metal clay....moving into it.

I remember when I first received my Hothead torch and my kiln in 1998. That is the year I started to make glass beads. I was terrified. I just knew that whatever I attempted would never work out and I was afraid of the torch but too excited to wait so I just lit it.  Then,  I moved on and went from a minor to a bobcat and an oxygen concentrator or two it got easier and easier.

 Why, I ask myself, is metal clay making me so nervous? There is no tank of propane, no oxygen ...I had to finally admit that I was simply afraid of failure and the only thing to do would be to jump right in....preferably head first. So, I spent a week or so very slowly ordering things....very slowly. I was crazed. I spent a week moving my kiln around to different places in my studio....I ordered a few other things and on Monday I said...Damn it,  Ann, sit down, stop running around, stop moving the kiln, stop reading the 13 books on metal clay that you have. Get to work. This is my first little piece and then I did a pair of earrings and now I will

 attempt to do things better because I have an idea of what I am doing. Thank God I got started. The process is so full of varied creativity and I love it!

Watercolor Inn boat dock

.glass cat tails, originally uploaded by AU_Leslie.

special glass......

More Watercolor 2008 031, originally uploaded by AU_Leslie.

trying to post a few uses of glass as knobs etc...here are a some

kiln arrival

I have to admit I already have two great kilns, bead annealing kilns, that I love, but as I made less and less beads and began to work more with clays and various mixed media I found metal clay. I now have a third kiln, a hotter kiln,  and I can do the magic. This magic consists of changing clay into fine silver, gold, copper and bronze. I am amazed and delighted.

Metal clay is something else again. I am in love with the process and in love with the look of the finished art. I really should say the look of the many, many different finished creations that one can achieve. The process seems to me to be beautifully solitary and deep. I love that.

I do have most books that have been written about metal clay but my newest is from Barbara Becker Simon, and it, along with books by Tim Mccreight, have inspired me to the point where I am almost panicked to begin, I don't want to disappoint myself. I will start slowly and take more classes as needed.

Here is my first piece, from a class with Barbara McGuire. I'm sure I posted this when I made it,  but now that I have all the equipment and I'm about to work, it seemed a good time to look at it again.

A beautiful spring day to everyone tomorrow!

Pansy Time .....

It's been a very busy weekend. I am happy to see Monday morning and very happy that spring is here and clean up and planting has begun. Although I have to admit...it isn't me who does a lot of the planting any longer.... there are too many other things to learn and I learned more about planting in the last 60 years than I could use in a lifetime. I still remember putting the pansies in the ground with my mom when I was 3 or 4, even how they smelled and what the earth was like in Buffalo New York, and so,  that I still do every fall and then every spring I add a few more. Can't help myself...I need that little touchstone.

Now I will say that I have tried to make wonderful pansies in glass for years and mine always are a little loose...they end up like my watercolors...too artsy for people who want pansies in their glass beads so if you want wonderful ones...Harriet Harrison does them perfectly and exquisitely. I'll look for a photo of some of hers and add it later. They are beautiful....and here they are. Her beads are available on www.kybeadmaker.com.

On with the day!

another day in paradise......

Ok....so the weather is perfect but I have been tryng to get a rental car for two days and everyone is out.  Don't wreck your car in the spring! 

Out late last week for the full moon ....what a beautiful evening.

In my obsession with metal clay I have also been working with polymer and I love repurposing these lockets...they are so old fashioned looking and yet my daughters love them too...how nice! Then there are just the plain new pendants....

So sad about Natasha Richardson. It is affecting me more than the deaths of most celebrities. I think, perhaps,  because she was such a good mother and her smile just glowed. Special person.

trying to work bigger....

It is 80 degrees in Atlanta......makes one think of white shirts and summer and I sat and made some weird little  and bigger beads to pull my summer uniform together. Polymer can be this long and bold and still be light. Thank goodness. 

Get moving on that..........

Just knowing you must create something is often enough to get a person motivated enough to start a big project or finish up on something that has been sitting for a while. Don't be afraid of that big success that you may have. You can take it as far as you'd like or stop it in it's tracks. Just do what you want and what is good for your creativity and your soul.

There are times when I just want to pick up an old piece and renew it. This old locket was found in a shop in Ridgway Colorado with no center stone and polymer seemed destined to fill it. It was a good way to start a day of work, have something finished early,  and still have a lot of time left for projects that I am working on that are original. 

filling up my shop....

I finally have a pretty full etsy shop and even more things to add. I love the way the ttv's turn out on the Kodak Endura Metallic paper. This paper has a glow that I am really surprised by and it is beautiful.  I, also,  have been at work in my studio on a simple kind of earring that is very reasonable in price for these times. 

So, take a look...... etsy

very sad day...

My darling and young pregnant niece lost her husband today. He, too, was young and vibrant and a warm and loving man. I still cannot believe it. Our hearts are all broken. 

new stuff going on........

It has been a long time, probably 6 months since I have felt a new sense of creativity envelope me. I am learning some sculpture techniques for jewelry and actually making some beads again. I have been very busy making necklaces and other pieces that I love but these new items will add to what I already do. I am loving all of it right now. Of course, the holidays are filling my days with other things so I am exhausted but that's ok. It's nice to want to be working hard.

Day after ....

It has been an interesting election so far. Last night I saw this happen and it made me feel especially good about my choice, not only because this is a brilliant man who will lead this country honestly but he is good and kind.

McCain was attempting to say Ahmadinejad, and after a few stumbles, quietly and  nicely, Obama said "That's a tough one".  John McCain, who still refused to look at Obama,  gave a nasty sneer. 

 McCain was condescending and rude the entire night. One only wonders how he treats his wife in private. Oh, I forgot we already know.

This is my last blog here until after the election. See my political blog instead.  Tickseed

Happy birthday Jenny! Love you sweetie.

quietly two ....

quietly two ...., originally uploaded by annschneider.

I wish that I could somehow see if seeing something beautiful would change McCain into a decent human being. He certainly tried to pull a fast one on the Democrats today. Finally, the Democrats have a brilliant man running for president and a campaign that is smart too.
My new tank top came today..".Obama 08 This time I want a smart president" . I will wear it a lot. Got it from Cafepress.

storm rolls in at sunset .....

storm rolls in at sunset ....., originally uploaded by annschneider.

This election is making me want to sit and look at God's landscape a lot more than dealing with people. I am so fortunate that I have so many smart women around me.
When I am in Colorado I have this view and I have a group of artists who understand that this world must be for everyone, not just the privileged.
....and now I am about to go back to Atlanta, a state that unfortunately may go to McCain but I have my daughter's there. They strive to be good and caring to all mankind. They work hard and make the right things important. I'm a lucky soul.

cottonwoods .....

cottonwoods ....., originally uploaded by annschneider.

This beautiful park in Ridgway. The grass seems greener than anywhere else and the small town feel is enough to make you stay here forever. Sitting and dreaming and feeling the cool breeze of autumn on your skin.

play with me! ttv

play with me! ttv, originally uploaded by annschneider.

What a pooch! Still one of my favorite models for TtV's.

evening by the bench .. ttv .....

evening by the bench .. ttv ....., originally uploaded by annschneider.

We've been here in Ridgway for over a month. I feel at home and we are settling in differently this summer. I think because we stayed for over a month in June and part of July, we were able to just slip back into "being at home" when we got back in early August. We have a nice garden and our little house is cozy and warm....although the chill winds are blowing and the leaves are touched with gold.

cosmos on the deck .....

cosmos on the deck ....., originally uploaded by annschneider.

I was so happy to get back to Colorado and actually have a garden and beautiful flowers on the deck. The chipmunks haven't been that busy.

snow in August ... children's room

snow in August ... children's room, originally uploaded by annschneider.

Just another ttv.....children's room series.

Ouray Artist's Alpine Holiday

coneflower and a matching butterfly!!, originally uploaded by annschneider.

I was very happy to have this photograph and a watercolor juried into a show in Colorado this month. A very good inspiration to paint more and photograph much more!
We are in Ridgway for about 6 weeks...It will be beautiful and inspiring.