... on an overdue thankyou.

This morning I got out the tinsnips and made my first Beastie from that lovely batch of new corrugated iron that C's Ma's friend Lil gave me.

As I chopped into it, I immediately realised that although it's a thicker grade of iron than my previous sheet, it's also a lot 'softer' to work with, somehow?

I drew out the Beastie on the reverse - painted partially white, which is quite a nice texture in itself.

You can see how the tin warps like billy-oh as I cut it. 

A rough-cut Beastie.

Lots of rough edges to sort out.

What a completely delicious patina! I just love that first it was red - then someone wanted it green.

Filing down the burrs and rough bits is the longest part of the process.

Thanks so much Lil!

... on tin!

I received a big boost to the Beastie Tin Reserves a few days ago. To date, all of my Beasties have been made from tin that used to be on the top of our old chook-house. It was mostly painted pale green, with some red stripes on the edges - it had already been used a few times before it was built into the chookshed - who knows where? Anyway, this tin was lovely - only - I ran out. From the two full sheets I used to have, I now only have a few small Beastie-sized rectangles, which I'm hesitant to use as I know there's no more!

So, it was rather timely to hear news that C's mum had a friend, Lil, who knew I made stuff from tin, and had a few pieces in her garden she thought I might be able to use. Yes. OH yes!

When we picked them up from Lil, C just shook his head and laughed at how delighted I was over a stack of rusty painted tin. PERFECT. BEASTIE. TIN!

Red AND green paint! Rust! Oxidation! Flakiness! I tell you, it made my day, and I can feel a Beastie plague coming on!

... on a weekful of Beasties.

Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Friday. On my list last week: "Make a Beastie every day." All to be seen in my Etsy store shortly!

... on the joy to be had from bits of corrugated iron.

Recently I've found myself with a few spare days off work. I've tried:

A. Moonlighting as a builder's labourer. This is varyingly successful depending on how hot and humid it is on any given day. Moving bits of scaffolding in the withering sun at midday = wobbles and heatstroke. Hiding under a tarpaulin to paint the ends of beams = more my style.

B. Staring at the stockmarket hoping for divine inspiration. None yet.

C. Making many batches of dextrose-sweetened icecream in my new icecream-maker. Vanilla bean is particularly nice, as is chocolate made with Dutch cocoa.

D. Pekin-bantam wrangling. It's a great time-waster but Otto just doesn't understand that if he continues to practice his crowing (he's only 3 months old) then the neighbours will be most upset and he'll have to be re-homed sooner than expected.

and E. Mildly contemplating why it is that I haven't made any Beasties for a while!

So, out with the stout gloves and tin-snips!

Chop! Snip! Bend out the corrugations! Give them all a good scrub and sit them in the sun to dry! Hello Beasties!

... on shadows.

During the week I finally completed my red Fishie Beastie wall hanging. I hung it from the curtain rail, and yesterday afternoon I saw that a patch of sun had crept down the wall and was be-shadowing it in a very lovely fashion!

...on donkeys.

A custom Beastie for a donkey-fancier. Happy Birthday, C!

... on fowl.

The Beckster asked me to make her a couple of Beasties, a hen and a duck. The chook is a bit of a weirdo but I'm quite pleased with the jawline and tail curl of this duck. I might make some more of them in the new year. It's odd how I never really know how a Beastie will turn out, even though I work from a sketch and draw them out on the tin before I cut them. I should know by now - I've made a stack of Crabby Beasties over this past year, and every one of them has a different character!

... on wall hangings!

Seems like I'm in wall hanging mode at the moment - I can't stop! I've finally made those little Fishie Beasties into something, and now I want to make more. When I was photographing this yesterday I had my big industrial fan on and the little fish were clanking together merrily in the breeze, and it made me happy!

... on workspaces.

Seeing where someone else works is always a bit delicious, isn't it!?