Box and bowls

I managed to finish the metal treasure box for Helen over the weekend; continued work on the shallow hammered bowls for the Daily Words commission; and just did a little work on a few Starburst Bowls in the making.

The metal treasure box is made from two recycled rectangular silver-plated EPNS trays with intricate designs on them - quiet a bit of metal - the lid measures 18x11.5x3.2cm. Both the lid and bottom are riveted with copper rivets. The bottom fits very snugly into the lid; and both are bound with a 25mm wide strip of soft grey leather.

©2014 Barry Smith - Larger metal treasure box - side

©2014 Barry Smith - Larger metal treasure box - top

©2014 Barry Smith - Larger metal treasure box - view of lid and bottom

The photos below show the next 10 bowls for the Daily Words commission - hammered with wooden mallet into the shallow bowl form; and then hammered on the anvil for texture and strength.

©2014 Barry Smith - Bowl on the anvil

©2014 Barry Smith - Bowls in front of the anvil

©2014 Barry Smith - Ready for another annealing and reshaping

And whilst working on the Daily Words bowls I continued the process of forming some small Starburst bowls.

©2014 Barry Smith - Starburst bowls under water in the rough in the quenching basin

The small Starburst bowls are being made from recycled bases off goblets, egg holders and vases.

All in all a good outcome for the weekend given we needed to fit in life, house and gardening. I think I'm tired now.

Friday projects

I got my teeth into a couple of things today: finishing off some wood covers for books-journals Fiona is working on; and starting the metal box Helen has commissioned.

©2014 Barry Smith - Small wood covers for books - raw

Fiona and I had sliced some thin timber pieces of wood months ago; but recently Fiona decided it was time to mark them up, trim, sand, drill and oil them so she could attach them to handmade books. Above shows the timber in the raw and below shows it polished, drilled and oiled.

©2014 Barry Smith - Small wood covers for books - oiled - they will soften off

I also started the metal box for Helen - it is to be about 17x11x3cm; made from recycled silver-plated EPNS trays; and have a lid and a base similar to the Travellers' Shrines only bigger. Below are photos of the marking up and cutting steps.

©2014 Barry Smith - Tray marked up for cutting

©2014 Barry Smith - Committed now?

The photo below shows the lid is complete but rough - needs a couple more rivets and corners and edges hammered at this stage - and grinding and polishing of course.

©2014 Barry Smith - Box lid in the rough

And then the magic happens - polished and shiny - sitting on the rust table again - can't really get too much rust.

©2014 Barry Smith - Box lid - polished

©2014 Barry Smith - Box lid - polished - and reflecting rust

I'm posting a bit earlier than usual - but we are about to head out to the opening of a printmakers exhibition.