This and that

The blog post is as the title says - a bit of this and that: started production of functional pieces; finished some earrings and pendants; sorted and packed a bunch of letterpress stuff to go out into the world; and tested a button maker. 

The production of ladles (roughly formed ladle bowls above), leaf spoons, tea caddy spoons and pate knives started with cutting up metal.

The smelted-melted pieces for earrings and pendants were drilled, ground, polished and assembled.

There was quite an array of stuff I sorted to send out into the world.

I assembled and tested a button maker. Next step is to print the subject matter and make buttons.

All in all a busy couple of days - but also fun.

New tricks - 3D printing

 

Fiona and I did a two half day course with Judy Barrass on using 3D printers at the Noosa Library to create relief printing plates such as the completed one above - which still needs a bit of tidying up.

A couple of photos of the printing of the boat and hut follow.

The course was an introduction so the plates and printing are a bit on the rough side. Before we could ink the plates they needed to be sanded with fine sandpaper to take the rough printing edges off.

We did a couple of quick prints on damp quality printing paper using a small portable printer. The results were quite good.

Now to refine the the drawing, 3D printing and ink printing processes.

A surprising morning after all

 

We woke in the dark and drizzle today with a strong wind blowing. I said to Fiona that a walk might not be on the agenda. I indicated I would re-evaluate after I had done my exercise routine. The photo above indicates what I would have missed; and the photos below below show my initial reason for pessimism.

But then the drizzle stopped and the dark gave way to grey morning light with many fragments of drizzle drenched blossoms.

A small star like succulent blossom - never seen one of these before.

And G's drizzle drenched orchids  - including a couple of new ones in the orchid house.

So it was a joyful and surprising morning after all. 

Affirmations

 

I have printed a few micro posters (postcard size) and a few book marks (from offcuts) to just be in folk's lives as reminders to believe in themselves and others. I rather like the notion of micro posters - small enough to be posted on the fridge or near the computer without dominating the space.

Believe in yourself is printed on various bits of card that were near the guillotine.

But first kindness is printed on 250gsm buff that was gifted to us by Linda.

I think the words speak for themselves.

Worth celebrating

 

During the week Faith and I installed the other two posts to make up her trio installation as you can see in the photo above. Whilst the first post looked good on its own the trio seem to speak to each other.  

Fiona came down to check out the final positioning and in time to take a photo of Faith and I celebrating the installation.

Of course all three of us were able to complete the celebration together. Some additional photos of the trio follow.

The timber colour and rust colour will improve as the trio ages in place. And we have yet to find some other rusty cogs or objects that may or may not be placed on top of the remaining two posts.

Soft dew filled morning

 

We are definitely getting closer to the shortest day of the year; the mornings are getting darker; and I begin my morning walks in dawn light.

Many blossoms this morning were unfurling and in low light - many still held droplets from overnight dew - so crisp and magical. The succulent blossom featured in the opening photo was encrusted micro dew droplets. But many others were as can be seen in the following photos. The tiny daisy at the end is small - about 20mm in diameter- the droplets are micro.

There were a couple new arrivals that had unfurled in G's orchid house.

I'm hoping that the beauty of dawn brings all a fragment of joy.