Making a handle isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Perhaps you recall the basket in process post from late last year. I love how the ceramic basket fired, but the handle isn't what I envisioned for the piece. In my mind I pictured a black wire handle with a coiled spring of wire at the top of the handle. Like one of those wire egg baskets or those French wire baskets. I thought I'd get the piece fired and put on the handle quick as could be and that would be that.
Since I am living in my RV, not having many of my tools readily at hand is creating a challenge for me. If I had been at home I might have used kanthal wire and made a ceramic handle for the piece. I looked around for some wire stiff enough to stand up on it's own but pliable to bend easy enough to fit through the holes and bend back. I couldn't find any black wire except florist's wire and that wasn't a stiff enough gauge. The wire I used is 6 gauge galvanized wire. Gary happened to have some wire twisting tools in his tool box we have with us. I have to be careful twisting the wire. I want to get the wire good and tight so I can slip a bead over it but not so tight that I crack the ceramic. I didn't even think of what I would do with the ends of the wire so they would look finished.
Gary said it would be difficult to get the wire coiled and twisted at the top of the handle without crimping or distorting the wire. So I purchased a length of bamboo and then realized I needed something to cut it with. So then I got a mini hack saw. At home I would have had a chop saw and would have had the whole length of bamboo cut up in seconds. The end of the bamboo is rough, now I need some sand paper.
To me the bamboo looks a little stiff. I think an asymmetrical piece of wood would look much better, like a piece of driftwood or a found piece of wood. But then I would need a drill and a vice to hold the wood so I could drill it. So I haven't twisted the ends of the wire on the piece tight so I can easily remove this handle when I think of a better way to make one. I think my idea has potential I just need to do a little more thinking and searching for just the right materials. I also have one more of these baskets made from cassius basaltic clay being fired which I'll be putting a handle on. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
I went down this road with some baskets I made. I finally used twig, much more cooperative!
ReplyDeleteI like the rustic idea of a twig too...
ReplyDeleteOK, but here is a cool way to spin/wrap/ twist multiple pieces of wire together. When I first did this I about spun my fingers off so be careful. Let's say you want to twist 3 pieces of wire tightly together. Cut all three pieces of wire the same length, and place one end of the 3 cut pieces in a vice and the other ends tightly together in a power drill, clamp them down good and tight it the drill's bit. Now, hold on and SLOWLY power the drill and viola! Evenly, twisted wire!
*the above post was from me, my daughter Kristen just had forgot to log out ON MY COMPUTER(!) and her identity popped up -sorry :o)
ReplyDeleteI made some teapot handles a while back using dried grapevine and hiding the wire on the bottoms where I connected it to the pot then wrapped back up around the vine. The vine was naturally asymmetrical and it actually turned out pretty cool. The grapevine can be soaked in water until pliable, then shaped and dried. Just a thought, and might look good with the organic shape you have for your basket.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracey, thanks, I thought about twigs, but wanted the piece to be washable or cleanable.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy, thanks, that drill trick sounds neat, but scary too. I knew you would know something with your metal background. I might give it a try when I get to a more permanent spot.
Hi Julia, thanks, if only we were still in our old place we would have a ton of grape vine prunings to use. I will probably make several of these and try different handles for each one. Actually that isn't a bad idea having different looks to them. I think you are right about the organic shape and needing to stay with that theme.
It must be a tad frustrating not to be able to just put your hands on what you want.
ReplyDeleteBut there are lots of good options above.
Making do with what you have is a good thing.
Hi Meredith, thanks, yes it is frustrating, but I have to keep in mind that I was really lucky to sell my home to be able to move somewhere else and set up a studio, easy for me to forget that now, but I must keep it in my mind and remember to make do with what I have when so many others have so much less than myself, that's for sure.
ReplyDeletei think you can't go wrong with a nice piece of found wood, a branch segment, you know we really cannot improve on mother nature. i feel for you as far as trying to work without tools, sounds frustrating not to be able to do the simplest of things
ReplyDeleteHi Jim, thanks, I'm looking around now. I have to keep reminding myself that the ancient potters made beautiful pottery with little to nothing. I have to try and be creative with what I have now. It's hard getting used to what used to be at my finger tips and no longer is, at least it's temporary unlike those who have lost everything due the economy. You've reminded me of that, thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou might find the perfect thing in your travels.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, thanks, perhaps you are right, I'll keep my eye out.
ReplyDelete