It is quite a long time since I have made any of my small portable Travellers' Shrines even though I have a couple of folk who would like to purchase them. I was looking back at older posts and see that
the last ones I made were back in November 2013.
The thing is I usually like to have interesting metal to make the lids out of the shrines; and I like to be in the right frame of mind - I like to give the shrines positive maker energy when I make them. Well today those things came together and I made a start on a group of Travellers' Shrines.
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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Travellers' Shrine bound ready for a journey |
Metal for the tops of the shrines all marked up ready for precise cutting in the guillotine.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Metal for Travellers' Shrine lids |
There are always off cuts - but these will become word leaves, peace pendants, for giving away to other folk etc.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Glorious metal offcuts |
And the pieces are cut into shape with the metal shears ready for folding and riveting.
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| ©2014 - Shrines lids - ready for folding |
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| ©2014 - Shrines lids - ready for folding |
The fold over for the rivets is about .75cm and the rivet is about 1.5mm in diameter. Quite a tiny piece to hold together and rivet - quick release clamps are very handy.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - The thumb gives a sense of the size of this piece |
I had time to finish one lid up to rough fold and rivet stage. This shrines lid is about 5cm wide, 7cm long and 1.3cm deep - about the size of a standard matchbox. The pattern reminds me of Cherry Blossom.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Shrine lid roughly finished - love the very soft copper Japanese mallet; and the anvil has seen a bit of work |
I moved on to start making the bottom-inside section that holds the mini offering bowl, incense holder, inspirational word leaf etc.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Made a start on the shrine base. |
I was tied up all afternoon with meetings at our local neighbourhood centre - so I will do more work on the shrines over the weekend. Still a good feeling to start shrines that will take journeys with different people across and around the world. Roast pumpkin and blue cheese risotto for dinner - and yes of course accompanied by a red.
It's so fascinating to see the myriad of steps involved in your metalworking. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me, that even in the beginning stages of a piece, your work is exquisite. Works of art each step of the way. Very much looking forward to seeing these completed.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing the first piece incorporated into a shrine. It's particularly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy mouth is watering at the thought of pumpkin and blue cheese risotto. We love Master Chef Australia and they often mention how difficult it is to make a good risotto but I have a feeling yours will be delicious.
Wow, these shrines are awesome! Thanks for showing us the different stages! Simply brilliant!
ReplyDeleteJ, AA, R & GB - I can't believe how bad I have been in not responding to the valued comments of our art blogging community - its like not treating family well. J & GB - it is good for me to share the photos of the steps as not actually reminds me of what goes into creations. AA - much beauty can come fro the ordinary metal. R - by the time I responded to your comment the Travellers' Shrines have been completed and three have sold before I get them into the shop. And the risotto was delicious. All go well. B
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