Rustnstuff: 06/14

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Carrying peace ….

As you can see from the photo above I have just completed a series of Peace Book pendants. Why Peace Books? Each pendant is unique: each has 4 leaves (eight pages); each leaf is made from different recycled metal - silver-plated copper or EPNS; some leaves are the ornate decorative edges of serving trays; each pendant has one page stamped with with the words "seek peace" or "imagine peace"; the leaves are held together by two jump rings which enable the leaves to be turned; and the pendants are on silver-plated chains that are 600mm in length. The tiny Peace Book pendant on the left centre in the photo above is about 30mm long and 14mm wide.

The concept behind the Peace Book pendants is that the owner-wearer carries a bit of peace with them - as a positive affirmation and goal; bringing a little peace and stillness. In our world it doesn't hurt to carry a reminder of peace.

Closer photos of each of the Peace Book pendants in this series are below.

When I make these pendants I imagine that they can take a little peace into the world.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Unpacking and using a Travellers' Shrine

I have been asked what is the purpose of my Travellers' Shrines; and how are they used - so I thought I would post on that since I have just completed making a series of the Shrines.

My Travellers' Shrines are small portable metal boxes used to carry personal objects that often form part of a personal sacred space. They can be used in the home to create a sacred space; but they are also meant to be packed and wrapped and taken on journeys to create a sacred still space wherever you are.

In this post I just wanted to share a few photos that shows the process of unpacking a Travellers Shrine. The shots in the hand below give a sense of the size of the Shrines

Untying the Shrine.

My Travellers' Shrines come with a standard set of inclusions: a small bundle of incense (longer lengths cut to fit the shrine - tied with silk); a small brass incense burner; a small hammered bowl; a fold formed inspirational leaf (with love or peace stamped on it); and a small square mat to lay the pieces on.

People who purchase my Travellers' Shrines usually add their own bits to the Shrine such as: medals, small cards with inspirational quotes, a crystal, a small stone, a feather, a shell etc. But because the Shrines are small there are limits on size and the amount one puts inn them. We all individualise our own sacred spaces.

Once the traveller's meditation or prayer session is finished the Shrine can be left open to maintain a sacred space; or packed away for the next stage of the journey.

The top of the Travellers Shrines are made from recycled ornate silver-plated copper or EPNS; and are riveted in the corners. The bottoms are made from plain silver-plated copper or EPNS and are folded and lined with felt. Because the Shrines are made from recycled metal and are individually handmade they have a sense of age and history about them. Fiona took the photos - thanks to her.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Early light, bits for Travellers' Shrines and bits of rainbows

Today has been a day of small things; finishing the small pieces that will go into the Travellers's Shrines - inspirational leaf, offering bowl and incense burner-holder; capturing the fragments of rainbows on our stone kitchen bench; and capturing the exceptional light of an early morning on Treehaven Way.

First that early morning light…

And then the tiny bowls (about 30mm in diameter); and tiny inspirational (love and peace 40-60mm long) leaves; and brass incense burners.

And those tiny rainbows on our kitchen bench - love the angles of the sun in winter through our kitchen louvres.

All in all a gorgeous day.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Unfinished but lots of progress...

I had hoped to finish my Travellers' Shrines over the weekend but did not get all the time I thought I might (including attending an official engagement on behalf of our neighbourhood centre - not really our thing). And of course I was doing 6 shrines together. Still as you can see from the photos below I did make quite a bit of progress.

But before the photos of the shrines I wanted to show the small brass anvil I made for bending the shrine edges - it is made from a brass weight we picked up at some time. I was going to 'bequeath' it to Fiona for her interesting bits display; but I had to tell her it is now part of my tool collection. It worked really well.

And on to the shrines.

So I'm now up to lining the bottoms of the shrines (this part holds all the bits); and then making the bowls, incense burners and leaf forms that go into the bottom; and then polishing. Will do this during the week I hope.

And because I was polishing bits I finished making the pendant and earrings above for Fiona as a memento of NYC - made from a fork and two teaspoons bought from an open air market stall.

A good weekend in all.

Friday, June 20, 2014

A return to travellers' shrines

It is quite a long time since I have made any of my small portable Travellers' Shrines even though I have a couple of folk who would like to purchase them. I was looking back at older posts and see that the last ones I made were back in November 2013.

The thing is I usually like to have interesting metal to make the lids out of the shrines; and I like to be in the right frame of mind - I like to give the shrines positive maker energy when I make them. Well today those things came together and I made a start on a group of Travellers' Shrines.

Metal for the tops of the shrines all marked up ready for precise cutting in the guillotine.

There are always off cuts - but these will become word leaves, peace pendants, for giving away to other folk etc.

And the pieces are cut into shape with the metal shears ready for folding and riveting.

The fold over for the rivets is about .75cm and the rivet is about 1.5mm in diameter. Quite a tiny piece to hold together and rivet - quick release clamps are very handy.

I had time to finish one lid up to rough fold and rivet stage. This shrines lid is about 5cm wide, 7cm long and 1.3cm deep - about the size of a standard matchbox. The pattern reminds me of Cherry Blossom.

I moved on to start making the bottom-inside section that holds the mini offering bowl, incense holder, inspirational word leaf etc.

I was tied up all afternoon with meetings at our local neighbourhood centre - so I will do more work on the shrines over the weekend. Still a good feeling to start shrines that will take journeys with different people across and around the world. Roast pumpkin and blue cheese risotto for dinner - and yes of course accompanied by a red.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Wednesday morning and other bits

The title of this blog post is a little misleading. I will share a couple of Wednesday iPhoneography photos; but the blog post is mainly about recycled gifts. But first an image of coffee husks from the husking effort of last evening - I just love the colour and texture of these husk - so crisp and like small egg shells.