il Processo di Formazione Continua ...

I think this is at 19 courses of raising... or 18.

la Torta di Compleanno Migliore

This cake was my  (tastewise) cake masterpiece.  It was a flourless (read: French) chocolate cake topped with a pecan-laden cheesecake, covered  in butter cream and served with a hot raspberry sauce.

I take the choice out of cake or death.

l'Arte della Tavola... Due

The show was most excellent.

l'Arte della Tavola

I have work in this four day show running today through Sunday the 21st.  If you're in the Milwaukee area, come to the Milwaukee Art Museum and check it out!

Infusore Tè Intergalattico

Iniziare il Processo di Raccolta

I wish I had started taking a picture after every course of raising, so I could have a sweet flip book of magic.  This (for you non-metals people [hi mom and dad!]) started as a disc, and through a mystical process of systematically beating the shit out of it and smoothing it out again, will be a crazy teapot shape!

 After 3 courses.

 After 9 courses.

After 16 courses.

Ballerina Cappuccio/Diadema

For millenary.

Occhiali di Particolare Bellezza

You may recall, dear reader(s) that I started a pair of eyeglasses for myself a while back- well!  Let's just say I'm hella proud.

 Lenses come from bigger, ugly glasses.  :)  I got these from zenni optical, which is an internet optical store.  They're craaaazy thick, but that's to be expected considering the price.  Actually, they were a good choice.  They didn't leave on the measuring lines as I'd asked, but the lenses are perfectly clear and the correct prescription, and that's more than you can ask for at $12 with shipping.

 Obviously a kick ass pair of classes needs a kick ass case.

 This isn't even close to being finished.  Just you wait....

Heck yes!  Too bad I cracked the lens... Doing something I knew would crack the lens...  

But just look how awesome!!!!!!!!!  I REALLY hope my replacement lenses come before the reception for the MAM show so I can wear them.  If not, I'll have them for the preview sale, so at least there's that.

Disegno Esplosione!

Let's learn about gouache! 

L'Infusore Tè Poco che non Sarebbe

Today we have a saga.  It's called 'The Little Tea Infuser That Wouldn't'.  Enjoy.

It starts with a lovely wee hollow form, made of dapping and anticlastic and all sorts of fun forming bits.

 Also lathe bits!  Hurrah!

See the greeblies?  They're off center.  And huge.  And hideous.  I must have offended the tea infuser when I was talking about its greeblies, because after I removed those it started taking suicidal jumps to the floor from time to time.  Knocking out those little dents wasn't too terrible- BUT THEN!

 DISASTER STRIKES!  A flexshaft motor crashed onto this poor little sucker just as I was about to drill the hinge.

 Insurance photos were necessary.  I ended up taking all the solder seams apart, hammering out the dents, and soldering it all back together.  That top rim wasn't as crisp after that.

 Drilling success!  Then it took another dive off the table and I spent half an hour knocking out the dents in the rim.  At this point the infuser was placed in 24 hour suicide watch, and only traveled in a padded tea tin.

All finished and buffed and with a tension rim installed for closure.  It is now at the platers, hopefully not committing suicide, since it is quite lovely in its tumbled state, and will be fantastic in silver.  Next stop- the Milwaukee Art Museum!