Not much to share

 

Whilst there has been a lot going on art wise there is not a lot to share apart from completing 4 wee watercolours of and for Scotland - opening photo and other below. The watercolours will be part of the Pop Up Art Show in the Armadale Village Hall at the end of August.

I have also been working away on two more A7 sized 16 page booklets of poetry - one titled What Remains and the other Farewelling the Light. These two booklets will have a similar format to my Flow Country booklet. Each booklet includes four original fragmentary poems that are my response to four photos I took; and the photographic images are also presented in the booklet.

Preparation for the jewellery workshop is almost completed - all the tools are put aside, all the metal elements for participants cut and findings, such as jump rings, leather necklaces and earring hooks, packed. 

More preparation for the jewellery workshop

 

As you can see from the image above I had completed some examples of the type of jewellery participants in my Scotland workshop could make.

The following images enable one to see a bit more of the detail; including where I have cropped the image of the flower pendant and the slightly hull shaped earrings. 

The cropped images show how the pieces could look if participants use the hard nail polish to colour the pieces. I particularly like how the design on the silver-plate shows through the red polish!!!

I have also developed a two page document that introduces the participants to the tools they will use. As part of the workshop I will talk the participants through the two pages and demonstrate how the tools are used. Some edits yet to be done on the document!!!

I am pretty close to finishing the preparation for this workshop.

Testing tools and making examples

 

Preparation for my Simple Stylish Jewellery Workshop in Scotland in August is proceeding. We will be using salvaged silver-plated brass. Having done a plan and a design options sheet, I am now testing basic hand tools I can take with me on the next trip and making some examples based on the design options sheet and with the hand tools.

The opening and following photos shows the examples I made today

As the following photo shows I have cut most of the metal for the workshop. 

I'm testing a wooden dapping tool, metal punch pliers, a micro eyelet setting tool, diamond file for make the flower form and a vintage jeweller's  hand held vice - see photos below.

Over the weekend I hope to complete and assemble the examples including putting the pendants on necklaces and the earrings on earwigs.

Progressing two projects - poem publication and workshop preparation

 

Whilst we are still in the latter stages of jet lag, both Fiona and I are progressing work that applies to our next visit to the cottage.

We have agreed to do another Pop Up Art Show in our local village hall; but we have also been asked to do a workshop each.

The opening and following photos show the progress I'm making on printing a 16 page A7 pocket poem book. Before heading over to Scotland in early April I had worked with our friend Kim Herringe to develop a template that could be filled in in Word and printed double sided; and once cut into appropriate pieces would become a small A7 booklet. As you can see I have managed to populate Kim's template; and printed a draft document. The good news in Kim's template worked - I just need to get her assistance on steps required to remove the grid lines before making edits and printing some final copies to take for the Pop Up Art Show!!!

The final copies will be stitched along the spine instead of stapling.

After some discussion with Fiona I have decided to offer a one day (really 10am to 3.30pm) of simple silver plate jewellery making - see the design options document etc below. I have also started to cut the silver plate blanks from silver-plated placemats.

 Whilst I have started the metal preparation there is still quite a way to go. I will grind all the rough edges off the blanks - don't want participants cutting fingers; and starting with prepared blanks means they will achieve more. I imagine participants will most likely finish 2-3 pieces - pendants and/or earrings.

A master class

 

During the week Fiona and I were fortunate to do a private master class with a renowned local silversmith. We wanted to learn the skill of bezel setting stones. 

Several months ago we had been gifted some polished opal stones. I thought it would be nice if I was able to learn the skills required to turn a couple of the stones into pendants - I thought the first one could be gifted back to the woman who gave us the stones.

You can see the outcome of this class in the opening photo. 

Process-progress images follow - starting with the original stone - about 18mm long.

Calculating the length of the flat soft silver ribbon that would encircle the stone.

Soldering the ribbon of metal to form a circle; ensuring the edges are flat; and testing it over the stone.

Cutting a piece of flat silver plate for the base - photo of Fiona cutting flat silver plate; and soldering the circle of metal to the base plate.

Trimming and then grinding and polishing the dish form that hold the stone when the edges were folded onto the stone.

Obviously there were many more process-progress steps but one forgets to get photos; and of course the professional looking outcome was achieved because of input by the teacher including soldering the ring to the top.  I'm sure Fiona will blog on her work - a ring.

The little things

 

As Fiona and I get closer to departing for Scotland there always seem to be those little tasks that pop up and need doing before we head off. Over the last couple of days this included: making a replacement key hole front for an acquaintance; painting workshop stools so that they might be used in public as part of Celebrating Books Maleny; and totally cleaning my workspace in readiness for holding an informal  half day metal workshop with a couple of visitors.

The opening photo shows the wee key hole cover - the original  which was very flimsy and the one I made. A few process photos follow. The task took 1.5-2 hours as it included some fiddly cutting, filing and grinding. The piece is about 2.5cm long.

The refurbished stools.

And the tidy-clean workshop - including the work bench with some metal and prototypes in readiness for the metal workshop.

There will be many more such little things to do before departing I'm sure.