Chickens

Soooo, a few weeks ago: my sweetheart & I made a jaunt out to Fruitland to the "chicken ranch" to pick out some young birds to roam around the shop & yard & eat bugs (and lay eggs).

I intended on getting 5 chickies, but ended up with 8 in the cardboard box....

 They are still little: like pre-teens: some still have baby feathers; but we decided to let them free-range with the nice weather the other day...  OMG: so funny: they stay right around the chicken house right now: & the greenhouse where I was letting them run during the day: they circle around the 2 structures-which are on the back side of my shop: they even ventured into the shop for a bit before I discovered them & shooed them out...lol

The cats are facinated: so far, no chasing, but they love to watch the little flock wander about & play :)   I had chickens before, so they know they are not for chasing, but I think they want to...especially the banties :)     I have 4 banties (1/2 sized chickens) & 4 normal chickens; right now they are all about the same size: but they are growing by the day...

Beasty-Cat loves to watch them; I think he would love to have the chance to chase & catch one, but he knows better :) 

And Skwishy: he pays no attention to the chickies: he just wants to come meow at me & Josh & get pets...& treats...  Such the hunter-kitty, lol :)  

The chickens are growing by the day & soon will be wandering the entire property eating bugs & fertilizing as they go.  Will be adding a few ducks into the mix in a few weeks; can't wait!

We have over an acre of property to take care of & I have seen by experience the difference that chickens & ducks can make: the eat the pests, add fertilizer to the soil, & are so much fun to watch out in the yard.  And so easy to take care of...  With the mild winter, the bugs are going to be taking over this year, but with a few hungry beaks: they will keep things well under control :) 

 And the yummy organic eggs: I can't wait!  They should start laying around mid-summer.

Amber

Tickets Available for RAW: the Blend, at the Powerhouse May 17th

Tickets are now on sale--this is going to be an amazing event :)  Fashion show, performance art, video, DJ, photography, & more...    May 17th at the PowerHouse in Boise.

To buy tickets in support of me  & my work: http://www.rawartists.org/refinerii

Or to purchase tickets in support of the other amazing artists that will be featured, visit the site & purchase tix from your favorite: http://www.rawartists.org/boise/theblend

I'll be introducing new sculpture, jewelry, home decor & garden art: hope to see you there!!

Amber

Playing with Fire: Heat Coloring Copper Bouquets

I recently received an order for alternative bouquets & boutonnieres for the entire wedding party...theme of the wedding: Dragon Fire... (insert happy grin here)

 Cool; fire is fun...  I sent the bride (Nina) a sample of flamed colored copper & she thought is was perfect for the wedding....  So, I spent this morning (our first really warm, lovely spring day)  making up the brides-maids bouquets & groomsman's boutonnieres, along with matching bouts for the ushers, out of copper & then proceeded to torch them...

I am using a very old jeweler's torch--got it from an elderly gentleman who had bought it years ago & never used it: I can't even get parts for it through my welding supplier...   I love it, though: it's tiny, but super hot: perfect for coloring copper :)  And it looks almost identical to my big torch set-up: but miniature...so cute!

 Heating the copper this way makes it change color; it's fun to do & I was going for a rainbow effect; lots of purple, blue, green, & gold...   The colors are permanent, although they mute a bit when a sealer is added...

For this Dragon-Fire wedding, the wedding party will all be decked out with these copper bouquets & bouts, & the bride & groom will contrast with shiny aluminum: adorned with sparkling crystals in reds, oranges, & purples to match: working on that tonight... 

A fun project: I can't wait to see pics of the wedding :)

Amber

Idaho Statesman Feature: WTC Memorial

In The Idaho Statesman Today: announcing our winning design :)

Boise memorial will include piece of World Trade Center

ead more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/04/20/2082350/boise-memorial-will-include-piece.html#storylink=cpy

 Who won? After public comment, representatives from the Boise police and fire departments, the City Council, the Arts and History Department, and the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff chose Jensen Belts Associates, Refinerii, Lochsa Engineering, Blake Trailers & Fabrication as the team that will create the $27,000 memorial.

In good company: The memorial will be built this summer and stand near the Fallen Firefighter Memorial along the Greenbelt in Riverside Park. It will be dedicated Sept. 11.

The centerpiece: A 10-foot portion of a steel beam from the WTC wreckage. The Idaho Fallen Firefighter Foundation and the Boise Fire Department led the effort to get the beam to Boise and have the memorial built.

The winning design: Based on the theme “ripples in a pond,” it features polished steel circling the damaged steel of the beam.

What did people say about thedesign? Among the many public comments: It “creates the most meaningful connection with the existing firefighter memorial. What we care about is the sacrifice responders made. ... I feel a powerful connection is made between the WTC beam in stainless rings and the procession toward the (Fallen Firefighter) memorial. Beautiful, poetic.” 

From the Idaho Statesman

Yay!  I'm really excited to get started on this one: I couldn't ask for a better team :)  I will be picking up my first few supplies today: reclaimed concrete squares from the scrap yard...more on that later...
Check out the article in the paper or by using the link above; you can see the full proposal with the sculpture & landscaping elements  as well.

Amber

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/04/20/2082350/boise-memorial-will-include-piece.html#storylink=cpy

RAWartists First Event; count me in!

I just signed up with a new (to Boise) arts/promotion/event concept; I am now a RAW Artist :)

The first ever event is going to be May 17th at the PowerHouse & I'll be there with

new sculpture, jewelry & more....

Called the blend: the show is going to be a mix of visual & performing artists: live music, fashion show, performances by the Red Light Variety Show, and more.   Full bar & yummy treats: it's going to be a fun evening: check out the vid. below for a sampling of another RAW event...

 

Tickets are on sale now...$10

You can buy tix from my RAWartist page

http://www.rawartists.org/refinerii

Hope to see you there :)

Amber

A Few New Offerings on Etsy

A few new offerings on my Etsy shop...

CAT Track Wine Rack: one of my most popular items when I first got started.  Made from reclaimed heavy-equipment parts; very heavy, but sooooo cool!   A solid steel gear segment from a CAT & a bucket tooth; also from a CAT; this wine holder weighs about 15 lbs, but it looks great as a table centerpiece or on the counter-top :)

Order here:  CAT Track Wine Rack

Custom created Award Trophies.

Another best seller I've been making for quite awhile now;  each set is unique: created from whatever recycled steel/metal parts I have on hand, with custom plaques.   Or you can send me your stuffs from your biz; I will make custom award using your pieces & parts :)

Order here: Custom Trophies

"Chain"  Unique Wall Art Piece

Made from salvaged steel, copper, tin, & hardware... this is one of the originals; signed & dated.

About 25" x 28"  and stand about 3" off the wall for dimension.

A fav. piece: I love the piece of galvanized tin with the rust; looks amazing with the torch-colored copper....

Order here: Chain Wall Art

More to come: 

vases, garden sculpture, wall art, house numbers, etc...

Amber

Possibility....

working on lots of new projects; soon to be announced....

a few hints:

Boise Fashion Week

vases

increased production

new designs/new direction

jewelry

chickens/garden

Baja

more to come....

Amber