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taming the stash

12/29/2013

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Dust is a real problem in Bakersfield; fabrics and other materials often need storage options that will keep the dust out, between projects.  For several years, my stash solution was plastic storage bins, on the studio closet shelf:
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These bins are heavy and awkward; I found myself avoiding sewing projects, just because I didn't want to wrangle the storage bins. So I decided to make a change. 

First, I gave the studio books a new home in another room, to clear the shelf I wanted:
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If I want to store my fabrics on a shelf, I need to transform that shelf into a dust-free cabinet.  I asked Todd for his input; we decided on clear sliding doors.  That way, it would be easy to see what I had on hand.

First, Todd re-purposed some old screen framing into sliding-door tracks:
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We used 5-minute epoxy to fix the tracks to the shelf, top and bottom:
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A double-row of repurposed screen framing, top and bottom, to hold the doors:
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Studio Cat 'helping' with the project:
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While Todd and Studio Cat finished the tracks, I pulled plastic sheets from several old poster frames, to create our sliding doors:
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We measured and marked the plastic, and then cut it to size with the hot knife.  We used a large scrap of old mat board to protect the cut table from the hot knife:
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Once the plastic was cut, it fit right into the tracks, no problem.

After cutting, we used the epoxy to fix that scrap of mat board to the back of the shelf, to keep the dust out.  Then we moved my fabric stash into its new cabinet:
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Now my fabric is eye-level; it's easy to see and reach.  The doors slide to either side,
or can be easily removed and replaced, if necessary.

I don't have to wrangle those heavy fabric bins, any more. 
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This entire project was done in one evening,  with re-purposed materials we had on hand.  Didn't cost a dime.  No more pulling heavy bins down from high shelves.

This project has been approved by Studio Cat.
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MacGyver-gone-Jackass Candles

6/6/2013

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Bring on the wick jokes; we're making candles! 

When we have enough old candle ends saved up, we melt them down to create new candles, with the rescued wax. 
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I braid candle wick with twine left over from Todd's photo shoots:
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Masking tape, twist-ties and rubber bands ...
I like to think MacGyver would be proud:
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Yes, there are a lot of other ways to get the wick to stay put. 
No, I don't want to argue about them. 

While I prep the molds, Todd chops the candle stubs into smaller chunks, removes anything that isn't wax, and creates his own version of a double-boiler--
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--Yes, really:  That is a glass Pyrex measuring cup filled with melting wax chunks, floating precariously in a pot of boiling water, over an open flame.  Kids, don't try this at home (seriously, kids; don't. This is dangerous, and even kind of stupid, given all the things that could go wrong.  You don't get to do this sort of thing until you're a grownup, at which point you really ought to know better).
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Todd wrangles the (abused) Pyrex with a pot-holder, and pours the wax into the molds:
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We leave the molds to cool overnight.  Sometimes there's some sinking in the middles; Todd pours the last of the wax into the centers, making sure to soak the top wick in wax as well.
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Occasionally, a bit of steam will become trapped between the wax and the glass.  To be safe (because obviously, safety is our first priority), I pop the candles from the molds and let them air (you don't want any trapped water heating up under the glass; it could cause the glass to crack, possibly sending shrapnel in all directions).
 
These candles are a little off; so the fit right in, over here. 
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It takes about an hour to create them; we keep useful goodies out of the landfill; we save money on candles; Todd gets to do crazy (read: hazardous), things in the kitchen.  Everybody wins!
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Disclaimer!
Obviously, we aren't pros at this, or even hobbyists, and some of our methods are decidedly MacGyver-gone-Jackass.  So, if you want to try this at home, please do your research first, because there are safer ways to pull it off.

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do-it-herself easel repair

5/25/2013

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It's not uncommon, in my studio, to be working on two, or even three paintings at once.  I try to keep it at two; not because three is a crowd, but because my oldest easel is warped, and increasingly,
just a pain in the ass to use: 
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Not only warped, but bent (insert jokes here; you know you want to), the cross-pieces don't fit properly, and the bolt heads often slip right through the misshapen center groove:
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Tonight I  found myself in need of a third easel.  I was sick of fighting with the old one, and decided to fix it.  What I needed, I mused, were bigger washers.  No; I needed giant washers.  So I made a pair, with two old medication lids and the handy hot-knife:
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Now, I had a pair of giant-sized washers to keep the bolts from slipping the groove; I was finally able to tighten the frame correctly, and get the pieces to fit.

Support leg no longer slipping and sliding:
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Cross-piece fits the frame again!  Woot:
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No more issues with tipping or wobbling!  She's back in business:
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Old easel is now working good as new, and the repair didn't
cost me a dime.  The whole project took about five minutes, 
and I can get back to painting!

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