Friday, January 10, 2014

A Friday finish

I finally finished and packed the 50 Leaf Letter Openers (LLOs) I have been working on for the past 10 days.

©2014 Fiona Dempster - Detail of packaged LLOs
In the end I actually made 64 leaf forms: discarded 8 that split on unfolding because the metal was too brittle and could not handle the stress; and 6 were set aside because Fiona (my quality controller) and I thought that while they were good LLOs we wanted to supply the best 50 in terms of proportion and metal.

This is what a stash of 56 LLOs looks like before sorting …..

©2014 Barry Smith - 56 LLOs
©2014 Barry Smith - Detail of 56 LLOs
And a bit of detail in a few of the LLOs packed in their boxes. All are made from recycled silver plated EPNS and silver plated copper from a variety of trays - hence some colour variation.

©2014 Fiona Dempster - LLOs boxed and ready for delivery
©2014 Fiona Dempster - LLOs boxed and ready for delivery
The packed 50 will be on their way early next week to the company that commissioned them.

Just for fun later this afternoon I used a couple of the split leaf forms to make some earring drops - a couple of spirals and a pair of wings. Not all the metal will be able to be used as some of it is so brittle that it cracks even when I'm 'encouraging' it into a spiral shape. More on those another day when they are complete.

©2014 Barry Smith - Recycling the discarded split leaf forms
I think all that indicates that I have earnt my glass of wine for this Friday evening.

5 comments:

  1. ~i think quite possibly two glasses for this night!!! they turned out quite stunning and look beautiful in the black boxes...makes them pop even more...i love how you can see the golden colors coming through on the edges...a job well done my dear friend!!! and wings...love it...enjoy a wee bit of rest...much love light and blessings be with you~

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  2. That's a lot of letter openers, beautiful as well. The next time you have a pile of leaves, I'd love to see them photographed outside somewhere!

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  3. B, don't they look satisfying in their boxes, all ready to go! I love that you are recycling the already recyled, there is something very good in that. I'm fancying those spiral earrings...

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  4. i'm thinking two glasses would not be amiss! great job, barry!

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  5. Hi B, VA, C and V - thanks for checking out this ongoing project which has now come to an end. But there has been beauty in this production and a small degree of prove that I got it done in the time I did and kept the quality up. B & V - at least 2 glasses were had - Fiona and I went out for dinner with artist friends. VA - I will see if I can hold that thought of photographing the least outside - a natural installation. C - the packaging does add to the beauty; and I think the spiral earrings have come up well - they will be in the shop early next week. All - go well. B

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