The Making and The Being

Some days in the studio, when things go just the way I will them to, when my saw makes my silver sing, when metal responds to fire without melting (except when I want it to), when solder flows and parts align... some days in the studio are really, really good.

Yesterday was one of those days.

It's hard to describe the feeling of seeing something I imagined, and then sketched, coming to... be. And some days it all happens so effortlessly.

Yesterday, I finished this ring. 

It's hard to say which part feels better: the act of creating a thing, or holding it in your hands afterwards and basking in "I made this..."

Sterling and New Mexico Apache Rhyolite. 

Size 8.5 (wears best on a middle finger) and available in the shop now. 

A little preview...

I haven't decided yet whether this one will be going in the shop or staying on my wrist, but I most definitely will be making more of these. What I really wanted was a version with wider leather, but this was what I had on hand last night:

Over six feet of sterling chain, leather, and stone. Can also be worn as a necklace (wrapped twice and left long, or wrapped three times for a shorter style).  Now that's versatility, baby!

Yesterday, a certain someone brought it to my attention that I don't have the story of the name "Buffalo Lucy" anywhere on my site... So, I have remedied that and you can now find the story (or non-story, as the case may be) behind my moniker in my About section.

I'm off to bed. Night-night!

Simple Things

Well here I am. Blogging. The ultimate act of egotism. I guess that settles it; I'm officially a narcissist. That's okay, I can still live with myself.

I decided to start this blog as a chronicle of my latest venture. My new year's resolution this year, which was actually made a few months ago, is to devote more time to being creative. Last year was filled to the brim with parenting, work-stress, and illness (both kids were hospitalized on separate occasions and we lost count of the colds and flus--can "flu" be pluralized?-- that invaded our big old drafty house). It seemed like there was no time for creativity. I felt myself, my self, drifting away. So while those last-year things are certainly not going anywhere (though I could do without the illness!), this year I need to also prioritize time to nourish my creative side, so I can be a better wife, mother, and employee.

So... thanks to my lovely wife (affectionately known around here as Foxy!), who for Christmas supplied me with the tools and space I needed to furnish my studio, I am taking back up a hobby I dabbled in years ago and then let fall by the wayside when "life" got in the way: silversmithing.

I am so very excited! I've already found that on days when I spend time in the studio, I am a better person. Even when my studio time is frustrating (like when I can't get my solder to flow!), I'm happier and bouncier when I emerge.

So far I've only completed one thing. I'm having some torch issues. And I fell down the stairs last week and hurt my back so I can't even sit at my bench (oops!). So, for now, this is all I've done. Basically just a soldering experiment. With the function of keeping my too-big wedding band in place (I can't bear to part with it long enough to get it sized). So here it is. A simple sterling band with a matte finish:

And here it is with my wedding ring (which I did
not make!)

Now I'm just waiting for the pain in my back to subside enough that I can return to my studio. I've been sketching and am eager to translate my drawings into metal. I'm also excitedly looking forward to a soldering workshop I've signed up for on the 20th of this month. They'll be using the same torch I'm thinking of investing in (my big one is too big and my tiny one is too tiny), so it will give me a chance to try it out first.

And hopefully I'll be able to finish soldering the necklace I'm making for Foxy's birthday on the 22nd. Shhh...

This is where I'd promise not to be so wordy in future posts. But I know I can't promise that. I don't talk much. But I write a lot.