Making of the Rose Windows

I did not know this when I bought these scissors, but they were the answer to my prayers. They are beautiful, aren’t they. I bought them on a whim when we went to Chapel Hill a few weeks ago. The Ackland has a new gift shop on the corner of Franklin and MLK. Genius move on their part. I would have been totally poor if it had been there twenty years ago.

The shop currently features a Japanese shop reflecting the main exhibit at the Museum. There are so many beautiful gifts available. I was making a list in my head. But once I spotted the scissors, I lost track and asked an employee for assistance.

I could tell that she thought it was nuts to seriously consider them once I learned the price. They were $35. That is a lot for a pair of scissors, but not if you are say a hair stylist. Mine told me his cost between $500-$1000 dollars and require regular sharpening.

So I said I would take them explaining that I was a book artist, so I cut a lot. She promptly asked me if I saw the bone folders. I politely said yes. But I really thought, “Oh yes, child. I have at least six bone folders.”

I took my scissors home and placed them on top of my fridge. Of course.

Sometime during all of this Pyramid Atlantic prep, I labored over creating a suitable file to have a die made for my Accu-cut machine. I was very nervous about this. I knew there was a chance that it wouldn’t work, BUT it could be a major time saver. Plus it could prevent me from getting carpal tunnel, which we all know leads to surgery. But dies are way more expensive than scissors. Eventually it was a risk that I took.

Once I started rolling out the petals to my rose window, I realized that my die was not completely matching up. I don’t know if the issue was with my print job or if they stretched out my die. Essentially there is a crescent moon of white along the top of every petal. Plus the sandwich of plastic was just a little off. That’s when I began praying fervently. I already had so much money invested in these windows. I needed them to somehow come together.

Finally I had an idea that I needed to flip my laminate in the Accu-cut to make a mirror image for the petal. That helped things tremendously. But the hallelujahs came after I started using my new scissors. The difference between the Japanese brand and my pair from Target was night and day.

This morning, all of my pieces were trimmed and I had removed the paper from the small binding hole at the base of the petals and the center of the screws. Then I realized that the hole was .05 mms off. I’m more of an inches gal, myself. But this is not a lot. After I individually punched this again, I can tell you that the excess plastic looked a lot like Lucy’s fingernails when she would let me cut them.

Facing this final step almost sent me over the edge. But I completed seven books by 3 pm. I probably would have finished sooner if I hadn’t checked my phone between each book. Maybe that is the equivalent of eating a bowl of cereal while writing a paper in college.

Last night I dreamed I ate half a box of fruity pebbles. Was this an anxiety dream? Was I anticipating today? I still need to pack before I head out tomorrow at 9 am. But first I need to eat my third bowl of cereal for the day. Sadly I have Honeynut Cheerios and not fruity pebbles. Although my blood sugar is probably grateful.