Nov 213 min read

Designing My New Christmas Bauble Inspired by the Forth Rail Bridge

Here We Are Again…… it’s Christmas

Well here we are again, how quick has Christmas season come around. Every year I say I’m going to be much more organised having my new designs ready and in the shops and on my website in advance. However my ADHD likes to say otherwise as it prefers to work at the last minute possible. It performs under pressure better than forward planning. It also is under constant attack of executive dysfunction and paralysis. This is the time of year I love and dread at the same time. I love the carols, the dark nights with twinkling lights. A fire crackling, the privilege of being cozy with a roof over my head. But it’s also the time of year I tend to get low and extreme fatigue. So it’s always a double edge sword.

Inspiration

The Fife Rail Bridge has been part of my childhood growing up. Most memorable journeys with my friends on the train from Kirkcaldy To Edinburgh ready to explore the old streets and shops.

Not to mention of course its such an iconic bridge too. I cant believe I actually abseiled from it not long ago to raise funds for the MS Society.

The Design

Anyway I’m so glad to have eventually brought this design together. It starts with drawing the design out which is more complicated than you think.

You have to zoom in and make sure there are no breaks in the lines. This means many many tweaks and redrawing. Once I eventually got all 4 layers drawn the next difficulty was turning each of the layers in a vector file. This is so the laser cutter can read the file and knows what parts to cut.

I don't know how many times I tried this before hitting my head on the wall

I had to adapt my design as the cost was going to be too much with the 4 layers and I felt that it would be too expensive to make. If people would love them I don't think they would buy them. I struggle with weighing up the cost to make something against the potential to sell them without making a loss.

So I reduced it to 2 layers and I decided I would paint a watercolour seascape for the background which meant that each one would be totally unique

I laid out my watercolour paper and outlined the size of the bauble and painted a wee seascape on each one.

I then cut them all out and they were glued on to the bauble base.

Incorporating Bridge Elements

It took quite a few attempts to get the lattice work to a size that would work on the laser cutter. It looks thick on the drawing but when you cut it out you find its too thin and easily breaks. So this is always the bone of contention for me when I'm creating a design. I hate anything mathematically technical to work out as my ADHD brain totally switches off. It was important to get the balance that you know its the Forth Rail Bridge and not making the rails look like spindles and an unviable design.

Putting It All Together

I had a mixture of dark and light plywood and I began putting all the pieces together and let them sit under my heavy anvil until ready to put the ribbon on.

Once they were all glued together and ribbon on I looked at them and thought I think they will pop more if I paint the bridge its iconic colour. I knew once the paintbrush touched the bridge there would be no going back because they were all finally finished ready to be hung.

Of course I like to do things the hard way so I had to be very careful when painting if I dripped the paint by accident it would ruin the background. I'm glad it worked out though!!

The Packaging

I bought the tartan ribbon from Letham Craft Shop and ordered cotton bags that can be reused. I only use plastic if I'm reusing what's already in circulation from parcels I've received.

I decided to add a personal touch by making my own hand painted tags just to jazz up the bag. I finalised the bauble by adding my initials then stood back and went. Woo Hoo they are done!!