With all the things out there you can buy in miniature there was one thing missing, at least I couldn't find one. French flower buckets.
I tried one this morning using a sheet of tin. I am not happy with it though for a variety of reasons. First... I knew to make them look right I needed to have a die made to form them onto, using a hydraulic press. Reason being, this would allow the two band lines below the lip of the bucket to be pressed into the sheet. I tried instead just to solder on two rings to "look like" that. It wasn't a success. :-( Secondly... I have to find a tool for my flex-shaft that will give the surface of the metal the right look that galvanized buckets have. Sadly... the patina I want for the outside is in the inside where I didn't have to clean up anything.
I am determined... I will get there!!!
Gosh, this looks like incredibly fiddly work! Can you not use a tool that would be used for glass engraving (to mist the background) to create the galvenised look?
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great as it is, but I also understand when you want something to look right and it's just not happening! Grrr! I'm sure you will master it! :o))
Michelle xx
I get all of your desire for it to be perfect. It is fabulous, however!
ReplyDeleteEven as it is it would look a lot better of it was dull. I am not worried though. I know what I need to do.
ReplyDeleteI can make it sitting at my kitchen counter top which is where I made it this morning. LOL At least I have the patterns all drawn and they are right! The tin and the gauge it right too. I just need a couple of tweaks.
the result seems satisfactory to me, but like any good perfectionist, I understand your concerns and I am sure that with your perseverance, you'll get better results!
ReplyDeletegood job!
I can say one thing, though? I remember that he retained a tube like that! it is the tip of my aluminum syringe to make desserts! ah ah!
kisses and good Sunday!
ah! I forgot! You have seen my blog? I opened an Etsy shop, where you can affect ...
with affection, Caterina
It looks still that pretty to me this flower bucket! I am learning when reading your post, Catherine.
ReplyDeleteThere are still many professional terms, for example “hydraulic press” and “flex-shaft” that I have never known. It’s still a long road for me! LOL
A little question: tin is always mat, right? Did you polish the surface of this bucket, Catherine?
Peiwen
Promise to take photos of process along the way please! You know me well enough to know how much that interest me. I love the getting there as much as the finished goal.
ReplyDeletePeiwen,
ReplyDeleteA flex_shaft is a motor tool that accepts lots of different attachments like... Polishing wheels, drill bits, burs to grind on and on it goes.
The hydraulic press is something you can Google to see how it works. Call me lazy here but a picture is worth a thousand words. ;-)
For many of us Catherine this is beyond perfect already.....but I have come to know you well enough that when you say it is not 'right'.....that you will infact make it 'right'!!!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the 'tweaked' version.
Even though it does not have the finished look you're aiming for, Catherine, the shape of it is really beautiful. However, from what I know of you, you will get what you want. Good for you! Why not!
ReplyDeleteDeseamos que lo consiga, pero asi ya queda muy bien.
ReplyDeleteSe ven preciosos, felicidades
ReplyDeleteRosa
These flowers are just perfect and so are you your nutshell houses♥♥♥
ReplyDelete:D piikko
For me it looks already so goodCatherine, but I know we will see a little perfect bucket here very soon!:) Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeletegotta love that determination! echoing the above sentiments, it already looks great!
ReplyDeleteThe shape of the bucket is looking good! I'm sure you'll come up with a way to age the tin. I was thinking of how it would age naturally, probably through contact with oxygen and water or something like that. You could try and put it in your oxy-power stain remover (or whatever that washing powder with oxygen is called). I really don't know if it will have the effect, but I won't harm it either. Or maybe something stronger, like household ammonia, or strong vinegar? Whatever you come up with, I'd love to know how you did it!
ReplyDeletePhillippe Bordelet makes a very realistic tall French Flower Pail for $25.00. Swan House Miniatures at SwanHouseMiniatures.com carries his flower pails. However, I just checked and they are currently sold out.
ReplyDeleteJDaill... WOW! $25.00 a piece! I need lots of them and in different sizes. Thank you for telling me though I will go have a look/
ReplyDeleteJosje... I am going to use a 10% solution of dilute nitric acid to oxidize them. Thank you though. Sometime the strangest things under the kitchen sink do work. :-)
RE: House French Flower Pails.
ReplyDeleteI loved the surface look of the metal. I didn't like huge rivets, the handles or the shape of the pail.
BTW... He charges another $10.00 to ship and you don't get the same one that is in the picture! I don't like that.
As a metalsmith of course you know how to age these materials...nitric acid, sounds nasty haha!
ReplyDeletePhilippe Bordelet passed away 2.5 years ago, so I don't think Swan House will be getting much more of his miniatures in stock. Philippe used to come to the Arnhem fair where I was able to buy some of his work from him. He charged much less than Swan House, but I understand that they too have to make a living.
I am so sorry to hear that Philippe Bordelet has passed away. I am interested to see his other work. Maybe I can find some more photos of it.
ReplyDelete