I've been trying to catch up on studio work, a nearly impossible task with all of my travels and my wonderful kids on summer break.  Huge storms keep rolling through the upper Midwest, washing out our driveway and every now and then invading our workshop.  One is on the way right now.

Nevertheless, I have been focusing on loads of leaves for next weekend's Art Fair on The Green in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

I worked on a leaf man piece while teaching my workshop last weekend.  I hope to find time to finish him up soon.  He has a rather gnomish look right now.

A pleasant surprise for me today! --  One of my students from last weekend's workshop sent me a boxful of used air chisel bits from a store called Amblers up in the Twin Cities.  I had offered to pay him for the tools and shipping.  Instead he sent them to me with a very nice note, as a gift.  I am just thrilled.  I am going to re-shape them into forming stakes, shapes that I can already visualize in my mind.

Yes folks, tools are the way to thrill me.

My other birthday present was a new hammer, a specific type called a cobbler's hammer.  It is designed for leather work, and ideally has a softer face.  I prefer this type of hammer for chasing and repoussé.  The face should wear down nicely, in tune with my own striking rhythm, and will fit me perfectly.  I have another cobbler's hammer, but made the mistake of letting someone else use it.  Then the hammer conformed to her rhythm and it's never felt right to me since. 

Now I have my own, and I'm going to be especially selfish with it.  
How does a girl greet a new hammer?

Well first, I take off my rings.  Rings and hammers don't get along.

Then I test the weight and heft, how it falls into my hand.

Run my palms over all of the surfaces to check edges

Yup, it feels good.  The handle is a little short and fat, but I can still put it to work. 
Next week I will change it over to a standard hammer handle, slimming down the upper neck section
so it's a bit springier.

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I'm teaching a workshop this weekend at Tunnel Mill in Minnesota.  This is one of my favorite groups to work with, so I'm really looking forward to it.  I'll be there until Saturday night.  Any orders will be shipped out on Monday.
I get to sleep in one of these.

Sweet.