Handforged by Kirsten Skiles: September 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Vein and Twig Forming Stake. Chasing and Repousse in Steel

I thought you might enjoy seeing one of the forming stakes that I use to vein leaves and to form my organic twigs.
I made it by grinding a groove in a used jackhammer bit. I lightly filed the grinding marks out, but I did not sand or polish the tool. The textures enhance my work.

From in progress, for blog

I use a modified rivet hammer to ease the metal into the grooved area.

From in progress, for blog

I am going for an organic bark look, so I let the piece take on lumps, bumps, and texture.

From in progress, for blog

If I wanted to make a perfect tube form, I would be better off using a flat groove tool with softened edges. The step of a small anvil would work well, or even a groove ground into a hard wood.

From in progress, for blog

That particular twig ended up in one of these pieces. Three of them will be brooches. The largest one will be a sculpture for the wall or tabletop.

From in progress, for blog

You can see bronze twigs, and a copper twig for the pendant bail in this maple branch necklace that I finished and photographed yesterday.

I've also re-photographed 1 candleholder and 5 examples of chasing and repousse on steel. As always ,click on the link to see more photos and a detailed description.
These are all for sale (chasings and necklace) in my new artfire shop.

Grape leaf candleholder

maple leaf chasing with a forged leaf hanging below

small maple leaf chasing that can be a wall or tabletop sculpture. The sides are welded on to add to the illusion of depth.

one of the maple leaf chasing used in a wallpiece inspired by a water-carved landscape

a piece with similar inspiration, but more inspired by the Driftless region landscape in general, from our time living in SW Wisconsin.

An oriole chasing in steel, with a forged leaf emerging from a branch at the bottom. I like combining 3d elements with the chasings, as if the picture were trying to break free of its boundaries.
When you purchase from my shop at Artfire, you do not have to register to become a member. You can pay with the same paypal account you used in my previous store, or you may choose to try Google Checkout.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Photography Area Update in the studio

The photography and packaging area is ready for use. I've got the distressed brick wall as a backdrop for the mannequin and my lightbox for the small art and jewelry. After I took the picture, I hung a sturdy white plastic sheet behind the lightbox, to photograph lightweight wall art. I've got my rebounder there too, to bounce off steam and sneak in a little exercise.

From in progress, for blog

Later today I will be re-photographing these steel bas-relief pieces, that I created with chasing and repousse a year or so ago.

From in progress, for blog

It's great to see Bill Fiorini been back to work in the studio, after a rough summer of health issues.

From in progress, for blog

People only take pictures of me when I'm playing or relaxing- so here ya go!

From in progress, for blog

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Moving a Mosler safe, Tween gift shopping and Autumn leaf art

Yep, all that.
I haven't gotten artwork done this weekend. I've been reorganizing a few areas- so I can move my photography and shipping stations. I've been waiting a year to do this reorganization, because there was a big obstacle in my way, an old Mosler safe in the basement. I've never seen it locked. It's been moved once, into an inconvenient spot, before we moved in. It is just a darn cool thing to have down there- but in the way. Bill and I have been hunting for our prybar for a year, yes a year. I found it the other day, in plain but well camouflaged sight, in the garage. Sooooo- yes, I moved the safe!

Inch by inch...

From in progress, for blog

Bill wanted to help, but after the summer of health issues, I said no. He coached and photographed instead.
Now I've got my photography and shipping area moved into the right spots. I can get on with studio work again, if the kids let me. I believe my Sunday assignment is pumpkin pie.

I'm starting to hunt down handmade holiday gifts for the kids. At their ages, they mostly like techno gifts. I still try to track down unique handcrafted items and art/craft kits. Here's a nice shopping list I came up with on Artfire (my new selling venue). With handmade, I really need to get an early start. These goodies aren't mass produced by cheap labor in a sweatshop. They might run out, so I need to plan ahead.

Tween Gift List

Curated By: leafylady

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

Let me know if you see other handmade gift ideas that would appeal to "tween" boys and girls, especially boys. It's so hard to find handmade boy gifts for the tween age. It's ok if you buy a few of these. I'm sure the artists will be happy to make more.

For Autumn themed leafy gifts, take a look at this collection curated by bluejane. It's all leaf themed handmade gift items, really beautiful stuff including sculpture, photography, jewelry, glass and ceramics.

Love It Or Leaf It