Moving

Thank you all for checking out my blog. It can now be found at www.drybranchranch.com

Thank you again

Changes

I'm in the process of redoing my website and moving this blog there. I will let everyone know as soon as it is up. Thanks

Trial and ERROR

Today in my quest to use as much of the object as possible I had a fabulous idea to use the watch bands that were still in good condition. I decided to use polymer clay and parts from other watches to fill the face area. I even put the back on the first two I did so everything would stay inside. 

Great idea, right?

WRONG!

Apparently the clay expands slightly while baking. The first two I did popped the fronts off while baking. Oh, well. I painted them with liquid polymer and rebaked them. It still looks cool and that's the important thing.So that problem was fixed.

But while I was baking those first two, I made another. Since I didn't know about the expanding of the clay, I tried to put the back on that one too. Note that I said "tried." For some reason, it refused to go on. So being the engineering genius I am, I grabbed a flat pliers and tried to force it back. That was not the best course of action. I heard a nice loud crack and looked to see that I had cracked the glass. And yes, I still kept trying to squeeze the back on but eventually gave up.

So now I had two with fronts and no backs and one that had neither a front or back.

Only two more to go. Ok, since putting the back on before baking pushed the front out, I decided to just put the clay in the front and leave the back off, hoping to put it on after baking. 

I baked the last two and everything looked great. I set everything aside to cool. A few hours later I picked up one of the bracelets. It looked great no problems. I finally had success. But of course the back will not fit. Not too big of a problem. I can make that work.

I then picked up the last one. It came up easily enough but when I looked down, there was the clay. Still sitting on my cooling rack. Back to the drawing board. I think a bit of liquid poly and maybe some metal glue will fix it. 

And then I will have 5 beautiful new bracelets and no one will ever know they didn't turn out exactly as planned. Then again, does anything ever work perfectly the first time? As long as you keep going learn from those tries, things will end up great.

The End of the World, and I Feel Fine

Have you ever noticed that the first thing that happens when someone is suspected of a violent crime is that they go through their internet records? 

It's not that I have anything to hide but I would hate to have to answer their questions if they ever searched mine. Over the past few weeks I have searches about how to make paper casings for bullets and various torture methods, just to name a few.

Some are just natural curiosity, albeit a bit morbid, and some is actual research. Apparently when you are writing about zombie children, shape-shifting leopards and a post apocalyptic South Carolina things can get a bit strange. 

I just want to assure everyone that I am not planning to take over the world, overthrow the government or commit any acts of mass violence, no matter what my internet searches may indicate. It is only the voices in my head that want to do those things. And I am trying to get those voices onto paper as quickly as possible where they cannot cause any harm to anyone.

But then again, I may not be as harmless as I seem. Remember the pen is mightier than the sword. Tick me off and you may just end up in my next book!

Old wishes and dreams

I was looking through some old writings and came across this - 


A moonlight wish sent upon the sea
That my true love will soon appear to me.
A man that is gentle, patient & kind
With a rock n' roll heart & intelligent mind.
A chivalrous knight, charming & brave
To share a love that will last till the grave.
A love that will bring a child with stars in it's eyes,
Whose dreams will reach as high as the skys.
For my family & friends I wish happiness & health,
And please let my writing bring a little fame & some wealth.
I have one last request which to me means a lot,
Let me always be thankful for all that I've got.

Valentine's Day Steampunk

Copper flower cuff

Copper flower hair clip

Peek a boo owl pendant

Romantic dreams paperweight

Gadgets and gizmos paperweight

I spent my Valentine's Day doing my favorite thing. I just wanted to share what I made. One thing I love is that there is never any total mistakes. 

On the bottom paperweight I used the inside electronics from a singing card. I stripped the wire and glued it down. That caused the slate to take on a glossy look in that area. So when I had everything glued down, I took a toothpick and spread glue on the whole surface so it was glossy all over. Of course I did manage to glue the toothpick to my hand and the smell was so strong I had to open the window but it looked cool! And besides, gluing my fingers together is a pretty common occurrence while I'm making things.  

Procrastination at it's finest

Since I invited you into my world, I'm going to do my best not to hide anything. Or at least anything important. There are some things I don't even want to tell myself. 

Right now I am ready to confess my guilt wholeheartedly. I procrastinate. I will make sure I've read all my Facebook updates, got all my Slotomania bonuses and check Etsy for sales every few minutes.

Despite that, I do get work done. I get my jewelry made, plants planted, Avon delivered, photos taken and words edited. Plus all the fun business tasks that go along with them. Though sometimes I wonder how. I have given up my Farmville farm because the real one takes enough of my time.
 
And this year I am more organized than ever before. I need to be since I'm busier than ever before. Now hopefully by the end of the year I will also be richer than ever before. Actually, I really would settle for getting by with a little breathing room. 


Now it's time to go back to work and see if I can get two chapters finished tonight. Wish me luck. And if you need me, you know where to find me. Facebook! LOL