Rustnstuff: 2019

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

To the future

As we leave 2019 behind with it's current hardships and dangers; may 2020 offer us all some respite, hope, love and joy.

Friday, December 27, 2019

I have decided that it is time for me to reduce my studio footprint and do a bit of decluttering. I had spread my jewellery making over an entire room which resulted in inefficient use of space; and the keeping of stuff I just did not use.

So the first task was to do a big sort and put aside stuff I did not use. And second was to reduce my jewellery assembling space down. So now I share space with Fiona in what has become her sewing room.

The photos below show a more streamlined work area.

We have visitors coming today and staying for a few days so it meant that there was not a lot of time available for making. I decided to just make a couple of simple paint tube earrings from buttons Fiona and I picked up on the Orkneys.

I had intended to make a set of earrings from the backbone of a carpet snake that died down the back of the block some time ago. I did prepare the bones but ran out of making time.

Snake bone earrings will have to wait.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Hope in these times

Hope is such a powerful word and a powerful emotion. I wish it for all on this day that some celebrate as Christmas - I wish it for all on all days.

Over the last couple of months we have struggled with heat, dry and smoke. Overnight we had 10mm of rain and woke to a valley full of moisture filled clouds - truely a sight for hope and joy.

We wandered the block to see how the trees and plants had responded to the overnight gift. It is amazing just how quickly nature can respond. As you can see from the photos I was taken by the lichen that was dedicated that now is growing so quickly.

And of course droplets are always a joy and a sign of hope.

Even the birds got into the act and had a good scrub amongst the leaves.

And the bees were having a fine time in the pumpkin patch

To all I wish hope, love and peace in these times.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Persistence - task completed

Over the weekend time was spent on the block getting jobs done - like hedging the camellias and oiling one of the 'bridges' across the rock river. But it has been too hot to do too much outdoor work.

On Friday I gave myself the goal of using up the journal blanks and the leather. Much of the leather was brown hence many of the journals are a soft brown as you can see from the photo above and other photos. Great that this work could be done in the cool of the studio.

In all I have boxed up twenty good journals.

The leather had some imperfections so this resulted in six journals with a bit of character.

A few photos of the process.

Lovely looking stash - I made 15 today.

A sense of satisfaction on completing this task and using valuable art resources.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Leather covered journals

The end of the year seems to encourage me to do a bit of sorting and culling of art resources. In fossicking through one of my cupboards I came across a number of packs of journal blanks - about 30 to be more precise. I also rediscovered a small box of soft leather which had been purchased with covering journals in mind. The blanks are 13cmX9cmX1.5cm. Very good fine and strong cream archival journal paper - some lined and some blank.

So today I decided to get stuck in and make as many as I could. As you can see from the photo at the end of the blog I got 10 done.

A few photos of the process follow.

The completed 10 look pretty good.

I will keep going until the stash of journal blanks or the leather runs out.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Hope ...

The heat, lack of rain and fires continue - these tend to combine to drag the spirits down.

But we also look around us to see that nature makes the effort to survive - some of the flowers, bees and birds remind me to have hope.

I'm sure all will celebrate when we get cooler weather and rain.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Stairway to ....

We had planned to put in a stairway that could be used to walk between the upper and lower gravelled sculpture terraces. We had set aside 9 450mmX4500mmX80mm timber blocks that were cut from salvaged storm timber. The timber is not suitable for fine art work; but again can add art dimensions to the block.

I started on the bottom terrace and built the steps into the earth. There was quite a lot of earth that needed to be dug out - it was relocated to provide good soil for bushes we are planting at the base of the lower terrace - below the large agapanthus.

Fiona and I had talked about the relationship between the stairway and the timber cubes. I think it has worked well.

Because I was working on my own there are a couple of wobbles that need to be sorted before I screw the stairs together. Fiona will provide guidance fro the mini boardwalk at the top of the slope.

I was also able to install the last bench seat on the terraces down below.