Service Interrupted

I probably won't post my pin until Monday: the pins never take a vacation, but I do once in a while.

FYI, I wore TWO pins yesterday: River Scene during the day, then Fred for dinner out with Christy and Anne + Kevin. Today I didn't wear a pin at all because my T-shirt was too delicate to poke holes in.

Butterfly

Since I'm flitting from task to task today, catching up after my 2 days in SF, the Butterfly was obviously going to be the pin du jour. He's also a reasonable metaphor for any idea or thought in my head. I have lots of them floating around constantly, coming into conflict, or getting in each other's way, but any attempt to catch or otherwise marshal an idea or thought often damages it beyond repair.

One consequence is that I frequently sit back, mesmerized by my internal 'show', lost in the endless whirl of stuff and the infinite possibilities contained therein. Christy calls it "spacing out", but from my point of view it's "tuning in" to a channel I don't want to change. It's a miracle I get anything done at all when you think about it (some would argue that I don't)...

But I digress. The Butterfly's a delightful pin, simple in form, clever in the use of materials and engaging in personality. The eyes are glass beads, the body's frame is steel, and the thorax is a polished red mineral of some sort - I don't think it's glass. The abdomen is a translucent mineral that might be quartz: the tiny dark spots are suspended within the material. No name on this one, alas.

Scrap Dragon

I expected today to be a little incoherent, and it was. Up early (still at the leadership conference in SF), full day with too few breaks, mixed messages and a flight home. Spending time with my friend Rich was an unexpected bonus though, and there were other bright spots along the way.

On such a day, the Scrap Dragon is a good choice. There's something slightly 'thrown together' about him, reflecting the way the day went, but closer examination reveals a great deal of fine, detailed work in his 'markings', and his tail is an engaging dangly bit. He's made of silver by the woman who designed Fred, Skinny Cat and Fat Belly Button Cat, although he's somewhat different in style.

Angry Fish

I'm at my firm's leadership conference today and tomorrow, so I'm surrounded by many "Type A" folks. As I barely make it to "Type B", I'm unconcerned, being content to go with the flow: but I feel my pin ought to be focused, determined and aggressive on my behalf. This pin is all that and bad-ass into the bargain - he's in my top 5, I think.

I found him at Denver Airport while wandering about waiting for a connecting flight: one look, and the credit card was out. Everything about him is cool - the jaw, the teeth, the eye, even the indentations evoking scales on his body. He's a macho hunk of metal, handcrafted by L. Drumm (might be Leandra Drumm), and a frequent visitor to my workplace.

Sash Window

After a previously shallow choice, this is a deeper one. If you look through the window, you're looking at me (or at least my black T-shirt), but you're not going to see much more - the window's small, and there are lace curtains blocking the view. Which is me all over, really: willing to be in public view, unwilling to reveal much of anything personal.

I just can't get the hang of 'self baring', even though I'm surrounded by people who seem to do little else. Latest example: a casual "hello" while picking up coffee prompted the person to inform me that she's broken off her engagement (to who? I barely know you!), they're selling their hitherto jointly-owned house, and she's buying a new car with her share. I'm not aware of a sign on my head saying "tell me all": maybe it's my face?

Anyway, this fine pin is a nicely realistic interpretation in silver, complete with gold curtains and an illegible signature. It might be S. P. Realdon: I couldn't make it out even with a magnifying glass.

Butterfly Toad

Squarely in the decorative category, the Butterfly Toad (his name is on the back) is an infrequent choice, but a good one when starting new things. I'm giving the keynote presentation at a conference in November, which is a new activity, and requires a leap of faith on my part to believe that I've got anything to say.

This is another animal from the designer of Fred, Fat Belly Button Cat and Skinny Cat. I like the way his 'warts' were hammered through from the back, so he really feels bumpy, and his tongue is fun if anatomically inaccurate. He's made of silver, and his eyes are glass beads.

The Birdhouse

This is a little gem, chosen because it was the first one I saw while putting yesterday's pin away. Sometimes it's good to be shallow, although I'm sure we're all capable of reading something symbolic into the bird (dangling at left) and its birdhouse. Let's not do that though.

Plenty of things to like here which are common to many of my pins (skewed perspective, dangly bit, roughly abstract, etc), but it's the 3D stuff that I like most. The roof, the perch below the circular opening (yes, that's my T-shirt showing through) and the bird itself all provide depth to the pin, which is (I think) cast bronze. It was designed and signed by Klein, but which Klein (Susan? Anne? Thomas?) I haven't been able to find out.

Fish-Man

We have my brother-in-law and his family staying this weekend, so we ate an excessively big brunch and will spend the afternoon at the beach. With a dip in the ocean imminent, what more appropriate pin could there be but the Fish-Man? (There are several candidates, actually - you'll see those in due course).

This is a fun pin: the fish-head is highly detailed and realistic, but the rest of the pin is almost childishly abstract. I like the curvy steel arms and legs with brass balls (ahem) for hands and feet, and the candy-like chest and stomach are a nice counterpoint. You can't see it here, but the body behind these items is a structure like a ladder frame chassis.

The designer's name is Hillett or Hullett or something like that - it's very hard to read. Why designers bother to sign illegibly I'll never know...

Street Scene

Crap photo, but the iSight flash certainly picked out the trees in the scene. Choosing this pin was easy: I opened the box, my eye fell on the Street Scene, and I put it on - no thinking required. I'm sure I could come up with a post hoc rationalization, but not on a Friday night: that's the weekend, as far as I'm concerned.

Made of blued steel and gold, there are some nice details to this pin. Starting on the left, there's a little streetlight, whose globe is a tiny pearl. You can see my T-shirt through the left windows and roof of the house - always a winner. The trees are pretty intricate, both the trunks (steel) and foliage (gold). And even the road has a centre-line marked, with slightly skewed perspective being a bonus. It's not signed, so I can't find more stuff by this designer - but I would if I could.

Les Bon Mots

There are two kinds of people, those who finish what they start and so on.

--
Robert Byrne

The Arc

I've got many different things to do today, big and small, so abstract pins with lots of stuff going on are a natural choice. This one is a pretty good representation of my cognitive state, I think: some simple forms, various intricate details, some dangly bits and a general lack of coherence or organization. Self-awareness is both a blessing and a curse.

I can't tell you much about this pin other than it's made of silver and brass. There's no signature. I presume it represents something to the designer, but what could that be? My best guess is that the arc represents the path of the sun over a landscape, and the sun is now setting (on the right). I like the pin regardless, probably because it is so enigmatic.

Fred

How do I know his name? It's written on the back of the pin. I frequently identify with Fred because of his doleful - indeed hang-dog - look, which is ALWAYS appropriate when faced with imminent air travel. While I try to avoid attracting attention from the TSA guards (not easy with olive skin), Fred looks miserable for both of us.

Fred comes from the designer who made Skinny Cat and Fat Belly Button Cat, and there's certainly a family resemblance. Fred shares their sympathy-evoking proportions, amplified by the asymmetry of his ears, and is also made of silver. And he's signed, but I'm buggered if I can read it .

Bird With Egg

At first glance, this is a stylized bird carrying an egg. Look closer though, and there are some subtle details and colours going on: subtlety is always a plus in my view. The birds legs swing freely, so there's also some movement to the pin, which is an additional plus. And then a third plus is the ambiguity in the bird's expression: is he determined or resigned to carrying his burden?

Today I'm leaning towards "resigned", since that reflects my own mood. I've got personal and professional stuff to do that just has to be done - it's not about "stretching" or "self-actualizing" it's about trudging along crossing items off the list.

I think the pin's made mostly of steel: the beak and legs might be bronze. The red crest is an enamel finish, and I suspect the blues come from treating the metal with heat or chemicals, but in the absence of a signature or any other info, I can't be sure.

Dragonfly Branch

An unusually colourful pin for me, this one delighted the Quizno server at San Diego airport this morning, and then the Hertz rental agent at San Jose airport later on. This is a very detailed pin, in both form and texture: I chose it because it kinda called out to me from my box of pins, and it's been a while since I last wore it.

The pin is made entirely of enamelled metals, mainly steel (I think) and brass. The backdrop is a branch and variegated leaves, with a clock(?) part for a stem. On top of that lays a small hinge, like you'd find on an ornate box lid. And atop them all are a dragonfly with irridescent wings, and a small orange wasp (at left). Another lovely example of creating natural forms and textures from industrial materials, but there's no signature, alas: I'd like to see more of this designer's work.

Fat Belly Button Cat

My family has a 'tradition' of frequenting an Indian buffet at the weekends, where we try not to eat too much. Declan (14) no longer attends, perhaps because it'd be too humiliating to be seen in public with us: but Jack (11) tags along gamely, rightly thinking that the benefit of the food outweighs the cost of being with the parents.

This pin is an obvious choice on such a day, reflecting both my present and future state of rotundity, tempered with a look of slightly bewildered disappointment: "how did I get to be so fat?" Note the complete absence of guilt though. Food and guilt never go together as far as I'm concerned, which is probably a crime in California. Food and guilt are both contiguous and synonymous here, but I rage against the machine.

All references to myself aside, I like the proportions of this cat, which are in marked counterpoint to Skinny Cat: yes, the same designer made both pins, and initialled them both with an "M". I like his stubby limbs, the hint of fur at his edges, his belly button and his little head. This fat cat was made of silver in 1995, but that's as much as I can tell you.

Outline Mask

I've got lots of little, routine things to do today, but I've never been good at that kind of work: it's a real effort for me, and I'm always tempted to be a total baby about it. When I'm trying to resist that temptation, this is the pin I choose.

One the one hand, there's the cheery 'hair' with colourful beads: "look at how happy I am doing my work", it seems to say, and that's the demeanour I try to pull off. On the other hand, there's the doleful face, which completely undermines the message of the hair: "wow, this sucks" the mouth would say (if there was one). The face mourns on my behalf.

Ignoring my narcissistic interpretation of the pin, it's actually an aesthetic delight, I think. A very modern take on a traditional African theme. A simple, engaging pleasure in silver (with no room for a signature).

Humming Bird

I've loved birds (of all kinds, even the ordinary ones) since I was a child, and own several bird pins in different styles. This one is delightfully elegant and simple, yet still eye-catching, as so many Asian-inspired designs are. I'm wearing it today as a counter-point to the ice-blue Chinese dragons on my T-shirt.

For those of us intrigued by the subtleties of perception, this pin evokes slightly different feelings depending on its degree of rotation. With the bird level, as shown here, it's classically natural: with the bird above the flower, it becomes more dynamic. I'd be interested to know whether the designer had a particular rotation in mind, but as he/she didn't sign it, I suppose I'll never know. Either way, it's a delight in silver and gold.

Living Room

This is one of my oldest pins, but I've never tired of it. I like the fact that everything's a bit skewed, even the frame around the room. Then there are all those details: a cityscape in the window, floral wallpaper, a windowsill and the distorted chair. And then a favourite element: my shirt is both the carpet and the sky behind the cityscape.

I chose this pin because I was meeting corporate big-wigs today. The meeting was casual (or as casual as these things can be), but I always have that feeling that everything's supposed to be 'buttoned up', so we all look good... My pin was a silent rebellion against there being too much order and 'buttoned up-ness'.

The pin's made of silver and gold, and it's signed on the back. Unfortunately, the signature's so small that I can't read it, so I can't give credit, and I can't find more pins by the same designer, so we both lose.

Big Hair Man

I love this little guy. It's not because he reminds me of Kim Jong-il, of course: it's his wide-eyed, arms and legs akimbo stance that's appealing. It's almost a "bring it on - but don't hurt me" look, which will resonate with many people, I suspect (including Kim Jong-il).

I picked him out because I had a 6am start, which is always painful, and he seemed to capture my early morning mood very nicely. And my hair looks like his if I don't get it cut regularly. He's made of silver, and numbered but not signed, so no info on the designer, alas.

Bug-Eyed Fish

This fish pin is more 'primitive' and casual in style than my other fish pins, but there's no harm in that, especially as his asymmetric bug-eyes lend an off-setting industrial feel to him that I find very appealing. He epitomizes chillin', vacations and beaches for me, and I chose him as an extension of my weekend.

I had a great weekend. Dave and Sara (friends I've known since college days) were over from England with their kids, and we spent the time talking, drinking (not the kids), boogie-boarding and watching the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics (which was amazing). Christy gets all the credit for making it such a terrific time - she was truly the hostess with the mostest, and I can't thank her enough.

The pin is made of silver, inlaid with (I hope) an ivory substitute. No name on the back, so I can't say anything about the designer. I'd like to think that he or she is a party animal, though.

Bee

Sorry I didn't post yesterday: you missed out on my "Surf's Up" pin. I was having happy times with old friends from England, and didn't have time to post. It'll show up again soon, I'm sure.

Sunday's pin is another Thomas Mann design, one of several insects he's put out over the years. The Bee is a frequent choice when I want to say "Look at how busy I am" when I've little or no intention of being so. It's less common for me to choose this one when I'm actually going to be busy - I have other pins for those unfortunate circumstances.

If you check out the Mann catalog, you'll see the more recent Bee Scatter Pin on page 2: but it's a simplified version of my pin, and frankly not as good .

Clock Cow

Sorry about the photo: this is Friday's pin, but it's already early on Saturday morning, and I can't seem to get a good shot. Can't tell whether it's the iSight or my bleary eyes...

Except for the head and the heart, this cow is made of clock parts, which I've always found cheery for some reason. I put it on today because I was looking forward to seeing college friends who're staying with us this weekend.

This is a delicate pin: the legs and tail are especially easy to bend, so I have to take care when wearing it. There's a lot of detail to each part, but you can't really see much of it here - I'll post a better picture another day, hopefully. The pin's not signed, so I can't say anything about the designer.

Fish Dinner

I like this pin because the subject is quirky: a place setting, a napkin, and a plate of whole salmon plus a curled salmon filet. I frequently choose this pin when I'm not sure what the day will hold, but have no reason to presume that badness is going to happen.

All of the parts except the filet are made of silver. The filet is glazed ceramic, so it has a fishy shininess to it which contrasts nicely with the metal. The pin's signed on the back, but it's a stylized, logo-ish thing: I can't read it, so I can't credit the designer.

Les Bon Mots

Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.
--
Charles Mackay

Lights in the Windows

Not my usual style or materials, but I like this pin. The 'lights' in the windows are actually luminous paint, so the windows glow in the dark - and I'm a sucker for stuff that glows in the dark.

I like the feeling of cosy serenity lent by the off-kilter buildings and the stubby tree in the corner, set off by the abstract sky. I pick this pin when I plan to be calm all day, no matter what's coming my way - including airport security, who'll be giving me the once-over in a few hours.

The buildings are silver, and the rest of the pin is made of copper. The colours come from treating the copper with a variety of chemicals to create a patina. I first learned about this by watching David Marks work on a copper panel for a garden gate he made. I love watching that guy: it doesn't matter what he makes, it's the commitment to perfection that's riveting. Pity he doesn't make pins... My pin isn't signed, so I can't tell you anything about the designer, I'm afraid.

Circle Star

Here's a simple pin that reveals subtle details with closer examination. It reminds me of a sheriff's star, which I thought might be appropriate for the work I was doing today.

The pin's signed by the mysterious Phillip Valdez, who designed the Jester's Hat. I'd be curious to see more of his work: the two pins I own have very little in common, so it'd be nice to see whether he has several styles, or just creates things at random. I'm fine with his stuff either way :)

Sun Dial in a Triangle

Spikes and curves today, acknowledging the the expected ups and downs (literally and figuratively) of my flight to work this morning. Fortunately, the literal parts went well, and the figurative parts were more up than down.

This is an early Thomas Mann design, in silver, brass and ebony (I think - it might be ABS), and more abstract than most of his other stuff.

Determined Dog

There's something utterly appealing about the seriousness of this dog. If he bit me I wouldn't resent it. If he bit you, I'd rub his head by way of congratulation. It's not like he's hiding his sense of purpose, is it? And what other purpose does a dog with a spiky collar and a frown have but to bite something?

This is a good pin to wear when my intention is to grab the day by the scruff of the neck and squeeze. Whether my intention is followed by action usually varies, but that's hardly the fault of this determined chap.

His head is silver, his ears are deeply powder-coated and his collar is bronze, which is an interesting mix of materials. In style, he reminds me of the characters in Les Aventures de TinTin, which might be why I'm so fond of him.

Frog & Dragonfly

Didn't have time to post this one yesterday, but better late than never, eh? This is another crap iSight photo: the dimensionality is a bit under-played while the colours are a little exaggerated, but the details are at least visible.

The background to the pin is painted metal. The next layer up has the painted lily and a real stone, both surrounded by the decorated bronze frame. The top layer has the painted frog and dragonfly, so the pin is truly three-dimensional. Surprisingly for such a detailed piece, the pin's not signed, so I can't tell you anything about the designer/maker.

I picked this because I thought I was going to be the iron fist in Christy's velvet glove at the mechanic's shop, so I wanted a serene scene to retreat to afterwards. After I put the pin on, I heard that there'd be no confrontation because the relevant idiots wouldn't be there. Rather than boil with frustration and rage at the shoddiness of Mazda Escondido's service (and, paradoxically, the lack of same), I stuck with my pin choice and stayed calm and only occasionally irritable.

Spiky House

Today's choice suits the Reaperwear T-shirt I'm wearing (the back is shown here). As a lover of sportbikes, I like Reaperwear's attitude to marketing (tagline: "For the deranged, by the deranged"), and completely agree with most of their sentiments on life, which often surprises people. Reaperwear appeals to my inner rebel, I suppose.

The aggressive nature of the shirt calls for a pin with edges - no cuddly curves, thank you very much. Spiky House has asymmetry, dimensionality, simple forms, and skewed perspective, all of which I like. The icing on the cake is delivered by the chair on the carpet beneath a silhouetted skyline (which works better against a darker shirt, obviously).


I'm not usually keen on yellow metals, but this use of brass with silver works for me. The pin's not signed, so I don't know who made it: but well done to him/her.