Sunday, October 26, 2008

Imagine

ok guys...this ones from me...tony...remember me...tony...anyway...i'll start with a picture of "me"...don't ask me why...lisa seems to think i need to add some pictures of "me" on the blog every-now-and-then...soooooo...i'm standing in the window and lisa took the picture outside looking in...

i'm going to warn you here and now...this blog is going to have lot's of pictures of me soooooo beware...hey it'll make lisa happy...anyway back to the word of the day...

ok...as of late i've started thinking about mixing different metals together...trying to "imagine" how they would react with each other and what the end result might look like...as well as wanting to recycle some of the old metal i find at the salvage yard...sadly though i do not have a foundry so i have to search for things i can melt with my torch and cast with the equipment i have...anyway on our last trip to the salvage yard i found these old strips of brass...they seem to have come off an old trunk or something like that...soooooo...i started thinking about melting them and using them to cast...heres a picture of the metal strip...my torch...and me...thinking of melting the metal..




then i took my hack-saw cut up the brass strips...and decided to cast some of our hearts with this metal...


so i was only going to cast with this brass but then i thought...why not add some other metal...so i decided to add some copper as well as some silver to the mix...as i started melting the metal it looked very weird and i must admit i did not think it was going to work...



but hey...i'd gone this far...soooooo...might as well let it fly and see what happens...and to be honest i hoped i would get at least one cast but i had my doubts that i'd even get one...


but when all was said and done...everyone of them came out...i could not believe it...and i was soooooo happy...i went on to finish them using the same process i use on the shibuichi...and i was also very happy with the final look...


it has a brass look but with random bits of copper in it...anyway i love this and i'm going to keep working with the mixed...recycled metals...

as we said we are doing a give-away soooooo...after all this talk and pictures how could we not give away one of these hearts...so here it is...make a comment on this blog and at the end of the of the week we'll place the names of all who commented on the blog in a hat and draw a winner...soooooo...let us here from you...and good luck...

well it's time to get back to work...i did another casting last night with mixed metals and can't wait to finish them and see how these look...thanks for stopping by...

20 comments:

Cindy said...

The pictures of you are fun, and the store looks great! I love the way you keep experimenting and finding new ways to do things. You're both so inspirational!

Carolyn in Cullowhee said...

Love the hearts. You both look happy and 'settled' . Hope to see you soon, teaching a class.
Carolyn in Cullowhee

Anonymous said...

Love your pics AND your new heart charms!

Anonymous said...

hearts are my favorite! love my new zoa art...received it on friday. hugs to both of you...barby

Carlene said...

The heart turned out really cool! And I loved seeing the process in pictures! I'm heading over to your Etsy shop now to check it out! I realy like the idea of recycled metals. You guys do great stuff!

Anonymous said...

Hi you two! Lisa, LOVE the haircut! Tony, love the pictures!! And as always, your new stuff is wonderful. Hope all is well - call when you want Indian food!!
Jim and Karen 5

Truth and Beauty said...

How wonderful to see such delightful photos of you both in our new environment. You are both looking so happy and productive - loving the marriages of metals. love the lack of perfection, the raggedness. like real hearts and love. Best, Lysa

Truth and Beauty said...

*your not our! oopsies! ;) Lysa

Seth said...

Great job on "the metal mixing experiment." The finished piece has such a wonderful and interesting surface.

Anonymous said...

beautiful and innovative! love it.

lynne h said...

damn, tony, that's a FLAME there!!! kinda makes the lampworking flame look wimpy doesn't it? i think this is just so cool what you're doing recycling metals... i love the name too -- bohemian metals... perfect.

you and lisa look great and your store front too. sure looks like you guys are doing well...

all is well here with us.

xxxooo

Anonymous said...

Tony & Lisa,
You two are the most inspirational people I have ever met!
I LOVE the mixed metals. It's symbolic of both of you, your immense versatility, and the continual inspiration you bestow on so many fortunate people.
That picture of you two at the fence reminds me of the joining together of the metals in your newest venture.
So very tender!!
Love, Heather from Chicago xo

Caty said...

Hi Guys! I love the work with the mixed media. What the heck is a "foundry"? LOL

Unknown said...

Hi,
I don't usually like "hearts", but this one with all the texture and rough edges, and the tear in the middle, makes me think it probably looks like mine. Probably like most peoples. And with the mix of the metals, lets me know it's stronger than most!
Great job Tony!
Thanks,
Patty

Anonymous said...

Hi Tony & Lisa,
Life is looking pretty great for you two right now! The store looks fab, love the fence photo of your 'young love' and Lisa's new 'do. I really enjoyed watching the mixed metal process. Miss you guys!
love,
Jen from Chicago too

Lisa Blackwell said...

Thanks to all who have left comments,we really appreciate you stopping by and letting us know your out there and checking in with us.

Anonymous said...

long time no talk too...sorry been everywhere but home...that includes out of country. dido on the how fag you two look, your store and your mixed metals are magnifico!!! keep on playin that's what makes the world go round. your friend in montana...play well friends...

Anonymous said...

ooops...that's suppose to be how FAB you two look...sorry...shoulda proof read first...shelley

Lisa Blackwell said...

Thanks for clearing that up Shelley.
Okay so we will have the drawing in the morning.Good luck and because we'v had so many comments we are going to draw 2 winners.
See ya in the morning for coffee.....

Anonymous said...

Hey Hey! Love the web site and i have been visiting quite often just to check up on you two!! Can you guess who I am? The building is awesome and I would love to bring my husband and 4 kids to stay a few days. The heart is beautiful and my birthday just past...so who am I???? In case your clueless....Sandy Bowser here and Kyrstin had to help just to do this!!! Love you guys...take care
also I signed up for email delivery to me...K