday Stroll to the Acropoli Mueseum

Located on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis Hill, the new Acropolis Museum is a thing of beauty; lightness and solidarity.  The glass facade of the upper gallery beautifully reflects the Sacred Rock and the Parthenon.  I had been to the museum shortly after it's opening, in 2009, and knew that I would be coming back again and again.  

A few weeks ago, on one of the first warm Sundays of the year, I took myself on the promised outing to return to the museum.

The Entrance Way, on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street.

Natural light fills the spaces.

                 

                 From "The Procession"

The glass facade reflects the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis and the Elegant Parthenon

Outside, on the Terrace














When you come to Athens, don't miss touring this beautiful museum.  When you leave, having worked up an appetite, you will want some place great to eat.  I say; forgo the tourist traps restaurants in the area, and go for a real Greek experience.  Upon exiting the museum, go to your right, and then make another right at the wide pedestrian walk way, Makrigianni, past the metro station to the first street directly behind the museum.  This is Hatzichristou Street...go to #12, "

This is "The Kati Allo" and you can enjoy some good Greek cooking and good Greek wine.  They speak English, too.

                                        Athena!

Athens by night.....Music; Manos Hatzidakis

                     

                            Rick Steves; Athens!

The FANATSTIC New Acropolis Museum...Music; Yiannis

COFFEE AND EAR WIRES.

"TED TALKS"
On my MAC....

Brutally windy here on the island today; that leaves out working in the garden, or doing laundry. (We hang our laundry on the roof...and on a day like today, it would end up in Piraeus!)








That makes it the perfect day to work in the Studio! (as if I needed an excuse!)
So after lunch, (our main meal), I fixed myself a Double Cappuccino and took it into the studio; found my program of "TED TALK HOUR" on NPR, and listened, sipped and forged Ear Wires.

Cutting and forging
Stelring Silver Ear Wires

Life is surely has it's "sweet spots"

I made 10 pair..
That should hold me for a bit!

If! I'm lucky, it will be windy again tomorrow!

                    " An Ode To Copper"

Copper is a wonderful and amazing metal, and we humans have been using it for over 10,000 years.  Copper represents "Venus, both the planet and the Goddess.  The Ancient Egyptians used this symbol;  

 the "Ankh" to represent Copper.  The "Ankh" was also the symbol for woman and for eternal life.

The ancients created beautiful copper jewellery

As we do now...............

"Swirls" Copper Ring

"Squiggles" HandMade Copper Necklace

"Red Heart"Free Form Copper Heart with Red Crystals

HOW TO KEEP THAT COPPER SHINY BRIGHT?

I don't know how the ancients did it, but in our life it has meant hard, messy, and smelly work with strong chemicals, but, Gentle Reader, this need not be the case!  All you need is;

LEMONS!

Simply squeeze the juice of one lemon into a small bowl, add enough water to cover the jewelry you wish to clean.  Drop the jewelry into the lemon bath and within minutes, it will be sparkly clean and pinky-orange new!

Be sure to rinse and dry your jewellery completely, and then it is best to store it in a specially treated bag (I supply one of this type of bag with each purchase) which will protect your jewelry from further oxidation!

 No mess, no fuss, no chemicals!