Library of small books

In my previous post I indicated that I intended to make a library of small books - a precious library: silver-plate over EPNS; and containing precious words of peace.

I managed to complete 11 small books over the weekend (the smallest is 20mm square and the largest is 75mm high and 40mm wide). A few photos of the books that are the beginning of the library follow.

©2014 Barry Smith -A library of precious small books

©2014 Barry Smith -A library of precious small books

©2014 Barry Smith -A library of precious small books

©2014 Barry Smith -A longer slender small book

©2014 Barry Smith -A precious small book

The peace words stamped in the books are:

• pax
• imagine peace
• mindful of peace
• participate in peace
• peace for all
• make peace a positive
• dreaming peace into being
• in this moment, breathe peace
• give peace a chance
• be peace
• peace is a verb

Some followers of Fiona's blog will recognise their words in the list above. All the books are made from offcuts from recycled silver-plated trays.

Over the coming months I will add to the library - if you would like your favourite peace words included in the growing library please leave a comment with them in it; and please keep the words brief as it is a library of small books.

Mini metal books

©2014 Barry Smith - Stack of recycled silver-plated EPNS

I have been cutting up silver-plated EPNS trays for a job Fiona and I have on. There are always lots of off cuts when I do this. For some reason what the metal suggested was an installation of small metal books - maybe an artists' book (a library of small books). But I got side tracked because I wanted to see how small I could go.

Well as you can see I have made Fiona a prototype pair of book earrings and pendant. The pendant has the word 'wonder' stamped on it and the earrings 'joy' and 'read' - obviously the pendant and earrings are about the joy and wonder of reading.

©2014 Barry Smith - Book pendant and earrings

©2014 Barry Smith - Rivet book earrings (asbout 1cmX1.5cm)

©2014 Barry Smith - Riveted book pendant  (about 1.5cmx3cm)

And the metal for the library of small books; and more pendants and earrings in production.

©2014 Barry Smith - Book bits

And a stash of metal for our job.

©2014 Barry Smith - Stack of recycled silver-plated EPNS

Time for bubbles?

Back to ladles

©2014 Barry Smith - Fire colour and hammer marks inside the bowl - I never get tired of those colours and texture marks

I have had a couple of requests for ladles - so as part of my bowl hammering over the weekend I started work on 4 ladles.

©2014 Barry Smith - Four bowls roughly formed

©2014 Barry Smith - Four bowls hammered and finished - ready for polishing

But in the end there were three as I found a very small hole in one of the bowls after I finished polishing them. I gave it away to one of the people doing some work on our bathroom - can't have a leaky ladle!!! Below is how the three remaining ladles turned out.

©2014 Barry Smith - Three ladles - polished with handles riveted on

©2014 Barry Smith - Ladle with hand formed brass twist handle and small copper soldering iron head and fold on side away from right hand pouring edge

©2014 Barry Smith - Ladle with hand formed twisted copper handle

©2014 Barry Smith - Ladle with hand formed brass twist handle and large copper soldering iron head

©2014 Barry Smith - Hammered pattern on outside of a ladle bowl

I think that these three will give some choice.

International Peace Day

Usually I do my blog posts at the end of the day; but today is a special day - International Peace Day - so I thought I would post some images early - give peace a slightly better chance?

©2014 Barry Smith  - Peace crane on flag

©2014 Barry Smith - Peace sign at top go drive

The images are of peace 'flags' etc around our place. Many of these usually reside at the back of our house on the deck near the peace bell; but today some are brought to the top of our driveway to maybe encourage a little more awareness of peace; and just maybe let a few more peace thoughts and actions float out to calm some of the minds and hearts of those hell bent on war and violence.

©2014 Barry Smith _ Peace post with book wall and orchids

©2014 Barry Smith _ Italian peace flag on studio wall

©2014 Barry Smith _ Last year's peace flags re-hung plus Fiona's peace weather grams

©2014 Barry Smith - Peace Prayer Wheel at top of drive

©2014 Barry Smith Detail from Peace Prayer Wheel

©2014 Barry Smith _ Fluttering Peace Weather-grams

©2014 Barry Smith - Detail from Peace Prayer Wheel

©2014 Barry Smith - One of Fiona's peace hangings at our door

©2014 Barry Smith - Peace still hangs in there - fragile peace

Some peace 'flags' from friends.

©2014 Barry Smith - MJ's peace flags - at our doorway

©2014 Barry Smith - Luthien's peace house at our doorway

©2014 Barry Smith - Jennifer Q's shredded peace flags on the back deck

©2014 Barry Smith - Our Japanese Peace Bell - inscription by Mr Motoi

Peace - today and every day.

A flock of mini Starburst bowls

©2014 Barry Smith - Detail of fire colour and hammering on Starburst bowls

Today has been a full on art day. I cleaned my studio; started some ladles; and completed a flock of mini Starburst Bowls.

Given it is getting late and I need to make pizzas I thought I'd share some images of the 12 mini (range in size from 50mm-70mm in diameter) Starburst Bowls.

©2014 Barry Smith - All of the bowls started life as the recycled bases of wine goblets

©2014 Barry Smith - An annealing pit full of hammered Starburst Bowls

©2014 Barry Smith - The flock of mini Starburst Bowls after grinding and polishing

©2014 Barry Smith - Detail of mini Starburst Bowls - shiny

Over the weekend I hope to complete the ladles and share a bit on that later. Now I'm off to make pizza and drink red wine.

Mysterious moon, morning and moody mountains

About a week ago I was fortunate enough to capture a rising moon with some very black cloud layers racing across it - certainly gives the moon a mysterious look.

©2014 Barry Smith - Radiant moon

©2014 Barry Smith - Black lace covered moon

©2014 Barry Smith - Dazzling bright

©2014 Barry Smith - Racing black clouds

©2014 Barry Smith - Full clear glorious moon

The early morning today was cheered by carolling magpies; and a new orchid bloom on the book wall.

© 2014 Barry Smith - Another bird in a blue morning sky

©2014 Barry Smith - Book fuelled orchids

When we arrived home late yesterday afternoon it was threatening to rain at sunset - a very moody western storm sky.

©2014 Barry Smith - A moody stormy sunset

Just amazing what nature offers - I never take it for granted.

Packing and delivering over the weekend

A few bits of our art went out the door in different ways and directions over the weekend.

Bending II (below) was packed and delivered today so that it could become one of the features of a wedding at the end of next week - I hope it brings much joy into the lives of the young couple.

©2014 Barry Smith - Bending II outside the studio at sunset

Fiona was setting up the Peace exhibition in the display cabinets of the local library on Saturday. I went along to give a hand and contributed a bit of my work to the display. The Peace display will be in the cabinets for two weeks - looks good - hope it inspires a few folk. This is all leading up to International Peace Day on 21 September.

©2014 Barry Smith - A small reminder to give peace a chance.

Fiona and I contributed some stock Rhyce's new wood and art gallery in Montville - True Cut Gallery. Rhyce is a very fine furniture maker. Below is a photo of the pieces I contributed; and a photo of some of Fiona's and my pieces on display with Rhyce's fine furniture.

©2014 Barry Smith - A stash of goodies for young Rhyce's gallery

©2014 Barry Smith - One small view of True Cut Gallery

I was informed that one of the fish sold over the weekend. And just a reminder that the earring and bracelet Spring Sale in my shop has only one more week to run so don't miss out on  a bargain - all earrings and bracelets are 20% off.

And if you check Fiona's blog out you will see that the peace weather grams are also being progressively installed.

A good positive art weekend.