Miss Minnie

The learning curve goes up again...

This is what my work in resin feels like most of the time.  When I go to my suppliers the guys always ask me "what else has gone wrong?" as soon as I walk in the door.  They did ask me today to put together all the things that have gone wrong and they will do some serious research for me on what is going wrong.  Which is kinda nice :-)

I set six square people pieces today and so far so good.  Two more stages to go through and they are done.  I have about 50 seconds that I will be trying to convert to firsts but that will be a last minute thing.  I have done well in the past selling seconds at a reduced rate so that is always an option.  I also set four pieces in a new style/technique today which was very encouraging.  I also just had a brilliant idea for improving the backs of these pieces as well.  Off to do some testing! :-)

ahhh the great white hope...

:-)

Yes, today I am smiling.  I have one six piece square mold and I six piece flat round.  One of the mold from yesterday is still setting, not a good sign.  Typically it is the largest pour I have done.  Large equals expensive.  If you factor in the amount of time and materials that has gone into getting to this stage these molds would be worth about $AU15,000.00 each.  :-) I am now out of latex and have spent a fortune so that is the end of molding for a while.

G*d help the next person that questions my pricing :-)

After laughing yesterday when I experienced a new problem, molds going matte finish after using three times, I was still laughing this morning when I found the mold that hadn't set... I think the fumes are getting to me but if it makes me laugh rather than cry then I no longer care.  I did have a good day today despite the heat 41.5c (106.7F).  I bunkered down in front of the air con with back to back episodes of Cashmere Mafia and set up all the pieces you can see in the top left of the pic.  I only have about 50 pieces to go tomorrow :-) no rush though, I can only set 6 pieces per day anyway! mwhahhahahahhhaha.  Later dudes.

Good news and bad...

Today I found out one friend is expecting her second child and one is seperated from her husband.  The first news is wonderful, she has one already and is a great Mum and I am thrilled for her.  The second hit me very hard.  I never imagined that these two would split.  They married young, had some wonderful kids together and appeared from the outside to be happy.  It makes me so sad.  Fingers crossed they will get over this and get back together **hug**. 
None of us is perfect.  There was a quote on my bill from the Chiropractor the other day that said "Love is not about finding someone perfect but loving the imperfect in a person"  I think that is very true.  What are we really searching for?

sorry for being "away" so long..

I have been tagged, again.  I was tagged prior to Christmas and never did it so I thought I must do this one.  I was tagged by the talented Miss Natalija to list 8 random things about me... this will be hard but here goes.

1.   It has been two years since I had to give up "working for the Man" due to illness.
2.   Prior to the last job, I was "fired" three times in a row.
3.  One of my breasts is almost a cup size bigger that the other.  There is something growing in  there and I am hoping it is a puppy?
4.   I once met Brett Whiteley.
5.   I know someone attending the Oscars, (hi Elsita!)
6.   I chat with Richard Burton's widow every couple of weeks in the park.
7.   When people look at me when I am out and about I like to pretend I am famous.
8.   The more I become like my Mother as I age the more I understand how she feels.
9.   I know that my resin work is never going to be a successful business, cash flow will kill it.
10.  I have no idea what I am going to do when I grow up, I am forty.

That was a depressing list! really I am ok at the moment.  I am busy creating custom molds with mixed success.  Before you ask, I make my own because I have specific requirements of the finish which you just don't get in purchased molds, they come out dull and matte and I want shiny and  smooth.  Can you see that in this piece?  this is a new mold that I have never used before, the good thing about the material is that it "repels" the resin so that you are able to get a convex surface so it doesn't need "topping" up on the exposed surface. I would love to know what it is made of.. I will be contacting them to see if they will cast me a mold using their material from one of my masters.  Of course, giving them a master means they could sell it? do I trust them? hmm.

Have I mentioned that I got accepted into the Unwrapped Market in March?  I had to put in a late application after another market fell through and luckily for me I was squeezed in.  I am going to be working insanely hard to get ready for this one but what else is new hey?  Wish me luck and see all you locals in March.

EDIT * sorry I was suppose to tag eight other bloggers, consider yourselves all tagged.

Isn't he just the cutest?

This is James.  Isn't this a great pic?  I went to a workshop with Dad and Sis on how to take better pics.  It was great and free AND I made it the whole way through without vomitting! :-)  I picked up some great tips which hopefully will show in my pics now.  Weekend was uneventful, other than finding out one of the park dog people was once married to a major Hollywood movie star... wow.

Nothing exciting planned for this week either.  Waiting for my Mojo to return, just feel incredibly tired all the time.  Hope yours is better.

It's on FIRE!

We went out for  dinner with fabulous desserts! (poor Spam Man, I made him have the Bombe Alaska forgetting about the Brandy! poor guy doesn't drink and was nearly passing out from the fumes!) and then, what I hoped would be a romantic walk at Kings Park but my goodness! the place was packed, the lawns were filled with groping couples picnicking and there were cars everywhere, there must have been something else on as well?  there was a beautiful marque above Fraser's.  We took some pics and went home, it was lovely.

I trespassed on to the boys across the roads front garden to pinch these beautiful flowers for my hair!

..and now for the truth,1.  I made him hold my hand in the picture which he complained about, 2. he didn't want to go to Kings Park,   and finally 3.  we only went to Jessica's because we had a voucher from one of his clients from Christmas!! hope that makes you single people feel better :-)

Cleaning up..

   

Today, while dragging out the ironing board to iron my red dress for dinner tonight (Happy Valentines Day!) I found my old Art Folio from Year 12 (final year of high school).  There was some funny stuff in there :-) look at the self portrait! what a laugh :-).    Had to share the fun with you.

He's back!

The Spam Man found him wandering down the driveway next door on his 30th look for him tonight!  He is missing his collar, bell and ID tag but other than that he is like normal, mean and moody.  He is grounded until his new ID tag is ready and I have banned him from TV, Playstation AND Wii FOR A WEEK! but don't think I am mean, he is lying like this now under the air con which I put on just for him :-) little sh$t, all that worry.  Thanks for your comments, emails and kind thoughts.

Max is MIA..

This is Max or Maximus Catus as he is properly known.  He is MIA having failed to return home yesterday afternoon at 5pm like he usually does.  I know he will slink home later, looking at me with that "what? get me some food wench" look that he is so good at.  Meanwhile the Spam Man and I are worried sick.  Send me comforting thoughts?

Ok, I will stop teasing you all, thanks to those who commented :-) that master I pictured yesterday has been used to create a mold that I used to cast this piece I am wearing here.  I will show better pics tomorrow.  Thanks for playing.

Two wonderful things...

Tomorrow the Prime Minister will say sorry to the Stolen Generation in Parliament.  It will be an amazing day and one that makes me feel proud that we are finally moving towards reconciliation with the original owners of this beautiful land I call home. At least I hope that is what it means and that it isn't a cheap political stunt.  You just can't trust those politicians.  It is going to be a great day in Australian history.

This is also a wonderful thing.  This is nearly four months work.  What is it you ask? you can't tell?  Shall I keep you in suspense?  yeah, why not :-)

The ugly truth...

Yes, this is my workspace, well one of them anyway :-) and yes it is always this messy and this really isn't the worst of it.  I am going to clean it up/set it up properly one last time then I am going to give up and just work in squalor :-)  It is our spare bathroom where I do all my resin molding.  Those pink molds along the bottom of the picture are the result of this week's work.  About half way there.  :-)

Engineering in art...

My Dad is an Engineer, I think if I had been a boy that I would have followed in his footsteps.  I have always admired Civil Engineering.  I wonder if my propensity to write these long descriptions of how I can work out molding problems is that coming out in me?  I find it really helps.  What do you guys do to work out art issues?

I need a real life Art Mentor, my dream has always been to finish my Fine Arts studies.  I need a teacher.  Working in a vacuum makes it twice as hard coming up with solutions.  I suppose that is why artists share studio space?  I need someone that knows more about resin and latex and polyester expoxy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the guys at the suppliers are pretty good but they don't get the jewellery aspect of my work. 

I spend so much time inside my own head.  I can see why Artists/Artisans either drop out (drugs and drink) and/or tune in (yoga and meditation).  How do you get out of your own head when it is full of problems/issues with your work when you work is with you 24/7?  I just laughed when I read that.  When I was in IT I lived and breathed my work! long hours, weekends, just the same.. maybe I haven't come that far after all.. Ignore me people, I will be better when I gets these molding issues settled :-)  Have a great weekend everyone.

It's summer time and the living is easy..

well that is not exactly true.. it is impossibly hot and I am sure those living without airconditioning are not enjoying themselves.  This morning as part of my 365 project I used the timer on the camera to try and capture my foot hitting the water as I jumped in.. I am glad the neighbours can't see, must look like a complete looney, well more than usual anyway :-)

More birthday pieces finished..

Finally finished these up today, the bag might take a little longer..

Present received!

Here is my Big Sis wearing her birthday piece.  Can you see that I added the picture idea to the underside?  it is a snippet from this pic by Miss Meshell (she gave me permission, thanks Meshell!) that I desaturated of colour in Photoshop.
She seemed to like it.  :-)

Big HunkyChunky Resin!

This piece isn't for the wallflowers... the stainless steel choker is pretty thick so I had to make the cast thick.  Next time I could probably go a "little" thinner but it is a fine line when you go to drill it, the heat of the drilling can cause the hole to implode! argggggg

I am loving it though, and loving the fact that it isn't my sisters Birthday until Monday and today is Saturday and I have this piece FINISHED and two more half finished! yayayay go manic episodes! :-)

I have been wearing it for about half an hour (I call that user testing) and have been catching a lot of the base of the piece in the mirror.  I am going to try putting an image on the back, inside out so that you only see it from the sides... could be fun, could be crap.  Give me a day. :-)

it might be too hot to resin?

I have never seen this many bottom float empty bubbles (yes that is a technical term) in one piece of resin in my resining life!  but I am still smiling :-) 

It is 36' outside (96.8"F) it is actually too hot to stand on the paving, of course I could put some shoes on but that would just be unaustralian!!!

PS, the piece isn't  a write off, I will give it a skim coat and all should be cool :-) thanks for caring.

New month, new theme..

Last month I took a photo of the sky and one of my feet everyday for a month.  It was great fun so I am doing it again this month but this time the theme is the sky and my eyes.  I am going to have to watch my eyebrow grooming! and I am sure I will be shocked by how little I actually wear any makeup.. working from home, I don't bother much, but it is Valentines Day this month so I am sure there will be some serious mascara action THAT day.  I am Flickring them each day but marking them private, if you want to become a Flickr friend, Flickr mail me!

Did you know that this year being a leap year you chicks are allowed to ask your beloved to marry you?  :-) Don't worry, I won't be doing THAT this Valentines Day but you can if you want? Let me know how you get on, if you do.

Last night was drinks in the park with the Puppy Playgroup people and one of the new residents was told that if he had a dog he could join us.. so he turned up with this.. he even wheeled it across the park to us, the dogs went nuts.  One of the dog people here is reaching down to tie a poop bag to his lead.  :-)  It was a fantastic night, just what I needed after a week full of being crapola.  Here is a pic to horrify my American readers :-)
'aveagoodweekend! (said with a good old Aussie drawl)
PS, to those of you worried about me, I have just cast two brand new molds and am currently supervising the setting of four resin casts, its all good for now :-)