Something for me and something for you...

It is lovely to have time to create and nothing I “have to” make. This necklace has been in my head for months, an old wall hook; rusted and left, some washers, sari silk, an owl in resin, a bullet casing (thanks to one of my students for that), vintage beads and carved cinnabar all combined with copper, brass and steel.

I couldn't resist wandering around the garden and taking pictures of this piece in different lights, on different backgrounds, it has been so, so long since I made a feature piece of jewellery such as this.

I always enjoy the contrast between strong and delicate, old and new, salvaged and made. I think this one is for me.

The old water tank, above had been put out for roadside collection, I rang my brother and convinced him I needed it; is to become my herb garden, a job for next week.

I have cleaned up my garden a lot this past week and been amazed by the number of nests tucked in bushes, obviously my purr-babies don’t scare the birds away. This nest really made me smile, authentic twigs, insects, and leaves on the outside and green acrylic filler on the inside – another contrast.

The magnetic post it-note holders were an eye opener. I was attempting to make something using found objects for a possible class and bemoaned my attempts. Until I realised the only objects designed for art were the Collection images I have had for many years, and five split pins.

All of the other items are salvaged and re-purposed.

I will send one of these pieces (your choice) to the first person to identify all the non-paper elements. Good Luck!

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.

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.