Rustnstuff: 05/20

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Experimenting with metallic dust

I asked Fiona to make up a batch of teal coloured ink as I wanted to print a few postcards on grey paper (Colorplan Smoke 270gsm). I thought the teal would contrast well with the smoke grey.

We have some metallic dusting powder (gold and copper) in our ink draw; so I thought I'd experiment with adding a bit of that to the teal lettering to give the postcards an extra design element and highlight.

I decided to use 2.5cm wood type - we have three slightly different versions of this size wood type - photo of one version of the wood type we have.

Dusting needs to be done on each print as soon as it comes off the press.

I had intended to print two words - hope and peace; but in the end I enjoyed myself so much and I think improved my technique so I went on to do four postcards - adding in joy and love.

I enjoyed this experimentation - particularly like the combination of the teal colour and the dusting powder.

Friday, May 29, 2020

Salvaging metal

I was recently given two silver-plated serving dishes with lids. The person who gave them to me said they were her grandfather's and that just sat in the cupboard, never got used and just had to be cleaned from time to time. She said, "I know you can use them."( in your work). She knew I would cut the trays into pieces; and then make new objects. The trade was that I would make her a couple of pairs of earrings so that she would have the memory of the serving trays and her grandfather.

As you can see from the photo below the dishes were in good shape and of good quality.

After about an hour with the side grinder and the blow-torch the two dishes and two lids were de-constructed and ready to be cut into pieces that will become: earrings; leaves; bowls etc.

I have started cutting some of the pieces down further to begin the process of making earrings for the woman who gifted the trays.

There is still a way to go; but you can see the groupings emerging

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Autumn rainbows and dark mornings

I love the fact that our home can be invaded by rainbows in autumn-winter - mid-morning sunshine reflecting through the edges of glass louvres casting rainbows on the walls. I particularly liked how the refection resulted in a rainbow overlay on one of the paintings on our wall of small things in the office. And the light comes in low into the dining area.

And though I'm not a fan of getting up in the dark I do love the 15 minutes or so before dawn light begins to wash the valley because in that time you get the dark but also the lights of Brisbane - see the lights in the CBD on the right of the horizon.

By the time I started my walk grey light was flowing into the valley.

We have had dry cold days of late so the plants are doing it tough - not a lot on show - a few fragments here and there.

It was a crisp morning - energising.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Some production can be playful

Fiona and I spent Saturday and Sunday morning working in Deckled Edge Press studio-workshop-gallery. We are continuing to make product for sale; and test the set up of the space, systems and equipment before we open in a few weeks. Of course the opening will have to be done in accord with the Covid-19 requirements including numbers.

One of the fun pieces was the card below - it could be a birthday card; but could also just be an everyday card for folk who love riding bikes. We loved the joyful play on words.

I finished a few more book marks.

I packaged up the gift cards - a stash as you can see from the photo below.

The isolation time is not being wasted.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Quite a stash

Yesterday and today I did a big push to get the 24 pairs of salvaged black buffalo horn earrings completed. It is surprising just how much fiddling time goes into making the earring drops. Still it is good to have such a stash completed.

Some earrings will go to Maleny additions, some will go into our new studio-gallery shop at Deckled Edge Press and a few pair will be gifted.

A couple of production shots. There are two finishes on the earrings - the shiny finish is created by polishing the horn on the jewellery polishing wheel with a fine jewellery polish; the matt finish is created by grinding on the jewellery sanding wheel, leaving some of the saw marks and then giving the horn a thin coat of silicon grease. The later finish results in an organic twig-like look.

And photos of the various groupings.

Doing multiples always seems to take a long time; but then the reward is a good bank of pieces.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Misty morning

I wasn't sure I would get a walk in this morning as it had rained overnight and we woke to a dark 'whiteout'. We couldn't even see a hint of the lights of Brisbane on the southern horizon.

There was a break in the showers so I headed out - still misty but at least it was light enough to see where one was going.