Cooper's Copper Clay Class

Yesterday, Saturday July 10th was a day I had posted on my fridge for months. I have a habit of forgetting things since the baby was born so I wrote  myself a note to remind me that the clay class was on the 10th. The note did help till we got used to seeing it there and it began to get overlooked. I almost forgot to register, almost.
I faxed the form in just in time to get $10 off my class fee. I love to save money so that was great. I had hubby watch the baby and off I went, in the torrential rain to my first class in ages.
I was all prepared to take a bronze clay class so when I got there and they said copper I was confused but excited. I love copper and didn't even know there was such an animal as copper clay. (I know - under a rock.)
The class was great! I had brought a mold of an item I wanted to make and the teacher - Ray Cooper, lol Cooper/copper - let me use it. There were a lot more people than are normally in the classes at this show but that made it fun, 7 including me.

Pieces drying on a griddle. They will get filed prior to going in the kiln.

Filing dry pieces.

The kiln.

Lots of filing. We made such a mess.

Tools.

The cool thing about this clay is that it can be torch fired if the pieces are small. 

That's our teacher doing a demo firing.

Copper hearts I made ready to be turned into jewelry.

Copper bird I made with a heat patina.

Copper piece with a heat patina from the mold I brought with me.

What a great day I had, during the class we got an hour lunch break while the kiln was firing our pieces up to 1778 degrees for 30 minutes. During the break I went shopping tot he Innovative Beads Expo and picked up a couple of things that I needed and a few things that weren't on my list. I can't wait to get back to beading! I didn't realize how much it has been calling me these last few weeks of playing.
......Off to play with my new stuff...... I hope you all had as great a weekend as I did.

Long Walk

So this is the walk I took with The Girl in the stroller today. I started at the parking lot and didn't have any clue that the walk was 3.25 miles. I shocked myself and actually made it. I am no spring chicken, since having the baby my already plump body has held onto some of the weight I gained while pregnant. 
It was such a beautiful day and The Girl napped during most of the walk. When we got home we played outside on our swing set, she is such a toughie. I was showing her how to go down the slide backwards and after only 2 times she wanted to do it herself.
I cannot believe how in love with her I am. I want to spent every moment I can with her. What a sweet girl I have too, while she was playing on her own she came over to me and gave me a hug and kiss, patting me on the back saying "is okay." So cute!


I am looking forward to this holiday weekend. I have no set plans so we shall see what we come up with, maybe another 3 mile walk... Happy 4th of July everyone!!!