A miscellany of making

 The bits and pieces nature of the end of the year continues. Barry posted about a post he had made for a friend here and here (an action shot of me at work and all!). In the lead up to it he had asked me to write the lettering on it so that he could rout it.

I always print out a computer font at about the right size so I have something to guide my handwriting. Here it is with possible tools for transferring to the log.

Lead pencil on the timber, quite hard to photograph!

Gone over with a permanent marker so Barry could see the paths he needed to follow.

In some spare moments I have been putting together a couple of pairs of earrings - here's one set.

The other work fits more into preparation for making, than making per se.  In preparation for transitioning from the studio I have been trying to get my things in order. I am trying to make sure I only take with me things I will need and use; and not just grab everything because we run out of time and it's there. I am also trying to make sure that what we take is in good working order. 

So over to the tins of ink we use for letterpress printing.  Four of the tins really needed a good clean up. For whatever reason the sealing surface had not worked and the top of the tins had hardened and become unusable. There were several 'interesting' moments as I tried to remove the hardened ink and scrape the still usable ink off and back into the tin!

In terms of making I also sometimes like to think of decorating as making, and here we have a bowl full of twinkle lights and baubles which graces our table....

Hopefully I will get a good run at proper making in the next wee while...

Norway...

 B and I are just back from a quick trip across to Norway!  My brother and his wife were travelling there and it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up - to hang out together on the other side of the world to usual.

We arrived in Bergen and it was beautiful, especially the old town of Bryggen. We wandered around and poked our heads up alleyway and side streets, admiring the weathered and worn timbers and buildings.

Before we left, we saw some most beautiful cherry blossoms.

The weather was not as kind in Voss - and it shows!

Luckily the next day dawned bright(ish) and we went for a magnificent ferry cruise through a fjord; and then an alpine train trip amongst the snow tops. Stunning. 

And then back to Bergen in the sunshine!

It was a glorious few days and we would love to go back. 

A good few days

In the week where I tested negative to Covid and could venture out into the world again, there were some small and lovely moments of art and books.

The first one was as we walked down the main street and stopped to look in the window of a shop, thinking about gifts for Scotland. Barry was about to say that jewellery looks like yours - when he realised it was! Very exciting to be on display in the front window on the main street.

Available at Maleny Additions, 3/25 Maple St Maleny.

It took us both a while to realise that Barry's work was directly underneath as well!

Further down the street we looked at the fully weathered log again.

I have never been asked to refresh it or renew it so I figure the owner must be happy, like I am, that the words simply weather...

I received these postcards in the mail - small advertising bits for the exhibition Scotland. I  am quite happy with them but of course the critical eye goes over them and wishes I had done this or that differently; but the bottom line is they show the artwork and the information is there. Tick!

And we finished the week with Our Big Book Club. It was a great success, full of lively   enthusiastic discussions with folk who are passionate about books and reading. Such a joy to share time and space with like minds. Barry took this photo of me interviewing Kate Evans. Hand talking as ever...

And to a lovely night celebrating the fruits of our labour and enjoying each other's company with a marvellous sunset backdrop.

The countdown is on to Scotland, and I still have a bit to do, so it will be head down for the next wee while.

The best fun - wood carving workshop

 For Barry's birthday I bought us both attendance at a 3 hour wood carving workshop in Brisbane. The tutor was Theresa Darmody and it was held at Artisan in Bowen Hills.

The goal was to make a small specimen vase and we did!

On arrival our bench positions were set up with a vice gloves and tools, and we got select our first blank.

We began by using the draw blade and it was such a delight. I was utterly mesmerised by the slow motion effective removal of large chunks of the timber.

After the draw blade, and about to begin with the carving knife. none of which I photographed I was so engrossed in whittling!

This is after sanding. And then we burnished, oiled and waxed it.

What a great bunch of results by the 8 participants in just under 3 hours!

B on the L, me on the R - our bud vases at home with some lovely dried flowers. So. Much. Fun.

I have determined I thoroughly enjoy pretty much any sort of making with my hands. Just sitting being carried away by the slow movements, the concentration and the mediation of it all.

Barry has posted his side of things here.

Charred III and a Fair

 On Friday Barry and I decided that after all the chores we had both been doing, it was time to play and make some art, so we got together and brought Charred III into being.

We worked together to select the bits of rust that we would choose from to put on the cube; and Barry spent time preparing them - drilling holes, grinding bits off, cutting out the interesting bits we might want. And then we began the selection and placement process.

And then we got to pop it in the front garden and let it just be lovely.

And a few days later, I managed to get this photograph of the Charred series I, II & III alongside Barry's Cove Post.

As the sun shone this morning, I came upon my earlier post, sitting in the fireplace now and looking warm and very much at home. Our cottage is a place of posts!

And just quickly, we attended the Watten Craft Fair yesterday and had a grand day out, met some lovely people and made some sales as well. Our table looked very quiet, calm and soft.

And again, the sun shone and we got orem lovely angles and shadows...

We head to Murkle Market next Saturday to meet more folk and hopefully sell some more things. 

Fire and Flowers

 On our last visit, I created the first in a series called Charred. What started with some burnt fence posts became a lovely, balanced and elegant sculpture. Barry and I joined forces to create Charred II which I am not sure I ever blogged about! In fact looking back I never even photographed it! Must have been just before we left early last visit.

Charred II

And a photo a friend took to show me the sweet peas, but there it is in front!

Following the creation of The Fishers post as part of Barry's exhibition and our work with the students, there was a small (23cm x 23cm) cube left over. Which immediately said to us both it needed burning.

On Saturday we had a good day for burning - not raining, not too windy, and not too hot; kind of like a Goldilocks day. So we went ahead and have created the base for our next sculpture in the series Charred III.

I am looking forward to adding in all the bits of interest to make this another lovely piece for our garden.

And then, as ever, to flowers (with the addition of feathers and fruit). I have loved the summer brightness of so many flowers in the garden and how they have cheered each room I add them to. In the kitchen, with my favourite bird the chaffinch at the window.

And our fabulous crop of apples out the back - culinary ones some have been stewing them for our breakfast and they are delicious.

As we farewell the last of the bright colours, I turn to and enjoy the muted tones of the dried grasses and weeds.

And just keep arranging and re-arranging them...

And playing with effects.