Solder for the soul

It's strange to have spent such an amazing summer so focused on my craft and then step back into real life and the task of earning a living!

Shortly after my summer trip I booked a new show on Broadway, CHAPLIN, THE MUSICAL. Being in production for a show leaves little time for anything else for several weeks. We open on Monday night and today was the first day I had up in my shop for about a month.

Cleaning away the cobwebs took on a literal meaning! While I was away Charlotte's offspring seemed to have taken up residence under my work table and hatched hundreds of tiny little baby spiders that scattered and scurried across my table the entire time I was working!  Spiders included it was a terrific day spent. I could feel the cloud that had been forming in my head slowly disperse as I swept the floor, turned on the torch, refreshed the flux and pondered what would be created.

I didn't actually finish the piece I started because I spent quite a long time being overwhelmed by the possibilities. After three weeks in the tumbler my rocks were ready to go!  Dear friends of mine had spent their annual holiday on the Greek island Lefkas (or Lefkada) which is covered with naturally tumbled stones.

In between ocean dips and sunning they were willing to gather rocks for me!

Tumble, tumble, tumble and they are polished to a beautiful shine!

I decided on a ring using a white stone with dark gray veins to be set in a saw tooth bezel resting on a square of textured silver.  Of course I looked at the clock and had to choose between snapping a picture of the work in progress or making my bus on time. Reality won out today but I will take some shots next week when I get back to the shop.

Speaking of the shop - these are the fall leaves that were on my path through the woods. Leaces and a big pile of fresh bear doo-doo!