Fragments from a few days

 

We have arrived in the village and have done a wander in the cottage yard, along the village road and to the cove this morning. This first blog post from the cottage shares first a few images from the last two days; and a few from our trip to north.

First a couple of images from the cove in sunrise light.

A few as we walked the village road.

And a few on our travel north.

We are so fortunate to be over here once again; and have arrived at the cottage to sunny fine days.

Peace tokens-buttons

 

Before I departed our Maleny home and workshop I got the chance to melt a bit of metal to make some peace tokens-buttons. The metal is pewter with a touch of silver and brass. You can see some of the finished tokens-buttons above.

I poured the molten metal into casting sand into which I had pressed an older form to enable me to pour quite a stash in one metal melt session. See casting sand with impressions below.

Following are some images of the casting process including the casting imperession burnt by the casting process.

I do love the brass colour on these pieces.

The token or button have a very organic look and feel.

Making a start

 

I would like to paint a series of watercolours that focus on detail. I have started with the painting above and below. I have only got the base colours done so far. The paintings will be 8X8cm square.

The painting are based on photos I have taken in Scotland - see below.

Some process-progress images follow.

Bringing the sunshine in

 

Fiona bought a bunch of sunflowers to brighten the room for her dad's birthday celebration. The good news is that they have just lasted such a long time; and frequently one's eyes are drawn to them. They just lift the room; and as I said in the title it is like we have brought a fragment of sunshine into the house.

I love how at times one can see the reflection of the flowers in the glass on the wall.

Sunflowers are such a humble flower; but their beauty is so uplifting.

A book for Narratives

 

I'm hoping that my artists' book, Compassion Scroll (see opening photo) will be exhibited as part of the Narratives 2025 artist's book exhibition in Maleny. Because we are heading off to Scotland it has been important to pack up the scroll and get one of the organisers to take delivery of it before we go.

This book was originally made for the Compassion exhibition in Nambour however the quote by Kirstin Hannah is just as applicable, or more so, in the current environment.

The quote is printed using traditional letterpress on a strip of pianola paper. The scroll container is made from an antique small brass hand pump. The door into the scroll container was hand cut and is mounted using recycled small brass hinges. The pump handle is used to roll up the scroll. The scroll is held in its extended position using an antique clock weight that I made a hook on the end of.

A few different images follow.

A fully unfurled version of the scroll follows.

Bird on the bench

 

I have managed to whittle-carve-saw another wee comfort bird. This one is made from red cedar - beautiful colour, grain and soft carving timber.  The opening image is of the sanded and oiled bird on the workshop bench.

A few progress photos follow including those showing the process of sawing the rough bird form; and the bird marked for carving and grinding.

This bird has a slightly more slender form with a slightly longer tail.

Wallaby, platypus, moon and random blossoms

 

Over the last week I did a few photographic series of: a wallaby, a platypus, the moon and blossoms this morning. First a shy wallaby from yesterday afternoon.

The moon through the week. Shared before but I just like the images. I was told the leaf silhouettes looked like birds!!

Platypus spotting on Sunday.

Rain droplet encrusted blossoms from this morning.

All these events and fragments made me smile.