Sunday, December 2, 2012

bjp 1012 - turning on a dime

October = cooler weather + Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations!

Sure, we had warmer days, but I still needed to prepare for the return of  wet and frosty precipitation and the fall of crisp, colourful leaves.  Not to be tricked by the lingering warmth, the 10th month closed with a chilly, but thankful wish for friends, family, health, the country we live in and national health care.

The "turning on a dime" phrase relates to the nickname for our 10 cent piece (and also for some other events going on in my life).  It's always been called a "dime", but I have absolutely no idea why.  Do you?  If you look closely, you'll notice that I included one from the year 2010 to further continue the theme!  The african paper bead is actually more green than blue, but apparently the camera didn't think so!  You'll also notice a lovely orange bead with spots.  Rain and Marilyn brought it back from Seattle a few years ago and it's been waiting for the right project.  Okay, I had misplaced it, but isn't it interesting that it turned up at just the right time?


For some reason, I had a difficult time trying to figure out what I was going to use for the number "10".  I didn't want to spend a lot of money and I certainly didn't want to use repeat numbers from cell phones.  With a little imagination, I came up with the idea to use metal punches on a little copper disk.  I'm not all that good with the punches, but you get the idea!!  I purchased the punches several years ago and this is the first time I've used them.  Sad, I know!  Do you notice the little striped ceramic piece at the bottom.  It's some type of electrical component that someone gave me (Rain, I think!).




Another one of those electrical components, a buckle from an old watch and a vintage "buckle" button from the stash.


If you were  cleaning out an old jewelry box, do you think that you would find a worn down, old pencil?  Well I did!!  I have no idea why I saved the pencil, or who sharpened and used it all those years ago.  Did it belong to my father, sibling, an old boyfriend, or perhaps it was one used in my high school art class.  It doesn't matter because I obviously saved it for a reason.  Was this bead journal the reason?  Only a psychic would know!!!  Do you know anyone I could ask?  LOL!

Also check out the lovely golden maple leaf.  Another stash item that's been taking up space for many years.  I do love it though and thought one would be appropriate on this piece.  I actually tried to use three of them, but they just didn't work.  Too large, I guess! 




The full piece!  I think that it looks like fall.  Do you?

Did you notice the purchased flower charm (peachy/orange colour, above the copper disk) and the family button box find (tucked behind the eraser)?  Everything goes together if you just hold your tongue in the right position. 



Straight, stacked and boucle/bocce stitches were used. BTW the pencil is a 2H, but I didn't show the number because it didn't fit the theme.  I guess I should have looked for a 10B!  Too bad I didn't think about that until now!  LOL!

My November BJP is also finished.  Yeah!  No photos yet and it's pouring out (I like to take my photos outside) so I'll post about it next weekend.  Keep tuned!

17 comments:

Sara said...

Another amazing piece...even if I couldn't get my tongue in the right position :)

Anonymous said...

Dime - an interesting question.
http://www.4information.com/trivia/cent-piece-dime/

But it's very American-centric and says we are the only ones who call ten cent coin a dime.

Your October house is great. Love the resisters. I have saved those, too. If you google resister images, you will see that yours is included - a common one - I think and the strips help the electrical designer choose the right one.

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

Sara and Diane,

Thanks and Sara, the saying about the "tongue" is one that my mother passed on to me. I'm not sure if you'll be able to get it in the same positon, because I certainly can't more than once in a row. LOL!

Diane - here's what Wikipedia has to say about the Canadian "dime".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dime_(Canadian_coin)

The phrase may have been originally coined (if you pardon the expression)in the US, but has always been the name for our 10 cent piece as well. We also have "nickles", "quarters", "loonies" and "toonies"! What about you?

kaiteM said...

Oooh, this one is very different. Love your imaginative '10's, and the colouring is so rich. Lucky you found my pencil, i was wondering where it was!
Look forward to seeing the November one.

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

Kaite, it is different, isn't it? I actually had a hard time starting this one, but eventually enjoyed collecting all the elements. As for the pencil, I wish that you would stop leaving your stuff around. It just makes me want to stitch!!

Penny Berens said...

Oh, yes, looks like fall and that pencil....love it.

Linda Kittmer said...

Fabulous as always Anne Marie. So glad you're signed up for 2013. I always enjoy seeing what you come up with!

Rachel Murphree said...

It is ALWAYS worth it to visit your blog and see your little beaded beauties! well done, as usual! love the blue on the fall tones as well. great touch.

Beth@IHaveANotion.com said...

wOw! It has a flair all its own... a bit subdued in color but very fall like. Has lots of texture too. Waiting for Novembers...

Sue said...

Oh, I just love this - what a fabulous selection of objects you combined. Another beauty.

Judy Ferguson said...

It has been so entertaining to read your monthly number art, that I was waiting for this to get posted. I need to think of some kind of series like this, but not sure I could be as creative. Thanks for posting these.

Robin said...

I found this from a coin expert on the web:

The word "dime" is an anglicized version of the word "disme" (pronounced "deem"), meaning tenth. The word is traced back to Simon Stevin van Brugghe, aka Simon Stevinus, aka Stevin. Stevinus invented the decimal system as a convenient alternative to the fractional system that was being used in mathematics. He published a paper, called 'De Thiende' in 1585 under the name Stevin. It was immediately translated to French, and was translated to English by Robert Norton in 1608, and entitled 'Disme: the art of tenths, or, Decimall arithmeticke.' Although the decimal system won a fair amount of acceptance in the scientific community it did nothing for currency. Stevin's paper was republished in 1634. The article found favor in the American Colonies, and when the United States won its independence, the founding fathers, saw the decimal system monetarily as a way to make a dramatic change from the past. Among the first coins issued by the United States was the 1792 Half Disme, and the 1792 Disme. Within a couple of years, the word became "dime."

I don't know if this explanation holds true in Canada or not... but it sounds possible.

More about "Turning on a Dime" in a following comment.

Robin said...

And now, more importantly, about your piece, which as always is absolutely a joy to see! I love your improv impishness and your way of combining stuff. It's always such a beautiful jumble. How do you do it?!

I like the purchased flower... Was it made with ribbon?

Do you use any glue or anything other than the bezels to hold the coin and disc?

As Sue said... "Another beauty!"

xo R

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Seeing the pencil brought back memories. My dad used to spend a lot of time playing about with wood and he always had a pencil (looking very much like yours) stuck behind his ear. Thanks for the reminder of that time!

Sonja Milojevic said...

This piece is wonderful! I love the colors, and I love the story that it holds. I could make up a new story my self by looking at it, and for me that's what art is all about. :)

Lies Koster said...

A very nice project. I especially like the pencil in it. The familyname of my children is also Faber...

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

Penny, Linda, Rachel, Beth, Sue, Robin, MA, Sonja and Lies!

My apologies for not thanking you all earlier. I could blame the December rush, but I won't!!

Robin, you are correct, the purchased flower was made out of grosgrain ribbon and the coin and disc were glued down with E6000 before the bezelling began. As for the "beautiful jumble", it just happens!!! No real plans involved other than the buttons and numbers.

MA, I'm glad that I could bring back memories of your dad, because I wouldn't be surprised if this one belonged to my father.

Sonja, you are correct! Art is about stories and I'm more than happy for people to add their own interpretations.