The new torch is so quiet. The oxygen concentrator is the loudest thing now (at least until I get some music) when I’m making beads, but I can actually have a conversations in a normal voice. It’s just another added bonus of the upgrade.

Last weekend I was able to successfully do a couple batches of beads. No more scum! I did have to turn the torch down to a smaller flame, but it’s still amazing. 

They started the floor today, so once that is done I will post a picture. I originally wanted some blues (surprise surprise) and greys, but decided to go with just 3 different shades of grey in the same size and tile family. My instructions for the tile guy were “I want it random, but not random”. These instructions make sense to me, but my husband just shakes his head.

Well, What can I say? It's been a month since I posted because I've been waiting for something good to happen.
Our gas fitter is awesome and came out just before Christmas and installed the shut off in the studio and got a hose made to hook up my new torch so I could use it over the holidays.

We had bought an oxygen concentrator in November so we opened it up and followed the instructions to do a power on test. Unfortunately, it sounded like it was leaking air, and the ball-bearing to show LPM (liters per minute) did not move. We discovered there was a broken part so my plans of holiday torching were not to be. But a big thanks to Jean and Paul at Nortel Manufacturing, we have a replacement regulator that we were able to install ourselves just this week. So the test will be this weekend, fingers crossed.

In addition to the oxycon troubles, we had to get our car repaired after being rear-ended in December, had to fix a broken dishwasher rack, our oven stopped working so we had to get that repaired, and three big money vet visits. So in January I've been putting out fires, rather than playing with fire.

There is nothing new on the studio front as the contractors have not been back, and we are apparently waiting on a tile guy to come and do the floor.

Here's hoping February will be a more productive month!