Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Something to think about...


I find that my attention span is very short. I really get into something and go head-over-heels for it, almost to a point of obsessiveness. Then over time, mostly a very short period of time, something else comes along and it is total abandonment of the previous interest. I find this very frustrating but also very fascinating. As I have talked with others I have come to a realization that a lot of "creatives" find they are in the same boat. Fortuitously for me I have found that there has emerged a pattern of sorts. Whatever the interest of the moment that has been tossed aside I come back around later on and re-light the flame of passion for that interest.

The big fallout from this pattern of thought and drive is that I have never developed a strong skill for one particular thing. I am a generalist not an expert. I am not sure this is necessarily a bad thing though. Growing up many of my friends were all into one thing and one thing only, but my Dad always told me to be willing to try new things and explore possibilities. I like that....

Well back to it...
Hope you have a great week!

Cheers,
'MrRay'

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Button Options


A collections of buttons that caught my fancy a while back while digging through my collection of old buttons that have been picked up over the years...
Wood, Metal, Coconut, Shell, Plastic, and Bone.
A little self portrait in pen and ink for sum fun.

Hope your week is going in the right direction and that your projects are coming together.
Back to it...
>>>--"Keep On Crow'N--->
Cheers,
'MrRay'

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Wooden iPhone 5

Working on a few projects right now and one of them involves the I phone 5, which I do not currently have in my possession. Not sure when or if ever...

So like most things around here if I don't have it might as well make it, and make it out of wood. Jumped on the 'ol intro-net thing surfed around for a few and gots me the dimensions of the #5 and went to town on some old wooden fencing. A little elbow grease and we have a fine example of a modern convenience without all of the convenience and technologies. No calls, no web surf'n, no instagram. just wood.
More on the purpose later.
Well back to it... Hope your week has been productive and positive....
 If you are back east "god's speed" and we have you in our thoughts and wish you well.
>>>--"Keep On Crow'N--->
 Cheers,
'MrRay'

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Let's Do Some Wax'n

In having a go with a few projects and ideas involving fairly common goods it is sometimes a challenge to come up with items that are unique, have a voice, and stand apart while still being able to move about nicely in, out, and around the "crowd".

It is while dabbling in the is idea that the though occurred to me recently to have a little mess about with fabric and wax. Now this is not anything new by any means, but the end use is part of the overall story telling that I think might be quite fun when all said and done. More on that on a later date...

It has been a while since I have done any kind of Process post up. So figured share a bit on some building of a bar of wax for rubbing into some fabrics with.
 Materials needed:
-2 Pots: 1 that fits loosely inside the other to do a little double boiler action. (You don't want to melt wax directly over an open flame it could end very badly with flames and such) Or if doing a small batch could use an old soup can inside a pot.
-Water: to boil in mentioned pot.
-Stove Top: how else you going to boil the water?
-Wax: paraffin and Bee's
-Coconut Oil (optional): Smells nice and for my projects fits in with the whole story thing mentioned above. Also it helps keep the wax soft and pliable for use and adds a little bit "grease" for end use.
-Container or Mold: Use to poor the melted wax into to set up as the bar. I used an old 32oz. plastic yogurt container. 
-Food/Kitchen Scale: To measure out the right amount of wax to mix together. If you don't have one, no worries this is not chem. class it does not need to be perfect.
-Wood or Metal Spoon: To stir the wax as it melts.

Recipe:
2 part Parraffin
1 part Bee's
A few heaping Table Spoons or 1 part Coconut oil (optional)

Bash up your wax into small chunks and measure it out into your smaller pot or soup can. My blend for this round, 8oz. Paraffin / 4oz. Bee's.
Put a shallow amount of water in the larger pot and place the smaller pot / soup can  with the wax chunks into the pot and fire up the burner on the stove.

Low to Medium heat a n bring to a soft boil (not rolling just a few bubbles) As the water is warming up the chunks of wax will start to soften and melt down as well. Once the wax starts to melt you can begin to stir to help melt down the wax.

Once all the wax is melted and in a liquid form remove from heat and add the Coconut Oil by stirring it into the liquid wax until dissolved completely.

Remove small pot or can from the larger pot with togs or oven mit (caution HOT) and poor liquid wax into mold or plastic container and let set for a few hours or over night.

Once fully set, and if you are using a plastic container, like the yogurt container, you need to work the edges to loosen it up and it should, after some working it a bit, pop out. Now youz got a nice bar of wax for some fabric waxing fun.

Stay tuned for the next post, Elbow Grease and hot iron fun...

Back to it.

>>>--"Keep On Crow'N--->
Cheers,
'MrRay'







Monday, September 26, 2011

Built by REDCROW: Wallet Update

About a year and a half ago or so I put needle and thread to fabric and built a wallet/ card holder for myself out of some heavy weight chambray. I was looking it over the other day and noticed it aging nicely and wanted to share a few images.

She has been good but I have a few ideas brewing that might be a good update...
Hope your projects are coming along nicely.
Keep at it, whatever it may be.
Cheers,
'Mr.Ray'

Monday, September 19, 2011

Cover That Point.

As we have slowly settled into our current abode it has take'n me ages to get the shop space set up. I recently cleared a few more boxes and have set up the ol industrial. Late last night on a whim I decided that I need to have a cover for my scisors in my kit bag.
Busted out a ruff pattern.

Fired up 'MsGreen' and proceeded to build a leather cover for them scissors.



It feels good to build something from idea to finished product all in one go.
So often than not an idea is sketched out. A pattern or two built. Construction begins and then things get left in various state of completion as life steps in and does it's thing. Not this project.

Also stoked to finally have a little work space built out to help get some of those silly ideas out and into projects....

Hope your weekend was a good one and that your week is starting out on a good foot.

"Remember the Golden Rule"
Cheers,
'MrRay'

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Weekend Build: Surf Sign

Now that the 'ol work bench is built and I have a place to start making messes again I decided to have a go with some more wood work. This time making some signage. Now this is a long post because I took heaps of images through out all of the steps of the build. From paper pattern cutting...

...all the way to being hung in the office at the 9-5er.
This is also my first go at shooting everything with my phone camera. Not the best images but good enough to share the building process.

So started out with the idea a while back and finally got around to going after it by finding a good font that I liked.  Printing out nice and big on 11x17 paper and cutting em out for a templet to follow.
I have a bunch of plywood around the new home that has been out in the yard for a few years by the looks of it. This is the base for the letters and the layout. Did the layout to follow the grain of the wood so when I comes time for sanding and paint and whatnot it will work nicely.


After all ruffed on the wood got out the trusty scroll saw and clamps and went to town.



Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Weekend Build: Work Bench

It has been a long while since the dust has been flying with a home project. Our current residence has been missing a work table in the garage so spent a couple bucks at the local hardware mega store and picked up some wood and screws. Ruff sketched some plans on a scrap piece of paper and went to town building an 8'(2.4m) long 2.5'(76.2 cm) wide 43"(109.22 cm) high work table. Shot a few pics throughout the build.



finished table in it's new home up against the back wall.

Of course no project would be complete with out some kind of R/Co. logo stencil action...

Well we are now heading towards the tail end of this here work week. Time to start making plans for the coming weekend....
Need to finish setting up the work space so can really roll up the sleeves and get to building things. Like more of those wallets folks have been asking for...

"Keep 'em Flying"
Cheers,
'MrRay'

Monday, May 09, 2011

Redcrow Neckwear.

As I have been sidetracked with life and everything else but updating this here blog over the last several months, I have failed to post up some neckwear goods that I built ages ago. So as per a request for some images, I figured why not share.
Gives a Smile

Shirt Weight Bow Tie with Button Neck Adjustment. Hand Distressed Bandanna Bow Tie with Button Neck Adjustment.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

CXXVI I Phone Wallet: Work'n Together: Update

The phone wallets are in and available for purchase.

Check 'em out over at the CXXVI Clothing Co. web site.

I plan to do a little behind the scenes post on the making of these items in the next couple of days. Till then, I again want to thank the fine folks over at CXXVI for this opportunity! Now go over to their site and pick one up for yourself and tell your friends to do the same...

Cheers!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Work'n Together.

So a long long time ago via this here blog thing I received some nice complements by the good folks over at CXXVI Clothing Co. If you have never seen any of their goods you need to check 'em out! Good stuff if you ask me. The kids have their heads on straight for sure.

Well next thing you know I gots myself a little collaboration thing going with 'em and after a few back and forths via the 'ol email system and the US Postal Service the goods are almost ready to be had....
Image as seen on CXXVI Clothing Co blog.
 Check out their blog for the latest. And once the goods are up I will do a deeper post on the idea and all the work that went into make'n 'em.
Big thanks to Matt over at CXXVI!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

R/Co. Project: Work'n Pattern

When you get hooked on building things yourself, it all starts with ideas. For ideas to become reality it equals building more patterns....

A little here and a little there.
Cheers.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

R/Co. Project: Piston Tee.

 Huh, summer sure did come and go...
Been super super busy with all sorts of projects and recent travels including a quick jot down south to the 'ol home town of LA. ( more on that later) So needles to say I am way behind on sharing all the goods that have been built over the last few months. Such as this here tee...
At the beginning of summer built this graphic tee. All hand cut from stencils and hand sprayed to apply the ol' grafx.... Fun times.
A little detail of the back graphic.

If anyone out there is interested in one hit me up and I will pass it along.

So what have you been up to?

Cheers!



Monday, September 20, 2010

R/Co. Project: Travel'n Trunk


Way back at the ending of spring we needed a way to do a nice presentation, something that could carry some of the goods in a somewhat easy manner.
I have had this old trunk since I was in junior high school. My mother had put fancy stuff inside it so she decided to line it with some kitschy country striped fabric.

Well that is not exactly the look that we are going for so it needed to be redone. I was in a time crunch so decided to just cover it with some tea dyed cotton sheeting that was laying around.

After that was all complete, with industrial staples and all, it needed a way to wheel it about with some ease. So gathered up some wood from the wood pile...
and built a platform.

can't do much without a way to move it so put on some wheels.

Needed something to be able to attach the base with wheels onto the trunk so I found some old rope up in the rafters of the garage and cut her loose.

Once all complete it packed up nicely and you just wheel her away...

Fun times....
What kind of goodies have you been working on building?

Cheers.