Regrouping and reopening

Since the move to Grand Junction in 2007, Wildflower has been very low key and has quietly, and infrequently, operated in the background.  Blue Star Mothers commitments and activities have taken the forefront and very little has been done as far as laser engraving and artwork production.

We are shaking off the dust and airing out the studio and will be back in production full scale this month.   At this time we are also planning a move into a stand alone location and out of the garage and home office.

Additionally we are redoing the main website at www.wildflowertech.com as an online store with shopping cart features.

You can follow us on facebook -- check the fan box on the right for a link.

9 Tips for Breaking into Photojournalism

"If you wanted to break into a new industry, who would you ask? Somebody who knows all about it, right?
Well, that’s why we got Jason Geil ( whose photos have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone Magazine) to give us some real-world tips about how to get started in professional photojournalism.
If you already make loads of money as a professional photographer, this article isn’t for you (although we still love you)."

Photojojo » 9 Tips for Breaking into Photojournalism:

Installation Exhibition

In the Gallery in Ft St John, British Columbia
Exhibition

Epilog Laser: 'Light' Woodworking

By Michael Dresdner
"“There are just some things only a laser will do,” explained Mike Dean when I asked him why a small shop or hobby woodworker would need a laser. “It’s the perfect tool for massively expanding your woodworking options. You can customize in ways you could only dream about before, and it is as easy as printing to a computer printer. If you can print, you can laser. It’s unbelievably easy to use.”

Mike, along with his two partners, Steve Garnier and John Doran, owns Epilog Laser, a company taking firm aim at the woodworking market. Although large shops and specialized manufacturers have been using lasers to cut wood for some time, Epilog is working to put that technology within our grasp."


Woodworker's Journal eZine:

Ceramics Classes

All of my knowledge and experience with clay seems to have no bearing on whether I can operate a wheel or not.

I started classes in January and signed up for the wheel throwing since it is something I have never done. It might go down in history as something I have never done. I am struggling but I will admit I am gaining a little in each class.

My plans on making use of the stido access have been thwarted by other committments and family health issues but I do manage to at least make the weekly classes. Maybe tomorrow I can shape my leather hard cup from last week into something recognizable.

Epilog News

Last spring I had a major problem with the laser and had Jim ready to load it on the uHaul and take it back to Golden. Eventually I managed to talk to a tech who thought he might know the problem and he walked me through the process of cleaning the encoder strip. It worked.
I was called the next day by the regular tech and he said I shouldprobably not have done that myself and that its a rare scenario. I disagreed and suggested it find its way into the manual as a maintenance item. I was told that if it did I would know and -- well I am pleased to report that it has now been added to the tech notes on the website -- and there is even an instructional video.
Please note that the directions are for ALL models and it is now recommended that this procedure be carried out once a month.

I guess I should not be surprised that the new drivers address the tickle problem that resulted in extended wait times if the laser wasn't used daily. This was another 'isolated' problem with my machine.

I built a computer

Yesterday I built the computer -- then I built the cabinet -- and, well... just kept going. Now if I could get it to talk to the laser life would be good.