Yesterday and today Fiona and I sneaked in a bit of creative time which we have been applying to making product for sale at our
Open Studios in a couple of weeks time.
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| ©2012 Barry Smith - Twist of square brass rod |
Ladles and spoons have gone to the Real Food Festival for Shannon's Handmade Stall. But I found I liked making the small delicate 'sacred ladles' - ladles that can be used in the kitchen but also for sacred water and cleansing in a 'temple' maybe. So I got into making another batch over the last couple of days. It was a real production line - beat bowls; make handles; and sand and polish both bowls and handles. The components are ready for assembling in the photo below.
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| ©2012 Barry Smith - Small 'sacred ladle' components |
Then it is on to the riveting - drilling holes; setting rivets; and doming rivets. I have made myself a very practical little setting tool that fits 1.5mm rivets made from copper nails from Japan - makes riveting a fairly quick process.
The photos below show the almost finished five - still need final polish. If you look closely and at the opening photo I have used some square brass I bought in NYC for a couple of the handles. You can also see I have gone very small with one 'ladle' - not much bigger than my thumb.
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| ©2012 Barry Smith - Selection of 'sacred ladles' |
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| ©2012 Barry Smith - Tiny ladle - former life silver-plated salt shaker and wire from a coat hanger |
Of course not everything works out. In the photo below you can see the silver-plate on the base of the stem of a goblet I beat into a bowl for a ladle has separated from the coper - poor electroplating or too much heat in the annealing process. This is the risk of using recycled metal - but a small challenge.
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| ©2012 Barry Smith - Silver-ple lifting after annealing and beating |
And talk of too much heat the photo below is of an earring leaf form that got hidden under a stack of leaves I was annealing and it totally burnt and bonded - quite interesting colour though.
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| ©2012 Barry Smith - Silver-plated leaf form - burnt to a crisp. |
So I finish Friday satisfied with both production and creativity - now for a glass of bubbles.
Here I go again, whacky me... "Ladies and spoons have gone to the Real Food Festival..." I thought that was interesting, why aren't men going? And would they bring forks? Goddess help me!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love the idea of 'sacred ladles", I have a gourd that I made a ladle from that I use with a bucket out the back door on really hot days to have a 'sacred bath'. Slow and mindful cleansing outside is a lovely, sacred practice...
I actually love how the burnt leaf is so natural.Hope the bubbles were refreshing!
Love the mistake !
ReplyDeleteI often find interesting things from mistakes .
Diane.
I'd call that leaf a 'happy accident' Barry.
ReplyDeleteHello, Barry.
ReplyDeleteYour heartwarming works fascinates my heart.
Thank you for your kindness and support.
And i pray for you and yours peace.
Have a good week-end. From Japan, ruma❃
Continue to love the ladles...
ReplyDeleteI think it was too much heat that made the silver plate separate from the copper. Silver flows faster than copper does...
The 'crisp' leaf is beautiful.
yes yes yes!! the LADLES!!!!! make more!! i also really like the last picture of the burnt leaf ... looks like a snail or slug from Pandora or something!
ReplyDeletei love the leaf mistake!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, I like these spoons sacred. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteVA, PK, JM, R, S/R, LT, V & L - thanks for your comments. PK, JM, L & V - mistakes like the leaf that was burnt to a crisp can produced some interesting outcomes - great colour and texture.VA - a thing about ladies - I knew you would get the sacred water-washing referenced. S/R - usually when I overheat silver-plated metal it burns or runs - this is the first time it has actually lifted like foil. LT & L - it will be interesting to see if folk like to purchase the ladles as much as I like creating them. All - go well and enjoy the coming week. B
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI especially love the ladles; I know you will have a very successful market experience; how can anyone resist buying such wonderful works!
Super well done!!!
Absolutely love the burnt to a crisp leaf, Barry! How are you going to use it? And the ladles are stunning. I think I need to buy one soon.
ReplyDelete