Monday Morning Brain

Yesterday it was 62 degrees here in Salt Lake City.  There was just a tiny breeze the keep the air moving around.  I spend the afternoon digging out garden boxes and compost bins.

Today, I'm at the computer longing to be finishing the garden boxes.  Would I rather be outside planting peas?  You betcha.

Why aren't I?  Because, this is my job.  My full time employment.  And you know what?  I would choose it again without even a second's worth of consideration.  I do what I do because I love it and I've never found anything I like better.

So, how do I switch gears from weekend brain to Monday Work brain?  Well.  It's not magic really.  I set the timer for 15 minutes and start writing long hand, with a pencil, knowing full well that most of it will be crap.  Right around minute 10 though, I can feel the switch flip and start to feel enthusiastic about what's on my plate for the week, and we're off!

I also check in with my imaginary board of directors; business people and blogs that are consistent and high quality and always inspire me to move.  I imagine telling these people that I'm just not in the mood to work, and trust me, it's imaginarily embarrassing enough that I get right to work!

Great Monday Reads:

ittybiz.com
http://whitehottruth.com/
http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/
http://www.enchantedeye.com/

Toggle anyone?

I have a fairly large kiln, so when I make jewelry parts, it just doesn't make any sort of sense to make a single pair of earrings (for example).  So, I make 100 earring pieces.  After picking out my favorite two for the pair of earrings and throwing away the 5 or 6 fugly pieces, I have about 90 left over.

What to do with this bounty and largess? 

Recycled Glass Tile Molds

Often I get questions regarding the molds I use to make recycled glass tiles.  There are two types of molds that I use, stainless steel and ceramic. I make both types and each has its strengths.

Stainless steel molds are:

• easy and quick to make
• work best in small sizes, tend to warp in larger sizes
• must be kiln washed before every use
• can have sharp edges and corners

 

Empty Stainless tile molds (1" x 6")

 

Filled Stainless Tile molds (1" x 6")

Ceramic tile molds:

• more difficult to make and require drying and firing.
• very durable and inexpensive to make.
• can be very nearly duplicated for production work.
• easy to kilnwash

 

Empty ceramic tile molds (1" x 4" and 2" x 2")

 

Filled ceramic tile mold (4" x 4")