Rustnstuff

Friday, November 15, 2019

Urged

The world we live in seems to become more challenging and a bit darker as the days go on - politicians who do not support their people, weather that seems to be crazy, killing in the name of causes and country......

It has made me a bit sad and I believe many folk feel that way. When I thought about what I might do in the garage-studio this week I felt an urge to make leaf words - words that I could share with others that might just encourage us to keep going, keep seeking peace, keep seeking kindness, keep letting our politicians know that the climate and the disposed and poor matter.

So this post is simply about the process of beginning to make 60 plus word leaves with the following words stamped on them: joy, hope, peace, dream, wonder, kindness, shine and love. As I stamp the words I do so with quiet hope.

I hope to finish them over the weekend. I would like to believe that gifting these, or getting other to gift them, might just piece a bit of the darkness.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Tough times for nature

As some would be aware we have been having lots of fires in Australia including Queensland. One of the fires was close by and we are still on alert. Lot of smoke still fills the valley as you can see from the photo below.

The added difficulty for nature has been the heat and wind which has resulted in many stressed trees; and leaves and bark being blown off.

But nature still offers some smiles in these challenging times.

And acts of kindness make one smile.

©2019 Barry Smith - This woman and her dogs often links up with this old guy and they walk hand in hand up and down Treehaven Way. The five of us gather and talk and pat - she is not related to him in any way - its just a gorgeous act of kindness.

Ahhh! the sun is sets and moon rises at the same time - seen from our front pathway.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Bone stories

We have been rather busy over the weekend on watch and alert for ember attack from the bushfire that at times has raged in the valley below. Fortunately this fire has, in the main, been brought under control for the moment - but many spot fire outbreaks still occur - so don't stand down and don't put the firefighting gear away just yet.

This morning I decided to do a small bit of creative work that fits with my fishing boat prototype from Friday. Continuing a bit of the story of the fishing industry in northern Scotland in the period after the highland clearances.

When we were at the cottage I used a bit of bone to make a piece that reflected the bog plant Sundew. Today I used some of the bone I had left home to make a small piece that reflected filleted skeletons of herring.

It was a good contained little creative task. I see working with bone as a good way of linking what I do here and what I do there at the cottage - creating part of the story of the two places.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Testing an idea

I have been playing with the idea of doing a few small works that reflect our time in Scotland.

Each day we walked to the fishing cove at the end of the village. From our research there has been a fishing storage hut in the cove since about 1830.

We had also visited Wick museum and the Whaligoe Steps which both impressed on me the importance and hardship of the herring fishing industry at that time.

My small prototype represent a small traditional Scottish herring boat - powered by sail and oars. A very hard, and most likely dangerous, way to earn a living.

I think the prototype has worked out pretty well.

The hull is made from fold formed recycled copper sheet; the sail from a salvaged silver-plated tray; and the base is inked salvaged camphor laurel timber .

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Valley light and gorgeous discoveries

Just for a brief moment yesterday the early morning light was just right to silhouette (below) the CBD of Brisbane some 80klms away.

But it was another construction that caught my eye this morning - the intricately built bower of a Satin Bowerbird. And it would seem the male bird's efforts had paid off as there was a female bird very interested in the bower with it's violet flowered forecourt.

Tree haven Way is still offering colour even though we are having dry and some very windy weather.

A beautiful soft morning with sunshine breaking through.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Meditation bowl and leaf words

I managed to finish the larger bowl and larger leaves for the inspiration-meditation set I was commissioned to do. As you can see from the photo above I hammered out two bowls to give the client a choice. The bigger bowl is 185mm in diameter and the smaller one is about 165mm in diameter. Both are about 40-50mm deep.

A couple more photos of the bowls with leaves in place; one with a chosen leaf out of the bowl; and a single word leaf.