3D Printing: A Rather Sad Cuboidroid

Posted on 30th October 2017 by perfectly4med

I’ve had a little bit more ‘me time’ in the studio and decided out of the blue to create something from scratch using my 3D printer. The second time I created this little chap was a lot quicker than the first. I had learnt how to do it in the preceding four hours and then neglected to save the file before it crashed… I’m in the process of kitting out another two of these mini sculptures and will be making a series, I think. I’m dubbing them ‘cuboidroids’ – cuboid droids. Two reasons: I had to call them something and ‘blockheads’ was already taken; a quick Google search showed no one had concatenated the two words together, ever. If only I had the cash to trademark the name.

This down-in-the-dumps rust bucket stands 9cm/3½” high and is for sale if anyone wants to make me an offer. Or commission a custom cuboidroid…

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Crafted from Caravans: The Christmas Collection

Posted on 1st October 2015 by perfectly4med

The floor, tables and just about every other surface in the studio is currently covered with a fine layer of shredded wool polishing wheels and jeweller’s rouge… I’m also going to have to do a thorough wipe down of all the aluminium filings that didn’t hit the bin beneath…

I’ve been working in a production line over the last two days, making these hanging tree decorations. You may remember my ‘sit and be wind chime’ was made from the sidings of my grandfather’s old caravan – these are too. All are hand cut from the sheet aluminium, cleaned up with wire brush and wet’n’dry sandpaper, hand drilled and hand sawn, hammered, punched, filed and polished. Ok, I did use a Dremel for the polishing.

If you’d like a set, let me know – I will make them to order for £10 each including p&p to UK addresses (international orders extra), so if you’d like them in time for Christmas please order by the end of October.

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Laser Cut Planter Kits now available

Posted on 19th May 2015 by perfectly4med

Until I’ve got round to setting up a Kickstarter project and found funding for my own laser cutter, I’m having to outsource my laser cutting. For my first laser cut project since college, I thought I’d mass produce some ‘planters’, suitable for the topiary trees I make with polystyrene balls and Craftwork Cards Candi (examples here and here).

The planters are roughly 2 inches square and 2½” high and cut from white faced 2mm thick greyboard. I’ve made sure that they are simple to construct and stiff enough to hold up the tree (or whatever else you choose to put in them). I’m pleased to announce that the kits are now available to purchase for £3.25 (including p&p and an instruction sheet). All you need to add is decoration and a cube of polystyrene to poke your tree into.
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Altered Art: My ‘Sit & Be’ Windchime

Posted on 20th April 2015 by perfectly4med

I was once asked by a therapist if I could just ‘sit and be’. Back then, it was a concept that made no more sense than someone speaking double dutch. Nowadays, I have come to learn that it is at least something I’d like to aspire to, and am beginning to understand how to. To that end, I have spent some of today in the ‘now’ of creativity, converting the side panels of an old caravan belonging to my grandfather into this decorative all-weather wind chime:

The aluminium came from the caravan panels, and was coated with tar on one side and a thick layer of oxidation and algae on the other.

I used tin snips to cut out my discs, and a piercing saw to cut out the middle sections as well as the individual hanging shapes. A rub back with steel wool and turps, then a beating with a ball pein hammer before punching the text in gives the texture. I used Silks Acrylic to fill the text and add a splash of colour.

The texts are various reminders about taking time out to be still – for me, the reminders are still very much needed!

‘Made In The Image Of God’ Mirror

Posted on 1st July 2014 by perfectly4med

I’ve been using the tarmac technique again today, again on a trusty Ikea mirror. This time, I’ve used my Silhouette Cameo to cut shapes and letters from 300gsm card which I’ve stuck down directly to the frame. I kept the waste to use as a stencil later to layer the colours. Both colours are metallic, and much more iridescent in reality than in the picture. Careful masking with the waste layer and touching up with a brush allowed the lettering to be picked out against the main colour. I put an Art Deco style border around the mirror itself just to pick it out a bit more – of course, the viewer will be framed nicely. Add a bit of bitumen, rub back, and the piece is done.

Available to purchase (or order), £25, p&p extra. Please email with your requirements.

Sewing Room Assemblage (for Creative Expressions)

Posted on 29th January 2014 by perfectly4med

I’m glad there’s five Wednesdays in January this year, as it’s given me more time to work on my final project for Creative Expressions using this month’s featured Antique Dressforms stamp set. This sewing room assemblage was fun to put together and features many of my favourite techniques as well as some innovative uses for some of the other CE products. A room-by-room guide follows and a printable worksheet is here. The complete assemblage is available to purchase – contact me for details.

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Fancy a book of tangle patterns?

Posted on 24th January 2014 by perfectly4med

Encouraged by my recent publication, I have spent most of the last three days typesetting a book with 112 of my tangle patterns in ready for my Zentangle Inspired Art workshop next weekend. I think it’s turned out rather well… which got me to thinking – would anyone else be interested in a copy (especially since several loyal followers have requested such!)?

Here’s a sample page:
As you can see, it’s mainly the information already published on my Tangle Pattern Gallery and blogs, but all in one place with a handy cross-reference. The patterns are arranged alphabetically, with a gallery/quick reference at the back.

There is a CD wallet attached to the back cover to keep tiles in and is wire-bound so that it lies flat when open, and also has room within the wire-o to keep your pen handy. It is A5 in size and printed in full colour, with a total of 66 pages (112 patterns) and stiff glossy cover. (Hard copy no longer available).

UPDATE 25-FEB-14:
For those requesting an e-version…
I have a formatted PDF version which is designed to print onto A5 paper and get wire-bound as well as being useable on most [colour] devices. This is available for £3.50 and payable through PayPal – you can pay in your own currency subject to PayPal conversion rate. Once payment is complete, you will be emailed a link to the file which you can then download. If you don’t receive an email, please check your spam folder. This will be sent to the email address you use for PayPal. Please do not share the file with anyone else – sharing deprives me of a much-needed income and is against copyright law. Please note that on greyscale screens, e.g. non-colour e-book readers, the formatting means that the book does not show up well.

By clicking on the download button, you acknowledge once payment is completed you are not entitled to cancel the order or receive a refund (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 – digital downloads).

UPDATE 16-JAN-15:
IF YOU ARE IN THE EU (non-UK), this e-book will be affected by the new EU VAT rules for digital services. This means that from this date if you are in the European Union anywhere but the UK I can only provide you with a personally sent link. Please request a copy via my email in the sidebar.

Hard copy versions:
I’m sorry, but I am no longer producing hard copies of the book.

Sewing Room Door Plaque (for Creative Expressions)

Posted on 15th January 2014 by perfectly4med

Another of my projects featuring Creative Expressions’ Antique Dressform stamp set. This one is sporting a few embellishments that I wouldn’t consider to be my normal style, but the ribbon roses (also from CE) matched the theme perfectly and made a great pin cushion for the various pins I nicked from my quilting stash. No step-by-step photos this week, but there’s still a kit list and instructions for those that want them:

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Indian-style Home Decor (for Creative Expressions)

Posted on 18th December 2013 by perfectly4med

This home decor piece uses the Mosaic and Floral Corner Singles stamps from Creative Expressions ‘Henna’ stamp range. By using watercolour paper I hope to have given the impression of the texture of rich Indian fabric, and using offset printing as well as careful cutting given dimension and interest to the piece. A frame from Ikea sets off the project a treat and allows it to stand freely or be wall mounted.

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Autumn arrives…

Posted on 6th September 2013 by perfectly4med

It’s officially autumn here in the UK, and on cue, the sun has disappeared, the temperature has plummeted and the rain is thrashing down! I’m having a go at getting on the Creative Expressions Design Team, and submitting a last minute entry to their design team call which closes today. As part of the application, I had to create a piece on the theme of ‘autumn’ and spent Wednesday making this piece. It’s in a 50cm square frame and features a 12×12″ alcohol inked glossy background, stamped and heat coloured embossed copper leaves and stamped and outlined lettering. For more making details, read on!

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