Flipped to a new life

During a one day course where I learnt about making lampshades, I also heard about other skill, transferring pictures on wood (as you do when you mix with other people). I became curious so the next step was to learn more and simply try...

As visible in the picture above, I picked a piece of wood (wooden mixing spoon) that was no longer in use and outlined its shape on a picture of my choice. Now, you need to understand that as simple as it sounds, there are few points to remember. Make sure the picture is flipped otherwise your transfer will be flipped (and I am sure you don't want that). Also, have your picture printed on laser printer (not inkjet) and on the thinnest paper possible.

After cutting out desired scene I used Gel Medium and pasted it on the wooden spoon avoiding any air bubbles.

To be honest, I was not sure this would work since I used something else than advertised but hey, why not try...

...and now I am jumping ahead a little. What you are meant to do next is, after letting it dry overnight or so, get a wet cloth and place it on the paper, let it soak slightly and slowly rub the white paper off. Basictly, wetness helps 'dissolve' the white paper revealing the image underneath, correctly flipped.

This picture does not show the completed piece yet, it still needs more rubbing off and once you are satisfied, it should be sealed with Mod Podge (apparently, but I used simple 3:1 ratio of PVA glue:water which is as effective and much cheaper). But do your own research on this one, there is a lot of information around on both wood transfers and Mod Podge vs PVA glue. I simplified here. I mainly wanted to share my insight into something with quite a potential.

This exercise opens up new horizons so depending on how handled there is a potential. 

K-)

Update: Saturday, 28 August 2016
Flipped to a new life

Talking of a potential, I photographed my wooden mixing spoon, completed and sealed, for you to see attached to a kitchen wall (I have to keep to its original theme) and entering a new role as a decorative piece.

Here, I turned towards recycling, kind of metamorphosis. But I believe, more could be achieved. As said earlier, depending on how handled...

K-)

Evolution

Looking at and thinking of the image above, again I cannot get it out of my mind (otherwise it would not find its way to another of my posts :-)

I mentioned a tree in the 'Opportunities rather than Misfortune' post a few weeks ago and this is a recent shot of the same subject. Having observed the same tree from spring and witnessing subtle changes that have taken me to summer I am sure I will still indulge myself in this observation in the winter...

When a project evolves it takes time. The question is how long. You may remember my 'Leafy-fall' project from quite a while ago when at autumn I took an inspiration from a colourful willow tree. The idea is still here but certainly needs evolving further...

Here now I can concentrate at the wrinkled surface, I can pick on the remnants of a spider web partly visible to the left of the leaf, I can again focus on the lifeline of the leaf (the 'veins') like I did in the past, I can...

...and of course there are seasonal changes, even with dead leaves...

...Evolution...

Idle

Being Idle is a state of doing nothing. Practically not doing a single thing and (put politely) chill out. Though put it plainly, idle means wasting time by doing absolutely nothing.

And Idle is what I was not during my absence over the past year. Otherwise I would not be able to share with you the update to my Cottagy & Cosy project. Check on the 'Updates' tab to see its  progress or click on this link to follow the whole progress of this project.

'Idle' is a funny word. If I did not know the meaning I would think of some exotic word and exotic meaning. Like this however, I am reminded of this picture I took a while ago...

This gentleman appears chilling out somewhere in the park blissfully unaware of the world passing by. I wonder what was going on through his head. Was he looking for a quiet moment? Was he worried? Was he waiting for or hiding from someone?

Alright, he was probably not idle, simply looking for a time to himself.

But what does an 'idle' state look like? It is actually quite difficult to be idle when you think about it. I can understand to 'procrastinate'. But the state of 'idle' is hard. There is always something to do (or at least thought of). It is not easy to be idle. Which brings me back to the beginning of this post, to my project. 

I did work on it even though I went quiet posting here. What's more, other possibilities are going through my head as we speak. And it would be a shame not to continue especially when I had such a good time making the table accessories. It was both a fun and practical way of spending time by not being Idle. K-)

Inside a drop

For quite a while now there has not been a day without a rain. If it does not rain during the day, it keeps me awake through the night. And when it looks promising during the day a few drops appear at some stage anyway or at least it feels like it. The weather can influence the mood.

Despite my last post, I did find myself feeling down...  Momentarily, of course. Picking myself up into a more positive state, I decided to search through my photo library for a suitable image to cheer me up and to find an inspiration. And voilà. Here is a winner.

Rain is rain, not always welcome, but there is something about the delicacy of a single drop. There is something about the world inside drop's perfect shape (and the shape is perfect)... The clarity of water and the brightness of light reflects our world in a distorted form inside a tiny space. Suddenly, new somehow magical world on a smaller scale is revealed. Now, let's be honest. How much magic do we find in our everyday life? So, why not take this finding as an inspiration and turn something mundane into something new and magical?

Starting with rain, break it down to a single drop, observe it and I think it is possible to deal with our current summer much easier. Don't you? K-)