Rustnstuff

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Bowls with a difference

My collection of bits for the Steampunk Christmas at Jo St Baker's studio+gallery will include some of my bowls. I have been reworking some earlier fold formed bowls and creating some new Steampunk influenced bowls.

The common design element is the recycled brass and copper metal; and where relevant adding clock parts. As you can see the three bowls share similar design features but include unique bits and embellishments.

The Leaf incense bowls have polished up well.

And the other three foldformed Giving bowls also make there own statements.

I will add a few more bowls out of my gallery shop to these bowls making the total 12. Fiona and I did make the decisions on the pendants and earrings as indicated in Friday's post. The final result could be shared another day.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Decisions decisions ….

Over the last few weeks I have been making Steampunk influenced pendants and earrings ready for A Steampunk Christmas at st+baker+studio and gallery in Redcliffe opening 30 November.

I also want to have some pieces available for Fiona's and my open studio on Friday 4 Dec 5-7pm (drinks on Friday) and 10am-4pm on Saturday 5 Dec.

So over the weekend I will ask Fiona to help me make a few decisions about what will go to Redcliffe and what will be in 601mvr our studio-gallery at 601 Mountain View Road.

Photos following show the stash of pendants

And stash of earrings

It was good to get these completed today.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Bits on the beach

Fiona and I went to the beach for a few days of rest - lots of walking, sleeping etc.

The walks on the beach always offered small fragments of nature and humans. Of course we could not resist stopping and capturing a few of the fragments - sometimes because of the shapes, sometimes the shadows, sometimes the layers and sometimes the way nature has carved the sand abound bits.

First a few photos of nature's contribution ….

And human lost objects and detritus ...

The time away was refreshing - sometimes it is just good to be away from home where there is always something to do even if it is enjoyable.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Beauty on the inside

The title to this post might suggest something noble such as meditation or spirituality - yet it is simply referring to the fact that the mechanics and materials in broken and discarded watches are such amazing pieces of mechanical design and creation. They look beautiful after a good clean and polish.

As part of the Steampunk influenced body of jewellery I'm making for the December sale at Jo St Baker's studio gallery in Redcliffe will include quite a number of pendants and earrings that will use watch and clock parts.

Some of the whole bodies of the bigger watches can become pendants - the largest is about 4cm.

Whereas the bodies and faces of some of the smaller watches are so small that they easily lend themselves to becoming earrings. The smallest rectangular watch bodies are only 2cm long, 1cm wide and about .3-.4cm thick.

I know some folk will like to be able to show the mechanics of the watches with all the shiny brass, stainless steel, garnet jewels and gears; whilst others will show the aged and worn faces - a sign that time has gone by. The solid silver ears-wires can easily be turned around to all either car. And of course with the pendants one just has to turn the piece over - fully reversible pendants.

I have added brass hanging wires into the silver plated handles of small trays - I will pour resin into these and add inclusions such as a single watch gear - they will become pendants.

The work on this stash is about half way there. I have another week or so before I need to deliver the work. There is always the creation of the sales list and final polishing at the end.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Making stock

One of the reoccurring discussions in our house is about the amount of creative work given to trying new ideas and designs; and the amount given over to making stock for our shop and galleries - all part of the art life if one wants to not only make but also sell work.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been making stock: new work but along an old theme (Artisan Lamps) for the December show-sale in the st+baker+studio gallery Redcliffe; Daily Word Leaves sets because I had run out of them; Peace Book Pendants - almost out of them; and more Steampunk influenced for show and sale in st+baker+studio gallery.

The making of small word leaves..