Friday, September 7, 2012

Open Studios preparation

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.

©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.

©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.

©2012 Barry Smith - Selection of 'sacred ladles'
©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.

©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.

©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.

11 comments:

  1. 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!

    Anyway, 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!

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  2. Love the mistake !
    I often find interesting things from mistakes .

    Diane.

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  3. I'd call that leaf a 'happy accident' Barry.

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  4. Hello, Barry.

     Your 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❃

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  5. Continue to love the ladles...
    I 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.

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  6. 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!

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  7. Very interesting, I like these spoons sacred. Greetings.

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  8. VA, 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

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  9. Beautiful!
    I 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!!!

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  10. 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.

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Comments are welcomed - it is good to connect with fellow travellers.