Friday, June 20, 2014

A return to travellers' shrines

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.

©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.

©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.

©2014 Barry Smith - Glorious metal offcuts
And the pieces are cut into shape with the metal shears ready for folding and riveting.

©2014 - Shrines lids - ready for folding
©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.

©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.

©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.

©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.



5 comments:

  1. It's so fascinating to see the myriad of steps involved in your metalworking. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!

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  2. It 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.

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  3. I'm looking forward to seeing the first piece incorporated into a shrine. It's particularly beautiful.
    My 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.

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  4. Wow, these shrines are awesome! Thanks for showing us the different stages! Simply brilliant!

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