Watch Yourself and Salt Residue

I was rearranging my studio and ran across a beautiful salt residue from a patina used on metal bits.

Salt

Salt

Salt

I used the salt solution on metal bits from a broken veg steamer that I planned to use in the piece Watch Yourself.

Watch Yourself Parts

Why Watch Yourself? Steamers in use are too hot to touch, so be careful. Also the addition of mirror gives the viewer a peek at what they are doing.

The code on used in the piece is based on a combination of Morse and Celtic Tree Code that I used in a previous piece.

Watch Yourself Code

A salt solution was used to add some rust.

Watch Yourself Patina

Watch Yourself Patina

Watch Yourself Patina

Watch Yourself Patina

The other materials in the piece are mirror, linen, and jump rings.

Watch Yourself Patina

To Complete–application of wax, build a cedar box, nail the assembled piece inside the box using existing steamer holes.


Mistake to Neglect Testing Before Using a New Material

I ordered some truly beautiful safety pins from Amazon. This is the description–Household Mall 3/4-Inch Safety Pins, Bronze (1440 Pieces).

Read through the product information and not once did it state that the safety pins were not actually bronze.

Bronze Safety Pins

I was using the second type of safety pins to suspend Who is Left on a bronze welding rod.

Bronze Safety Pins

These were not bronze because the product description states–Firefly 1000 pcs Bronze Metal Gourd Pin/Calabash Pin/Safety Pins/Bulb Pin/Bead Needle Pins/Clothing Tag Pins DIY Home Accessories.

Material: Made of metal of good quality, hard and durable, not easy to break.

So, bronze colored, not bronze.

How did I find the bronze safety pins were not actually bronze? I used them to assemble the Who is Left. After an application of a patina solution, bronze would have developed a nice blue-green patina.

Who Is Left

The bronze welding rod has developed the start of a nice blue-green patina, but not the safety pins.

Instead the result was basic rust. That would have been totally fine if the description of the safety pins had been steel. I would have anticipated the rust result.

In my excitement to use the new safety pins, I did not test the metal. Not all mistakes are a bad thing. The results can be informative and be perfect for a future project.

Who Is Left

Who Is Left

Since I am determined to add the blue-green patina staining and weeping down the piece, I removed the safety pins, row by row, and replaced them with copper wire.

That would be the copper wire I removed and saved from my hand mixer that caught fire.

Mixer Parts with Copper Wire

I assembled the blocks of each row with a twining technique. Cut a length of wire a longer than double the width of the piece. Folded the wire in half. Slipped the first wool block of the row into the folded wire, with the fold on the left side. One half of the wire was on the back of the wool block, the other half on the front. The wire was inserted through the middle of the block, back through to the front, front through to the back, then given a twist on the right side of the block.

Who Is Left

The process was repeated for the remaining 8 blocks in the row, and for the other 15 rows.

Who Is Left

Next I will twine together the verticals. I suspect that task will be a tad challenging. Then patina.

So what about the existing rust staining on the wool blocks?

Who Is Left

If, as I hope, the blue-green patina stains and weeps, the rust staining will add another layer of age to the piece.

The used safety pins will be used for a future project.

Who Is Left


Progress 04/26/19

The back wire comes through the center of the wool block to the front.

Who Is Left

The back wire comes through the center of the block to the front; the front wire goes through the front of the wool block to the back.

Who Is Left

All safety pins removed and replaced with two thicknesses of coppoer wire.

Who Is Left

Who Is Left

Next comes patina.


Kalanchoe pumila and a Succulent Start

I was at the neighborhood Farm Supply picking up a few plants for the gardens when I found this bit of a succulent.

Succulent Start Farm Supply

It was on the shelf next to the six pack of Kalanchoe pumila I selected. I took it with me when I checked out. Before I finished asking if I could have it, the person working in the garden center said yes.

I placed it on a pot of soil and hope that eventually some roots will emerge.

Succulent Start Farm Supply

Placed five of Kalanchoe pumila in the garden.

Kalanchoe Pumila Gray

I liked the plant so much, I potted one up to enjoy in the house.

Kalanchoe Pumila Gray

Kalanchoe Pumila Gray

Kalanchoe Pumila Gray

2019 April 27
Kalanchoe Pumila Gray

Kalanchoe Pumila Gray


Who is left to connect me… Patina

I decided to assemble Who Is Left… and then patina the bronze safety pins and welding rod. I am hoping for the addition of a weeping green, but the wool limits what I can use.

The patina is a solution of dissolved kosher salt in white vinegar.

I folded and rolled the piece in the solution. Then hung it to drip dry.

Who Is Left Vinegar and Salt Patina

Who Is Left Vinegar and Salt Patina

Who Is Left Vinegar and Salt Patina

Who Is Left Vinegar and Salt Patina

Bronze Dagger, Vinegar and Salt Patina Used on Upper Portion


This is a fun little piece that has been on the wall of my studio for several years. It is part of my Cleanse Your Palate series.

Soap Cup

The series is based on negative words and the punishment of washing out your mouth with soap.

I made cups of dried plant materials and fiber. Made silicone molds of the cups.

A clove glycerin soap cup was pulled from each mold.

The wood used for the shelf is from an old garden swing. I carried the wood around for a decade before it found a home in the cup series. The oxidized wire was found in my dad’s shop. Perhaps I learned to save everything, just in case, for some day, from my dad.

A few pieces from the series can be seen on my website, Girl Artist.


Who Is Left to Connect Me… In Progress

Who Is Left

Safety Pins Used–263 small, 9 gourd. The knitted brown pieces are much thinner than the cream and tan pieces. Next time I should use the same stitch for all.

Who Is Left

Cut a length of bronze welding rod for hanging the piece inside box. Current Dimensions–10″ x 20″.

Next–Patina the metal and build a cedar box.

Who Is Left

As stated in a previous post, the quote is from Henning Mankell’s, Firewall.