This week is "Blues Week" on my small island, a very busy week of workshops, concerts, parties and a wonderful art show. My cat could not care less...
In the past I have contributed various pieces for the "Blues were art though?" show, but in the last 2 years I had to pass due to technical difficulties in what I wanted to create. Mainly I did not find the right base.But last week the local electrician who happen to be one of the founders of the Hornby Blues Society, was taking down a lampshade, and that's when the whole thing came together, in my head... I am fascinated with fountains, love the water flows and sounds, so I thought making a "Blues" fountain would be fun. Ha!
This year being the tenth anniversary of the event, it seemed appropriate.
As I said water flows, as a matter of fact wherever it wants, and that was my first challenge, how to make water spit out of a harmonica (Blues par excellence to me).
After taking apart the instrument I realised that I had to carve out the channels or chambers in order to have the water come out the top. Then attach it to a tube connected to the pump. Re-seal the instrument, this took 3 days to cure, patience was with me and still fun.
Then the base.
The upside down lampshade was great but had to sit on something which turn out to be a very heavy cast iron enamelled pot lid with the total bonus of having a nut and screw top that fitted in the shade base. Woo Hoo, I was on my way.
After much debate and lack of time I decided to let the cord hang out of the side to avoid having leaks. Sealed the base with what I believed to be a fast silicone sealant, and waited the 3 days to cure...
Put water in, no leaks, life is good, worked on the melted Cd's and harmonicas sculpture, I love my heat gun, and after many fine tuning the thing worked!!!
Transported it very carefully to the hall, 9am deadline, placed it on its pedestal, filled it with water, IT LEAKED!!!!!!!!!!
I could have cried.
Turns out that during transport the pressure of the pump on the base dislodged the seal. So much for quick easy sealant.
Plan B.
Ran home, stopped by hardware on the way and got "Seal All" a fast cure, 4 hours, re-sealed, stood by with my hair dryer on low, missed my friend's birthday party, babied the blooming thing, cajoled and prayed, and by 4pm the thing was fixed, at home...
Transported it, this time base and sculpture separately, assembled it, filled it, it worked!!! No leaks. Phew...
The show opened at 7pm, my "Anniversary Fountain" was there, working fine, I was so exhausted I didn't even knit last night...
Still trying to achieve some well balanced blends, silk and blue face leister...
the result pleases me.
2 hours of spinning, enough for 2 hats or a scarf. Debating about dying this week, alpaca and silk blend....We'll see.
Same base hat as before, alpaca and Noro silk, odds and ends for the seaweed...
This was such fun to make.
Mixed 1 strand of silk with the alpaca to add sheen to the shells, stuffed a little to give them dimension. I learned that I need to make the definitions stronger in order to see the coils, next time. Also the contrast is a bit strong between the main colors and the snails, but that is the way I see them on the beach.
As for the seaweed mess I found it lovely and lively. 
This one is going to have shells and seaweed, am working it out in between the other projects. Stay tuned.
This week is "Blues Week" on my small island, a very busy week of workshops, concerts, parties and a wonderful art show. 
In the past I have contributed various pieces for the "Blues were art though?" show, but in the last 2 years I had to pass due to technical difficulties in what I wanted to create. Mainly I did not find the right base.
Transported it very carefully to the hall, 9am deadline, placed it on its pedestal, filled it with water, IT LEAKED!!!!!!!!!!
