this is how my afternoon began.  yes.  it’s true. the mail ACTUALLY arrived this way.  needless to say, it was all disasters ALL the time after that.  have you ever had one of those days in the studio?  where the studio gods just decide that they are going to have a laugh at your expense?

bad news:

1.  etching was a disaster.  i had planned on etching 35 necklaces today.  total etched today - zero.  the resist that i use, pnp, was just NOT going to adhere to the silver today.  no sir.

2.  liver of sulfur mystery.  normally, oxidizing silver is a breeze.  i soak the pieces in liver of sulfer, burnish, and voila!  this was not the case today.  i soaked and burnished, repeated. . . and repeated . . . and repeated.  the oxidization was uneven, or not happening at all.  sigh.

3.  also on the scheduled list of things to do:  photograph new work to show you!  but alas, it is quite dark out already and this will have to wait until tomorrow.

good news:

1.  i received my very first sampler in the mail! (undamaged)  pictures to come shortly!

2.  the aforementioned “new work”!  hint:  black and gold

3.  the birthday contest winner will be drawn tonight!

so i suppose it all balances out doesn’t it?  see you tonight with the name of the winner.  hurry everyone! you’ve still got some time.