The Loki Icon

Here is the Loki Icon I have just finished. It has been the most difficult so far, but that was to be expectd, seeing that it is Him. Viking trickster God and God of Fire.

The Magician Fetish Shrine

I decided to put the image of "The Magician" up, even though I was concerned that some folks might have a hissy fit if they saw an image with a penis, even though most males have them. Apart from that, I like this one the most of my icons and Shrines. Loki is comming along well and "He" is proving the most difficult to "pin down", which of course is only to expected in a trickster God. But it works, even now before the glue is dried, I think its going to be OK. I am thinking of getting the Icons photographed proffessional, but the costing is worry me a bit and there is that reflection problem from the glass.
On with Loki, "The Head of Bran the Blessed to follow I think. The Mabingian is a rich and wonderful sourse of inspiration.

Dreams & Visions

Having forgotton to take a photo of "Dreams & Visions" without the glass, I took off the back and photographed it. It's faff but worth the effort to keep a record of all my Shrines and Fetish boxes. The the one after this really is a Fetish Shrine, so I cannot publish the picture, though it will appear in Livejournal under the Adult section. I think it one of my best, but of course I would feel good about the latest one, that is... until the next one.

Working towards a show

I have put up another icon. I have arranged to do a show in Llandudno with Angel Light, a Mind, Body and Spirit fair. It should be interesting, as I have never sold at a Spirit fair before. So..... my little icons / Shrines will introduced to the public there and I can gauge how they might do in a wider market... maybe.
Any comments appreciated.
Celtic Jackdaw

After Gloucester

Having been away for five days R&R I feel a little better physically but rather flat.. but ...getting back into making my icon/ shrines. I think its the discipline of having to work within the boundaries of the four by six frame that gives more ideas than having free reigns with a bigger area to work with. I already am getting more and more ideas for new "twists" for the fetish / shrine images. I should have another two ready in a few days and will put them up for display. Whether or not I will ever sell them is a moot point, but.. I can hope. I guess its the right place at the right time.

Celtic_jackdaw

Angel Feather

Photographing gold leaf & foils is a pain. The image seems to "burn out" very easily. here is Angel feather, with a small white feather caught in a small glass tube. Feeling better today. Not so depressed, tho it is a bit sad clearing out the studio, but, these shrines / icons can be made at home, so there is an up-side. Off this morning to deliver the two commissions. Nice.

Life or the PT.B. are pointing me in another direction than that which I thought I should go. It may be a bumpy ride, but it will not be boring.

Dicon

The closing down of the studio.

Post heart attack, I now do not have the physical energy to continue working in the studio. I had hopoed when I took on the place, it would allow me to create lots of saleable items. Now, my body has spoken, and against that, there is no gainsay. So. At the end of August I am to retire. End Of Foiled Again. End of Jackdaw Crafts. I feel very sad about this. Just as my ideas were being made a reality, ZAP!
I will continue to make the little shrines, but the main money earner, the mirrors will have to stop. I cannot keep paying for the place and not get work done and paid for.

I will keep on with the Blog though. Will stop now for the night.
Good night.

Dicon

God of Potent Males

Finally found the best way to photograph the icons/shrines.... remove glass, put on the table and photograph with digital camera with light from window coming over my shoulder. I am also now on Live Journal as celtic_jackdaw. Not too sure if this be a good thing or a distraction. Several more Shrines in the "pipeline" and now I can take a decent image and upload it to my web pages ( yet incomplete ) I feel a lot more confident about getting around to selling on Ebay, one I sort out postal charges and whether it's worth the hassle of selling tho the USA, the customs charges are really high and there is no kind of registered post that I can find. More work yet. Sort out the UK postal charges and think about the European market.

I was going to the studio, but........

Yesterday, I did leave the flat and started to go to the studio, but there were some faint warnings of an ache in the chest and shortness of breath. So I turned around and went home. Two sprays of nitro Glycerine under the tongue and took the rest of the day easily. Felt better. Some good came about with enforced rest because I finished the "God of Male Potency". If this weather improves and it gets lighter, I will put up the picture here. As it is, its Monsoon time in North Wales. I may yet stay at home and do some more work on the dining room table.

Slight revisions.

It seems I am underestimating the time and work. I shall ask £35.00 for each "Shrine". Any coments on this please tell me.

I found a way to photograph the Shrines without getting distracting reflections. Take a photgraph before the glass is put in. Works OK
Thanks

The God of Words Shrine

Well, I finally got some expensive Lithium batteries for my digital camera and took a picture of "The God of Words" shrine. Lighting and avoiding reflections was difficult as there is a diagonal reflection cutting across the image. But.. it does give an idea of the thing. It measures 4" X 6 " and is a companion piece for the previous image. Both are commissions. I have a few more speculative designs already half made and will do some more if they sell ...and .... ( big breath )... try to sell on Ebay. They are thirty pounds each and I think I am going to need advice, tho I remember seeing a "Idiots guide to Ebay" or something similar in the Library / Bookshop.
Hmmm...

Small shrine

I have uploaded one of my commissions for a small 4 X 6 inch shrine. There is another to be photographed and scanned, but the camera batteries are rubbish. I may try so of those Lithium batteries. I have yet to start on the Fetish shrines. Which are NOT always sexual, but a kind of obsessive drive made tangible. I appologise for the fuzzynes of the image.

Saturday, a small gentle re-start

Off to the studio to do a bit of tinkering and light work. I tried to do some work at home but, as all of my tools are in the studio, plus most of the materials, it was fruitless. Feeling a lot better but pacing myself. I took delivery of forty small 6 by 4 inch frames with glass and backing, so my shrines and fetish objects can now steam ahead. Whether anyone will buy them....s'nother matter. No more heart problems and off the beta blockers, as my pulse rate and blood pressure were way too low. I must order some more premo. Wonderfull stuff.

I shall be off for a bit as I had a heart attck on Friday morning and need a break.
I AM STILL HERE.
Sort of.

After the preview

Well....
everything went well, with too much calorie rich food, which was a shame, cause' a lot of friends had worked hard on the nibbles front. I took home at the end, several unopened bottles of wine.
Shame that. I sold a small mirror and got a commission for one of my little shrines. And a commission to make a partner for it.
A lot of folk didn't turn up, so I guess the next time there will be a printed invite, which I really should have done, and although I bought two of the "disposable" cameras to record all of the events, I forgot to use them, and only too pictures pre-party of the mirrors. I blame the champagne. There was an impromtu magic show by a daughter of on of the guests, which was fun, althouge she was very nervouse, as was I when I put my hand in the "Magical guillotine".

Anyway, there was a lot of "networking" and gossip which is usual and a good time was had by all. Cleared up at nine and went home. Slept ten hours.
I am going to the studio in an hours to return the workshop to it's usual untidy layout and do a bit more before comming home early to work on a shrine. I may do some more as they were much admired.
I think I have made a very small loss, but there is a define promise comming from one of the guests of a show later on that will be paid for along with some decent premises.

One week to preview

I was away over the weekend and am working towards the show, every hour I can. For those who work for themselves, and as a single entity, you will know that a lot of time is spent with accountants, town hall, tax forms and the general hanging around waiting for deliveries.
Thanks to my friends it should all work out, and, with dry warm weather the preview will be OK.
I have started work on the "Bowl of Ribbons" circular picture, the previous "try-out" caused a certain stir when viewed by the local ladies group at a friends house, after I had given it too her as a thank-you for all the help received when moving house. This "Bowl of Ribbons" is much bigger and a real pain to cut out. I always seem to bite off more than I can chew, fools rush in etc.
I think it will be the best thing that I have done so far.
I may also loose patience with it and use it as a gaudy frisbee if it gets too difficult to cut.

Working towards a preview.

I have been working hard, getting the studio/ workshop ready for my first preview/party sort of thing. Never done this before so it could go either way.
I have arranged five large four foot by 8 foot panels around the walls and bout some cheap desk lights, glued to the panels to shine light on the mirrors and pictures. I think that a few more panels and lights might help the overall impression, though I don't want to spend a lot of money on a launch.
I over-did do the work humping the panels around and running up and down on the desk fixing the panels to the crumbling walls and making them secure. ( I don't want them to clonk any prospetive buyers on the head, mid party, So retired early with sprained muscles and exhaustion. Friends are "chipping in" to help with tables and light refreshment. I am not sure about crowd control, though I don't think that will be a problem.
I do have enough for a decent show now, though I seemed to have missed the Helfa Gelf artist trail North Wales art artist's studio open to the public thing. Oh well, next year perhaps.

Off to bed soon. Total worn out.

Belt Sander

Deliveries before twelve noon aught not to be one minute before twelve noon. So I waited in. A whole morning wasted, so I had to sit on the balcony and read a book, drink coffee and chat to my neighbours. Hmm.....
But, the very heavy belt sander arrived and was then taken to the studio by taxi ( I couldn't take that on the bus ) and put to work. Saves a lot of time, even though it took two hours to assemble the damn thing. Lots of sawdust.
It is really difficult when working for yourself to stick to the job when outside the sun is shining and the high temperature beckons you to the beach for a swim.
Stock is slowly building up. I must now begin to order some more foil. N' stuff.

Sunday Morning

Just thought I would put up an image of what I do and why I needed a studio. The mirrors are carved wood and foils. I made this a few years ago, but, because of various upsets, was unable to continue making them. I only hope the galleries I supplied are

(1) still in business and

(2) Able to take and sell them.

I will have to wait until Monday to buy a belt sander, which next to the desk jig saw is the most important tool in the studio.

Dicon

Friday 22 working hard

I bought an electric jig-saw today and got the glass delivered , Luxury, I don't have to scrounge lifts from friends to go to the suppliers to collect material. There is a delivery charge of course, but the decrease in strss and embarresment is worth it.

So, I have been cutting out wooden shapes and painting everything white, including self. Weatherspoons is up the road and a major temptation. I had Chicken Tikka for lunch today with a half of Fosters. Big Mistake...I nearly fell asleep in the afternoon. So from now on its snacklettes & nibbles with a soft drink.

Feet and muscles gave up at four thirty so went home. I keep forgetting the f****ing toilet seat. I should buy a new one, but the one there is so sterilized now, I don't think I need worry.

Oh yes, the images.

Damn, the picture of the now nearly clean toilet went in the wrong place!!

Also shows a quarter of the junk heap.

I really need to find a way to publish the pictures in the right order

However, the images give an idea of the essential "studioness" of the place.

John upstairs says I should call it the "Artist Quarter" as I have a quarter of the compound / yard.

Dicon

Making and cleaning.

I spent a large portion of the day clearing a pile of rubbish from near the door to a more derelict part of the yard and got my first delivery of wood from the timber merchant. There is more grot to move and will think about getting and paying for a grot wagon to come, or a private company. The landlord is VERY absent and half of the buildings are not, as they say in the council "fit for use". There is a blocked gutter around the back and a small part of the wall inside is damp. Also the bog/toilet door is falling of. John who repairs TV's upstairs, says that there is a snowballs chance in hell of getting anything repaired or replaced, so I guess that's why this place is fairly inexpensive. I think I have a few years here before it falls down. I can't have the public in as it is so dangerous under-foot. Big depressions and cracks. llandudno was built on a sand spit between an island (The great Orm) and a small mountain on the mainland (The Little Orm), subsidence is the main headache with some older properties.
BUT, it does allow me a toe-hold on the ladder towards a better studio, if I can manage here for a few years.
Of to B&Q later to buy a Jig Saw and belt sander and toilet seat. I tried the Mega bleach, coat everthing and wait one hour. Wonderful! The damned thing now practicaly sparkles.

I am experimenting with a lage mouthed vacuum flask filled with home made soup. This may or may not be the way to go, but it will save money. May yet have to save up for stomach pump.

Finding the Foiled Again Studio

This is my first blog, so.......... here goes.
I have been looking for a place/studio to work for a long time to make my creations since I moved into my small, clean, neat, cheap flat. I found a light engineering unit that is big, filthy, untidy and not too expensive. I had some tools before the move, and these were dispersed around the land, in the care of friends before I left the mountain as I had little space in the flat to keep them. ( That IS another story. ) Tony my friend has been keeping my power tools safe, and these will be returned tomorrow. At last.

The studio is an old ground floor garage / workshop and small windowless office to one side in a secure yard . The whole place is somewhat derelict, but with electricity and running water, both from the tap, and down the walls. And is reached up a "street" which is really a small back of the houses lane where garbage bins jostle for space with each other. There is also an eccentric lady who throws her dog's turds over the wall into the lane. Here in the centre of Landudno, any workshop or light engineering space is as rare as hens teeth.
I have spent the last two days sweeping the rubbish out of the large room, and ordered the glass for the mirrors which be delivered, a real luxury as before I had to scrounge lifts to collect them as I cannot drive. I will walk over to the timber yard tomorrow, and get them delivered as well.
Foiled again starts officialy on June the first.
Memo to self... get insurance, tell power supplier, check rates, contact business advice.. etc.. etc..

The beginning of Foiled Again.

Well, this is the first ever blog I have done, so.........this was written yesterday.

The studio took a lot of asking around, both in Llandudno and Rhos on Sea, it was found by asking everybody I knew, and some I didn't, if anyone knew of a small workspace.

Storage of stuff.........
What I did was to beg storage space from several friends for a brutaly
reduced tool and material "stock". This was then divided up. So no one
person was overwhelmed by the amount. The throwing out of "It might be
useful one day" worked wonders, though it was a bit truamatic at times.
It is a big boarded up space with a small windowless office off on one side
of the space. The space itself is a bit damp and smelly, but will air out
eventualy. I will do an incense smudge and ask the bright spirits to bless
the place. And I will keep trying to clean it. The studio is within a
secure yard so it should be safe.
<>
Tools are to be delived from friends this evening.
< Thinks )
I am not going into any detail about the W.C.outside in the yard, except to
say "YUK". I have cleaned it with bleach & other stuff, but think a flame
thrower would be a better bet!

Jackdaw