Rustnstuff: 2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Looking back - looking forward

I find it useful at this time of the year to reflect on how my art practice has expressed itself - what have I done, what have I contributed to, what have I created. In a post such as this one simply tries to pick up some of those threads without covering everything or putting things in order of priority.

Because of time away in Scotland this year iPhoneography featured a bit more in my posts. It is one of the things one can do when on the move and/or away from the studio. But it also sharpens ones eye and inspires.

A milestone was the launch of Deckled Edge Press. A very significant commission was a limited edition of Imagine Equality posters to be presented to presenters and speakers at Australia's premier social issues conference (Communities in Control).

Skill development got a pretty good run this year. A stone letter cutting course in Scotland.

And an introduction to bookbinding in Brisbane. It is not often that Fiona and I pause to invest in ourselves and our art skills.

Even though we were away in Scotland for a couple of blocks of time we did manage to do more art work on the block including: a new bridge across the rock river; the beginning of a sandstone installation; and a small installation of posts that is now nestled in the trees on the terraces.

Creating stock or product doesn't always seem to be all that creative. Still quiet a lot of product was sold through Maleny Additions and Entangle - so making functional leaf forms, ladles and lamps was quite a thing in 2018.

Peace and International Day of Peace always draws Fiona and I. This year: peace tags were sent out into the world; as were many peace peace; but also Fiona and I did our International Day of Peace installation in our tree on the block and on the gate at the cottage in Scotland.

Random acts of kindness and giving just seemed to emerge out of the ether this year including: book earrings for a dedicated group of book festival volunteers; and small bowls for volunteers at our local neighbourhood centre.

I did participate in a few exhibitions; but this was not my year.

Contributing to Mo Crow's Gathering (Love is the answer) was heart warming and engaging.

I loved continuing to develop my metal working skills by making small vessels.

Looking back - seems 2018 was a pretty full year; now looking forward to the possibilities of 2019.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Tools for a new year

Over the last month or so I have assessed my tools and decided that: some needed to be replaced; and some just needed to be refurbished.

My hammers can do some very hard work and occasionally loose their gloss and pick up the odd small line or indentation. I gave my 6 key hammers bit of attention on the grinding-polishing machine. I love how they are looking shiny and ready for work in 2019.

Somewhere-sometime in 2018 I lost my oyster opening knife that I used for opening folded metal leave forms - so I have had to convert a 'knife form' into a useful but blunt tool for this purpose.

I worked out that I needed to replace the soft faces that I use in my vices. I had worn out two copper sets and two rubberised-plastic sets. I brought magnetic aluminium faces and also a set of magnetic rubber faces.

Whist I was buying the above I indulged in a magnetic cast iron metal bending tool and a new full set of metal drills ranging from 1mm to 13mm.

So no excuses in the new year????

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Bits from the block

A few fragments from the block - celebrating life, rust, patina and the beauty of nature.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Go well

Wishing all a peace filled day from the mountain. May today bring peace and joy; and may we carry it forward into the days ahead.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Giving

One of the things I enjoy about being a creative is being able to make stuff and give it away. Making and giving to bring a little more light and joy into what at times can seem to be a sad and dark world.

Over the weekend I managed to use some of those metal pieces cut during the week and on Friday and use them to make: a pair of Name Leaves; and a trio of Fungi Bowls.

Because I was making leaves I made 10 Peace Leaves whilst making the two Name Leaves.

The Fungi Bowls seem so small and delicate when compared to the hammers responsible for their creation. But the outcome looks good.

The Name Leaves, the Fungi Bowls and 4 of the Peace Leaves went to new homes today.

Friday, December 21, 2018

Metal mania

At this time of the year I tend to have an urge to sort out my garage-studio space so that I can start the year a little more organised. This has resulted in my going through containers and shelves of my bits for making Artisan Lamp; and sorting through my watch and clock bits used in jewellery. That has all gone quite well.

This week I decided to rationalise my silver-plated metal stash. Whilst the larger trays stack well and can be cut as needed the small trays take up more room as they usually have attached ornaments and feet and have curved sides. Out of the shelves I pulled about 30 such trays and spent a couple of days sweating the ornaments and feet off and cutting the trays up. Not all the trays were suitable for my work so five were put aside to give to metal recyclers. From the bases of about 25 trays I managed to rescue the stash of metal in the opening photo. Offcuts resulted in the following bits.

Since I had the guillotine in action I decided to cut up other pieces for planned 2019 projects including: a series of small metal books; a series of book earrings; blanks for bowls; and 63 pieces (30mm square) cut from a single larger tray for International Peace Day.

These pieces are now in their various containers in a larger storage container on the shelves.

There can be ornamental bits that get harvested as part of the cutting process including those in the photos below.

Small high quality silver-plated copper bits were also harvested for smelting at a later date.

So a great time of harvesting useable metal. Now I can easily see and select the metal I want for jobs; and of course identify gaps in the metal stash that can be filled from op-shops. or gifts from folk.

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