"The Process"

Sometimes I just love "The Process". This morning I was tidying up my bench - often it is a good way to start the creative process - and I came across these ring-pulls ...

I have been collecting them for a woman I study with who, in turn, collects them for a charity. I was about to sweep them into a zip-lock bag when suddenly inspiration hit me with all the force of a George-of-the-Jungle style tree-smash! Luckily I wasn't damaged by the experience but I did grab my journal and scribble a few notes because as I am sure many of you know, inspiration can sometimes be elusive and many a good idea has been lost to the ether for want of a few scribbled reminders.

Essentially I am one of those design-by-making types that make art educators want to throw their hands up in despair. I have progressed along the design first/make later road but when I get all excited about an idea the pencil pretty much goes out the window and I start bustling about looking for materials. The up-side is that you get to play around with stuff and have a proto-type at the end. The downside is that the prototype often looks a bit daggy because it gets dinged up when you experiment with different ideas or have to rectify mistakes. So bear all that in mind when you look at my new little proto-type!
Ta-da!

Aww shucks - sweet Ring-pull Babushkas. Refinements will be made - probably even some measuring (!) to even out those rivets and I dare say I will make the faces more bone-like. I want to make ear-rings and a charm bracelet. They measure about 3.4 - 4cms and I think a vintage crystal dangle for the ear-rings might be nice. Do you think they will be too big for ear-rings? Now I need to go and write down the method before I forget!