catastrophic failure

I have been playing with resin to make knife scales.  That is what the bits are called before they are put on a knife to become a  handle.  It has been interesting.  I do get to play with color.  I get a chance to make a contribution to the business.  But the first pass was a catastrophic failure.  The containers I was mixing resin in lost their bottoms and there was resin all over the counter.  But one bolster set was had.  

I started another batch of resin this last week.  It did not fail in the form of eating the containers so I got the resin into the silicone mold.  It is fiberglass resin so I do not need to put it into a vacuum pot or a pressure pot.  Just wait.  It is very smelly though so it is in the Tea House setting.  I will see how it comes out later this week.  I have a feeling once the smell dissipates, it will be close to hard.  I will see what that one looks like.  I am going to change the resin I am working with but that requires a vacuum.  It is on its way.

Contributing is good.  But I admit that when I am looking at colors, I am really looking at plants more.  On my walks in the morning, I am looking at seed pods and wondering what they would do on fabric.  My thoughts are I might of Koda Bear experiment with me.  I may also take some fabric to my Dad's with me next week and see what could happen. 

I am also waiting for plums to ripen so I can make jam.  The plum jam is a toast favorite but it is also an ingredient I have started to use in savory dishes.  I need to see how much I can make.  I have started to see how many bushes I can find on my walk.

My weeks have been such that I am wondering what this one will bring.

paper cutter

With all this paper I am dealing with, I need a paper cutter or a good knife.  I mentioned this to my Beloved and he started researching paper cutting knives.  He found a Japanese design that he modified with me.  He also played with scraps and made these for me.  Actually, the small one is his.  It has his initials on it.  It is also the one that works best.  I really like them.

I have been doing a lot of research today.  I have also decided that I am going to take point of few I read when researching Navajo spinning.  Do not say you cannot spin (or whine or complain) until you have spun 10 skeins of yarn.  That is actually a lot of yarn.  I am going to take that attitude.  I also found someone who sets up mentoring sessions.  He is an expert on my press.  It would mean a road trip but I am a bit antsy.  I have to realize we have done a lot of road trips for bladesmithing.  It is okay to do one for me.  It would be in a town in New Jersey that I like too.  I have more ideas and this weekend I will get to try.

bag and knife

I will get all the bags posted that I made while we were gone.

I actually sent my Beloved and my Tall Short person to the fabric store without me yesterday.  Actually, it was in a different city three hours away.  They did a splendid job so there will be more bags soon.

This is what we went away for.  My Beloved forged another knife with his teacher Murray Carter.  He is actually selling it at his shop Serenity Knives .  But I admit to coveting it.  It would make a lovely bread knife.  My Beloved says he wants to make me one when his forge is done.  I can hope?

Chef's roll

Blondies were a failure.  The non-dairy yogurt was a failure.  Some weeks are like this.

I did help my Beloved make a Chef's roll.  I have had a little more experience working with leather and cutting things out then he has.

He finished a set of knives and decided that they needed a Chef's roll.  The knives are beautiful in themselves but when you are taking them places they are hard to carry.  That is what the Chef's roll is for.  Easier transportation, especially since they are very sharp.

We bought two cow hides and sized them for the roll and the protector that covers the knives.  We then cut out a piece that holds the knives in.

We riveted the pieces of leather together.  I have done this in the past so I showed my Beloved how to do it and he perfected it.  Every rivet was a learning process and there were even a few defective ones.  After he put straps, buckles, and handles on, the Chef's roll was done.

The knives fit in nice and snug.  I find I have to be careful when I pull them out but that is not surprising.

I am really pleased with how this turned out.  We even kept some of the live edges from the hides so it is unique.

The knives and the Chef's roll are for sale at Serenity Knives.

please pause for station identification....

See what my Beloved Mister has been making!  He spent most of yesterday and today making knives.  Yes there were learnings.  Yes there were frustrations but honestly, I do not think that he has been this relaxed in awhile.  He really enjoys the knife making.  All these knives are for sale.

The top one has already sold.  The second knife down is what I would call a carving knife with exhibition grade iron wood for the handle with plain and mosaic pins.  The third knife down is an eight inch chefs knife with an iron wood handle.  Again, it has mosaic and plain pins.

Now my favorite.  See that small one?  It is a pairing knife with a camel bone handle.  This fits in my hand just right and it is  a lovely size.  The blade is three and half inches long.  I would hide it in my kitchen and make it mine but somehow I do not think I would get away with that! (laughter)

Thank you for your patience with the station break!  (hehehehe)