Sunday, April 7, 2013

Another touch of Steampunk

Much of Saturday and Sunday has been given over to getting the house and block back under control after many weeks of rain. So many hours pulling weeds, cobwebbing and pressure cleaning decks.

Not a lot of time for art in the garage-studio; but enough to create a couple of assemblage meets foldforming jewellery pieces. The baseplate for the pendant is a foldformed piece of recycled copper that has been seriously burnt to create the charred and reticulated red look. The crystals are on silver wire and can turn on the wire rod. The copper base plate is about 4.5cm square. The brass chain is also recycled. The clock parts are riveted to the copper with tube silver and brass rivets.

©2013 Barry Smith - Flying to the moon pendant
©2013 Barry Smith - Flying to the moon pendant
©2013 Barry Smith - Flying to the moon pendant
The earrings are for the more adventurous. They are made from stainless steel clock shafts; and brass clock cogs. Because I have used parts from two different clocks the shafts are different but give a bit of interest. The length of drop of the earrings is about 8-10cm. I flattened the ends of the shafts to give a surface to centre punch and drill through. Very hard metal - burnt a quality 1mm bit out doing the drilling.

©2013 Barry Smith - Shafts of time earrings
©2013 Barry Smith - Shaft earrings
Still nice to do a little something.

10 comments:

  1. Very interesting composition in this pendant, shapes colors and textures combine masterfully. I like.

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  2. WOAH B!!!! Love the pendant! that burnt part ... seriously beautifully textured. hahaha!! and i just saw the name you gave it ... so fitting, cos when i saw it i thought mr mooney with wings :) the earrings are cool too, and the first thing that i thought of was, how the hell did B manage to drill holes in those shafts ... cos i have a hard time cutting them to get the gears out one time, with my primitive tools :p given up since.

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  3. Fun... and those earrings also look like they might come in handy in a dark alley at the right moment, if the need arises - some kind of Ninja tool!

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  4. Great texture in the copper backplate in your moon necklace. Imaginative pieces. Very nicely done!

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  5. I'm loving your steampunk, B. Have to stop myself from saying "I want..." at everything I see. Beautiful texture and patina on the pendant and the earrings are very exciting.

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  6. You are just getting better all the time Barry. Those earrings are to die for.

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  7. L, LT, VA, AA, C & JM - these pieces were fun as were the earlier Steampunk-ish pieces. L, LT & AA - the burnt texture is one of those beautiful lucky accidents - pushing the metal hard - and it offers such a gift of colour and texture. LT - drilling was done slowly and with some patience and difficulty. As you know - very hard metal - but good outcome. VA - had to laugh regarding the Ninja comment - as I said only for the edgy and adventurous. AA - sometimes the pieces come together for a good design - don't we just love those moments. C - I laughed about the I want - that is a good reaction for a maker top receive. JM - I said to LT recently that she and I were in competition for your earlobes. All - go well. B

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  8. The Shafts of Time earrings are my favourites!!

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  9. I know I'm way behind on commenting, but life has been a little hectic here.
    Your steampunk creations are terrific, Barry! You always create such beautiful jewelry with such simple objects. I love both pieces, but epecially those earrings!

    Gaby xo

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  10. these are great fun, really nifty, barry!

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