This beautiful antique steel cut button was rusty and a bit bent when I purchased it, but some sanding and a light application of the hammer left it just right for this 'enchanted night' necklace. Vintage Japanese cotton pearls and hand made hematite beads combine with a modern chandelier drop. 
I am back knitting and sewing for now, so who knows what will appear next, it is nice to never be bored.
What a week, constant hot flushes had me sure menopause had snuck up and grabbed me a tad early, but no, apparently stress has the same effect. What stress? You might ask.
The stress that comes to a teacher when she cares, perhaps too much and even after all these years retains her idealism, the stress that comes when you don't want any child to hurt and you see it happen. A hard week.
Help came in the form of moments at my desk putting this little lady together, in the time I spent photographing her in Autumn sunshine, and in wearing her to work one day. 
Help came in the form of this beautiful art work from Gaye: the colours; the quote; the stillness; just what I needed.
Help came from friends and family, from cuddling the most beautiful woofy face in the world, and help came from above. Thank you Jesus. May the next week be one of peace and wisdom.
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!
On Sunday afternoon I walked through “my” bush for the first time in over a week. The bush where almost every day for 13 years I have walked first with Maggie and now with little Archer. It was as if I had stepped onto another planet, strange black moon like surfaces with craters and blackened rocks, strands of trees, and silence. Absolute silence. An acrid smell. 
Then a flock of pelicans swooped over, their wings beating rhythmically, I took a breath, and another step, to my left was the bush I know and love.
The fire has stopped at a main walking path and been contained to a central strip of the bush. As we wandered along I felt my spirits sink, and rise in time with my steps. My mind whirling with thoughts of loss, the blessing that no human lives were lost here, and a few of those pointless “Why? Questions”. Actually it appears some boys wanted to see if they could copy the fires on the other side of our great country.
Towards the end of our walk we met Ronnie, an old aboriginal man with a shock of white hair, and a welcoming smile. Ronnie’s mixed use of English, Aboriginal English and Noongar combined with his lack of teeth made communication interesting. But we chatted for more than hour. Ronnie often explaining his stories with drawings in the sand.
When I offered the comment that it was a ‘shame about the fire’ a torrent of positive results was released. First Ronnie cheekily informed me cooking had been made easy as his family had gathered all the animals killed in the fire and taken them home for the weeks meat, and the freezer was full. 
Then Ronnie showed me a plant which a week after the fire was splitting and releasing seeds, seeds which are apparently the food of echidnas (the Australian spiny ant eater, similar to a porcupine). It is a long time since I last saw an echidna in that bush but Ronnie showed me a couple of echidna homes. He told me with many gestures and pictures drawn in the sand that by this time next year I will see them regularly - and cheekily added, I would have to keep my eyes open and walk at the right time. As I have seen them before I guess I will again.
These two necklaces were a lot of fun to put together, lovely old pocket watch and clock pieces with copper chain. I am told this makes them 'steampunk' I did some research and I am not sure I agree... but steampunk is fashionable and I rarely manage to be fashionable so I guess I will accept the label as a compliment. 
The top and bottom necklaces are for swaps, the one in the middle a commission from a good friend.
This set was commissioned for a wedding this weekend, and the busy last few weeks meant it was only finished last night. I came home from work this afternoon and polished the copper then headed out into the garden to take some photographs.
There I was sitting cross legged on the lawn, Archer attempting to sit on my lap, as Phantom wound through my arms, hanging earrings in the leaves of a rather non-compliant plant when I heard, "Hellooooo". My new young neighbour's head popped over the fence. After a few minutes chat I apologised for not standing up, explaining I was in a hurry as 'it' was to be collected soon. A few minutes later I was introduced to the Grandfather and Mother. Happy that we would get on well I continued clicking away.
It was only later as I heard the family chatting I realised they had not seen the jewellery and thought I was taking goodbye photo's of my plant. I must explain next time we meet.
...because I love it. The door hanger is core board covered in number die-cuts and layer after layer of paint. Followed by some of my buckles - I love these! Did I tell you I bought 10kg in a sale a while back? The centre of the giant washer is a vintage typewriter key and I have added some of the 7 Gypsies rub-ons I like so very much.
Another cat food tin lid necklace, this one a posy of used horseshoe nails and a butterfly. What a contrast between the life of horses used for racing and the freedom of nature.
My friend Kim proposed a 1-4-1 swap. Each of us would select four items to send to the other. The recipient would use 3 or 4 of the items in a piece of jewellery and return it. Kim sent me the items above and I knew at once that the solid metal tag was going to be my base. My typewriter keys were already out on my desk, as were a second set of wings I had aged when making 'Soar'. The rest seemed to follow.
I sent Kim these blue and silver items.
Kim made me this stunning necklace which I have worn already. I love that the 'J' has a 'K' stamped on the back and the lovely old button she has added. The topaz/gold beads were the perfect colour contrast too. Thank you so much for suggesting this one Kim!
Due to popular request (giggles) my Christmas ‘bling’ appears here. The sterling silver necklace features a rare filigree spoon handle; I have two different ones and have not yet found more. The heart and amythyst piece above the spoon is a silver brooch given to me decades ago – and now looks silly on its own against my large body
The wonderful large beads are hand made in Nepal and their caps are engraved sterling silver, the smaller round beads are vintage speckled glass.
Christmas Day was bliss, lovely family, huge quantities of delicious food (Which is always calorie free on public holidays), delightful gifts, bubbly and an adorable neice who got so much joy from unwrapping gifts and playing with new toys.
I had started this necklace a week or two ago but it was one of the projects I completed sitting at the table with dear friends. My dining table looks out over town, to hills and ranges, giving clear views of each and every weather change. It also allows those seated to see many birds including the seagulls that circle in the storms and the pelicans whose flight path I am under. It was such a precious time to be creating with friends who saw my view as a gift; who reminded me of my blessings. 
