24th of November

 So here is the big post you guys have been waiting for with baited breath, i had a long tutorail with Adrian wednesday about my idea and a few things that were getting on my mind. As i mentioned before about the leaf it has changed along to alot more curvy almost abstracted versoin of the leaf.

These are the new designs i drew up, i will be putting up some new improved samples in a little bit. I am quite happy with the design because it looks alot more natural and organic to me than the first sample of the sharp edges.

My next big thing i was wondering about was connecting the the leaves to the stalk, i had a talk with Adrian about some of the ideas i had like Mig it, fire weld them together maybe even a tiny rivet then Adrian drew up a way i hadnt thought of, making the rivet part of the actual design. Just like the texture in the stem make the rivet like a small dome in the stem to really show off movement in the main piece.

I really liked both methods but its getting close to my deadline on start making so i had to make some quick descions. I whacked up a quick sample on Friday.

This is the sample, its need alot of refining but i think i can make this work for me. Il talk this through with Adrian on Wednesday but i think its sorted.

Next on the Agenda is the new samples.

I was trying to work out a quick way to make these aswell as getting the nib in at the end. I was having alot of trouble with the hammer so i decided to change to using the gas axe bending to put a more controlled feel to it.

 
I really prefer the gas axe bending techinque, will take alot of gas axe work to do all the leaves but it will give me a chance to get alot better at using the axe. 

Well in side notes i am enjoying how this is progressing along. I am getting a little stressed by the idea of making it and whether i will be able to make it in time.