Unravelling

Unravelling? I am not sure why, it just seems to be the way I am, and it is a good thing, good to undo the knots and look at life a little bit at a time. These earrings all feature the parts of a pocket watch called the balance cock. A harsh name for pieces with such beautiful engraving. I have listed the first pair on my Etsy and will make time to do the others later in the week.

I have booked a stand at a little country show, held and hour or two up the road, in October and have enjoyed using some of the bits and pieces on my desk to make these bookmarks ready for the day.

My beautiful friend Dawn came to stay this week and aside from long chats (how easy it is to right the world while sewing, wrapping and gluing), we managed some time out to shop and to make a very brief visit to the Porongerups for a walk. This lovely little kookaburra is big in my mind, and yet he is such a tiny part of the forest made of tall, tall trees. How like life.

Bad Mummy

If you have ever wondered what a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel looks like after his Mum locks his tail in the car door, I can show you. For other breeds you will have to do your own research! Seriously, his poor little face was miserable 20minutes later and his tail was still wagging - see how it is blurred? Archer's tail wags from daylight to dusk and beyond - is that a cav' thing I wonder?

What a chaotic weekend this one has been. It was the last week of school term and my last week with my year 12 History class before their mock exams. I had quite a lot of marking to do for them and lots of last minute practice assessments.

In the 'it never rains but it pours' style of life my Uncle G and his wife were out from England for the first time, they spent a week here in Albany with us and have managed to see quite a lot of the state. We had a couple of family dinners and lovely afternoons while they were here.

When we visit England we flit from place to place and person to person and the opportunity for long cosy one-on-one chats is limited.

I had a few birthday gifts to make, including my visiting Uncles' so I made some wire bookmarks - I actually wrapped the really manly one I made for Uncle Gnbefore it got a picture taken, but these ones were given away this week too.

The junk pin is on Etsy (now sold)- there is something soothing about making these, the collection of small elements, the wire wrapping. It is all so relaxing.

I made the green/sterling silver necklace to wear to a special dinner. The rain forest jasper is just gorgeous. I can't decide whether to keep it or not, perhaps I will just wear it a couple more times, I was thinking about a friend as I made it. Who knows where it will end up.

Treadmills and Trivia

A sneak peak at three cards I made last night and one already given this week. I apply all my left over paint to a sketch pad - be it stamped, brushed, swooshed or splattered. I had four sheets in similar colours, a few stamps and some black ink and they were ready to play with.

Some bookmarks I made this week too. I have had quite a few requests/commissions for these and they are such fun to make, fairly quick and all different.

The treadmills? Real and metaphorical. I have felt for the past month that I was on a run-away treadmill, and yet somehow last week I took control, nothing has changed, I just feel like I am walking in time with my life again. And the real? My Dad is coming to drop one off this morning. Dear Archer is not as dependent on his walks and his portability means I often pick him up and take him to the beach, or to the park with a friend and her children. I am finding I do not walk as much as I like to, I tend now to amble, to take photo's and to chat to others. My parents had a good treadmill they were not using so I have asked to loan it. Perhaps a commitment to SBS news on the treadmill? I will have to see how it goes...

Under the Sea - Part 2

I can't seem to shake my ocean fixation, and as a well known desert lover I am surprised. I had hypnotherapy for a while in 2000/2001. I know some Christians, and many others are sceptical about hypnotherapy - but it was wonderful and pulled me through a terrible time. Anyway, one of the exercises involved walking down a stair case and imagining a special place. I was convinced mine would involve red dirt and possibly baobab trees.

I found myself in a rain forest (without the steam) but still green, lush and wet. I was a little disconcerted. This place was beautiful and yet not my normal 'home'. I feel that same odd dislocation now; I love the ocean but wonder why I am so fixated when it is not where I normally feel connected.

These did not photograph as well as I would have liked but the day is too lovely for me to spend more time on them. You will get the idea; I have used all my paper beads and some painted shells to add to the fibres. The leftovers were put on this bookmark - inspired by the talented (but blogless) Jen Jones, who gave me a similar beaded one years ago.

I think this last piece is my favourite, simple and peaceful. All of these have homes they are headed for - and luckily most to people who do not read my blog, or are on holidays.

Have a peace filled day.