Feeling productive, and enjoying it.

Nature's Evening available on Etsy

A friend recently encouraged me to share in a Mother's Day stall and I was so thrilled to sell some of my journals and jewellery. My goal is to be more proactive in this area as I really do need to get rid of my mortgage if am to have the freedom I want to move in other areas. Pray for wisdom as I make decisions for the future, please. (Update: Sorry to have confused some people, the 'other areas' are not art ones, but more voluntary work with some kids who need help - I love my art but not planning on going full-time w ith it).

A Thankful Heart available on Etsy

Another scarf, this one a Pink Girl's Dream for a good friend's birthday. Lace, chiffon and flannel are threaded though a soft wool acrylic blend. I am not a 'pink girl', but the end result is solf and romantic so hopefully it will be well received.
Sweet boy sitting with me as I photograph the bracelets, not so sweet to smell at the moment so I predict a bath coming up very soon.

February

Hester's Yard

sold

I name all my jewellery, sometimes I share the names and sometimes I don't. This another bracelet which explores change and and contrast. I enjoyed forming this chain; chunky copper links with contrasting silver solder and lots of bits, Hester's Yard.
I have so enjoyed my little vege garden this summer, and keep forgetting to take pictures of ripe vegetables, this little capsicum will eventually be red and sweet, if the marigold does its job and keeps the insects away.

The tomatoes are sweet and full of flavour, these lovely round ones, cherry Roma's and full size Roma all gathered in one dense patch.
The dappled light on the lemon tree epitomises summer, the scents, the drinks and an age old sense of security. Summer feels safe, as the warmth wraps around me and the light touches all corners of my space. Bliss.
Not art, not a fruit, and a little bit grubby, but something, or rather someone, that I like to pick often, a quick cuddle, a loud purr and a snuggle hug then he is asking if there is more food. darling Phantom.

A bracelet and a winner...

Congratulations to Linda on being closest with the list of items. The serrated strip was from my roll of cling film. The "washer" was actually the metal circle from an old bra strap. Linda please send me your address and post-it preference.
The bracelet above is a charm bracelet of sorts, and much as I love it, it is listed in my ETSY (SOLD).Can you imagine my joy when I found this amazing old wooden box full of rusty nails at my local tip-shop? A real holiday treat, and I am so proud of my friends for hiding their complete horror at my purchase choice.

And finally one of the joys of life is my darling nephew, we've spent hours playing with pegs (Archer was not so keen on that one - the dear boy had Archers ears pegged all over), drinking imaginary cups of tea, tickling and laughing. Joy.

Bracelet - At Last

Yes, at last I have used the bezel making skills I learnt in Stephanie Lee's wonderful class back in march. This bracelet is a gift for a special person. Can't say who yet, as she may read my blog.

I was asked to make 200 "Gratefulness" tags for a wedding - all identical - so am surrounded by a sea of lavender card and lovely sage ink, while looking forward to doing something a bit more individual very soon.

Stumbling Blocks and a Giveaway

I have really struggled to create since the art retreat, a combination of too many other things to do and some hang-ups. Everything I started seemed to be a copy, I was lost in technique and have not been able to get my ideas to flow. Finally this week I sat down to play and the pendants above emerged, beautiful beads with simple sterling silver joins. They had no purpose other than play so I have given them one, a give-away. Just leave a comment and one of them may be yours - I will use a random selection method and do the draw on Sunday 26th April.

These memory wire bracelets were a lot of fun to make; I have such a lot of beautiful beads that don't work with my vintage/grunge/earthy styles, and spend way too long just looking at them. The bracelets will appear on my Etsy very soon. If you are in my Etsy store you will find some fantastic sale items as I am having a clean out.

I can't seem to capture the translucent nature of the paint on this canvas or the many layers, but never mind, it was a piece I enjoyed making, a piece where I learnt a lot about product and planning ahead.

Despite the fact we have a multitude of pet baskets and comfy chairs, for Charles to rest in, he has made some interesting choices this past week; the box I was dropping work into as I marked and then the shelf. I know, I should have scooped him off and growled, but it was too cute I ran for the camera instead. Don't you love how he is pretending not to see me?

Such is life...

on etsy

I have been particularly busy and decided to treat this first week of the school holidays like, well, a school week. Head off to work each morning and work away in the quiet of my office without distractions. Monday morning I set off, feeling a combination of resignation and perhaps a little righteousness (after all I am a grown up and I had found a coping strategy).

I was quite relaxed as I sat (STATIONARY) at the roundabout when BANG SHOCK I was in the middle of double lanes of traffic going around the round-about. Yep, I had been rear ended. I am stiff but no permanent damage.

My poor little car is another sad story...and the time to make police reports, call the insurance people etc etc etc

And yet by last night I was overwhelmed with love for those around me. I had been offered enough cars to drive a different one each day for weeks, had wine delivered, and friends drop in. So now, I am home, attempting to work - and being distracted, dribbling away to you, adding items to my etsy, working on this and that...and feeling fairly content.

Wire Wrapping Excess

I set off to make a few pieces of jewellery for friends this weekend, and just kept going. The zips have reappeared, I have wrapped quartz, fabric, lace, glass, string, thread and more. It was so soothing matching colours then simply wrapping wire around each piece, I like the feel of all the different textures beneath my fingers combined with the supple copper as it runs through my fingers. All of the pieces here are now for sale at my Etsy store. I will show you the others when they have arrived at their new homes.

The beautiful skeleton leaves I photographed these on were collected from below the lemon tree this morning; the snails and slugs were enjoying stripping them clean just for me. I think these ones (the leaves, not the snails) will become the background for some journals.

I hope all the West Australians have enjoyed this long weekend.

Ramblings Late at Night

This is a bracelet I made for my Sister-in-Law, in fact, this is my SIL's hand. I loved this bracelet, light, bright and simple to look at - but very time consuming to make. Wrapping the wire with the constraint of the little chain loops was harder than I anticipated. None-the-less, just looking at this one makes me smile.

My life is really full at the moment. Work is going really well - but is intense, my social life is expanding and there are a few challenges more than usual to face. I am keeping my head above water and seem to be making my way safely. If I am a bit slow to post or get back to you at the moment then please forgive me. That said, I am going to use a little of this Easter weekend to update my Etsy, catch up on blogs and e-mails and find my desk within the cave.

Please take a moment to remember why we have this break; Jesus.

This and That

I have been helping out in a jewellery class at school; and picking up a few tips myself. In a quiet hour last week while most of the student's were working on projects I made this bracelet. I think every wire wrap is shaped by a question: Can you show me jump rings again? Is this tight enough? How do I? It was a nice haven, a comfort zone within a comfort zone; wire within teaching. I didn't have anyone in mind as I made this one so I have popped it on Etsy.

Thanks to Sherry, Kate and Dawn for participating in PIF you will get surprises soon.

Bracelets and more ...

~sold~

These bracelets were made this past week. The top one I am calling a horizontal charm bracelet - there are two of each type of bead but even they are not identical. Of course the messy wire wraps and fabric beads are inspired by Nina Bagley.

~sold~

This red bracelet is a mix of my paper beads, and fair-trade cinnabar from Nepal. I have aged them all and dipped them in shellac.

~sold~

This copper set is my favourite. The stones are coffee rock collected on my walks at the Port. the stone fragments have been tumbled and smoothed by the action of the waves (after they broke away from the larger rocks below). I found them quite easy to drill and they are light weight so will be nice to wear.

This weekend I am planning on playing with paper, I have an altered book to finish working in and some ATC ideas. Of course on Sunday I will also have the pleasurable task of choosing a winner of the junk pin I am giving away.

Mixed Media - Oh Yes!

on etsy

This bracelet is another piece in my Under the Sea collection. I found it interesting that so many commented on the Earthy colours of the previous pieces – understandable when I have been showing you so many pictures of blue oceans. I am not really sure why my Under the Sea pieces are green and gold, more like the sun glinting through water in a river bed. Either way I am having fun creating and they seem to be coming from within – so I will let my muse have free reign.

This is my new toy – the Clover needle felter (thanks to Jacky for putting me onto this). I thought I was just testing different fibres and fabric on a scrap of felt – but they looked so nice together I added beads and made a bookmark. I can see myself having a lot of fun with this one.

The journal was a gift for the talented and beautiful Sandy, and has reached its home safely. I used the Collections chipboard houses for covers and cut my own pages.

My desk still has three partially completed projects on it so hopefully I will get time to complete at least one more this weekend. For now the sun is shining, I can hear native birds from the front of my house, my neighbours canaries from the back and the outdoors calling me. Can you hear it?

Peaceful moments and a giggle or two.

on etsy

Life currently seems to be a series of moments, or links in a chain; rather than a flowing river. Perhaps that was the inspiration for these two beaded charm bracelets. I was so relaxed and at peace as I chose beads and twisted wire for these two. In case you are wondering I have made the hooks for the closure but left the eye's until the wearer gives me a wrist measurement.

Of course in a house which still has three furry people the experience could not be totally relaxing - Archer managed to eat a chopstick, some tissue paper and several beads during the creation of these bracelets. Each new find accompanied by his mad dash out of the art room through the cat door and out to the back of the garden. I managed a straight face as I corrected him, but he looks so ridiculous as he escapes with the latest treasure their are a lot of inner giggles to accompany my sighs of frustration.
While my tulips continue to delight a friend gave me these three simple stems of jonquils yesterday and their scent is filling my home, just looking at them makes me smile.

I had to giggle though. I said to one of the men who shares my office, "I do love these, Mum hates them in the house -says they smell like cat pee." His response, "My wife thinks the same, we always have them in the house." The mind boggles. I love the scent and their delicate little cups.