Substrates... air filters...

Substrates... they are everywhere... but can you use every thing?     

I always look around to see what is being discarded and consider first whether it can be repurposed or used for something else. I went to put some rubbish out and saw that The Rock Guy had been changing all the air filters on the trucks. They are so cute. They have a metal base, and a hole for a pole to fit through. I see these mosaiced and stacked, and maybe being independently able to be turned around like things in a kids playground.....

I was imagining it turning around and around like a prayer wheel... but I wanted to use rough gemstones, and that probably is not best if people are going to be grabbing them and whisking them around..... Some of the gemstones we mine are like glass- sharp as in their rough state. I guess I can just select some rounder ones with no sharp bits... then I thought I'd accentuate them with some local stone for the background, or some of the vibrant glass tiles I've recently received that have a bit of sparkle in them....

Anyway- more about the substrate...

Here it is as I found it.

So it was a little grotty and I gave it a good vacuum to suck off any loose dust from the outside. There is metal mesh all the way around, and concertina paper or cardboard in the middle. I think if it is covered in thinset outside and inside, it is virtually a sealed unit.  I used a spatula and pushed the thinset into the mesh to squish up against the cardboard. It is in the drying process now. Looks good I think. Once it is dry I will tackle the inside....

I will either use it for this stacked idea or it could be used as a stand for bird water dishes on my verandah or in my garden.

Because we have lots of trucks and cars here- I am planning to keep the air filters from all the vehicles as The Rock Guy changes them. I am even going to ask my local mechanic to save me some of the smaller ones that go in regular cars. They would look great stacked.....

This one is 45cm high and 30cm diameter.

Just another project on the go here...

Happy creating. Karen