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mellymellFound out last night that my pen torch sucks. It might be fine for softer metals, but it ain't cutting it for soldering silver (sterling or otherwise, won't even melt the solder paste, which flows at 1300 degrees). Despite the fact that the torch advertised that it heats up to 2000 degrees, it's not going to work. By the time the tip started really heating up, the fuel was almost out. So, off to find another, hotter burning torch. I saw several at Home Depot that I think would work for around $30 when I was looking for cannisters of butane (they sell butane torches but no butane *scratches head*). I've got the butane, the silver solder paste, the extra set of "hands" with a magnifying glass for holding pieces while I'm soldering, all I need is a new torch and I can put together the moonstone buttons for the Council Velvet, AND get the wire frame for the Requiem cloak clasp soldered together and ready for PMC (which I'll probably wait to get until after Christmas).
I sat down and sketched out the butterfly clasp to get a better understanding of the placement of things. I had the shapes down when I put the wire frame together, but sketching it out really helps me figure out how things fit together. I'll do the same for Galadriel's brooch eventually. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll secure the mother of pearl disc to the thing. I'm thinking I'll have to make some prongs from wire in key places on the back and set it like I would a stone. A little jewelry glue on the prongs probably wouldn't hurt either.
While I'm sketching, I should hash out the design for the etching on the yoke of the surcoat for the Council Velvet. I'm hoping to get my navy habotai before the end of the week. Also hoping to get that swatch of charcoal grey velvet so I can make a decision on that tomorrow and order it (or more dye, one of the two, I'm really hoping the velvet works instead though). I've been really apathetic about working on that stuff this week, but I have to pick back up on it or else it's not going to be done. . . again. 15 days until Indy. I don't think it will take long to redo my undergown, maybe a night of work since I'm not cutting out multiple layers and having to sew those together first this time. Then just set in the sleeves and sew on the neckline and I can start work on sewing the trim on. But while I'm waiting on that to get here, I really should be working on the Council Velvet. REALLY! It's just hard to get motivated this week. I'm so tired all the time. Taking echinacea, trying to keep from getting sick. Maybe I can have the undertunic put together before the end of the weekend.
I won the other trim I was watching on ebay, so I paid for both today. Hopefully they'll get here next week and I can make the mantles for us too. He's got another trim up there that I want sooooo bad! But not for costuming, just to have, maybe put on something "normal" if I ever get around to my normal stuff. But I must be good, he's probably got more, or even if he doesn't will have something just as fabulous up later. And then you guys and all the green gown materials, right there in front of me, all I have to do is click "buy". Puh! Not going to do it. If it's not there when I'm ready, I'll either find something else, or I just won't get around to that one.
Chris got onto me on Tuesday with how much I spend on this stuff. Nuts to him though, this week he bought a massive server case (holds 14 drives and has 2 power supplies!! I call it MCP, heh) and a robotic vacuum cleaner (worries me that it's from a company called iRobot and they make robots for the government, at least it doesn't talk like Pierce Brosnan, or we'd be in trouble). I assured him that bills get paid and money set aside for food and gas and extras, long before I consider what I can spend on my hobbies. He's just concerned because this is the first paycheck he's put in our joint bank account (after 5 years of being together, we finally set one up when we bought our car in May, but we haven't been using it as such until now). Also because it's the week of payday, my money is getting low, but that's normal, I make poverty wages (grrrr to my employer). But I know how to keep track of my own money, I have been for quite a long time now, he's just never seen my spending habits this closely before.
And at the same time the above thousand thoughts are running through my head, I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts. The past two years, I've started early in the holiday season wanting to make jewelry for everyone. But, never quite being able to pull it off, every year around December 1st, I gave up and started buying gifts. This year, I'm actually going through with it, starting by getting the stuff for the first couple tomorrow. I've got four paychecks between now and Christmas. Every paycheck, I'll get a little more of the materials I need. I'm making watches for everyone in my family. Pocket watches for all the men, beaded bracelet watches for some of the younger women and pendant/necklace watches for the matriarchs and those that I've noticed don't wear things on their hands. I've worked out color schemes and design themes for the bracelets already. In fact, I've picked out the faces and clasps I'll use on them. Those will be the two I start with. *sigh* I don't want to think about Christmas yet.
I sat down and sketched out the butterfly clasp to get a better understanding of the placement of things. I had the shapes down when I put the wire frame together, but sketching it out really helps me figure out how things fit together. I'll do the same for Galadriel's brooch eventually. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll secure the mother of pearl disc to the thing. I'm thinking I'll have to make some prongs from wire in key places on the back and set it like I would a stone. A little jewelry glue on the prongs probably wouldn't hurt either.
While I'm sketching, I should hash out the design for the etching on the yoke of the surcoat for the Council Velvet. I'm hoping to get my navy habotai before the end of the week. Also hoping to get that swatch of charcoal grey velvet so I can make a decision on that tomorrow and order it (or more dye, one of the two, I'm really hoping the velvet works instead though). I've been really apathetic about working on that stuff this week, but I have to pick back up on it or else it's not going to be done. . . again. 15 days until Indy. I don't think it will take long to redo my undergown, maybe a night of work since I'm not cutting out multiple layers and having to sew those together first this time. Then just set in the sleeves and sew on the neckline and I can start work on sewing the trim on. But while I'm waiting on that to get here, I really should be working on the Council Velvet. REALLY! It's just hard to get motivated this week. I'm so tired all the time. Taking echinacea, trying to keep from getting sick. Maybe I can have the undertunic put together before the end of the weekend.
I won the other trim I was watching on ebay, so I paid for both today. Hopefully they'll get here next week and I can make the mantles for us too. He's got another trim up there that I want sooooo bad! But not for costuming, just to have, maybe put on something "normal" if I ever get around to my normal stuff. But I must be good, he's probably got more, or even if he doesn't will have something just as fabulous up later. And then you guys and all the green gown materials, right there in front of me, all I have to do is click "buy". Puh! Not going to do it. If it's not there when I'm ready, I'll either find something else, or I just won't get around to that one.
Chris got onto me on Tuesday with how much I spend on this stuff. Nuts to him though, this week he bought a massive server case (holds 14 drives and has 2 power supplies!! I call it MCP, heh) and a robotic vacuum cleaner (worries me that it's from a company called iRobot and they make robots for the government, at least it doesn't talk like Pierce Brosnan, or we'd be in trouble). I assured him that bills get paid and money set aside for food and gas and extras, long before I consider what I can spend on my hobbies. He's just concerned because this is the first paycheck he's put in our joint bank account (after 5 years of being together, we finally set one up when we bought our car in May, but we haven't been using it as such until now). Also because it's the week of payday, my money is getting low, but that's normal, I make poverty wages (grrrr to my employer). But I know how to keep track of my own money, I have been for quite a long time now, he's just never seen my spending habits this closely before.
And at the same time the above thousand thoughts are running through my head, I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts. The past two years, I've started early in the holiday season wanting to make jewelry for everyone. But, never quite being able to pull it off, every year around December 1st, I gave up and started buying gifts. This year, I'm actually going through with it, starting by getting the stuff for the first couple tomorrow. I've got four paychecks between now and Christmas. Every paycheck, I'll get a little more of the materials I need. I'm making watches for everyone in my family. Pocket watches for all the men, beaded bracelet watches for some of the younger women and pendant/necklace watches for the matriarchs and those that I've noticed don't wear things on their hands. I've worked out color schemes and design themes for the bracelets already. In fact, I've picked out the faces and clasps I'll use on them. Those will be the two I start with. *sigh* I don't want to think about Christmas yet.
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no subject
on 2005-11-03 08:05 pm (UTC)Hee hee, nice subject line!
J'yer gedda ferda redderarrar!
on 2005-11-03 08:59 pm (UTC)"No, Lisa. The only monster here is the gambling monster that has enslaved your mother! I call him Gamblor! And it's time to snatch your mother from his neon claws!"
"You made her cry. Then I cried. Then Maggie laughed, she's such a little trooper."
Re: J'yer gedda ferda redderarrar!
on 2005-11-03 09:06 pm (UTC)We dressed my husband, then fiance, up as Ralph Wiggam for a Halloween party a few years ago. He had a piece of paper pinned to his front that said "Idaho"! No one got it. Ah well.
Re: J'yer gedda ferda redderarrar!
on 2005-11-03 09:18 pm (UTC)"and that's where I saw the leprechaun. . . he told me to burn things"
Re: J'yer gedda ferda redderarrar!
on 2005-11-03 09:28 pm (UTC)Re: J'yer gedda ferda redderarrar!
on 2005-11-03 11:25 pm (UTC)"I just made Bart in my pants!"
Re: J'yer gedda ferda redderarrar!
on 2005-11-04 02:40 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-11-03 09:04 pm (UTC)You and me both.
no subject
on 2005-11-03 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-11-04 12:59 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-11-04 02:42 am (UTC)trim
on 2005-11-03 10:46 pm (UTC)please dont mention xmas. i have no idea what im gonna do, as i have decided to *not* make any gifts this year.
Re: trim
on 2005-11-03 11:06 pm (UTC)meh, you'll figure something out for xmas, there's plenty of time if you're not making it. we did decide not to build any computers for anyone this year, jebus that was a pain last year!