Martha's journey

I'm Martha... a fan tail gold fish. I'm sharing my story about a long trip I made.

My owner wasn't sure about how to bring me along for the long 16 hrs trip they are going to take. So they went to a pet store and ask for information.

Here are the tips they got.
1. Take all the decorations out from the aquarium
2. Take half of the water out. Please keep my water clean by not putting too much food in it.
3. Cover my aquarium so the water won't splash.
4. Put me on the floor of the car, not in the trunk.
5. During the trip, if you need too make an overnight stop, don't leave me alone in the car. It can get too cold or too hot.
6. When you stop, take this opportunity to open my cover for fresh oxygen.

It may be a good idea to put layers on the bottom of the floor. I still splash...

Once you get to the new place, you can add the decorations back, add some water and make yourself home.

Just a tip to transport fish for a long trip...

Moving to Wisconsin

You just got an job offer from GE Medical Systems in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Should you move to Wisconsin? What is it in Wisconsin other than cheese, beer and sausage?
How about school, life and other activities?

If you like me, you may have all those questions in mind before making a decision. I thought I want to share our experience moving to Wisconsin.
We moved to Wisconsin because of a job at General Electric. The headquarter is located in Waukesha. Naturally, we're looking for a place in Waukesha area.

There some neighboring area near Waukesha that is worth checking including New Berlin, Brookfield, Hartland, Delafield, Pewaukee. Since we have school age children, we were looking for a place in about 10-15 min radius driving with affordable housing and good school. Fortunately, City of Waukesha met all the criteria.

About 1 exit down from exit T (where GE head quarters is), there is an area called Rolling Ridge. It has easy access to highway 94, close to grocery stores and strip malls and excellent elementary school. Meadowbrook Elementary is part of Waukesha school district that has a smaller classes and great teachers. Schools usually starts after Labor day and ends about 1-2 week after Memorial day.

Within 5 miles radius, you'll find Montessori school, parks, church, bike trails, Waukesha County Technical College, UW Waukesha and Pewaukee lake. If you are looking for temporary place, there's apartments for rent or even houses for rent. Zillow.com is a good place to start to look for rentals or houses for sale. There is an apartment in Pebble Valley area that may worth checking. This great house caught my eyes. http://jim.firstweber.com/1202590

Drive further to downtown Waukesha, you'll find shops, Waukesha Library, YMCA, restaurants and more. What I like the best is their farmer's market and art fairs.

The weather in Waukesha, Wisconsin tends to be a little bit humid during Summer, nice during Spring and Fall and cold and dark during Winter. The lowest temperature I've experienced was -15F, not including windchill. It only happens during mid of January. The deepest snow I've experienced was about 12" on the ground.

If you are into recycling, a composting bin truck load sale is on June 25, 2011. http://eeinwisconsin.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?s=96590.0.0.2209&c=3532867
A $100 composting bin will be on sale for only $38.

If you are into boating, water skiing or even kite surfing, Michigan lake is just within 30 minutes from Waukesha.

There are so many interesting things going on in Waukesha area. It's a great community, good neighbor, great schools and great place to live.

How to clean gunk from steel shot tumbler.

If you are using steel shot tumbler to polish or clean sterling silver, after a few tumbling, the stell shot will eventually turned "gunky".

There is a solution you can get at a jewelry store to clean it or you can choose a simpler, more affordable option, classic coke.

Just pour the coke till it all cover the steel shot and let it run for at least 20 minutes and then rinse it. You will be surprise to see the result. Your steel shot is as clean as new.

What do you think?

How to fix a jewelry bench part 2

The table top is off. I went to local hardware store and found MDF boards 3/4" and 1/2" thick.
After talking to the person at the store, I learned I have 2 options. Glue two 1/2" MDF boards, clamp it, screw it and make it a 1" thick like the original table thickness or use single sheet 3/4" MDF board.

I choose the later one as I thought it's simpler.



How to protect MDF board? I use polyurethane. MDF board is very porous and it absorbs a lot of polyurethane. My mistake was applying it in a cold weather (I can't help it, ... it's 6 months winter in WI and I was too excited to finish the project). It creates lines of brush strokes on my table. It's not the end of the world. I could scrape it off using sand paper and re apply the polyurethane.

The table size is about 19x38". Then semi circle is about 7" deep and 20" wide. It's not quite a perfect semi circle shape. Table height is about 37".



I keep all the wood pieces that connects the table top. After the table top is ready, with my hubby helps, we screw the table top back.
Then I add the sides that helps beads or any round items from rolling away.

After cleaning up all the drawers and other parts, the table is ready to use. I bought a jewelry bench and anvil that can be fitted on the table top.



If I were to do it again and if I am willing to invest $100 on the table, I'd go to a local cabinet maker and order 1" natural wood table top. They would use pieces of wood, glue them together and mill it to a table top instead of one big slab wood.

I'm glad I tried this project. It makes me a better person. Best, I can share this with you.
What do you think?

How to fix a jewelry bench

I bought a used jewelry bench, a very well used one. The price was right, so I decided to take a chance.

The table top looks dirty and rotten. I'm guessing it's because a pickle pot was sitting on it. My friend, Jon Hughett, gave me some tips...Use a MDF board, look for 1" thick, cut to the size and voila... As for the existing table, I could just pry it open.
Sounds easy?

Yes,... it sounds easy. I wasn't sure if I should plunge to this project. I'm so not handy but I was trained as an architectural designer.

I decided I'll try the easy way... I use steel wool and try to clean it. It turned out the table top is really in a bad shape that each time I rub the steel wool, more pieces are coming off. I don't think I want to bring this inside the house. So, I let it sit in our garage for a while.

After contemplating and doing some internet search, I decided to take the plunge. So, in the next few weeks, I will be blogging about it...:)

I went to the garage, turn on the heater (we got a heated garage) and start working.
First, I took all the moving parts out, including all the drawers and dust pans.

Then I attack the back cover. I use a raw hide mallet so it won't damage the table. Trust me, it's very noisy.
Next, with the mallet again, I start pounding the rail guard. That one is pretty easy to do too.

Perhaps, the harder part is cleaning the nail out from the wood. In the beginning, I use pliers and try very hard to pull the nail out. I see the back of our hammer is made to pull nails out. So, I use the back of our hammer and voila... nails are coming out from the woods.

Then I need to take the table top off. Thanks to Derek L who gave me some tips. I found the table top is screwed around the perimeter. Hubby helped with his electric screw drive to take the screw off.... and it's off.

Will continue next week...

Clay activities for parties from Our Creative Outlet.

Needs some activities for your children or adults this summer? Tired of pottery painting? How about making your own clay pieces for birthday party or just relaxing with your friends? Yes, that's what we did to celebrate our daughter's birthday.

Karen from Our Creative Outlet in Delafield, WI offers that opportunity for us. It's all started from a big blob of clay, rolled, stamped and color. Then, let it dry, bake and it will be ready to pick up in the next week or two. You will have all the fun while she's doing all the dirty job (cleaning).

You can be as creative as you can... Sky is the limit. Best of all, it's a piece you can treasure event till the child to go college.

Wouldn't you agree?

Architectural Inspired Necklace adorn with Sapphire

It's art, it's different, it's fun...
That's why I design architecture inspired necklaces.

It's made of sterling silver wire, textured and adorned with tube set lab grown sapphire.

It's so new that it's still my personal collection. If you wish, a special order is available. Please contact me.