The Chatterbox 10/06-12/06

Still busy getting ready for the TX rubber stamp show.  I've been pressing rubber today and scanning in artwork.  Some of this artwork is new and some....well, I've had for awhile.  Here's one that Anne Sagor did for me.  isn't it just wonderful?  I'll be updating galleries when I get home from the show.  

Now that Christmas is over I can show you this bracelet I made for a gift.  I plan on offering these on the website some time next month.  Right now I'm gearing up for the first stamp show of 2007...how quickly that wonderful break flew by. 

Wally's started on the siding.  It's a very time consuming part of this project.

I've gotten requests for all the fun holiday links I put up last year so here they are:

Elf

Slingshot Santa

Snow globe

Snowflakes

and one new one:

Winter Bells

I've been busy making beads and jewelry for Christmas presents.  Since I can't show you those I can show you the bracelet I made for myself.  One of the dangles is a silver charm that says "naughty" on one side and "nice" on the other.  I may sell these next year on the website.

Here's some new pictures of the studio progress.  Wally got the front door and the two front windows in.  He special ordered the windows so we could then insert two of my old leaded windows inside.  Here they are temporarily set in just to see how pretty they look!  They still need to be cleaned and painted.  On one of the side windows we'll insert two of my big leaded, beveled tulip windows.  I'm so glad we are finally able to use at least of few of these windows I've collected over the years.

Next step is the siding and then I think the outside will be pretty much done. 

I got a package of artwork from Hannamaija today.  It will be awhile before I get it all scanned and in her gallery but I did want to show you this one.  As soon as I saw it it reminded me of property behind us.  This will pretty much be my view from  my studio window when it's done.

Here's a side view of the studio.  Wally finished the roof and has two windows in.

Trevor is in his favorite warm spot on top of the DVR.  Unfortunately, lately Misha got smart too and wants to "share" the spot.  

I wanted to show you this new focal bead I made the other day.  I came up with this new design while I was trying to get to sleep one night.  I little bit of a pita to make but pretty fun at the same time.  I have a couple more in the kiln right now cooking.  The weather has stayed nice here so I've been making beads while I can.  It's pretty much an every other day thing...press rubber one day and make beads the next day.  

Here's how the studio looks now.  All the plywood is up for the walls and roof.  The white Lowe's stuff is weather wrapping.  It's looking like it will be ready for me by spring.

We got a package from Wilda today with artwork using the new images.  I have to scan them all and get them up but I just had to show you what she did with the Butterfly Block.  Isn't it just gawgess!!!

Sonia Evans sent me this scan of a calendar page she did for a swap.  Isn't it just lovely?  The birch and the moon are ours but I'm not sure who's stamp the woman is...she is familiar though.

I got a stamp order the other day with a cute comment in the "special instructions' section:

Saw your blog. Hope the stamps don't come with snakes and rats!

Hehehee....That one made me laugh!  Just for that I had to send her a little something special.

Goodness, I just looked at the studio picture below and Wally has done so much more in the last week...I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Here's Trevor with his favorite new toy.  It's one of those mega straws from Starbucks.  There are about a half dozen of them laying around the house but Trevor and Misha will still fight over one.  When I tell the 'dorables it's nighty night time, Trevor will often pick one of the straws up and carry it to bed with him.

I've been trying to get some bead sets made while the weather is still mild here.  I've been told by quite a few rubber stampers that even though they may not buy beads they do like to look at the pictures.  I was in a color funk so I pulled out my brightest colors to play with and it worked.  I made two different sets in these colors.  The auctions don't start until Wednesday night.  I've also been scanning in lots of artwork to add to Hannamaija's gallery and also Wilda's gallery.  I should have those galleries updated soon.

Wally has been working hard on my studio trying to get as much done before it starts raining here.  I'll post another picture soon.

Have a little Halloween fun!

Wally's been busy putting up the plywood on the outside of the studio.  In the back you can see the hole where my little a/c unit will go...thank goodness!  No more suffering in a 100 degree garage.  Also, back when we thought we were going to have a house built I was purchasing old leaded beveled glass windows on ebay.  I have tons of them and finally we get to use some for the studio!  I'll post a picture of some of the windows next update.  

Here's what Wally got done while I was gone.  Now the framing for all four walls is up.

I just finished making all the matrix boards for the new images and now I'm pressing some rubber so I'll be all prepared for orders.  I'm going to take a look at the new images page now and try to move some of those older images off to their respective pages.

Another pretty gopher snake.  This one is a burgundy and yellow.

Tomorrow I'll get caught up on mail orders and also make the matrix boards for the new images.  We'll see how much work I get done.  I should have the new images up late in the week.

Darci....it was worse.

Wally got the framing for the first wall up!  Now it really feels like my studio.

I'll be leaving tomorrow for Salt Lake City for the rubber stamp show.  My last show of the year!  Whooohoooo!

I finally got around to putting up the  Waterfall Card tutorial that Susan Quinn did for me.  If you placed an order during one of the months last summer when we were having our big anniversary celebration ...hmmm, could have been July...you got all of the stamps used in this card for free.  So you may have these Halloween stamps in your collection already!

Waterfall Card Tutorial

I was pretty sore yesterday from the whole concrete ordeal but I'm much better today. 

 I got the new images emailed off to the engraver but I didn't hear back from him today so I'm not positive he got them.  I'll have to give them a call tomorrow.

Wally got a picture of this big guy in our garage...my current glass studio, remember?  I think they're cute...scruffy looking but cute.

Wally's been working really hard every day on my new studio.  Today we poured concrete.  Our neighbor Randy came over to help and while Wally drove back and forth getting loads of concrete, Randy and I hoed, shoveled, pushed, pulled, packed and smoothed concrete....all day.  Next time I want Wally's job.  Looking pretty good though.

10-4-06

Today has been a record day for snakes here.  Today Wally found a huge gopher snake and this gorgeous creature.  Sissy found a small gopher snake that Wally saved from her making a total of three snakes!  I had no clue what kind of snake this was so I emailed the picture to a California snake expert for identification.  Here's what he emailed me back:  

"That's a Sharp-tailed Snake.
They're secretive little snakes that are usually found underneath rocks or boards. They eat slugs and small salamanders."

Here's his website if you're interested...lots of pretty pictures of reptiles and amphibians 

http://www.californiaherps.com/