Hope and Happiness: Keys 2756 - 2763
I spent part of the May long weekend on a bus tour from Montreal to Quebec City with my family. For whatever reason I only noticed the “boat cruise” part of the tour when I booked it and absolutely did not realize that half the day would be spent on a bus. Luckily for me there weren’t any complaints and perhaps spending time together while someone else did the driving was a much needed thing. The weather was perfect, the cruise on the river was fun, and Quebec City is very beautiful. All in all a good day.
At one point on the bus the tour guide provided a small lesson in Chinese characters so on a break I showed him a picture of the other side of Key 2756 and asked him what the symbol meant. “Happiness” he said, “like when you are making your keys”. He is very correct in that assessment! He also told me that at New Year’s the symbol is turned upside down and an abundance of happiness pours out (I think I have that right).
Somewhere in my key making travels I acquired a bracelet with small messages of encouragement like “love”, “hope”, and “courage”. I kept a “courage” bit on my desk for the last few years of my job to help get me through the day. I came across the “hope” bit while making Key 2760. I love how well it fits onto that solid little key.
Key 2756 is made from curtain rings, a cotter pin, chain, jewellery bits, a gear from a clock that I’ve had for the longest time, a square metal scrap I rescued from the trash in the metal studio at Saskatoon Makerspace (this I covered in brass metal dust that was gifted to me), and that happiness symbol that my husband had forever and decided to pass on to my key project.
Key 2757 is made from a small stainless steel terminal that I painted, a gear from the cash register I took apart, and jewellery bits (including a cameo earring and two pewter angel earrings).
Key 2758 is made from another painted terminal, construction parts, rhinestones, a sewing machine part, jewellery bits, and a lovely deteriorated cabinet door handle that was worn away in parts and developed a lovely patina.
Key 2759 is made from more cash register parts, the number 9 from a 1903 adding machine, a spiral of metal that was gifted to me (and I think was the result of some sort of drilling), and many pieces from an older, sparkly, bracelet.
Key 2760 is made from a terminal, washers, beads, more jewellery bits, and that message of hope.
Key 2761 is made from a large terminal, a leaf pendant (that is an actual leaf), a chunky bracelet, jewellery bits, and glass beads.
Key 2762 is made from a cash register gear, many jewellery bits, a long metal spiral, and pieces of glass from a runover perfume bottle.
Key 2763 is made from an Allen wrench, a cash register gear, jewellery bits, and a calligraphy pen nib.
