Cool! I do remember the grainy texture from the sand. I think I got the fish scales by pounding it with a hammer.
We had welding too, both arc and acetylene. I remember someone having trouble with the acetylene cutting torch, so the teacher came over to help. He used the sparker thingie to light the torch, and the whole contraption went up in flame. He turned the gas off REALLY fast.
Those are too cool! Especially the lizard.
From the third pouring I am getting Death riding a pale cow having an arm’s length chat with a monkey.
I need more tea.
Not as cool as metal working but I did some free-form sewing.
This is Yuki. She is 6 years old and Very Well Loved. She’s really important and needed a backpack. A white back pack that looked like a kitty face
I made this using a pattern the kid made from construction paper
Ack, forgot the tiny “keychain” on the side. All the kids hang cute keychains from their backpacks, so of course Yuki needed one too
New album is out 
My usual thing:
since the spring–march or april–i have completed around 20 minor pieces and 20 major pieces mostly built around the idea of ephemera and “school” media. the critical moment was when an assembly came together with playing cards built into it which i imjmediately named card trick 1 but then i realized i had mined the vein with the preceding work. being a mathematician i called that work card trick 0. i also have seven projects in various phases of development.
here’s a few–
card trick 11
hate map
Not very ambitious or creative, but it is satisfying to make magnetic poster hangers that are just like I want and need.
That looks nice! i love it
What kind of wood is that? Very pretty.
And good to see you again!
It’s zebrawood. Not a very sustainable group of species, mostly African. I got this scrap end decades ago, and finally found a good use for it.
It looks great and you used wood you already had on hand. Very pretty wood.
What do you have for the magnets to stick to behind the poster?
I had these magnets on hand too, as K&J Magnetics sent me promotional samples with some other order. These 1/4" x 1/16" magnets cost 23 cents each, and I used three pairs – shipping will cost more than the magnets:
It’s a little tricky drilling flat bottomed holes (with a 1/4" wood bit) such that the magnets are flush with the surface. A drill press makes it easier to tweak without going all the way through the thin slats I wanted.
Lovely! I want to copy this. I sometimes find nice woods when I’m scrapping pallets.
I have the same question I think Kii was asking: how does this hang on the wall? Are there magnets in the wall, too, or more standard hanging hardware? It looks so “clean,” from the front.
Both the top and bottom are composed of two slats, sandwiching the poster edge, and the flush magnet pairs provide the force to keep the poster from sliding out.
You can attach string to the ends of the top and hang on a nail or picture hanger. But I like the clean look, and I simply drilled a through-hole at the top-center of the top-back slat for a nail. On the inner side, I slightly counter-sunk the hole with a larger bit, to catch on the head of a nail in the wall.
hehe! lovely pic!
kittehs seem to like the “Cards from the Conch”. not just for the fishy images, but probably due to my “shop foreman”, BuddyCat (yes, i run a union shop!) , who gets all up in my paper, my workspace and even walking - and snoozing - on my press!
your kitteh, (is that Cirrus?) is not the first to be all sniffy on the postcards from here in The Way, Way South!
as always, i am pleased it was well received! thank you!
i am going to take this opportunity to make a shameless open call for “subscribers”.
i put that in quotes because subscribing involves no exchange of currency. i put this out because there are some folk here - you lovely longtimers what set this awesome cafe up, then welcomed a Keybilly like me to enjoy a cuppa with you, who may not know that i have long been involved in mail art. i make handcrafted postcards, sent from the “Way, Way South” Conch Republic. i make hand-etched, letterpress cards in editions of 25 - 50 that explore life and history in the Conch Republic, or as otherwise known as the Florida Keys.
i pay all postage - even international.
i have room for more “pen pals”, if you feel comfortable sharing.
also extending to the friends from that old place that may have wanted to, but for reasons did not sign on to my offer for interesting “junk mail” in your postbox around once a month.
y’all DM me here, if interested. no big if you don’t, i totally understand not wanting to get on another stupid mailing list.
(BTW: i’m not selling anything!)
Getting the postcards has been pretty delightful, highly recommended
