Raising Jane Journal--Mary Jane's Blog

I was on Mary Jane's blog :)  This is what she had to say:

Zephyrus

Posted on October 10, 2011 by MaryJane

I was on a “pitch slam” panel of four magazine editors at The Creative Connection Event in St. Paul last month. During the month prior, potential “features” signed up and paid money in order to pitch who they are to us. The cross-section of women was fabulous and over time I intend to feature all of them—everyone from a woman who creates tiny victorian embroideries to a librarian who wants to write book reviews to a woman who traveled from Australia who specializes in zen doodling to a …

… welder chick.

Amber Conger, of Refinerii Industrial Revelations, is a full-time artist and sculptor of wood, stone, and other elements from Boise, Idaho with a particular affinity for gears and the industrial chic look.

Amber also has a knack for picking fabulous gleaming words! Her recently completed project, a 28′ tall weather vane, was installed in Boise, Idaho and is dubbed after that windy and rustling word-of-the-week (last week’s word to be exact), zephyr!

Oh how the zephyrs do stir my heart for this weather vane.

Her “Zephyrus” is made from a recycled stand from Idaho Power and the weather vane fashioned from salvaged steel. She also used left-over copper from another project, stainless steel, and the spinner was a gift from a friend.

The installation process needed extra hands.

What a beauty!

I was talking about the weather vane, BUT Amber is tall, statuesque and well, Amber’s compass definitely points …

… true north.

So honored to be a part of Mary Jane's world: I've been a fan of her farmgirl lifestyle for years!
Check out the website here:

Thanks so much Mary Jane & Megan; really enjoyed meeting you!!

Amber

Open Studio last weekend

Thanks to everyone who stopped in to visit at the Open Studio tour last weekend :)

I had a great time showing everyone around my little world & chatting about projects...even met a few of my neighbors, lol :)

I'll definitely be on the tour again next year: we'll see if I'm still in the same spot... ; )

Amber

Open Studio This Weekend

My little shop will be open this weekend--Saturday & Sunday from noon till 6; stop in & say hi :)

Maps of all the artist studios on the tour are in the Boise Weekly or you can download one here:

Map

Look for the BOSCO sign out on the road.

Hope to see ya here :)

Amber

Trucks, Mud, & Sticky Situations....

Soooo, my grand accomplishment yesterday was getting the Mack-Truck stuck in the mud...granted its been raining like crazy & I knew I was risking it...lol, but it was sunny & forecast for more rain the next day, so I decided to go for it...

I wanted to pick up the chicken-house/shed & move it to clean up with the tractor, & then put the shed back into place on some concrete slabs that I have been saving...  Yeah, it didn't quite go that way....

After gathering up the big spreader-bar & all the cables & shackles & rigging everything up, the little crane just wouldn't lift it....so, I thought: hmmm, need to be closer (the closer you are, the more the crane can lift).  Soooo, I unhooked everything & moved the crane; as I was creeping into place, I noticed that I was slipping sideways...not a good sign...but, I was closer, so thought I would give it another try....  And....same result...by this time, I had called in my mother (encase I needed to be pulled out of the mud).  We looked at the shed, & the crane, & thought---there is no way that shed is too heavy...maybe we need hydraulic fluid...  So, I lugged over a 5 gallon bucket (you can buy them at Costco, btw--last time I bought 3 big buckets & 2 bottles of champagne--I got weird looks at the checkout) anyway, the crane was thirsty, & I added probably 2.5 gallons of oil (I think about 1/3 of it ended up on me or in my hair)  & we gave it another try....   No luck, grrrrrr....I think there is something wrong with the main cylindar: shall be calling ICS to check it out...   And I go to move the truck: stuck in to mud, of course...we try putting stuff under the tires, back & forth, cursing, laughing, & looking.  Finally, we gave it up & helped ourselves to grandpa's whiskey stash (they are not home, lol) & toasted to a failed endeavor...lol :)

Today, I did get it unstuck just before the rain started again...  but the chicken house is still in the same spot, lol.  For now, I have decided to just go with it... maybe next spring it will get moved, lol, maybe not...

btw: this is what I looked like before we started playing in the mud...ah, the life of glamour....lol

Open Studio this weekend; hope to see you here :)

Amber

Boise Open Studios Tour

For the first time ever, I am very excited to be a part of the Boise Open Studios Tour....

My little metal shop will be open Saturday & Sunday: the 15th & 16th from noon till 6: stop in anytime & say hi : )

I will have snacks & drinks on hand; & will be doing tours of the shop, property, & artwork...

Download maps & artist info here:

BOSCO

Hope to see you here :)

---Amber----