Rustnstuff: 2012

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Spiral cylinders

Sometimes mistakes offer opportunities. Recently I was cold-forming a leaf-form from silver-plated copper from a recycled small tray. I thought the metal was 'soft' enough to fold and unfold - wrong - it split after the forming process as I opened it. So I thought what could I do with two half leaf-forms? Well I decided to beat them around a rod and created these neat spiral cylinder earrings which are about 75mm long.

Fiona said they reminded her of the curled bark that we see on the side of the road on our walks along Treehaven Way. The bark comes from a particular Eucalyptus tree. The bark often has marks on it from both growth and insects.

So now I think I have a new nature inspired form - the bark-spiral.

The pair of spiral above were made from slier-plate over brass - former life a champagne goblet. And as in nature no two spirals are exactly the same. Fiona took the photos - she thought these rough spiral cylinders reminded her of nibs - could appeal to calligraphers? The pieces above still need trimming and polishing etc.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Raising new bowls

In between making leaf-forms, Found and Formed jewellery, and Christmas trees, I have been continuing to work on my bowl raising. This form of metal work is quite taxing as each bowl needs to be annealed many times; and beaten many times to take the metal from the flat sheet to a curved form.

Sometimes I get it right and can curve the bowl past what I call the the semicircle open point as with this small copper bowl.

Other times I push hard and end up with a good shape but the metal begins to fold and stress when I reach a certain point as attempt to push it past the semicircle open bowl point.

And sometimes I just like the fact that I have taken a piece of metal and created a beautiful open bowl with beautiful markings.

None of the bowls have been polished - and I'm a bit inclined to leave them like that as I like the shine created by the hammer strokes and the hammer marks themselves.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A little more Peace

It is so good to see the all peace messages being posted by our blogging community. So why not add another to the mix - there can't be too many ripples and wishes of peace for our world in these troubled times.

I made the recycledsilver-plated EPNS leaf-forms above in the days leading up to Christmas. Some have been given new homes as gifts. This period of peace has encouraged me to stamp peace words on one side of the leaf-forms. I think I will do quite a few more of these this year.

To all who have followed my blog this year and provided encouragement and comments - thank you. May you have heaps of peace in your life.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Let Fragments of Peace Fly

Fiona and I were heading off for our morning walk a couple of days ago; but as we got to the top of the drive we noticed that many of the Peace weather-grams Fiona and others had tied to one of our trees as part of Fiona's Flags for Peace 2012 contribution were still attached.

It was a beautiful overcast morning so we agreed to miss the walk and get the ladder and unfold weather-grams that has become entangled; and of course take a few photos as they just look beautiful amongst the foliage. Untangling the weather-grams was like giving them new life and letting the peace energy ripple out again.

Fiona will probably post on her photos of the remnants; but I thought given it is Christmas maybe it can't hurt to have more than one peace post from the mountain.

And a few flowers from the mountain to add colour and joy.

Wishing peace to the world; and to our blog community. May peace be yours now and always.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Healing & Peace

Fiona and I collaborated on a Christmas tree for the festival of Christmas trees. Peace Cranes by Fiona and tree and leaf forms by Barry. I thought I would share an image of the tip of one of the 'branches' - brown paper Peace Crane and leaves.

Over the last couple of weeks I have made a couple of sets of Daily Words that focus on healing. These are gifts for folk who are dealing with the challenge of threats to their health and life. When making these sets I focussed on the recipients with the view to adding a little more positive healing energy to their daily lives.

In these challenging times may a little more peace and healing ripple out to those who need it.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Community Christmas

The local Uniting Church (UC) has committed itself to a Christmas Tree Festival. This has several purposes including: contributing to the joy of Christmas through a creative event; the UC playing a role in community outside normal church boundaries; and raising funds for our local Neighbourhood Centre.

In all there will be about 35-40 artistic and meaningfilled Christmas trees created by: schools; church groups; service clubs; community organisations such as the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre; and individuals.

Because Fiona's mum and dad are playing various roles in this venture and because proceeds will go to the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre Association of which I am president, Fiona and I have contributed to a couple of the trees; made our own tree; and Fiona has made peace pebbles for sale.

Trees were erected today - some snapped photos of tress erected while we were at the UC follow.

As you can see from the photo below the event is over 4 days.

It is so good that the Christmas period can bring out such generosity in folk; and also a willingness to contribute to the creative community joy of Christmas.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Road litter

Walking down Treehaven Way after rain is always a joy. The air is crisp and the trees, flowers and road are clean; and often fungi has also emerged on posts and stumps.

But a recent walk offered a litter of leaves on the road. Because the bitumen was wet the leaves on it stood out in their beautiful shapes and colours. Fortunately I had the iPhone with me so not only was I was able to enjoy the experience; but also capture a few images. I made a rule for myself - I could only photograph leaves that were actually on the road - one has to have some boundaries!!!

And this delicate feather was attached to the road - must have got there after the rain as it was not battered and beaten into the bitumen.

As always nature offers such simple delights.

Friday, December 14, 2012

A little glitter and tinkle for Christmas

An elderly friend-neighbour asked if I could make a selection of earrings; and bring them over to her place so she could make a selection for Christmas gifts for her granddaughters.

I have made a number of different types. My earring consultant (Fiona) said I might consider making some layered pieces - so that had a bit of movement and tinkle. So as well as finishing off the long slender leaf-forms and making a riveted pair; I have made a few sets with 2 or 3 layers of metal (copper, brass, EPNS).

The micro leaf-forms also made a return - I made a set that dangles and tinkles. These leaf-forms are about 12-15mm long.

The layered earrings encouraged me to make a layered pendant.

Fiona and I will visit our friend in the next couple of days to let her make her selection. The rest of the earrings will go into the 'shop' for Christmas. Most of the photos in this post were taken by Fiona as many of my macro shots were a tad blurry; and as you can see from Fiona's blog she has the steady hand for the detailed photos.

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