A beginning: one of many

So, one of the things that I really want to do with this blog is have a forum for ideas.  Sometimes it will just be me posting them to remember.  Other times, hopefully often, you'll leave some feedback or ideas.  I can tell that this weekend is going to require some decompressing, so I wanted to share my latest project beginning.  It isn't unusual for me to begin to work on several projects and complete them as I am able.  This one began long ago and I have used the excuse that I haven't pinned down a venue for completing it.  In any case, the idea is a free hanging artistic piece.  Simple idea, right?  Well maybe.  So, I created these two half frames.  Each of them is the corner for such a piece.  In one I will place a spiral based on the golden ratio and worked in copper.  In the other, I am planning to put a calla lily or a rose along with some other vegetation.  Either long and gently twisting or curly and vine-like.  If you think you know which of these should be which, drop me a line.  Also, other ideas or requests for where I could go with this would be great. 

Variation on a theme

There are more of these coming.  They're fantastically popular and very simple in design (not quite as simple in execution, but a lot of fun anyway).  Perfect for garden themes, like windows looking out onto your vegetables, terrariums, and paperweights for malacologists.  Whatever.  I love these snails and it is awesome that I can now make them in a series that looks like they are stretching out of their shells.  Just like the real critter.

Hot

And going for a whole new genre of accoutrements...armbands.  Hot off the forge and on you...or something like that.  I could make a line of really lame "hot" jokes.  I'll refrain for the moment.  Don't get me started.

Prototyping - authentic kabob skewers #1

A friend asked me to see what I could do to make some kabob skewers and described the authentic way to make them.  They are supposed to come in 1/8" for meat chunks, 3/8" for meat strips and 1" for ground meat.  So, I'm sharing with you my first attempt.  Let me know what you think...even if you aren't the one who requested them!  This was my inspiration for the style. 


For anyone interested, options include:

•  closing the ring at the handle,
• squaring the handle itself
• complex twists, including an "impossible" twist
• wrapping in leather or adding a leather hanger
• adding wood slats to the handle

Just pop the top

An even simpler design for a bottle opener.  I realy like how beautifully this one came out.  I'm especially pleased with how well it fits the hand.  The spiral on the back, for most people, comes up right on the outside of the palm.  Very comfortable!

This is a test...and only a test...

This is a prototype of a candle holder.  Intended for use with the candles that come with their own aluminum cups, it could be used with other, larger candles that are not likely to melt down the edges or I could fit it with a small pan.  For such a simple pattern, it was surprisingly difficult to make all of the pieces fit properly.  This could be a staple of my production items, but I will have to work on my techniques.  Below is a photo with a cup-less candle.

A new twist on an old idea

Here is a key rack that I have been working on for a while.  The hooks have gotten pretty routine, but making the matching hooks on either side and the twist on the center hook took some effort.  I like this because it used skills that I have developed (rather than relying on new, unhoned skills), but applied them in a new way and a new aesthetic.  The bloc of wood in the background is hardwood from an old barn and the upper edge is raw and unfinished.  I put a heavy patina on the hooks to match the colors in the wood, but still have to "finish finishing" the wood itself.   I think that the hanger will probably be a routed hole in the back, but I am considering something more elaborate in steel...

Advertising and promotion - metal sources

Hi there readers...I wanted to put a little note up here about metal sources.

I often use recycled metal, but there are times when good, clean, reliable stock of known composition is really important.  And it can be a lot easier to work with.  Recently I dropped in a picture of a rebar hook that I made.  It is cool and I'm happy with a lot of aspects of the piece, but cleaning up the ends was not easy.  Forging them out was hard too.  They cracked unusually often and it took a lot to keep them together.

Point is, sometimes you want easy to work, reliable stock.  I don't think that I'm exactly giving up a state secret nor that I'm selling out by advertising for the folks who often provide my metals.  You'll find them over on the left hand side of the page, now.  Onlinemetals has been pretty good to me and has all sorts of options that makes my hobby/sideline so much easier to do.  You can also find things for small construction and home improvement projects.  And there are plastics and other things available from them.  Check them out and if you do, please click through so that I can get my next purchase just a little cheaper.  Thanks.

http://www.onlinemetals.com/index.cfm?affiliate_id=1150

Rebar S-hook

Here is a rebar s-hook that I reclaimed from a junk heap.  Rebar has turned out to be a bit difficult to work with; I am guessing that it probably doesn't have the same homogeneous content as some of the other stuff that I have worked with.  Things like barstock and railroad spikes.  What do you think about the texture?  Sometimes it looks cool to me and other times, I think that it looks messy.  I could beat it flat, but then I'd lose the aesthetic of bumps and not just the messiness.

Roasting Forks...a pair

A pair of roasting forks that I made a while back.  Just found the photo on my computer.  It is giving me some ideas for the next go 'round.

Fall plant hooks

Some s-hook sets that I made this fall.  All finished in high-quality weatherproof paint for outdoor use.