29 March 2012
27 March 2012
DN at New Mociun Store
MOCIUN store is open!
Really like those vitrines and tables.
Caitlin has a great eye and makes tasty wearables, so I was really happy when she asked me to send jewelry for her new store...
Note: If you loved my Sunrise Ring, definitely head over to Mociun and grab one before they all get snaffled... there aren't many and I cant keep up!
MOCIUN
224 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn NY
Open Wed-Sun 12-8pm
Closed Mon Tues
24 March 2012
23 March 2012
A Pressing Matter
Why is it so hard to find a Fly press these days?( aka "screw press") It is as if someone is secretly stockpiling them. Here are some that got away: (they are ugly biffers, true, but I would black japan them and they would look "boss")
Oh well... but hey—listen, I really really want one of these for my next body of work, so if you see one for sale please tell me!
So what does this thing do anyway, you ask?
Basically it applies a lot of force (several tonnes) to whatever you place in the "throat".
In my case, I want to shape metal; punch out shapes, impress designs and so on. A bit like minting coins.
Certainly you can use hammers for this-I tried doing these tasks with a sledge hammer, to get the amount of force required, but this tends to be a bit wild and inaccurate.(well, the way I do it anyway). Ancient people had ways of controlling the blow, and I may revisit these.
These are illustrations of coin production by hand-striking. I think that the historical illustration is a bit inaccurate here, and 'updated' versions just copy the older ones. (I would bet that the child on the right would be the one holding the die, while the striker delivered a dead-on perpendicular blow.)
Still, the fly press delivers a very measured blow.
Here are some amazing old examples (far more massive than I need);
Oh well... but hey—listen, I really really want one of these for my next body of work, so if you see one for sale please tell me!
So what does this thing do anyway, you ask?
Basically it applies a lot of force (several tonnes) to whatever you place in the "throat".
In my case, I want to shape metal; punch out shapes, impress designs and so on. A bit like minting coins.
Certainly you can use hammers for this-I tried doing these tasks with a sledge hammer, to get the amount of force required, but this tends to be a bit wild and inaccurate.(well, the way I do it anyway). Ancient people had ways of controlling the blow, and I may revisit these.
These are illustrations of coin production by hand-striking. I think that the historical illustration is a bit inaccurate here, and 'updated' versions just copy the older ones. (I would bet that the child on the right would be the one holding the die, while the striker delivered a dead-on perpendicular blow.)
Still, the fly press delivers a very measured blow.
Here are some amazing old examples (far more massive than I need);
Looks like you needed a lot of men to operate the things.
Look at this beautiful one:
Finally, a coin with an impression of a coining press.
Labels:
boss,
Fitting,
impressive,
pressing,
smashing

21 March 2012
20 March 2012
Greek Foot

There are a few names for this, depending on how you feel about it; morton's toe, huguenot toe, and the somewhat derogatory Neanderthal Foot and metatarsus atavicus. I, however, am choosing to put on a brave face and align myself with the more flattering term 'Greek Foot'. This long second toe was considered the ideal proportion in classical sculpture. The Colossus of Constantine, Liberty and David all have Greek Foot.
So I'm in edified company?
Labels:
Little Big Man,
shapes

19 March 2012
Clam
A little clam shell...
Foot for scale
Apparently, these animals make pearls too.
But they are not pretty!
The Pearl of Lao Tzu is a very big example, it is not a nacreous (silvery and irridescent) pearl- they call it porcelaneous I think- so it looks like a blob of pizza dough, or a an alien brain.
Take it away!
Labels:
centre justified=poetry,
Pearl

8 March 2012
7 March 2012
Lost

I cant believe it. Down the widest slot. Man.
And it wont come out of the s-trap because it is too big.
Not that anyone would want it now.
Oh well, lets sing Robbie Nevil's 'Cest la Vie'
I need a saxophone solo.
Labels:
down the drain

6 March 2012
5 March 2012
3 March 2012
2 March 2012
1 March 2012
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