New work!

While Jim has been in Maryland for the week, I decided to stay at the apartment over the store.  I wrote about setting up a workspace in the apartment in a previous post.  If you're coming late to the party, you can read about it here.  

I'm really bearing down on the book projects.  When I awake, the studio is in the next room. So, I bound out of bed, anxious to get started! The convenience encourages me to work later.  I was joking with the kids yesterday that little does their father know that he'll be staying here with me when he returns to St. Pete on Sunday! Ha, ha! 

But, it's nice and cozy.  David is across the hall from me.  When we keep both apartment doors open, we can talk, I can watch the Washington Capitals hockey game while I work on projects.

Here's a photo of my perch this morning.  The weather is beautiful!  I don't feel guilty gloating about it because most of the country should be having good weather by now, after finally putting Old Man Winter to bed!    

At the end of the block, we have an incredibly cute store called "The Iron Pelican."  They specialize in, well,  I don't think they specialize in anything which is what makes the place so friggin' awesome!  Let's just say, they're "purveyors of the unique and incredibly irresistible." But, they always carry a great selection of antique furniture that they've painted in gorgeous colors.  

 I walk in there and I see an old Mediterranean-style dresser that I swear they stole from my teenage bedroom, and now I want the thing!  Color, color, color ...  They have an eye for it! 

So, I have easy access to The Iron Pelican.  It's only a few doors down.  At Christmas, when my family gave me a gift certificate to The Iron Pelican, I nearly cried!  Look at what I spent it on! I know this doesn't look like much ...

But, does this help?  Yes, these are vintage watch crystals.  I have over 1000 of them!  They came in 3.5 rusty cabinets with lots of drawers.  These G-S watch crystals are cast plastic crystals and made for many watches that are no longer in production.  

When I saw the crystals, I thought, "These have to be good for something.  Hmmm..."  Boing!  Remember all of those stamps you got from your husband's aunt?  Aunt Monie worked for diplomat, Charles Ball, who had a career that included serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Under Secretary of State in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations.  He was the one dissenter in the Kennedy Administration who was against the Viet Nam War.  

This comes from Wikipedia, Ball is quoted as saying to Kennedy, "Within five years we'll have 300,000 men in the paddies and jungles and will never find them again."  In response to this prediction, "JFK laughed and replied, 'Well, George, you're supposed to be one of the smartest guys in town, but you're crazier than hell.  That will never happen."

Interesting stuff, huh?  Anyway, back to the stamps.  Here are some of the results.  There was quite a learning curve, but I found a system.  I used Lisa Pavelka's UV resin, which I absolutely love.  I bought the UV lamp, using my Michael's coupon, which cured the resin in 5 to 10 minutes.

Here's a pair of earrings I made with some of the smaller crystals.  I also made a project for the book, but you'll have to wait for that one.  

So now that I've showed you my "booty" from The Iron Pelican, I'd like to introduce you to Hillary and Daniel. Aren't they cute?

They're not only very nice, but generous, too.  Hillary gave Laura and me a big bag of vintage jewelry to pick through for Laura's wedding bouquet.

Here are some of the temptations I face everyday when I walk down the street! 

Couldn't you think of a million ways to use these suitcases?  They were called "suitcases" back then, not luggage! LOL

I swear we had once of these ice chests (not a "cooler") back when I was a kid!  

 They have some cool ... and reasonably-priced ... jewelry!  Hillary and Daniel make it look so inviting!

Don't look at the lady in the mirror ... I dare you not to look ... it's a ghost! 

Too bad this keg isn't full, but it is cool!

Thanks for spending so much time with me today.  Do you have any "special or serendipitous" finds?  I'd love to hear about them! 

We're close to opening

Who knew I had so much stuff!  Actually, I think Toni Maddox, PWF Team Member knew when she said, "I think you're somewhat of a weird hoarder!"  I cracked up!  It didn't take her long to figure me out.  I've been given the opportunity to go through and purge a bunch of old jewelry I made when I was just starting out and didn't know what the heck I was doing! Ugh! 


Anyway, we're working as fast as we can.  It's a little frustrating because it feels like we take two steps forward and one step back.  Inside pictures to come soon though.  But in the meantime, I thought you might enjoy this photo taken by friend and neighbor, Brad Ericksen of Grand Central Stained Glass and Graphics. I don't know how he did it, but it sure looks like a painting to me! 

Hey, did I mention we got our phone number yesterday ... (727) 439-6409.  Hit me up!  

My first workshop!

Things are moving fast here, but sometimes not fast enough because here's what my living room looks like now and this is really only about 1/3 of what we're moving!

We will christen the teaching area at the new home of Painting with Fire Studio on Saturday, May 19!  We'll be enameling lots of beads, pendants and charms while we use the immersion process of torch-fired enamel! I look forward to this workshop being the beginning of many new learning experiences at our new place!  To register online, click here!

Painting with Fire Studio, 2428 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(new awning and sign to be installed in two days!)

Progress on our Studio/Store in St. Pete!

The plans for the work at Painting with Fire Studio in St. Pete were approved last week.  So far, they've installed an ADA bathroom, a drinking fountain, replaced the electrical for the lighting on the workshop side and the retail side, installed gas for on-demand hot water.  Over the next two weeks, a new ceiling with track lighting will go in, along with A/C and a ventilation system. After that, the rooftop deck and new awning get installed.


This has been a MAJOR undertaking!  Of course, the budget continues to rise as they find deficiencies in the space as a result of non-permitted work being done over the years.  But it's all good.  We have an excellent general contractor, Fred Dion, (who's related to Celine Dion btw).  Fred calls us everyday with updates ... sometimes twice a day. The project couldn't be in better hands.


I can't believe that I'll be a full-time resident of St. Petersburg in late April and I haven't packed one box yet!

A Home for Painting with Fire Studio!

We went to settlement yesterday on a teaching and retail space for Painting with Fire! Here's a photo of how it looks today! 

The address is 2428 Central Avenue, which lies within the boundaries of Historic Kenwood and is two blocks from my house!  Central Avenue is the main drag from downtown St. Pete to the Gulf beaches.  The studio is in the Grand Central District, which is an artsy area full of personality.  The neighborhood is great about supporting local businesses and I can't wait to meet more of my neighbors.  Businesses on my block include those for stained glass and graphics, art supplies, cupcakes, a half a dozen restaurants, cigars, antiques, real estate ... and now torch-fired enamel! 

I'm really looking forward to this space being a place where torch-fired enamel artists can gather.  I'll have open torch times where you'll be able to try different enamels before buying them.  You can come in with questions.  It's going to be great. 


Getting back to the building ... the space on the far left will be the teaching part ... the torches will be lined up on the left wall and we're meeting with the ventilation guy tomorrow.  Behind that is storage room and office space.  The area behind the colorful balls will be the retail space.  We'll sell everything we currently do online, but will also have a greater selection of other beads and beading accessories. A very lovely bridal salon occupies one of our spots. 


There are two one-bedroom apartments upstairs, one for my son, David, and the other for Chris and Toni, all who are studio artists at PWF. Both David and Chris are talented teachers and Toni is a fine artist.   I love her eye for design and I look forward to getting into mischief with her.  Chris, Toni and David, all 25 year-olds, will infuse Painting with Fire with energy ... in more ways than one! 


I've had this urge to offer Winter Retreats in St. Petersburg.  Who wouldn't want to go on a learning vacation in January, February or March?  This space also will provide lots of opportunities for things like this. 


It will take us several months before we're down here full time.  My target date is May 1, but we'll be hosting lots of workshops and other events from now until then.  I hope you'll follow along as we make changes to the space to get ready for opening.  It should be fun!