Thanks to my friend Anette  I ended up taking an  unexpected trip down memory lane today. We drove to Steilacoom and looked at my great grandparents old place along with my Uncle Chet’s old house which still has the green lantern sign out front. In looking for a photo I found a fun bit of history about the  place so I have  linked to it above.) The bridge  down to the old boat house was stacked up on the middle of the street so we were unable to access my  first secret childhood beach.  We left and  ventured down to Sunnyside beach to sit in the spot where I  sat with my dads father aka my grandfather. My Grandfather had retired and taken a job as a  park care taker, he had a small trailer that sat where there  is now a lovely piece of art. I  loved spending  summers between  his house and his mothers house!

   So much had changed  but so much was still the same. This little spot of beach is where we learned to  swim  in order to  be allowed to  learn to water ski. Grandpa made us swim 300 yards!  Burrrrrrrrr!

Anettte and I sat and watched the ferries go to and from Anderson and McNeil Island.It was hard to believe how wonder it was for a late October day. I shared the  stories of hoe my  uncle Kenny used to  let us kids ride  the ferry for free if we would sing him a song.

and just like old times when the trains went by we waved! 

On the way home we admired the  handy rock work around Western State hospital that was done by yet another of my great uncles. I  charged the  stories of  my grandfather walking down the  beach and dropping fire crackers so the  girls would jump up. At the time I did not know he was hoping to  get a glimpse of their titties.   I love where I am from and where I live.

Just finished this little blue bird. Made from spoons , forks,   a shovel  horse shoes, a  few car parts and mounted on a piece of rock.  This little bird is grounded for football  season, I am happy to stencil a 12 on the  shovel  if the  owner wants me too.

35  inches  high  x 35 inches wide ( wing to  wing)  $175

I recently made a trip to Bonners Ferry Idaho to deliver a piece of art. While there I was invited to take a trip along the International Selkirk Loop in Canada. On our way to the   Kootenay Lake British Columbia Ferry we stopped to take a peek at the lake and to stretch our legs. If you have an  opportunity to take this rode trip plan to spend some time in downtown Nelson.                                           Historic Baker Streer

This one of a kind piece was  month of work and thousands of welds to create the texture. It is the actual  size of a  hunting  decoy but a  bit heavier than a  hunting decoy.  

Stop out to  Goose Ridge Wineries  tasting room in Woodenville enjoy some wine and  check him out in person.

$1250.

Last night I had a dream about a strange bird eating the fruit from our dogwood tree outside our bedroom window. This morning when I woke up there was a strange bird feasting on that same fruit. I tried to re create the bird from my dream  in my shop tonight.I am calling him Norm. I am  gong to  add forks to the front  part of his wings.Wall art by nine year old friend Emma.

Photo by Brad Isley

I keep looking at this goose and I can’t believe I made him. I started by constructing a  metal frame and  then I  attached small scraps of metal to the frame. I then welded and welded and welded some more. The neck is  hollow as I  just welded around and around  and around until I got up to where the head was going to go. I used two spools of wire and 2 canisters of  gas and at least a half dozen grinding wheels  but, it was well worth it.

This piece is not an out door piece as it will rust.  I brought it outside to take the photo in natural light.

What an awesome day! We walked along the waterfront  had a lovely  lunch and  popped into a  half a dozen shops!  Thank you John, Jody and Liam for giving this little birdie a new home.

I took a break from working on the goose today and made a fun little birdie.  I will coat him tomorrow. Specail thanks to my old college chum Jody for the  upside down shovel challenge! 

I love using my  copper coated steal  and in all the photos I have looked at of geese the  bottom feathers are a  different color than the rest of the bird . I have some trimming to do  on the  copper wire and a  bit more wire to  add and I still have some grinding and polishing to do. once he is  complete I think I shall mount him on a large rock.  The underside was the frame base in which I started to build up to  make the  shape. The folks who have seen the goose in person like to see the underside. I have been hesitate in showing the underside as it is such a mess!

I think I might use copper wire for the back tail feathers and I still have some work to do on the front and neck. The cute owl head in the coffee can is Brad Isley’s project. He has been helping me bend metal instead of working on his own project.