Drilling Rocks at Twilight (sort of)

Last month, I blogged about my research into drilling rocks. I left off with having found info on how to do it, and the intention of trying it out myself. The big hurdle was getting over the ....um....fear of electrocution that goes along with placing part of an electrical power tool under water.

Right. So I did it...and survived. However, the whole experience was actually disappointing. I tried drilling through a pretty, blackish rock (a river stone) and, after several goes at it, I only got slightly into the rock. Worse still was this feeling of somehow, this whole process just wasn't right. How could I safely continue to drill under 1.5 inches of water? Even though only the drill bit was actually in the water (not the entire drill, of course!!), it still felt wrong.

Well, last Friday, I took a Glass Fusing class at Hot Flash Glass in Albuquerque. Karen, the wonderful glass artist who taught the class, showed me how she drills through glass. Instead of putting the whole thing underwater, she just tapes around the area where she will drill, and puts several drops of water inside the taped area, and drills away. It worked perfectly. You can add a drop or several as you go along, but amazingly, the water tends to kind of stay there, and go into the hole you are creating as you drill. The purpose of the water, after all, is to keep the drill bit and material cool, by, I would imagine, reducing friction. And it worked. 

A better method than putting a power tool, even partially, under water----eh?

On another topic, we finally saw Twilight. Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my. It was dreamily, beautifully, mesmerizingly wonderful. Just like Adam Lambert! :-) Count me in. Our website will be updated with our newest pendant designs very soon and I intend on making a Dazzle pendant for myself. And impatiently waiting a mere five months until...New Moon.

The LINK---between Animal Abuse and Human Violence

I just bought the correct Dremel chuck to fit the diamond bit in order to test out my underwater drilling (see previous post). But in the meantime....

A couple of days ago, I attended the 6th Annual New Mexico Governor's Conference on THE LINK between ANIMAL ABUSE and HUMAN VIOLENCE ("Forming Positive Links"). Wow...it was amazing, important, devastating, disturbing, enlightening. I've been involved in animal welfare causes for a very long time, and always got frustrated when occasionally encountering folks who say, "what about children?" As if helping one is hurting the other! AS IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. Violence towards animals is a desensitizing precursor to violence towards humans. It's proven and widespread. 

Some of the wonderful speakers included:

Phil Arkow, Director of The Link program of The American Humane Association, and officers/psychologists/directors from animal control agencies, domestic violence agencies, social service and children's agencies, and a veterinarian. 

These LINK programs are held in states throughout the country. If you are so inclined, check it out where you live. Here's the info from AHA. 

I will be putting energy towards one particular cause: ending dogfighting. If you want to learn more about this vile activity, which is shockingly prevalent in this country, take a look at Diane Jessup's site on the subject. I had the honor of knowing Diane when I worked in rescue in Washington state. She is a brilliant author and animal advocate, who speaks from a deep knowledge, having worked at a shelter for many years.

One very appropriate and very beautiful fact I learned at this seminar:

Man's first artwork showed pictures of animals. 

Animals---our cohorts, our companions, our connection, our life source, our inspiration. 

From the very beginning.