Each tile is almost 1.5″ square.  The last tiles were set in polymer clay and I’m still kicking around in my head how to finish them in a higher end setting. Currently on the drawing board is Bronzclay.

The good news is that I have everything I need to make that happen. The bad news is, that  little thing called a learning curve. I’m going in with the attitude, “how hard can it be?” After all, I’m certified in precious metal clay. Did I mention that that certification was in 1999 and I haven’t done anything with it since? I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it is meant to be and that it will come as easily as this process shockingly has.

This one still needs to go through the kiln process but I think it’s pretty nifty. One thing I like about these pieces are the designs. Just like with polymer clay caning, it isn’t as easy as putting color down. Notice all that black outlining? That is key to the designs. The black lines are rows of tiny tiny tiny black stringer a fraction of the size of the color chips being used. Crazy, I know, but I. JUST. LOVE. IT.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I came across his work through a post from John Mayer’s tumblr site today. David S. Smith is doing the artwork for one of John Mayer’s singles. Not many more days until the release of his long awaited next album.  (cd?) What the heck do you call it now that it is neither an album NOR a cd? DA? Digital album? Whatever it is…I have been waiting a LONG time for this…his is probably my all-time favorite musical artist.

Check this out…you can listen to the entire album for free before you decide if you want to buy it or not. Just click away at this link. I don’t know how it works if you don’t use iTunes but there it is. Be sure to listen to tracks one and three.

The main benefit I’ve experienced is reclamation (is that a word?) of time. I don’t get sucked into mindless surfing which means I have more time to do other things that I enjoy and ARE productive…like making things both in the studio and the kitchen. I also don’t feel rushed because I’m not trying to squeeze more time in because I wasted it on Facebook or the internet.

It has caused me to blog a bit more (I have three other blogs) and I like that. I could be better at that too.

I feel more focused on my “real” life because I’m not thinking about my “virtual” life. I feel bad saying that because many of my friends are mostly online with occasional face-to-faces through the year…online is how we banter and interact. But, when I think about it…my face to face friends? I would never spend as much time with them as I do with y’all on Facebook so get over it.  :o) We’ll see each other soon enough, right? No, it is never soon enough.

So, those things are pretty obvious, right? But you can’t know what I’m talking about unless you experience it for yourself. And you can’t experience it the way that I do unless you feel you spend too much time online/facebooking to where you have an inkling that maybe it’s not such a good thing.  And really, you can’t experience it like I do no matter what you think because everyone has their own experiences that are unique to them.  Whew. Ok, off this computer and on with the rest of the day.

p.s. do you like the photo of one of my bouquet beads taken by David Orr? Now I want THAT kind of set up! Ahhhhhh. The dream of being good at everything.  ::sigh::