Testing an idea

 Back here, I had soldered a lot of small circles ready to take them home and roll them through the mill to create pebble forms for my stack of three earrings.

A I posted, I had the thought about maybe texturing them? 

This thought niggled away and I went to the workshop (aka garden shed) to see if I could cut 6 small circles, solder 6 small circles, flatten 6 small circles, pickle 6 small circles, texture 6 small circles, and then solder two lots of 3 small circles, and pickle them again.

I am happy to say, mission accomplished over two days.

After soldering, the one on the right was hammered flat by hand. I realised as I did them that I usually manage to squish and distort the forms more by putting them through the mill, but was happy enough to proceed with the notion of more circle-shaped forms.

Looking somewhat earring-like...

And then pickled. With a few random fragments as well.

And so to texturing by hammering with a different hammer.

And soldered prior to pickling.

And pickled.

Still with some filing and polishing to do, they are looking maybe like they will be OK.

And then I thought, maybe I should oxidise them???

Will leave that thought till we return to Maleny!

And today has been 'a day between weathers' as our neighbour says; with what a friend calls a bluebird sky. Simply stunning.

We did some yard work, moving rocks and pruning and a touch of weeding. Then sat in the sun with our backs against the stone wall of the cottage. Basking. Apricating. Enjoying.

Bliss.

Scenes from our trips away

 It has been a busy month here with trips up and down and round about, for friends and with friends.

Here are some images of the beauty we have found along the way...

Two trips to Orkney in a fortnight and some neolithic magic, some beaches and some weather!

The Ring of Brodgar, brooding.

One of the dwellings at Skara Brae.

The Broch of Gurness

Rain shower looking over to Hoy

The beach at Skara Brae, Skaill Bay.

Back on mainland Scotland again, our beach at Armadale

Duncansby Stacks on the north east coast.

Down south - red squirrels at breakfast.

Autumn colours.

And the sheep on the common grazings in Armadale one morning.

Getting back in the groove

 We have pretty much finished the chores we set ourselves to do this trip - the painting, the pointing and the planting - so we have been able to grab  few moments here and there to think about, and make, some things artistic.

Whilst this photo looks like I have a fur hat on; it is actually the reflection of the hay bale in the field beside us! It took me a while to work out what was going on.

This is me hard at work in my workshop. Also known as the garden shed behind the cottage.

When next we are here, we are planning another pop up art show and I thought to myself I should get down and start making some jewellery.  It seemed like if I could grab an hour here, and maybe an hour there, I could cut some silver wire and solder some forms.

Nothing too fine or too tricky or too elegant; just get down and get the basics underway. I think am snipping solder here, ready to make a few more pebble forms. It was about 6 degrees outside with a sharpish wind, so I am pretty rugged up. My hands really felt it tho!

It was a good productive hour!

All these forms need to be cleaned, and to have the lumps and bumps filed down, but I am well on the way to having a bunch of pebble forms to play with to make some new jewellery.

And a few photos from around the cottage. Out the bedroom window as we headed to bed one night.

Our apple tree is in full bloom.

And the lambs are being cute.

As we round the corners to home...

Turn left into Armadale...

Some moments from here and there...

We have had some lovely blue sky days, and some soft grey days.

On the blue sky days we try hard to get as much washing done as possible, and here is my Dad and me soaking up the sun after a marathon waking effort!

Not sure if it is the same seagull, bt it is the same roof on two different days!

 

A dazzling shimmering sunshiny moment on our morning walk.

Looking across the road to the fields with some lambs and the gorse in bloom.

A grey day was the day for a drive to talking and tongue and there is beauty in the softness of grey as well.

And Spring is making an appearance...

A visit to the Melness cemetery showed me a memorial with a list of heroes; and one heroine, from WWI. I have never seen a nurse recognised on a Memorial before and thought it was truly marvellous!

Arrival...

 We have landed safely at the cottage and are settling into our rhythms and routines. Spring is being tempestuous and still hasn't settled into a reliable sense of warmth or steadiness, but we are enjoying the moments in all weathers.

Here is a compilation of our first week - some of the things we love and enjoy.

As we drove North.

The cottage.

The daffodils - one (or more) of every sort that is flowering at the moment.

The first of the lambs are arriving...

Hanging with our friends...

A drive along past Ben Hope.

And as ever, the light, the light! 

Morning walk sun showers...

'tis good to be back...