So I'm still in the process of gathering studio equipment. I'm setting my sights on a fantastic bench (left) that will be a bit more portable and apartment friendly, as opposed to one of those gigantic solid hardwood benches that weigh about a million pounds. I know it will be an adjustment going from the huge bench I was used to at school to a bench that is a fraction of the size, but I'll just have to deal with it. I have a butcher block island that I got from Ikea, that I'll attach a vise to, it was pretty cheap so I won't mind if it gets beaten up. I also got a price quote for a pretty sick Lenox acetylene torch setup. I'm also going to invest in a vibratory tumbler from Otto Frei and an enameling kiln, and then I'll be well equipped to make almost whatever I want.
I've also been busying myself with the professional aspect of things, in the absence of having a studio. I designed a web-site, although it still has a few kinks to work out, apparently it is flakey on windows computers and will sometimes just forward straight to my blog. I also spent some time designing custom invoices, envelopes, and stickers. I set up a ledger for myself, exactly the way Rod showed us to in class, and I'm thinking about creating an Excel list of all the pieces I've made and information about them. I'm preparing my entry forms for "The Art of Fine Craft" at Wesleyan University, and I'm going to enter the "First Five" in late July.
But all in all, I'm eager to get going with things. Oh yeah! Go visit my web-site, www.malloryweston.com!
