September Chat thread

[#1]

Welcome metalsmiths ( or should I say "metalworkers"?)
If your name isn't on the list, head over to the Introduce Yourself thread and follow the instructions there please :-)

AbellaBlue = Jessica
AlegraJewelry = Vicki
AlexSharDesigns = Gaynor
AlisonMooreDesigns = Ally
anidem = Jesse
artdi = Diana
AZBluerockers = Mary Lou
bagsnstuff = Dianna
BeatrizFortes = Beatriz
BellaBijouJewellery = Jaime
BellaBijouToo = Jaime
bddesigns= Christen
bijoutery = Jen, Jennifer, or bijoutery
Brokentreasures= Amanda
Brontotheroocity= James L.
cabbingrough = LauraH
CGWhitfield = CG, or Cliff
CharOuellette = Char
Chrissilynn2=Chrissi
Chrissicabs=Chrissi
corybethy = Cory
DaisiemaiCreations = Janea
DaVineJewelry = Danielle
DiemDesignsJewelry = Sarah Jo (CarpeDiemGems)
DominicanLounge= Alpha
Doxallodesigns = Janice
Doxallostudio = Janice
Duffy Designs= Duffy
Eklektisch = Cole
Elementaldesigns= Denise
EmilyWiserJewelry = Emily
Epiphany of a Dragonfly = Wanda
evelynjewelry = Evelyn
evittscreekarts= Lois
ericafreestone = Erica
EyemaginationRSB = Robin
FiliGraceJewelry = Grace
fix8ion = Tammy
FoldAndSpindle = Mike
FoxyGirlBoutique = Melissa
GirlLovesGlitter = Lilian
HappyTortoiseSupply = Jason
Hartleystudio = Ann
HRBeaDesign = Heather
InbarBareket = Inbar
JackStones = Jack
JaneaPauline = Janea
JazznJewelry = Kathy
JelliesJewelry = Jack
JenniferCasady = Jen or Jennifer
Jewelrytutorials = Janice
JonesingforJewelry = Carin
KarlaWheelerDesign = Karla
karmahjean = Karen
kiliari = Raina
KimberlyBellDesigns = Kim
KimVGlass = Kim V
KitandCaboodleShop = Gayle
KriksSilver = Kristie
lamazonian = Vema
LauraRoberson= Laura
LeahBestDesigns=Leah
Lilnut = Caroline
litapsilverj = Lita
Lovebuttonsca = Laura
lsueszabo = Sue
Luxedesignworkshop = Peg
MarcusBerknerJewelry = Marcus
Markaplan = Mark
mattjohnsondesigns =Matt
Maythenwolfbane= Nicole
Metalluxe = Peg
MieleMelograno = Liz
MissToryDesigns = Lina
novadesigns = Tess
novaofsweden = Tess
NRjewellerydesign = Nikki
OrmanaDesign = Katya
OverThinkingIt = Bree
Ppennee = Pennee
PureDichotomy = Wendy
RadianTrace = Ronnie
Ranchiquita = Becki
rockaholic=Peggy
sbevisdesigns = sue
ScrapMetal = Addie
ShireJewelry = Lisa
SilverBlueberry = Esmeralda
SilverLinesJewelry = Jenny
SilverMade Studio = Teresa
silvermaven= Carol and Jackie
StoneBeautiful = Jenn
StoneTemple = Mark
SToNZ = Susan
SugarCity = Grace
thebutterflygirl = Veronika
TheSpeeceCollection = Pat
ThirteenGems=Melissa
tinkertown = Sue (tinkerSue)
Treasuregypsy = Darcy
TreeFrogJewelry = Sheryl
TwoSilverMoons = Birgit
UntwistedSister=Terri
valerietyler = Valerie
verysmallbird = Heather
VillainAccessories = Brandi
VisionQuest = kim or VQ
WednesdaysDesign= Kristina (Wednesday)
wpcardenas= Wanda
2trickpony = Rachel
3sweetpeasjewelry = Gina

[Former_Member]

female metalsmiths have the advantage of being able to make big ol' rings and bracelets to draw attention away from their grubby scarred hands.

[Former_Member]

don't know weebly.

rachel, maybe ask jaime?

are you looking just for hosting, or tools for building the site as well? what are your goals for the site?

i have a relatively new site, but it still needs work, and i haven't found time for it. i need to work on my product line and photos first. if only there were a few more hours in the day, and a few more days in the week....

[BodeesJewelry]

My poor hands look horrible. My nails always look like I've been digging in the dirt and the stains in them have to be bleached out!

[lsueszabo]

my hands are awful. the sad thing is, i have to work at my day job touching patients. sometimes i have hands that look filthy although i've washed them. esp. if i've been blacksmithing. i am always apologizing to pts about the way my hands look. i sometimes wonder if a few of them would prefer that i not touch them.
i'll go highlight that post esme, good idea. yes, please convo ann or me with any questions so we can get this blog thing started. remember, we are NOT playing "stump the chumps". haha

[hartleystudio]

HAHAHAHA!!!! Yes, please don't stump the chumps!!!

OK, I have a solution to the hand problem. Ben's hands are awful. People, strangers, actually ask him what's wrong with his skin sometimes. Part of the problem is that he has clubbed fingers (Yes, Sue, he has seen a Dr for a full workup, his heart is fine.) and they are completely horribly filthy. I got him these:

http://www.leevalley.com/us/garden/page.aspx?c=&p=10259&cat=2,42551

and the problem is gone. I use them on jewelry to get polishing compound out, on my hands and the kids. I use them on veggies too. They are super excellent, I can't say enough good things about them. And,...they are CHEAP!!!

[lsueszabo]

i love my nail brushes. i have them everywhere including my office desk drawer. for seriously cracked hands there is a rx cream that is THE thing that will heal them (besides time). the prescription is called Lac-Hydrin cream but you need a doc to give it to you.
the condition in which you have severely dry and deeply fissured fingers (esp in the cold months) is called dishydrosis., once again, i thought you should all be bogged down with useless information. haha

[StoneyCharms]

when i want clean hands i wash dishes. ;)

can't believe you did mortar without gloves cg. lol.

[2TrickPony]

I think cg is really a bear.

[StoneyCharms]

thankfully, i'm okay with dirty hands. ;)

[StoneyCharms]

maybe the first metal's question could be, what's the best bandaid?

[lsueszabo]

OMG rachel, you're right! , cg IS a bear. a tough 'ole grizzly on the outside and a teddy on the inside. hehe.

[Former_Member]

chris, asked and answered. where you been??

[Former_Member]

i have done thorough market research - nothing even comes close.

[lsueszabo]

if i get asked that erga, i;m stealing your answer :)

[Former_Member]

T. Sue - quite the treasure!
Susan Wix VERY pro looking, your getting quite skilled with this stuff, eh?
Chrissilyn, love the natural look of the dino bone cab. Hope you didn't lose much material in ca'bing it.

I've just been scrambling around gathering credit references for my hopefully new supplier. In the meantime silver prices are rising every minute. Grrr.

At work, in the last year or so, I've been using masking tape for my own wounds. Our well stocked first aid kit is full of wonderful stuff but it doesn't STICK.

[Former_Member]

erga says
i have done thorough market research - nothing even comes close.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

small strip of duct tape with square of folded toilet paper under affected area.

i wont lie to you... people will laugh

[Former_Member]

hmm... an interesting thought. i can see how the duct tape would have the desired level of stickability, but i have to question the level of breathability.

not only do these suckers stay on, wounds actually heal well under them.

i should be getting paid to do this. at least some free bandaids, no??

[Former_Member]

>>> but i have to question the level of breathability

i consider gangrene just another step in the healing process

[StoneyCharms]

hi erga! lol. yes, you did answer that question.

maybe etsy metal can sell google ad spots for bandaids, cleaners and air fresheners?

*just trying to be helpful. ;)*

[hartleystudio]

the prescription is called Lac-Hydrin cream but you need a doc to give it to you.

************

There's a freaking cream?? Really? We suffer all winter and there's a cream? Seriously, Ben and I are in agony all winter...we get those horrible cracks in the same spot every year and they are unbelievably painful for their size. This warrants a trip to the Dr. Thanks Sue!!!!

[hartleystudio]

maybe etsy metal can sell google ad spots for bandaids, cleaners and air fresheners?

***********

Air fresheners? Are we farty in our studios??? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

*sorry* I have an 8 year old and the fart humor seems to have taken hold here.

[lsueszabo]

bathroom humor never left me. dh says i have the sense of humor of your average 6th grader (i take that as a compliment).
yes ann- there is a cream and it totally works. here's the deal, you want to get started with it either just as the cracks are starting or even before to prevent them. you can use it once they are really bad but it stings alot i am told until some healing takes place in the fissures. not stingy at all if you don't let them get that deep.

[Former_Member]

ah, yes, good ol' gangrene...

----

while on the topic of sophisticated senses of humor, i will confess to having giggled at tsue's sunken treasure article (this one: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/09/27/treasure-worth-150m-found-in-atlantic-shipwreck-... ), because it said "poop deck." hehe. still funny.

[hartleystudio]

MY SON TOTALLY BUSTED A GUT OVER THE POOP DECK THING!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!! We are all awesome, aren't we??

Thanks Sue, I'm going to get some. No more suffering. Those buggers hurt!

[cgwhitfield]

On a generator, powerlines down just near my property. Should be back on in an hour or so. In the meantime since I don't have an electric shovel, guess what I've been doing?

Not a bear. Mortar never really bothered me that much, just that since my wrist was sore if a little extra was needed somewhere I'd grab it with my hands. My version of the five second rule, do it quick enough and there's not problem. Just being dumb.