Today is my 39th Birthday. Not a mile stone birthday but one to give celebration to none-the-less. I started my day off a bit differently today. Instead of waking and sipping my coffee and going straight to the computer I went for a walk with my Dogs. The morning air is chilled, the birds are singing joys for new day and my Dogs are floppy eared bounce running down the path. This may become my new routine. It was great. After my walk I did go to the computer to check my e-mail to find my letter from Robert Genn which I subscribe to. His words always seem to provide food for my creative soul, today especially. Perhaps it was the walk, maybe the birthday. In this letter was an extra gift, videos of him plein-air painting. Plein air simply means in open air or outside. I did enjoy the videos and think you may too. I am such a visual person, as most artists are, watching a process is so much more rewarding and informative than reading about it. I hope you enjoy my Birthday Gifts as I pass them along to you.

Kiln update: The electrician is installing the 220 outlet for my kiln as I type this. My partner found a book for me at Barnes and Noble . The Complete Potter by Steve Mattison. The complete reference to tools, materials, and techniques for all potters and ceramicists.

I’m so excited. I have a kiln now. It was delivered to the lower level of my studio Yesterday. I bought it used from a co-workers mother. I know nothing about using a kiln but will have fun learning. I envision experimenting with glass and firing some pottery. I can create sculptures, wall ornaments, cookie jars, cool mugs and plates. Oh my.. okay but first thing first - I need a 220 outlet installed. The electrician will be here in the morning to assess the situation. I probably should get a book on the subject- kilns and pottery that is. I’ll have to talk to Deidre Hunt with the Artisan’s Circle in Lansing as well. She holds classes as do a couple others through the Shiawassee Art Center in Owosso. Oh I could make jewelry. Do hear hear the wheels in my head spinning?

The woman I bought it from warned me on the phone numerous times, “It’s ugly!” I had to laugh. As long as it works that’s all that matters to me. I bought it sight unseen. She was right it is ugly but I’m so excited it awesome to me. It stands about hip height. She said it’s big enough to do a good amount but not so big you feel like yo can’t fire it up because you don’t have enough to fill it. Click here to see more about my new kiln.

The rhythm in the studio this past week has been reminiscent of the musical Stomp, “Scribe, Saw, Sand, Sweep, Scribe, Saw, Sand, Sweep,” just picture it a lot slower and dustier and with only one noisemaker person. Okay a far cry from the musical I know. Not all Artists work is entertaining that’s for certain. I’ve been cutting boards for all the frames and windows I’ve collected in preparation for my upcoming painting spree. Pictured to the right are frames I’ve already cut boards for.

I scribe a line on the panel, tracing the interior dimensions using each frame as a template. I find it easier and faster than using ruler measurements because I have so many different sizes. For the most part I prefer using a battery powered hand circular saw to cut the panel. I’ll clean up the edges and take the sheen off the surface with 80 or 120 grit sandpaper. A finish sander works well for this also and is faster when finishing off many pieces like I am now. Cutting and sanding panel board produces a whole lot of superfine sawdust. Make sure to wear a dust mask and goggles if you do this yourself.

I’m taking a break tomorrow for a Day of Art in Lansing, Okemos and Williamston topped off with a visit to my sister who is in the process of home renovations which should prove interesting all by itself. lol.

I was in the Studio today for the first time in months. The weather was great. Sunny and 60’s. I packed up the dogs and down the drive I went. I unloaded boards into my poor abandoned studio, now stocked with a winters worth of dust, cob webs and artsy finds. Boxes and Bins on top of tables now need a functional home for an amusement park ride of creativity yet to come. Excitement mixes with sighs, “Where to begin?” An open window blows the answer to me in a breeze of dust. I reacquainted myself with creative thoughts from the fall as I vacuumed around the artsy elements I’d collected. I thought about projects I’ll be working on soon and other ideas that have lit a fire within me recently. Cleaning and sorting are not a chore when your excited about what is around you. Opening the studio today was like opening a present. . . and cleaning a present. . . well maybe it’s like opening a present with some assembly required. None-the-less I had a good day.

I plan to make more Sun’s in Refurbished Window Frames next. I have an order for one coming up. These should be a lot of fun. I’ll be playing up the colors and geometry of these next pieces so look alive. They’ll be coming soon.

Cindy from Solution’s Spa had a great idea for a fragmented, figurative and dimensional piece for a couple of her walls in the Spa. That is the fire I have today. I have the most excellent feeling about this. I can’t picture it entirely because of unknown variables so I’ll be doing some experimenting, as always. What I want to do is to take an image and adhere it to the underside of glass fragments with the image showing through the glass, then mosaic it together loosely with unfinished edges on the wall. Cindy suggested adhering it to wire or mesh from behind also. Picture this over an entire wall. Magnificent! I can picture all that. My mind runs wild with ideas. “I could paint on the glass. In reverse?” I thought “Am I that talented?” I’m thinking not. That’s like saying your alphabet backwards. haa. . . .I’ll figure it out. Experimentation and no fear = fun. That’s what’s worked for me so far so I’m sticking to it.

I’m going to make note cards for the Artisan’s Circle tonight. They are selling quickly I hear. My neighbor Shelly is helping me out by placing an order for clear protectors through her Stampin’ Up Supplier. I looked everywhere I could think of in Flint and Owosso yesterday to no avail. Thank you Shelly.

Okay. That’s all for now. Thanks for stopping in. I’ll see you soon.

Today I had 16 old window frames and 15 old picture frames to resuscitate. Many of the old window frames came from my own home, which is a renovated 100-year-old schoolhouse. Other frames have been collected over the years from Grandpa Chapman in his landlord days and from our Cabin on Higgins

Lake. I regularly visit the Salvation Army and Garage Sales for picture frames. Many of the frames I find are professionally done from years ago. They are not the “Made in China” Frames we see today. Under the dust is nice quality wood ready to be rediscovered. That is where I come in.

First I removed the glass from the windows, leaving just the frame. Very old glass is almost impossible to get very clean and it’s more difficult to clean the frame with the glass in it, so bye-bye glass. CRASH! CRACK! SHATTER! SHATTER!

These were the sounds in my neighborhood today.

(They love me!)
I however was able to RELEASE.
Ahhhh! Quite therapeutic.

Next remove all remaining caulk. I use a sharp putty knife. It could come right off if it is really old or relatively new or it could take a bit of finesse if it’s somewhere in-between. (Like most everything else in life, I just plan on scraping)

Old wood ALWAYS needs a good bath. I use warm soapy vinegar water and a sponge to wash, a garden hose to rinse and the sun to dry.

In the meantime I went to work on the picture frames, removing pictures and glass, sanding, cleaning, staining and varnishing. They are now drying also. When the window frames are completely dry tomorrow I’ll finish them off as well.

Here are some previously refurbished frames hanging in front of me as a reminder that all this work is worth it.