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.

Moody morning moon, orchids and other blossoms

 I headed out for my walk this morning in soft pre-sunrise light. This made for an opportunity to take a few moon photos with out-of-focus items in the foreground as you can see from the photo above (moon with barbed wire) and those following. 

The dark grey tones are a result of me trying to sharpen the focus on the moon. It does sharpen the focus but also darkens the background - still I like the result.

Images of a few of the orchids blooming in G's orchid house.

And a few bit of beauty taken during the week.

May the fragments of beauty lift our spirits and encourage us to hold on to hope.

Four for Scotland and two for a sick fellow artist

 On Thursday I returned to Megan's Thursday morning art group - managed to progress 4 wee Scotland inspired watercolours I had started whilst in the cottage. Today I managed another hour to further progress the four.

I was informed that a fellow artist is very ill and a few folk are going to give her a concertina book of small artworks. I started two today - got the under washes done.

The opening photo shows where I got to with the six works today. Some process shots of the four for Scotland follow. The order is a bit random - I'm sure you can work it out!!!!

A couple of process photos of the art for a friend follow.

Hopefully I will get close to finishing all six in the coming week.

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.

Sculptural walk on a rainy day

 

Yesterday morning Fiona and I grabbed a moment between rain showers to do the Peace in the Trees Sculpture Walk. The walk is  the continuation of the boardwalk that starts behind the Riverside Shopping Area in Maleny.

As you can see from Fiona's photo below, the wide pathway enables all to walk and use places to rest; the lush growth makes for a gentle nurturing meander.

We got to reacquaint ourselves with the sculptures including Judy's - detail shown in the opening photo and below.

And Cathy's platypus - Fiona's photo.

Of course there were beautiful rain drenched fungi; and a cormorant on the Obi.

How fortunate are we in Maleny to have such a beautiful peaceful walkway right on the edge of town

Farewell to cottage and cove

 

How quickly time had passed - we are on our way home to our Maleny home; and we have said farewell to the cottage and cove.

A few fragments here to remind us of the beauty we find around the cottage each time we visit - how fortunate are we!! I never tire of looking west from the upstairs window enjoying sunsets such as the following.

Armadale Bay at sunset - looking east from the upstairs window

A few other fragments including lambs, the cove and Eider Ducks on the cove beach and our potatoes planted in pots for harvesting when we return!!!

Soon we will be back in our Maleny cottage and sharing some of the beauty were find there on our walks.