cybik

Here are a couple of skeletons I've made this term. The first is a snake-bird, which I made after the other piece, which is a bird. I thought I'd posted photos of them before, but it seems as if I haven't.

The snake-bird is a piece I would be willing to sell if someone wanted it - if you happen to be interested leave a comment or send me an email. It did take me more than 30 hours to make, though, so be reasonable..



My snake-bird skeleton. He's made from steel and has riveted wings. I hammered every single rib to texture it before spot-welding it on.

( +4 photos )

A quick metalwork post to celebrate uni starting for the year.

I've posted photos of this ring before, but the bracelet is new. I started it yesterday, but finished it today. Well, to be honest, I still need to sand it down a little, as there are file marks on it, and then I'll polish it again before sticking it in safety-pickle to make it slightly more matt.



It's forged from the same thick, rectangular section silver wire as the ring (which might explain why the bracelet is proportionally thinner than the ring) in a similar way. I like to leave hammer marks on things: the texture makes it a little more interesting, to my mind.


And now I'm going to poke people with swords.

Metalwork stuff

For our most recent project, we had to decide whether to do scoring or raising. Scoring is as you would with paper; making a line to help form folds. Raising is a process that uses hammers and stakes to gradually shape objects - usally vessels of some sort (bowls, jugs, vases etc.).

( photos for your viewing pleasure )

The shapes are based on the human skeleton, but they are slightly more abstracted than in my last project. In this project we were told to make something functional. I had an idea for a vase based on the pelvis and backbone, but that will have to wait for another time.

I'm enjoying this project a lot. Raising is tiring work, but it's less frustrating (for me) than sawing out tiny pieces for jewellery or anodising aluminium over and over. It's quite a slow process to use (not least because you have to stop and anneal the metal quite often in order for it to be soft enough to work), but it hasn't bored me.

Stuff other than metalwork

Lately I've been trying to read a bit more. I have recently finished The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills, The Three Muskateers (I'd not read it before, which seems bizarre) and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Next I think I shall read Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

I'm looking forward to seeing V for Vendetta, even though I'm sure I shall come out of the cinema raging. There are many films I seem to have missed, unfortunately - Brokeback Mountain and The constant Gardner to name just two. I'll just have to get them out on DVD (or wait until a friend buys them and then borrow them!).

I have been baking lots in the last few days. I have made buns and biscuits, ( and here are the recipes. )

I have also been a bit stressed about money, but hopefully eBay will help with that. I have things I no longer wear which I will collect from home in April and then put up for auction.

I recently went to the college library and found a copy of Corsets and Crinolines by Norah Waugh. It has patterns for various historical corsets (and crinolines, who'd have thought?), a couple of which I have photocopied and enlarged. At some point I plan to make an Edwardian corset for myself as well as a lovely 1860s pattern one (from a pattern not in the book) which is actually the right sort of size for me. Making them may have to wait until I have the money to buy the busks (solid front piece which, one later corsets, opens) and until I have a sewing machine again. I would like to make one of them, at least, out of some beautiful silk I have at home. I think I still have a piece of shot black and blue grey dupioni somewhere.

I'm sure I've forgotten various things, but, as this is turning into a bit of a monster update, it can wait.

Lately I've been very busy at uni, but unfortunately I had a cold/cough/random illness last week that meant I didn't spend as much time in the workshop as I would have liked.

( a new thing and three old things )

Other than uni I've not been up to an awful lot. I did go to London at the weekend to see the ever lovely Sarah and boyfriend. Other than that, I've mostly been sitting around doing not very much.

I have hardly read a word in six weeks. This is Bad and Wrong and will hopefully be rectified by me going on a reading spree. I have several books lined up already but please feel free to recommend books you think I must read at all costs. Currently I'm halfway through "Sophie's World", a book I've been meaning to read for something like eight years.

Life is good. It'd be better if I saw more people more often. I have not that much money (bah) and I work Saturdays (also bah) but seeing people is quite high on my list of priorities.

College is going all right, although the lack of one of our teachers doesn't help. She's not around and noone seems to know why. Even the technicians haven't been told! I hope she's okay..

Other news: I got a job! It's only a Saturday job but then again, that's pretty much exactly what I wanted. It's at a framing shop just aroudn the corner (literally) from my flat. They phoned me last week after I had an interview saying I hadn't got it, but then they phoned me today and asked if I was still interested. Woo!

Continuing my theme of only updating when I have work to show, here are some spoons. Yes, I'm going a bit spoon mad, but they're great fun to make!

( spoons! )

If anyone wants I'll make you one for £25, though it would obviously not be identical to the ones pictured.