Pieces completed for the Botanique Bazaar

©2015 Barry Smith - A simple inspiration for "Botanique Bazaar" works

Over the weekend I finished and photographed all my pieces for the Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens Botanique Bazaar - opening 19 May. Fiona and I often say that the art work does not finish when one completes the art piece - often "art work" includes many tasks - photography, making lists, pricing etc etc.

After photographing all the pieces (32 in all) I then made my draft list. As you can see from the partial screen shot below the list has a variety of columns and requires time.

I thought I might share a few of the pieces that will appear on my Botanique Bazaar table.

©2015 Barry Smith - Bending 4 with the optional wooden base that enables it to be installed inside.

©2015 Barry Smith - Freehand cutout slender leaf in solid recycled and hand rolled silver

©2015 Barry Smith - Tiny leaves with a bit of bling

©2015 Barry Smith - Putting those brass and silver cutouts to use

©2015 Barry Smith - A simple leaf pendant

©2015 Barry Smith - A trio of silver-plated copper leaves

©2015 Barry Smith - A trio of patinated copper leaves

©2015 Barry Smith - A trio of fungi forms

I still need to refine the list and put tags and prices on the pieces - but I'm well on the way. I will soon be able to move onto the 7 posts I have been commissioned to make.

A hint of Steampunk on Friday

I was really fortunate to get into the garage-studio before lunch today; and was able to do a few hours after lunch - still got time to get out and do weed cutting late in the day before the rain set in again.

©2013 Barry Smith - Detail of Light, Time and Sound - a Light Catcher

As you can see from the photo above and those below I got to play with the collection of bits I talked about in Wednesday's post. And I have decided to create a small Steampunkish series. The series will include: pendants; earrings; and Light Catchers. I will create what I can from the collection. Each piece will be unique as I use up the bits. As indicated in the earlier post the series will be called Time and Light as each will include clock-watch parts and at least one crystal from a vintage chandelier.

Today I pushed myself to create a pendant; a set of earrings; and a light catcher. The Light Catcher has an additional feature - it includes three tuned rods that when struck give a beautiful sound. The Light and Time earrings have movement - two of the pieces are on chains.

©2013 - Light and Time Pendant 1

©2013 - Light and Time Pendant 1

©2013 Barry Smith - Detail of  Light, Time and Sound - a Light Catcher

©2013 Barry Smith - Light, Time and Sound - a Light Catcher

©20123 Barry Smith - Light and Time Earrings 1

©20123 Barry Smith - Light and Time Earrings 1

©2013 Barry Smith - Another view of Light, Time and Sound - a Light Catcher

The pieces still need a bit of final polishing and tweaking - but in all it was a good outcome. The pieces will migrate into my shop in the next little while

Something a bit different

Over the last couple of days I have been making quite a number of meditation and offering bowls for the Studio 4 Gallery exhibition. When doing metal beating that has a slight production line feel to it I like to go off on a tangent and make something unrelated.

When I did my foldforming course about 9 months ago we learnt how to create simple cuff-like bracelets. I wanted to experiment to see if I could make a bracelet and ring. If these turned out OK I might consider purchasing some silver plate to see if I can make something finer.

Anyway as you can see from the photo of the pieces on the model's hand (Fiona) - both ring and bracelet turned out pretty well.

Barry Smith© Foldformed Brass bracelet and ring

Couple more photos without the model.

Barry Smith© Foldformed Brass bracelet

Barry Smith© Foldformed Brass bracelet and ring

Barry Smith© Foldformed Brass bracelet and ring

The pieces were made from the zinc plated brass from the old backpack spray-pack I made the two fonts out of. I like how the ends of the bracelet are a bit leaflike

Arrivals

Recently Fiona and I purchased a couple of pieces of work from the Etsy shop of Luthien a gifted maker from Malaysia.  We were very excited that they arrived in the mail on Thursday.

 Fiona and I are drawn to Luthien's work - Fiona because of the handmade journals and I because of the recycled nature of her work. The photos below show the travel journal I purchased for me and the earrings I purchased for Fiona.

The tiny books earrings are real works of art - Luthien has stained the paper in the mini books (about 15mm long);has hand sewn the pages; and has hand sewn a leather cover to the book. If you wanted you could write in these little journals.

Foldform bits for Bazola

Noela, a friend and fellow artist, and I have decided to collaborate on a jewellery line called Bazola. Check out Noela's post for the background to the collaboration and the first pieces to be produced. Basically we are combining my foldforming of recycled metal scraps with her design skills and wabisabi approach to jewellery. The result is small wearable metal art pieces.

Today being Friday - apart from having to do some work-work and have friends over for wine and pizza I was fortunate to spend quite a lot of the day producing foldform pieces from copper, brass and we think some form of silver for Bazola.

The 'silver' pieces form a set for Noela to work with.

But there is also a group of brass; and another group of copper pieces. So plenty for Noela to use her design and jewellery magic on.