So, what happened was.......

I was careless. It's easy to get too comfortable with the tools that we use everyday. We become enraptured by our next "piece of art" that the tools fade. The torch isn't a torch anymore & the glow of the metal is just a lovely color that we're trying to achieve, instead of it being a means to an end. All of that, added to it being a bad soldering day & my torch not getting the piece hot enough made me, yep made me, forget the basics. The really basic basics...like not haphazardly picking up the piece with the tweezers & holding it up so I have less of a heat sink. It's all fun & games until said person (that would be me) shifts in the chair, the piece over her lap, then drops cherry red piece into her lap. Oh no!! Let me tell you......not a good move.

The smoke created by a 1200 degree piece landing on sweatpants is quite incredible & a little scary. I quickly brushed it off of my lap, but it had already melted a hole into my sweatpants. I looked at my leg & nothing; it wasn't red & didn't even hurt. Well, I continued on my merry way & later that night my leg was itching..oh yeah. A blister like I've never had before. Oh well, it's better now, and never hurt like a burn, but hopefully I've learned my lesson. Am I really ready for a Big Girls Torch? I think so, but it'll have to wait; until then, I have new respect for my little butane.

Ya'll be careful!!

xoxo

Pam

I've Got Stones!!!

One of my mail carriers brought these to me today. Yes, I have about 4-5 different mail carriers. I rarely see the same one 2 days in a row...I don't understand. Anyway, this should be a lesson to you kiddies Do NOT order stones without checking the size of said stones.

Oh, BTW, the shells did not come with the stones a little squirrel didn't clean up after himself.

The ginormous stone on the right is said stone. I'll have to keep this stone until I get a Big Girl's torch....I'll never get a bezel soldered with my little butane torch. this stone is approx.

1 3/4" X 1 1/2"

See?? My little torch is skeered.

Dakota couldn't understand why I was standing on my back porch & not paying attention to her, as she really digs attention & sometimes gets a little miffed if she's not the center of attention.

She tries to be aloof:

Then she pouts and plays the "poor, pitiful me". It's not like she's a drama queen or anything.



Y'all have a blessed day & Happy Mother's Day!!!