Mini Kaleidoscopes Now Posted on DaWanda

Mini kaleidoscopes are now posted on Da Wanda --

http://en.dawanda.com/shop/wrightmade 

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Kaleidoscopes Now Listed on Craftisart

Some of my mini kaleidoscopes are now listed on craftisart:

http://www.craftisart.com/wrightmade 

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Mini Kaleidoscopes Now Posted on Zibbet

You can see some of my mini kaleidoscopes on Zibbet -- 

http://www.zibbet.com/wrightmade 

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Now Listed on Artfire

You can now see my mini kaleidoscopes on artfire -- 

http://www.artfire.com/users/wrightmade 

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MOTHER'S DAY SALE CONTINUES -- See coupon above

Oil Wand Kaleidoscope

Just posted a listing on etsy for a new full-sized oil wand kaleidoscope in Zebrawood from West Africa. This is the second in a limited edition of full-sized oil wand kaleidoscopes.

To see all of my work go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/wrightmade

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Anatomy of a Kaleidoscope -- Part # 4 -- Object Center

Arguably the most important part of a kaleidoscope is the "object center" -- that is, what it is that one "views" through the eye piece and the mirror configuration. 

There are a variety of "object centers" -- oil cell, oil wand, tumble cell, tumble (image wheel), fixed image wheel, etc. I suppose, theoretically, most anything can be "viewed" depending on the design and construction of the kaleidoscope. The ones just mentioned are the most common. 

Although all types have their adherents, my personal favorite is a tumble cell or tumble wheel (image wheel). To me, the beauty of them is that you never see the same image twice as the materials inside are constantly tumbling and re-arranging themselves. In addition, you get motion as well as changing images. 

One can use a wide variety of materials in a tumble cell/wheel -- fragments of rocks and minerals, gemstones, beads, colored glass, colored plastic, glass ampules with liquid filling which then tumble in the cell, shells, bits of metal, etc. Then, just to make it more interesting, some artists "mix and match" materials to achieve the desired "view". One can even use sand. I designed and crafted a 'scope for a customer in Australia one time that used sand from her favorite beach along with some shell fragments she had collected. It was certainly a unique "view". 

 Picture of an image wheel kaleidoscope I crafted from reclaimed New Zealand Kauri wood and posted on my web store www.wrightmade.com. (See that site for information on the Kauri wood.)

To see all of my current work go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/wrightmade

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Cardboard/Paper Kaleidoscopes

One type of non-toy kaleidoscope that is not seen very often is one where the tube/body is made of paper or cardboard. (I am excluding the vast body of toy, party-favor, kaleidoscopes so popular for children's birthday parties, etc., which are usually paper/cardboard.)

On occasion, one will see a cardboard kaleidoscope that has been painted, or decorated in some fashion or other.  I think some of them are really quite beautiful. I have no experience with how well they hold up from normal wear & tear, however.

One of the main suppliers of such cardboard tubes is Boston Craft Works   http://www.bostoncraftworks.com/index.htm 

Their tubes are designed to be used for polymer clay, painting, beading, whatever, and the component parts are of good quality. Below are some examples from their web site of finished 'scopes using several techniques for finishing the cardboard tube.

 

(Example of a tube with micro beads)

(Another example, this one using an oil wand.)

(This simple teleidoscope -- a variant on a kaleidoscope -- uses plain wrapping paper to decorate the body.)

As is true with kaleidoscopes in general, there are many variations available for both the artisan and the collector in 'scopes using paper/cardboard as the base of the tube. 

To see all of my current work, in wood, go to 

        www.wrightmade.com

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You Tube Posting

New posting of a video showing selection and preparation of exotic, domestic, and manufactured wood products for use in kaleidoscopes that I craft.

http://www.youtube.com/user/wrightmade

To see all of my current work go to www.wrightmade.com

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