May 2019

May 7th

​I've been as busy as a bee the last couple of days; but will be back to regular blogging very, very soon...For now though; here's a photo of a bee that I took...
Bee right back x           
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May 5th

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​Today the Portrait Time Machine fired up again, and popped out another updated painting .
This time it was a portrait of Catherine the Great (Empress of Russia); possibly due to the fact that it would have been her birthday on May 2nd?.
The portrait that it chose is  Catherine II by J.B.Lampi painted in the 1780s.
I really like the original portrait for several reasons.
1. The 'stack pipe' style sleeves on her dress.
2. The fabulous blingy necklace she is wearing , with the spread-eagled man on the front of it.
and 3.   In the updated version, she looks just like David Cameron in a wig!
Now I've always been fascinated by ancient jewellery; and the necklace she is wearing, is such a fab bit of P.R. for Catherine. It's saying; 'Hey fellas, approach me at your peril. You are vunerable in my presence'.
(After all she had had her husband knocked off so that she could take control of the throne). However; she was popular with the people, and brought about some changes that made the ordinary man's life a little easier. One of the 'great' things she did was to inoculate most of the country against smallpox, which was an enormous feat in the late 1700's.
She made a lot of sweeping changes in her time; so in the updated version she is challenging Russia's attitudes to homosexuality.
I can't believe how much she looks like David Cameron in a wig. I can't help thinking that Catherine probably had more balls than him though?....

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​May 4th

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As promised today I will be inserting the love missile into the rear of the pendant.
The enamel I'd added to the mohawk was taking on a nice textured effect (I didn't want it to look smooth) (see middle pic) and the eyes had turned a nice shade of blue, so now was the time to add the missile. I cut out a piece of sterling silver from an old  battered cigarette case.
First of all I stamped out the letters 'Love Missile' into the silver. The fact that it was battered made no difference; because I then hammered the silver in a steel tube former, which gave it a cylindrical effect. Next I cut out a glans shaped piece of silver and made a collet (holder); for the pear shaped moon stone I was to add, to represent a sperm droplet. (Yes; you heard that right folks).
After soldering on all the pieces; I then gave the reverse an aged look, by painting on a blackening aging compound.
Now I just have to decide what sort of chain it will hang from. The pendant had now become a chunky, funky , punky , spunky necklace...
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​May 3rd

So today (like a lot of my days) I'm back to front.................................... on the Sigue Sigue Spoon.
I wanted the eyebrows to stand out more than the etched silver I'd created on the face, so I added a couple of pieces of silver wire. Then I added more squiggles of silver to the mohican, to try and create a more 'dready' looking mohawk. Now it was time to start layering up some enamel to add a bit of colour. It would be a sin to create a mini Sigue Sigue character without it.
Next I started to torch fire the enamel.
Once I'd added some colour to the hair, I decided I needed to add some blue for Martin's eyes. In all the pics I've seen of him, he appears to have quite striking blue eyes. I could have added some blue dots of enamel to the face, but I was worried that these would be susceptible to damage. So I made two silver wire circles and soldered these on; as the enamel would then be contained, as in cloisonné. (See above pics; which aren't great I know, as I have a crappy phone :-/)
Tommorrow I will be inserting the love missile into his back side and if you want to witness this then, see you tomorrow!...
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May 2nd

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Apparently it's 500 years ago today that Leonardo da Vinci died; so I thought I'd post a link to the Mona Lisa that sits in The Portrait Time Machine. (See pic below from November 13th blog last year). She looks such a minx in a modern day setting.
I know the machine has  been a bit quiet of late; but it's got a flat battery, and I've had to put it on to charge.It will be up and running again soon.
Now back to the spoon. 
I think it's makes the spoons more interesting to decorate the backs, as well as the fronts. So I began by etching the back. (see above pic) The wording reads Sigue Sigue Spoonface by M.T.A.
I also wanted to add a little something extra, to make the spoon a talking point; but what?
Naturally when you think of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, you automatically think of Love Missile F1-11. 
That was it then; I would add a Love Missile..... but what exactly is a love missile? 
Well I know what my interpretation of one is, and I would add that!
Now I don't wish to be a prick-tease but before I started  that, I had a bit more work to do on the face. So tomorrow I'll be back to front, which isn't unusual for me...

 
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​May 1st

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May Day; May Day, I'm flying off the handle!
So as I mentioned in my blog last night; tonight I'm back to spooning, but guess who this time?
When I folded the handle of the spoon over on this particular one; it reminded me of a large mohican hair style.
With a face shaped like this spoon and a mohican hairstyle; one person sprang to mind, the fabulous Martin Degville of Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
The first time Sigue Sigue Sputnik (who were formed by Tony James) appeared on Top of The Pops, I think every right-minded dad in the land choked on his tea. They were outrageous; colourful, over the top and edgy.
A perfect combo.
So begins, the making of the Sterling Silver Sigue Sigue Spoonface...
The first stage was to etch the face. When I removed the spoon from the etching fluid I liked the effect, as I'd made it textured like the fishnet face mask he used to wear. I then cut out the mouth and sawed the individual teeth. (See above pic)
The next stage was to punch his nose out (in a nice way); not too much though, as I wanted to get that stockinged mask effect.
Tomorrow I will be attacking his back side; and FYI it will be getting quite naughty.
If you wish to witness this, come again on the morrow..