Birds of Time

This is yet another unfinished project.  It is going to take some explanation since I can't find my detailed planning sketches.  The idea is for four birds affixed to a shaft.  The shaft will have a crank on one end, and as the crank is turned each will bend down and 'eat' from a bowl in turn.  So they represent the four seasons.  The handle of the crank will be the earth, and it will revolve around the sun as the crank is turned.  On the opposite end of the shaft will be the zodiac, turning as well.  (I don't believe in astrology, but am very intrigued with the zodiac and the classical imagery.)

At any rate, here are some more pictures of the as yet incomplete fabrication:

I made one bird, to work out the mechanics of the whole contraption

Then set about constructing four exact replicas of the one that would 'work' as it were:

Each will have a differently coloured stone as a crest.

This one is getting ready to go in the kiln.  It looks dead, but don't feel bad for it:

Much more better:

So, in reality this project is a practice run.  If it works out well I will make a much more refined version.

Bird of Time

This is a strange one that I have struggled with for a while. 

It is going to be an enameled piece, sort of like the belt buckle with the poppies, but on a much larger scale.

It is going to sound strange, and would take a long explanation, but it is supposed to reference the constellation Scorpio.  I'll type up an explanation when I finish it, but it has to do with rabbinical lore and some other arcane types of stuff.

It started, as all my projects do, with a very detailed plan:

The sketch was on a shopping bag and read "make bird" above it.  But there is some math here too.

I stopped at this point and realized that I needed some sort of skills in a graphics program.  So I learned how to use 'the GIMP'.  (free software like adobe, sort of)

Then the sketch turned into:

It still needed something... so I added the Flower.

That is at least a little more balanced.

Then I etched the darn thing.

So the plan - at this point - is to add a clock.  Off to goodwill and garage sales.....

This one is the correct size, has a vintage cloth cord and is already cosmetically broken.  I won't feel to bad, and it keeps time.  Thanks and here is $4.

Nearly a perfect fit.  It will need a bezel to hold it, and then some sort of mounting.  And I will have to finish the enamel.  I learned a really good lesson through this project.... measure the kiln.  It won't fit in my enameling kiln.  So I will have to heat the enamel with a torch, or use a pottery kiln.  Or something.

I hope to finish this project this spring.  My professor hates it, so I do have some drive to complete it - other than just sort of liking it myself.

Topaz and Silver Broach

This one I have been working on for quite a while.  I had a bunch of pieces of various gauge wire left from other projects, so I attempted to put them to use.

Original Sketch.   It is supposed to be sort of a celtic looking thing.

Then I found some wonderful old stock topaz stones from this vendor on ebay:

sellingoffoddstuff ebay

Apparently these were cut by this person's father and grandfather.  The stones are actually much better than the pictures, and very affordable for what you get.

For example here is the picture from ebay of a citrine I bought:

And here are pictures I took:

Super good.....

lovely.

It is very hard to take good pictures of bright shiny stuff, as you can tell if you have seen my other posts with my cell phone camera pictures!

Anyway:

Here are some other pictures of the fabrication of the topaz broach:

Making the Setting for the large Topaz

Figuring out where to cut the prongs to leave just enough to hold the stone without being in the way.

Making tube sets for the round topaz (topazs, topazes?)

At this point I decided that three different sized round would be better than two of the same and one smaller.

Luckily I had an extra one or two......

I will try to organize this better, or finish the darn thing... someday.

Fold Form Urn

This is yet another piece that is in progress, and may be for a while.

The idea was to make an urn using the fold forming method.

Sort of in the shape

Urn Vader

It all starts with Geometry.  Then some Physics.  Pay attention in school kids!

The big slab of copper was tacky 1970s platter from Goodwill $1.99 

To get the metal soft enough to work, you have to repeatedly heat it.  Copper is really dirty to work with, there are worse metals (nickle) but certainly not as nice as silver or gold.





It gets all black with the products of combustion and the cupric whatevers.


Then you have to pickle it

Pretty Nasty

 So, do this about 14 times and hammer it in between, and you will be able to see why this isn't done yet.....