Category Archives: Inspiration

Inspiration – Munsell Colour System

Albert Henry Munsell was born in Boston Massachusetts on January 6, 1858 and died on June 28, 1918. He attended the Massachusetts Normal Art School in Boston, and was hired as an instructor in 1881 shortly after graduating. He was later appointed lecturer in Color Composition and Artistic Anatomy. Munsell taught at the institution for 37 years. He took a brief leave from 1885-1888 to study art in Paris at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts, where he won several awards for his work. (I feel Massachusetts must have been a magical place – my favourite Ralph Waldo Emerson was from there, as were Edgar Allan Poe and the wonderful Theodor Seuss Geisel!)

{photograph of Munsell included in his 1905 book”A Color Notation”}

Munsell is best known for his 1905 book ‘A Color Notation’, and his 1915 book (and precursor to today’s ‘Munsell Books of Color’), ‘Atlas of the Color Solid’. As well as being an artist and teacher, Munsell was also an inventor. He holds several patents for a color-sphere and mount; an artist’s easel, and a photometer. I love that he developed a range of crayons in 1906, which in 1926 were sold to the Binney & Smith Company (owner of Crayola) and were then referred to as ‘Munsell Crayola Crayons‘.

{‘Munsell 1929 color solid transparent’ – image credit SharkD}

The Munsell color system is three-dimensional, and specifies colors based on three color dimensions: hue, value (lightness), and chroma (color purity). This evolving color science theory served as the basis for today’s color matching technology.

{Munsell System- Image Jacob Rus}

I was very taken with this system, as it seems to me to be able to pinpoint with ease every imaginable colour! The only place I feel it is lacking is in the romance department – colour is divine, but gorgeous names for colour make it even more so. It doesn’t matter at all – we can all see 5GY, and call it lime, apple, chartreuse. 5RP makes sense – and it can be known as magenta, fuchsia or mulberry.

{Munsell Colour Wheel – Image PlusMinus}

To celebrate finding out about Munsell, I’ve re-organised the ‘filter by colour’ option in my shop to include some more of the wonderful hues (and I’ve named them, too.) Beautiful, wonderful, magnificent colour – where would we be without you!

Inspiration ~ The Fibonacci Sequence

Because of my love of spirals, I got interested in the Fibonacci sequence. Now, I’m no mathematician, so don’t get too excited, but I did a bit of research, and this is what I found out.

Leonardo Bonacci (c. 1170 – c. 1250), known as Fibonacci, was the son of a wealthy Italian merchant. During travels with his father, he came across the Hindu-Arabic numeral system in Algeria – this is the counting system we use today, with symbols 0-9 for numbers and positional notation (place values showing ones, tens, hundreds etc.). He promoted this system in 1202 in a book called Liber Abaci.

Liber Abaci also outlined a problem involving the hypothetical growth of a population of rabbits. The solution was a sequence of numbers which were later named ‘Fibonacci sequence’ by the 19th-century number theorist Édouard Lucas. It should be noted that although Fibonacci’s Liber Abaci contains the earliest known description of the sequence outside of India, the sequence had been noted by Indian mathematicians as early as the sixth century. Good on you, Fibonacci (and Lucas), sorry ’bout that Indian mathematicians!

In the Fibonacci sequence of numbers, each number is the sum of the previous two numbers. Fibonacci’s problem considered the growth of an idealized rabbit population, assuming that: a newly born pair of rabbits, one male, one female, are put in a field; rabbits are able to mate at the age of one month so that at the end of its second month a female can produce another pair of rabbits; rabbits never die and a mating pair always produces one new pair (one male, one female) every month from the second month on. The puzzle that Fibonacci posed was: how many pairs will there be in one year?

OK, so that’s all sounding a bit like ‘two trains are heading in opposite directions at 53km per hour, at a gradient of 14 degrees – so, what is the driver’s name?” however:

At the end of the first month, they mate, but there is still only 1 pair.
At the end of the second month the female produces a new pair, so now there are 2 pairs of rabbits in the field.
At the end of the third month, the original female produces a second pair, making 3 pairs in all in the field.
At the end of the fourth month, the original female has produced yet another new pair, the female born two months ago produces her first pair also, making 5 pairs.
At the end of the nth month, the number of pairs of rabbits is equal to the number of new pairs (which is the number of pairs in month n − 2) plus the number of pairs alive last month (n − 1). This is the nth Fibonacci number.

So the sequence looks like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233 which can be shown in tiles in this fashion:

{Fibonnaci Tiling – Image 克勞棣 }

From this, comes the glorious Fibonacci spiral – which is an approximation of the ‘golden spiral‘ created by drawing circular arcs connecting the opposite corners of squares in the Fibonacci tiling.

{Aurea Fibonnaci – Image Valerio.b}

Fibonacci sequences appear in nature – branching in trees, the arrangement of leaves on a stem, the fruit sprouts of a pineapple, artichoke flowers, an uncurling fern all follow the sequence. Apparently some claims of Fibonacci numbers or ‘golden sections’ in nature (the breeding of rabbits in Fibonacci’s own unrealistic example, the seeds on a sunflower, the spirals of shells, and the curve of waves) are poorly substantiated – pretty sure the above looks just like a shell, though, so I’m running with it! And there, my friends, endeth the lesson – if you’d like to know more, a Google search will lead you down many rabbit warrens on the interesting Fibonacci spiral.

The Ocean Cleanup

It’s a very scary thought – since we humans started making plastic, millions of tons of it have entered our oceans. Plastic NEVER biodegrades, and so it simply bobs around in the sea. Due to the movement of the water around the world, this discarded rubbish concentrates in five rotating currents, called gyres. The Ocean Cleanup is developing world’s first feasible method to rid the oceans of plastic. The Ocean Cleanup’s goal is to extract, prevent, and intercept plastic pollution by initiating the largest cleanup in history.

At least one million seabirds and one hundred thousand marine mammals die each year due to plastic pollution. The survival of many species could be jeopardized by plastic debris. On top of that, plastic pollution is a carrier of invasive species, threatening native ecosystems, to say nothing of the economic and health effects this plastic waste has on human beings.

While diving in Greece, Boyan Slat became frustrated when coming across more plastic bags than fish, and wondered: “why can’t we clean this up?” He decided to dedicate half a year of research to understand plastic pollution and the problems associated with cleaning it up. This ultimately led to the passive cleanup concept, The Ocean Cleanup. A team of approximately 100 committed people, performing research in the fields of engineering, physical oceanography, ecology, finance, maritime law, processing and recycling, are all working to make this concept a reality.

An array of floating barriers and platforms are attached to the sea bed to concentrate the plastic before extracting it from the ocean – a collection process which is 100% driven by the natural winds and currents. Instead of nets, solid floating barriers make entanglement of wildlife impossible. Virtually all of the current flows underneath these booms, taking away all neutrally buoyant organisms, while the lighter-than-water plastic remains in front of the floating barrier, up to the microscopically sized particles. The scalable array of moorings and booms is designed for large-scale deployment, covering millions of square kilometers. Thanks to its projected high capture and field efficiency, a single gyre can be covered in just 5 years. The method is theoretically highly cost-effective.

What worthier cause than the health of our beautiful oceans? 10% of all The Silver Forge sales will be donated to The Ocean Cleanup this month. Head to my shop now to help out, won’t you? I love to support enterprising and hardworking people dedicating themselves to the future of our planet!

Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors

Steve Irwin – a man of passion and integrity, who did his utmost to change the way the world views wildlife. His tireless work for his worthy cause and his legendary enthusiasm have always captured my heart, and the hearts of millions of us all around the world.

I read ‘Steve and Me’ a while back, written by Steve’s wife Terri; as well as being a great and moving read it further increased my admiration for both Steve and Terri and their wonderful work, and inspired me to do something – however small – to help. Without wildlife, we are nothing, and the conservation of nature is incredibly important.

Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors are carrying on Steve’s legacy. Wildlife Warriors believe that people, wildlife and habitat should be able to survive and prosper without being detrimental to the existence of each other. Their objectives are:

To protect and enhance the natural environment
To provide information and education to the public and raise awareness of wildlife issues
To undertake biological research
To research, recommend and act in the protection of threatened or endangered species.
To enter into cooperative arrangements with like-minded organisations

I am proud to support Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors this month, by donating 10% of sales from The Silver Forge. Shop up and help save the planet!

{title photo credit – Guillaume Blanchard}

Surfrider Foundation Australia

Wave Goodbye (Photo credit Elgarboart)

Surfrider Foundation Australia is a not for profit sea-roots organisation dedicated to the protection of Australia’s waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research and education.

Amongst other campaigns, Surfrider are currently campaigning to promote awareness about plastics and what they are doing to our world. Here are a few chilling facts from the Surfrider website:

Most plastic pollution at sea starts out on land as litter on beaches, streets and footpaths. Rain or overwatering flushes that litter through a storm drain system or directly to creeks, streams and rivers that lead to the ocean. After plastics enter the marine environment they slowly photodegrade into smaller pieces that marine life can mistake for food, sometimes with fatal results.
Ocean gyres concentrate plastic pollution in five main areas of the world’s ocean and various research groups are bringing back alarming data documenting plastics impacts.
The amount of plastic produced from 2000 – 2010 exceeds the amount produced during the entire last century.
Plastic is the most common type of marine litter worldwide.
An estimated 100,000 marine mammals and up to 1 million sea birds die every year after ingesting or being tangled in plastic marine litter.
Up to 80% of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources.
Plastics comprise up to 90% of floating marine debris.
In 2009 about 3.8 million tons of waste plastic “bags, sacks and wraps” were generated in the United States alone, but only 9.4% of this total was recycled.
Plastics do not biodegrade, but instead break down into small particles that persist in the ocean, absorb toxins, and enter our food chain through fish, sea birds and other marine life.
Plastic bags are problematic in the litter stream because they float easily in the air and water, traveling long distances and never fully breaking down in water.
Cleanup of plastic bags is costly. for example California spends $25 million annually to landfill discarded plastic bags, and public agencies spend more than $300 million annually in litter cleanup.
It is estimated that Americans go through about 100 billion plastic bags a year, or 360 bags per year for every man, woman and child in the country.

RISE ABOVE PLASTICS

Here are ten easy things you can do to reduce your ‘plastic footprint’ and help keep plastics out of the marine environment:

Choose to reuse when it comes to shopping bags and bottled water. Cloth bags and metal or glass reusable bottles are available locally at great prices.
Refuse single-serving packaging, excess packaging, straws and other ‘disposable’ plastics. Carry reusable utensils in your purse, backpack or car to use at bbq’s, potlucks or take-out restaurants.
Reduce everyday plastics such as sandwich bags and juice cartons by replacing them with a reusable lunch bag/box that includes a thermos.
Bring your to-go mug with you to the coffee shop, smoothie shop or restaurants that let you use them. A great way to reduce lids, plastic cups and/or plastic-lined cups.
Go digital! No need for plastic cds, dvds and jewel cases when you can buy your music and videos online.
Seek out alternatives to the plastic items that you rely on.
Recycle. If you must use plastic, try to choose #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE), which are the most commonly recycled plastics. Avoid plastic bags and polystyrene foam as both typically have very low recycling rates.
Volunteer at a beach cleanup. Surfrider Foundation Chapters often hold cleanups monthly or more frequently.
Support plastic bag bans, polystyrene foam bans and bottle recycling.
Spread the word. Talk to your family and friends about why it is important to Rise Above Plastics!

And from me, a reminder to you all, although the sentiment is a lovely one, please don’t release helium balloons into the air – they end up in our oceans, where turtles and other marine life think they are jellyfish, and get sick and or die from ingesting the rubber. 10% of all The Silver Forge Sales for this mnth will be donated to this very worthy cause. (And for goodness’ sake, if you smoke, bin your butts!!)

Inspiration ~ Paisley

My ~amorphia~ collection was in part inspired by amoebae, but is also reminiscent of paisley – and how I love it!

{Printed Tissue Stamp – Pentocelo}

‘Paisley’ is an English term for a a droplet-shaped Persian design, known as Boteh Jegheh, which has been used in Iran since the Sassanid Dynasty (AD 224 to AD 651). The word ‘Paisley’, though, comes from the town of the same name in Renfrewshire, Scotland, a centre for textiles where paisley designs were produced.

{Paisley – Easter Pattern – Omid Mo’menzadeh}

Paisley was made especially fashionable during the ’60s, with the psychedelic style being credited to the pilgrimage of The Beatles to India in 1968. Prince paid homage to the design with his 1985 song ‘Paisley Park’.

{Paisley Muster – MakeMake}

You could go on a little online paisley finding pilgrimage.. you might enjoy it! I’d love to see your fave pattern. Now, just don’t get me started on fractals!

{Mandel Zoom 11 Satellite Double Spiral – Wolfgangbeyer}

Inspiration ~ Christopher Trotter

Growth – Christopher Trotter – 2006

This fantastical sculpture amazed me every time I visited my son’s school at Indooropilly. There’s just something about the industrial and functional meeting with the organic and surreal that really appeals to me! On his last day, I finally took the time to take a photo and to read the plaque mounted beside it – I’m so glad I was able to identify Christopher Trotter as the sculptor behind this sublime creation.

Alderley Fossil – Christopher Trotter 2007

I had a feeling that this glorious fossil sculpture (much admired on every journey I make past a park not far from where I live) was also Christopher’s work. I finally found this picture on his website, and was pleased that my eye for style had not deceived me!

Bottle Tree – Christopher Trotter – 2004

Christopher’s sources of inspiration include Australian sculptor, Robert Klippel; Swiss surrealist, H.R. Giger; and even Dr Seuss. His website, full of fabulous creations, states “It is the artists who pursue an individual vision regardless of the fashions of the time that history remembers, and Trotter is such an artist.” A sentiment that speaks to my heart! Thanks, Christopher Trotter, for making the world a more marvellous place. Keep animating steel!

The Fred Hollows Foundation

Eye of the Beholder (photo credit Bianca de la Torre – Gisel Photography)

I chose The Fred Hollows Foundation as The Silver Forge’s worthy cause for January. The Foundation is inspired by the work of the late Professor Fred Hollows (1929–1993).  Fred was an eye doctor, a skilled surgeon of international renown and a social justice activist. He was committed to improving the health of Indigenous Australians and to reducing the cost of eye health care and treatment in developing countries.

An estimated 32.4 million people around the world today are blind – four out of five don’t have to be. Simple interventions, such as inexpensive medication and surgery, can restore people’s sight, productivity and livelihoods, giving lasting benefits for individuals, their families and whole communities.

Half of global blindness is caused by cataracts – a clouding of the lens of the eye that can be treated by a simple surgical procedure – and the World Bank has identified cataract surgery as one of the most cost-effective of all public health interventions. Cataracts affect both the young and old. The Foundation focuses on the comprehensive treatment of cataract blindness, but they also tackle other causes of blindness, including trachoma and refractive error. Since its formation in 1992 The Foundation has helped restore sight to well over 1 million people. What a marvellous gift!

You can donate directly to The Fred Hollows Foundation here – or make a purchase from The Silver Forge shop and 10% of everything you buy during January will be donated to The Fred Hollows Foundation on your behalf. Thank you, and happy shopping!

MadeIt Kris Kringle

Along with some of the lovely handmaidens of Australia that are my co-sellers on MadeIt, I recently took part in a Kris Kringle, and I was really thrilled to be the lucky recipient of this lovely journal cover, complete with notebook and pen!

What a sweet cover, with handpainted butterflies, and such a gorgeous sentiment too!

Just what I needed, as I have many plans for 2014 – and now I have a great place to keep them!

It took me quite a bit of searching before I found out who the creator of this lovely cover was – but I found her! I knew I’d seen that style somewhere before! It was Rachel from Babee and Me.

Rachel’s shop is just overflowing with divine gifts for babies and children, like this divine fish teether, or these fabulous wooden blocks.

You can find Babee and Me on Facebook, too.

Thank you so much, Rachel – I’m really looking forward to filling this lovely journal with plenty of dreams to follow in 2014! Happy festive season, and I hope your Kris Kringle gift was as lovely as mine. 🙂

Have a Fabulous Festive Season!

To you, all my dear Silver Forge blog readers, a very merry time, whatever you’re doing and wherever you are over the next couple of weeks.

I’d like to thank you so much for your kindness and support, and may 2014 be filled with joy and fulfilment for everyone. Peace and happiness to all!

the silver forge

jewellery handcrafted by ruthie gray