Metalwork stuffFor 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 metalworkLately 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.