Signal storage

You can send messages with these, for instance; "U-R-A-Q-T" or "N-E-1-4-10-S?"

Danger

Alice: "Oh- that looks dangerous- must be a Serra..."
David: "Heh. Yeah... its called.... Shovel Plate Prop?"

Color Tips

Wherein Jonathan wades through thick questions with sprezzatura, and gives colour combo tips.

Silversmith

This silversmith is using very simple tools to raise very dynamic forms ( up and in and out etc)- starting from a flat sheet. The vessels in the back have very high sides. To achieve this, the sheet metal will be contracted ( ie thickened)- its pretty tricky- requiring skill, patience and hand strength. ( I recall several fellow students with jarred wrists- perhaps more than hand strength, a balanced, clever way of holding the work and striking needs to be developed)
Yes, these days such forms can be pressed or spun on big CNC machines, but the qualities of a hand-raised vessel are wonderous, with subtly modulated surfaces.

Gradients and Arcs

This is by Hiroshige isnt it?

Pretty sure. Made in the 1800's I'd guess. This hanga really astonishes me.

The gradients are pretty typical for Hiroshige, usually he used them for the sky etc- but here they sing;

in the sky and sea (cut obliquely by the shore) and in green-white-red rainbow; and rhymed with the watermelon rinds- plus the arc of the cart-wheel 

To say nothing of the broken sandal and shy puppies!

Mesmerising...

(man, why didnt I buy it!)

Onchi | Onzi

So why did he call himself Onzi? Funny romaji?

old

I made this print when I was 17. I had discovered sosaku hanga (japanese, artist-cut and printed woodblocks from the 20th c.) Special favorites then (and still) were Azechi and Onchi, as you know by now.

Sonar?

Goldsmiths in India. They call them Sonar I think.
Have a close look at what's going on here.
No gas torch, ( the guy in front has a little brazier of coals, he is blowing through a pipe to make it hotter for soldering) also no sheet rollers, no bench, no chair, no wall...

The Wanderer

The lady in the pith helmet is my great great aunt Violet. She was among the first women drivers in Australia- here she is off on a jaunt to the outback. No air-con, in 40+ degree heat (100+Farenheit)
Still, "The Wanderer" looks like a pretty cool van! She collected some amazing Aboriginal artefacts on this trip- which I did marvel over- like amazing spearheads flaked from glass- most were donated to a museum when she died.

Examples of Bottle-glass spear heads now in the Oxford collection (here) So carefully made!

Not as dashing as Aunt Violet in her safari kit- but possibly more comfortable- Alice and I in the Outback.
It is Vast and Far Away ( the clue is in the name)

Pharaoh and the Box Hill students

Pharaoh visits the Box Hill TAFE student's jewellery exhibition:

Pharaoh: What is this place?!

Guest Speaker: Err...Thousand Pound Bend

Pharaoh: Those words make no sense to me!

(he looks around)

.. all this traesure- it must be a tomb! Oh no- am I in a tomb?!-- already?!

Guest Speaker: No no, its ok, its not a tomb... its an exhibition

Pharaoh: It must be a treasure room then!

Let me look at all this jewellery- very unusual... there's a lot of silver...not really any gold...

Guest Speaker: Well, you see, they are students, and...

Pharaoh:SILENCE insolent dog!! ...I do get bored of gold actually-
-I happen to like silver-- it reminds me of...those moonlight nights by the Nile, ahh... how we danced..........

Guest Speaker: ahem

Pharaoh: Tell me, TELL ME! Who, WHO made these amazing jewells?

Guest Speaker: Ah, Box Hill TAFE students

Pharaoh: "Bogzil Tayef-Stuzenz"?!?....Strange name... he IS clever though

Guest Speaker: Actually its not a "he", its a group of talented new jewellers form this town called "Melbourne"

Pharaoh: Oh Ho! New talent! ...You know, once I conquered Ethiopia- and I took all the best jewellers back with me to Egypt...that was a great idea- so i will take back one of these "stuzenz" with me!

I will take.... Lauren Pitt! 

Ok?

Guest Speaker: Um, I dunno man, Im just the guest speaker

Pharaoh: Humph!  I'm done with you "Thu-gez Peaka"- farewell!

shop

I will be away from the 18th of December until the 1st of January.
The Golden Smith Shop will stay open over this time, but no shipping 'til January.
So if you'd like to receive your order before the 18th of December;
please place your order now...

Bon Papa

Two pictures made by my Dad in the 70's- which I have kept.
-A weed. I think he likes certain 'weeds'. So do I.
-My sister and I eating. I am wearing a hat and have a cool shirt.
It looks like peas, but I highly doubt we are eating peas- its probably jelly.

This image is a nautical placeholder

Freewheelin' Beehive

Saw this wild beehive at the Royal Botanic Gardens, thanks to Esmé and Joseph for showing me.
Not a good pic- its that yellowy blob in the middle of the pic, which is the wax combs with bees crawling all over it. This is pretty unusual- usually the bees would find a hollow tree or building to nest in, but this colony is just flapping in the breeze. Sadly, the other side of the comb has been harpooned with several different projectiles- thoughtless louts!  Some think that beekeeping is cruel- but it certainly provides the bees with an ideal home...
(though perhaps the rent—payable in honey— is high !)

Lego

Rosalie Gascoigne meets Lego at our place?