Mixing Keith O’Connor‘s raku beads with my own silver beads, I finally figured out what I wanted to do for my first necklace using some pieces of English sea glass that I spent the last few days drilling.

The whole time I was drilling I imagined combining these greens with freshwater pearls. I strung and restrung a series of combinations, but nothing seemed right. Surprisingly, a necklace of all sea glass seemed too “blah” this afternoon. I ended up going back to my asymmetric comfort zone, and included some of the ceramic beads I’ve had on hand.

I just love this sea glass and can’t wait to drill more and come up with more designs. I know I’ll find a way to use the pearls with it; today just wasn’t the day.

The competitors:

The big cheese car was my favorite!

Rick Alley, official starter.

Melissa Amuso, official score keeper:

Rick Gaither and Bruce Fernald, finish line judges:

An instant replay was needed to determine the final race!

Good times at the Islesford Neighborhood House on a snowy Saturday. Thanks to the Amuso family and Rob Benson’s Boy Scout Troup for a fun event!

As in today. I paid bills, balanced checkbooks, and drilled more sea glass. Not much to say about that.

There was one remarkable part of the day. At 11 a.m. with temperatures in the 40′s, Cindy Thomas and I decided it was a good chance to take our February Dip of the Month. (It is supposed to get cold again over the weekend and she is going away soon.) Doesn’t this look deceptively inviting?

It was actually a little more breezy than we planned on, and the water was only 36°.  Shockingly cold. We did not feel the need go back in for a double dip!

Today was the day to work out the bugs in my sea glass drilling technique. I knew I would have to go more slowly than on my first attempts. Unlike most of the rocks I drill, which are pretty hardy, glass does not like to be shocked. Even though I drilled slowly and lightly, one of the first pieces cracked this morning. I realized I was working in a cold basement, with glass submerged under cold water (to keep the drill bit cool) and I started to think it might be a good idea to try warmer water for my sea glass pieces. The warm water seemed to help a little. No more cracking, but progress was slow.

Bruce stopped in after his morning of painting buoys in his own shop. We talked about drilling, shocking glass, etc. He asked if I ever used oil as a coolant for the drill. He thought it would be a better lubricant than water. (He is always trying to help me find ways to be more productive, which I almost always appreciate.)

I tried drilling a batch of glass submerged in canola oil. I noticed several differences between the water and the oil. Water becomes cloudy right away while drilling, and I dump it out and refresh it with each rock I drill. The oil did not become as cloudy, and I was able to drill 4 or 5 pieces before having to dump it out and add fresh. In drilling glass, the drill bits lasted much longer with the oil than they did with the water.

I drill rocks and glass about 2/3 of the way through and then start drilling from the other side to meet up with the original hole. I’ve gotten pretty good at it with rocks, though it still is a kind of “blind” drilling. I never know if I’m quite lined up right, and sometimes I’m off. I had some unexpected help in this area when using oil and sea glass. As I poured oil on the pieces I had lined up, the glass became more transparent, yet the hole coming up from the bottom remained frosty.  I could see the exact point I wanted to meet to complete the hole through the center of the piece of glass.

I had been worried about the glass cracking as the drill pushed through to the first hole, but I was able to see clearly just when I needed to slow down and “finesse” my way through.

Somewhere during my afternoon off island I lost that “perfect” feeling. By the time I got home again at 5:30, I was suffering a major RMD. (Rapid mood deterioration.) Life just seemed so rough, sad, and annoying. For no reason at all. That’s the confusing part. My mind knows there is nothing wrong, nothing to worry about. But my heart…

Sometimes, re-entry just isn’t smooth.

Good thing I get to wake up again tomorrow morning, in my own bed, and have a whole day to spend in my studio. That’s my plan. New day, new mood.

It was not quite as easy as I had imagined. I drill beach rocks all the time, but I drill sea glass much less frequently. Of the 9 pieces of sea glass I partially drilled, 3 of them split or cracked. I tried two different kinds of diamond drill bits. One a core bit and one a solid bit. I have a feeling I’m going to have to practice much more patience when drilling this sea glass; slowing down even more than I think I need to. I don’t have a feel for which bit works better, or if it makes any difference at all.

Strange that the piece above cracked on perpendicular planes, yet did not break apart. I tried dropping it on the counter, dropping it on the floor, and then throwing it on the floor. It did not break. I’ll see what happens on Thursday when I drill the last third of the hole, starting from the opposite end of the glass. Even if it doesn’t break, the cracked lines through it are not very attractive.

I think I have more to learn about this than I originally thought I would. Okay then. An unplanned learning curve. Bring it! The glass is gorgeous and I want to drill it and use it.

At Robin and Stephanie’s, the ache is softened by being with family and being surrounded by so much artwork that is either a familiar scene, or created by an island friend.

The event was over by 11 p.m. and we think this young lady might have been able to make it to the second half of her Homecoming dance….

Riders had names like:  Stormy Wing, Dakota beck, Cord McCoy, and Tater Porter. Bruce’s favorite, and second place winner was:

At the end of the night, on the way home, Stephanie said, “That’s the most culture I’ve seen in a long time.”

We’re spending the day today getting ready for the Superbowl, brewing beer (Robin) and getting our “look” ready for the next PBR event.

(I gave all these tiny nuns away before I started using tiny toys as props in my photos. I haven’t found any since, but I am always on the look out!)

And I was right in the middle of a book….

Has anyone else ever seen this screen on their Kindle? I’m still trying to figure it out. www.kindle.com/support does not have a little section entitled “Your Kindle needs repair.”

Meanwhile, we had a very easy flight to Baltimore and we’re about to have a delicious dinner of Fettuccine with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts. I love visiting our kids!