Rustnstuff

Monday, June 10, 2013

Online shop re-opens

Going back about a month ago I indicated on my blog sidebar that I had to close my shop because there were serious problems after a software upgrade by a provider went pear shaped.

The shop is back online - though it still has a couple of little quirks - like irrespective of the postage that I apply to items the software wants to make all postage $10 - hopefully we can get that sorted in the not too distant future.

In the mean time I have decided to have a 15% off sale for the rest of June 2013.

The sale re-launches the shop; and hopefully lessens the impact of any postage and handling issues.

So any items purchased between now and midnight on 30 June will be refunded 15% on the cost of the items purchased through Paypal. Could be a good time to make a purchase or two - there are quite a few new items in the shop.

Thanks for your support and understanding.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Progress with polishing etc...

Over the weekend I have managed to grind and polish the found earrings and the Peace Book Pendant pages. I have also attached the ear wires to the earrings and jump rings to the earrings and the Peace Book Pendants.

A few photos of the 'found' earrings.

And few photos of the Peace Book Pendants.

All the Peace Book Pendants are cut from recycled silver-plated EPNS or silver-plated copper. I need to attach the chains for the pendants, give them a final polish and then they are complete. Some will go into the Online Shop and Open Studio (6-7 July); and others will go into the Peace and Stillness Exhibition at Rosebead Street Gallery.

Friday, June 7, 2013

A whole lot of polishing going on...

During the week I was cutting and creating stuff for a number of purposes: Flags for Peace 2013; our Peace & Stillness exhibition in August-September; the library display; and the 601 mvr open studio on the 6-7 July. But whilst I was cutting and, stamping and hammering I was not able to get out in the open to grind and polish - it has been too wet.

Today was finally fine enough for me to get out. I set myself a very ambitious goal - grind and polish: 21 flags for peace 'flags'; the Peace Leaves (for both the exhibition and the library display); odd bits of found earrings; and the Peace Book Pendant pages.

Well I managed to get the 'flags' done - these will be held on a rope suspended by split rings to enable movement and hopefully chiming in the breeze.

The Peace Leaves are also complete.

But the Peace Books and found earrings bits will have to wait for another day. Still a pretty good afternoon's work - and a few different lines of work progressed. I can hear a cork that is calling to be popped - so I guess it is time for me to go and work with Fiona on the blue cheese and pumpkin risotto.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Magic morning and images of a journey

I was going to do this post on iPhone photos taken of fragments of my recent trip to Japan; but ten minutes of beauty on this mornings early morning walk meant that I felt I just wanted to share both.

So first the ten minutes of colour from an early morning sunrise as I walked along Treehaven Way.

And then a few random images of fragments of beauty from the recent trip to Tatebayashi.

Over the last couple of days I have spent some in the garage-studio in the afternoons. I have cut and hammered heaps of metal; but because we are in another rather wet and cold period I have not been able to get to trim and polish pieces. I hope I can do a fair bit of that over Thursday and Friday and be in a position to share images of the fruits on my creativity on Friday.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Meeting a master in Japan

One of the benefits of our recent art-culture exchange to Japan was that we got to spend time in the studious of some Tatebayashi artists including : a printmaker, an environmental artists; and a master metal worker.

I was particularly lucky in that I (and Fiona) got to spend the morning with Haryu san a metal worker recognised by the Japanese government as a national master copper artist. He has been working copper for 60 years. Haryu san willing opened his workshop studio to us and with our friend Hiro's assistance as interpreter we were able to have a conversation about his work.

I had tool envy big time - he just had so many stakes, hammers and other tools.

One of his renowned works includes a suspended and balanced formed cup-bowl, ladle and water trough was based on Confucian philosophy about balance.

As I understand it Haryu san had created this piece from his understanding of Confucian philosophy and an ancient Chinese drawing of such a water feature even though this knowledge had all been lost in China. He has made a larger work that is now in the Chinese Confucian institute. He continues to replicate this work on various scales to promote Confucian philosophy regarding water and balance in life.

It was good to share information regarding hammering techniques including about our pieces below.

I was honoured that this master (mark of the master below) willingly gave so much time to me.

If language and resources permitted I think it would be great to spend a few weeks with Haryu san and learn a little of the old and traditional Japanese skills of metal working.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Foraging and cutting on Friday

Fiona and I went to town for a variety of things today; but as we were about to leave the car-park of our local IGA store I noticed a very large rubbish skip that was crammed full of stuff from the recent refurbishment of the store. Thank goodness most other folk were at the local show so we could do a bit of foraging or skip surfing - and we came home with a lot of good stuff - I will post on that later.

This afternoon was given over to art. I had planned to do another personal shrine; but when I got down to the studio-garage metal called and I was drawn into doing a heap of cutting, grinding and drilling for a series of Peace Book Pendants. I love doing these - both the process and the message that is finally contained in each; and carried by those who wear them.

You can see some images of the 'books' cut; clamped for grinding all the 'pages' to a uniform size; drill holes through the sheets; and the edges before I take them off for polishing after the peace words are stamped on one of the 'pages'.

I'm making 11 together - but each is unique. All are cut from recycled metal including a very tarnished and beaten wide bracelet of silver over copper given to me by friends - I'm very fortunate to have such people in my life. I have created a couple that are less book like (second and third from the left); and a Petite Peace Book on the right. The petite pendant is about 25mm long and 20mm wide - very cute.

Now it is time to create a couple of Barry's gourmet pizzas; and break out a bit of shiraz.