Preparing for IDP

 

Fiona and I are fully into preparing weather grams for International Day of Peace (21 September 2024). This year we are both printing weather grams on recycled brown paper cutlery holders from local food outlets - collected by family and friends.

In all we had enough cutlery holders to print 240 weather grams. On Friday night we had a gathering with a few friends and over some wine and cheese we punched holes in and threaded cord through all the weather grams - see opening photo for some of the completed weather grams. The photos below shows the start of assembling of the weather grams. A lot of fun was had in assembling the weather grams, sharing food and wine and friendship.

Following are a few process photos. You can see that this year I have printed the words create peace here - meaning start by creating or offering peace locally. Fiona has used peace is every step - a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh. The weather grams were printed on one of our presses at Deckled Edge Press using 48 point lower case Placard Bold metal type.

These weather grams will make their way out into the world so that they can be tied in trees and on fences etc to flutter and fly on International Day of Peace and hopefully send a few ripples of peace into the world.

Successful launch

 

Yesterday was a long but satisfying day. It was great to have so many local folk visit Deckled Edge Press studio-gallery shop for the launch of my new range of jewellery; and to purchase many of the new pieces. 

This blog just shows a few photos of the display of stuff in the studio-gallery shop. The opening photo shows how light and airy the studio-gallery shop space is.

We put out some of our signs - I still love the one below - it just says what I do!!

A few more set up and display photos follow including Fiona and I tinkering with the details. The work was shown well with the aid of cement forms and slate squares.

Some older works were given a lift by a new display arrangement.

Thanks all who came to give me support and purchase dome of the new pieces.

It went to 'custard'

We have been having rain, rain and more rain - so there was no walking to be done this morning. Instead I decided to go to DEP to sort some trays of type - in fact transferring and sorting in one step.

After morning tea I decided to do some work in the shed finishing Tea Caddy Leafspoons - but as I was heading to the shed I got a call from Fiona saying that we had an issue at the studio - water seeping in.

When I arrived at the studio we checked the back wall to find waterfalls (see the opening photo) and a virtual river running along the back of the studio.

We needed to get the water away from the back of the studio - so we had to work furiously with sticks and rocks to create drains behind the retaining wall - a few photos of me drenched digging drains - Fiona was also drenched and removing mud, rocks and pine needles and cones to get the water to flow away. 

Fortunately we were successful in our drainage work as you can see from the last photo above. That left us with the job of mopping up the water that had seeped in and was threatening the paper cabinet and the carpet under the press. Lots of hand towels, mats and buckets were used for the job. The good news is we saved the cabinet and the carpet.

We have left the dehumidifiers on to finish drying the floors. This has left us with the job of washing clothes, coats and towels. 

So a 'custard' rather than creative day. But it was great to work as a team to react quickly to resolve the issue and save the paper and gear. Creativity will wait for another day.

New times - new opportunities

 

My 2022 cards are printed; and will make their way out into the world this week. This year I have chosen print in a delicious purple (see below) as I cautiously hope that 2022 might see further shifts towards equality.

May we have safety, health, joy and equality in 2022.

This, that and the other

 

The title of the blog reflects the range of art activity over the weekend. I spent Saturday and half Sunday in the DEP studio. I printed a sizeable stash of drink coasters for Christmas (above and below); printed some A2 background sheets for Fiona with large wood type; did Red Thread exhibition duty (including sales); and started some bowls for more Daily Leaf Word sets.

The A2 background prints needed to be subtle so that Fiona can cut the sheets up and over print them. Words from the women friends poem.

The Red Thread exhibition is a delightful exhibition of the 4 Print Princesses. I love the women friends theme that runs through Fiona's work. The last weekend of the exhibition is next weekend.

I made a start on the bowls for Daily Leaf Word sets - but I ran out of time. Hope to get on to those later next week.

Press and product

 

The press is Deckled Edge Press or course; and the product is more functional metal work.

Over the weekend we have held a 'beginning of the financial year stocktake sale' - selling or moving on stuff that during our annual reviewing June we deemed to be excess to requirements'. The photos above and below are of the setting up for the sale.

Earlier in the week I managed to complete and deliver some Tea Caddy Leaf-spoons to Maleny Additions - some went into our physical  Deckled Edge Press studio shop as well.

I have a couple more stashes of functional objects to make and then I will be back into projects.

Some production can be playful

©2020 Barry Smith - Fiona hard at work - racks of printed goodies

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.

©2020 Barry Smith - Worth a smile?

©2020 Barry Smith - Strong green - mixture of Wollemi pine green and white

I finished a few more book marks.

©2020 Barry Smith - Bookmark diversity

©2020 Barry Smith - Always a bit of proofing

©2020 Barry Smith - Setting the type for the post card below - typeface - Marion 60pt

©2020 Barry Smith - Postcard in dark green on cream and grey - proofing

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

©2020 Barry Smith - Cornucopia of gift cards

©2020 Barry Smith - Odds and sods and remnants of type that will be for sale 

©2020 Barry Smith - A bowl full of packs of gift cards

The isolation time is not being wasted.