Rustnstuff: 06/16

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Rainbows on many surfaces

One of pleasures at this time of the year is the rainbows that appear in the kitchen. This appears to be brought about by: the low angle of the sun and the way it streams into the kitchen, time of the day (when we are getting breakfast); and the bevelled edges on the louvres in the kitchen windows.

Thought I would share a few rainbows that can appear on and through the oddest things.

And these are my favourites - combination of refracted light and rainbows fragments brought about by the sun streaming through the louvres and then the gently boiling water in the glass kettle onto the kitchen cupboard door below.

You can see why one can smile whilst getting breakfast and cleaning up afterwards.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

This goes with that

I have been away for half the week in Melbourne doing work-work. I was to do art work yesterday but we were totally without power from 1am-7.30pm on Saturday after a big cold windstorm on Friday night (I was snug in Melbourne and Fiona and the block were lashed by wind and cold - not a lot was achieved. I took Fiona to the airport this morning sop she could fly to Rocky for her Wrapt in Rocky teaching gig. So today I have been able to spend about 6 hours finishing the leaves and making Artisan Lamps.

I got two finished; and two just need to be wired etc etc.

The title of the blog indicates the making of my Artisan Lamps involves brings different elements together to create a new whole - you can see that is true in the following photos.

The 18 leaves have been coated, polished on the edges and recoated - so they are now ready for bagging.

I feel a bit weary - so a single malt and a fungi risotto will now complete the day.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Objects for Artisan Lamps

Sometimes one of the time consuming tasks associated with making my Artisan Lamps is the selection of interesting copper, brass and rusted 'found objects'.

I'm about to start 4-6 more lamps and therefore started to select possible objects and place them on the work table so I can wander around and think about them - to see if I can add other bits to a core piece; and/or whether I can funds bases for pieces; and/or whether I can find pieces I can tap threads into .

Anyway I thought I might share a few images of what is currently on the table and will be worked on in the next few days or put back into 'stock'.

I must admit some of the 'found objects' have lovely layers of history and patina on them.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Setting moon after the rain

Sunday was a very wet day for us un the eastern seaboard of Australia - and Maleny did not miss out on the rain system. However it moved through in about 24 hours. We went to sleep with the tail end of the rain and woke to a setting moon and the last banks of black clouds drifting to the south.

The photos were taken about 5.20am and the opportunity to take photos only lasted about 10-15 minutes before the clouds covered the moon. When they moved on the moon had set.

Many of the photos have varying amounts of dark cloud drifting over the face of the moon. The colour of the moon appears to relate to the density of the cloud; or its absence.

The setting moon shots were balanced by a brilliant moon rise Fiona pointed out to me at about 5.30pm on Monday night when she was heading into town for a Celebration of the Book meeting.

And light in the valley on Tuesday.

Never a dull moment on the mountain if one is aware of what is on offer weatherise.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Leaves

I have been asked to supply some of my Artisan Lamps and larger leaves to a 'new' shop-gallery opening in the Brisbane Valley at the beginning of July. Amidst other things I have been gradually making the Artisan Lamps - so thought I should get on with a few sets of copper leaves this weekend.

I got a little time on Friday and Saturday to do the production process for 18 leaf forms that are about 200-220mm long and 60mm wide. I didn't get to finish them because of the heavy rain that started Saturday night; and because I'm doing a work-work project.

Anyway as you know the process always starts with recycling scrap metal; cutting and annealing; and pickling.

After the forms are cut and hammered there is more annealing and opening on stakes and anvil.

Polishing ready for patina solution.

The solution begins to work its magic.

Couldn't get all the photos across into the post; and couldn't put captions on - bit of trouble with blogger - must be the rain.

Because these leaves will be in groups of three for indoors they will be sprayed with a matt coating and the edges will be given a polish to let the copper shine through again. But the last stages will need to be done next week.