A big block of chocolate!

Here is the block of chocolate that I ate today. Yum. It was good!
OK, it's not chocolate, it's clay. And though it looks good enough to eat, let me tell you... I hate this clay. It's groggy and sandy and grainy and when I slice through it with a knife it sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I'm a porcelain gal through and through. Smooth, creamy, white porcelain - so silky I could spread it on a bagel and eat it. But... I've had this bag of clay for a few years now so I decided to channel my inner Lisa Peters and see what I could do with it. I didn't do much, let me tell you. I made some pieces, but I am leaning heavily towards the garbage can with them. I'll see how they clean up and then I'll decide if they will see the light of day. I have a hard time being earthy, I admit it.

I spent the whole day in the studio and it was wonderful. All the ideas I have had brewing for a while came to fruition and I am very pleased with the outcome (aside from the groggy clay bits). And just to clarify a few things - I am not closing the Extra shop for good. I am just getting rid of everything I have made thus far and starting over completely. I will never make any of those old pieces again - I am starting fresh and new. The goal will be to have new pieces every time I update the shop. No repeats, no replications. I may do variations of certain pieces but for the most part they will be new and unique each and every time. This will serve several purposes. 1. It will be a personal challenge to see if I can come up with new pieces every month. 2. I won't get bored and want to commit bead-rage murders. 3. It will make EVERYONE'S work more unique. Since there will only be a limited number of pieces in each style available only that many people will be able to make jewelry with those components. I quite like that idea! Don't you?
Anyway, today was devoted to making new pieces for YOU! And I made some real humdingers, if I do say so myself. Tomorrow will be all about me and jewelry, my true love.

I will leave you with the above photo to ponder. It's a picture of a fresh plaster wedging table that we poured last week at the studio. It was quite a mess, let me tell you, with some real Lucy and Ethel moments. Once we were done we discussed how long we need to keep the students from using the table since it will take a while for the plaster to fully cure. I left before a time-frame was established and came in today to see this sign taped across the table. "Do not use for a very long time." Nothing like being specific. For some reason, this really cracks me up. :)