Kind of Strange

I’ve finally gotten around to adding a gallery to the site.

You can find it by either clicking the Gallery link in the upper right corner, or shortcut there using this link:

http://www.kindofstrange.com/gallery/

‘Tis nifty, no?

http://kindofstrange.etsy.com

Just because. I have a lot of new things to add in the upcoming weeks, so I thought I’d celebrate by having a sale. Prices marked on the bone jewelry are 30% off the regular pricing.

Sale ends July 31st.

I’ve had a request for a larger shot of Late Spring.

While not necessarily a new image, here is the original image in a larger format, which gives a slightly better picture of the detail and overall color.

Behind the cut due to general bandwidth hoggery…

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Two more work-in-progress shots of pieces from the upcoming Naturalist series.

“Late Spring” – Hand painted with bright green, gold, antiqued gold and black.  Detailed shots coming after I finalize the top and coat the center section with some matte poly.

Currently unnamed – a modification on an earlier design. 

With the addition of my foredom, I’m now able to drill through stone!  I had initially purchased some round, pre-drilled stones for use in this series. After trying them out, I found their shape was far too refined and overly symmetrical for the sort of style I’m trying to accomplish.

Currently called ‘The Naturalist’, though that name is not yet set in stone.

Squirrel jawbone, very thin brass wire and some manner of very brittle maroon and black stone.

Still to do:

• Replace chain with soft, beige leather necklace
• Stain small sections of the jawbone on either side
• Possibly add a small brass charm on top of the stone
• Take better pictures with real lighting, rather than the ‘it’s 1am, tired and can’t be bothered with appropriate lighting’ effect 

Working on a few new pieces tonight, one far enough along in the process to share a first look.

The copper spiral will be shaped, hammered and buffed to be a bit more flat before the leaf charm is attached, and the brass wire bits will be wrapped up and sealed.  That was an exercise in patience as the brass wire is one continuous piece, hand threaded and wrapped.

More images to follow as it wraps up.

Also experimenting with more natural materials in other pieces, so more images to follow soon. 

I was asked over the weekend whether or not I ever work in bones other than mink.  The answer is yes, but not often.  The only bones I can tend to find in bulk of the right size outside of mink tend to be bird bones.  If you’ve ever gotten to take a good look at a bird bone, you know that they’re very light and brittle.  They’re designed to fly and thus their bones are hollow and light.  Good for flying, not so good for adornment or re-imagining through hand drilling and reworking.

Occassionally I find a good turkey bone that will work, though they are few and far between as most turkeys have been cooked and/or boiled before I get at them and their bones degraded in the process. 

But it is possible!  Just a considerable amount more tricky to find.

The Navigator here is an example of a turkey bone being used in an OotB piece:

Another shot:

The Navigator will always be a bit more fragile than his mink-based brethren, and will stain a bit more easily (I’ve had a hard enough time trying to keep the varnish where I want it) so I’m hesistant to sell this one off when it’s done without knowing the owner will take good care of it and understand the limitations.  I am rather protective, though I know I need to get a bit better about letting them go on to their new owners.

Another option is putting this one in a display case of some sort.  I like to angle for wearable pieces, but I can entertain the idea of something neat to hang on the wall as well.

Adding pieces up to Etsy at a fairly steady pace. I still have a decent amount to get through, but they’re coming along.

Order of the Bone – Gutter Brat:

Reminder, if you can show you were at SakuraCon this past weekend and would like to buy one of the pieces for the special event pricing, just drop me a line and I’ll give you the special convention discount!

The kiln has been acquired!  There was much celebration at its arrival as I pulled it from its mighty FedEx box, and subsequent ‘removing the cat from the kiln box’ shortly thereafter.  The fat one, he covets the cardboard sanctuary so.

First firing of said kiln will occur this weekend, under my paranoid supervision and self-imposed house arrest.  I have an insane amount of projects that need to reach completion in time for SakuraCon, so I’m not allowing myself the leisure of tooling around away from the workbench for any extended period of time this weekend. 

Expect some new pics over the course of the weekend.  I’ve got more than 30 OotB pieces to finalize, so there will be something to show at some point soon. 

Speaking of the OotB, three of my little guys have gone on to new homes recently.  The First Bone Son, Cross Bone and Earring have all gone to new owners.  I’m surprised at just how hard it was to let them go.  It’s nice to know they’re going on to people who will appreciate them though, as that is what they’re meant for.  Bringing a little bit of surreal specialness into the lives of others and all that.

The newest set of stained bones, still mostly naked in appearance with naught but stain to adorn them.  Completely dry and ready for tinkering with. 

 More behind the cut….

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