I don't know their names ...

I really don't, but I know their stories and that is more important. The rose above was a gift from my Aunty J, a frequent visitor to Australia, it was for my birthday on her last visit and she in back now meeting her great neice for the first time.

This lovely rose is a standard and it was a housewarming present from my parents when I bought this home six years ago. Gosh the time has flown.

And, this rather common (but heavenly scented) rose is the best of all. My house has only had three owners and the ones who built it planted this, and its twin, when they moved in. The poor things were not looked after by the previous owner, a bachelor rumoured never to have stepped off the footpath, and yet they survive. I look at them and smile, thinking of the first owners delight in their home. This was one of the first three houses in my town (city now) to have a tile roof - the original tiles are still there, and while I am now considered to be centrally located - it was the outskirts of town ... How much one rose can make me think.

I wonder about the teaspoons I use for these necklaces and where they have come from? This one is on etsy, and those green egg beads are delicious, I keep picking them up and running them through my fingers.
I made a couple of pairs of watsonia earrings for friends and these ones are also on etsy.

It's a beautiful spring day and I am off to enjoy it, I hope you are having a good one wherever you are.

Time for a change

My fingers fell upon some paper scraps yesterday and these ATC's emerged. I have had a jar of texture past for years and now I am using it almost daily - funny how these things work out. Do you see the wonderful old typewriter key, aged and pitted as if the machine it belonged to was carted through one war at least? It demonstrates the advantages of having a chewing dog - several minutes in his mouth before I noticed and the teeth marks are a feature. (As I was typing this my Archer was dropped home from a play date - my beautiful neighbour suggested I keep an eye on him as he has eaten a pink lipstick ... do you hear my sighs in Tom Price? Melbourne?California? )

on etsy

I wish I could remember where I got his watch face from I have been saving it to use, and it seemed to go with this pin (thanks Sally for the fabulous gold pins).

It's not just mothers

of humans who sometimes have had enough. For most of today if anyone had offered to take this little man I would have handed him over with a smile and a sigh of relief. Then I came through to my room and saw this little face, just waiting for me to say 'No' again. Moments later he rolled towards me and I declare I saw the thought go through his head 'I'll try cute.'

It worked; he is not walking the streets looking for a new home this cold, windy and miserable night.

What brought me to the point of frustration today? Archers vacuum behaviour. In the last 24 hours he has eaten multiple beads, four buttons, a purple pencil, a toy crocodile, a shoe lace, a small length of ribbon, two postage stamps, several pieces of double sided tape backing, some raw rice I dropped, the edge of a floor rug, the cat bowl, some dog biscuits and his home cooked chicken rice and veges. This is the 'food' I know about. Archer is always a 'hoover' however, today I was trying to enjoy my annual Bathurst pilgrimage, via the television. I am sure that as I walk him and poop observe I will see evidence of more this morning's walk was quite sparkly at each pit stop.

It sends me MAD, and why? My beloved Maggie died from a bowel perforation - and all she ever ate was dog food and the odd stick. Now perhaps Murphy's law will take over and Archer will be just fine or perhaps he will not ... but I really don't want to take chances.

I now have a clear perspex half door on my art room and he can only look in from the outside; now I can listen to him eating things in other rooms instead of seeing him eat them. I am open to suggestions...however, he is 18 months old, he has several hundred dollars worth of chew toys and treats which I give him on a rotating basis, has been wormed and is the right weight for his breed.

...the little moppet is asleep on my lap now and my heart is melting, so I will give him a cuddle and perhaps take another picture while all is well.

Face Posy ... (and a question)

... another cat food tin lid altered and ready to wear, this one is not for sale, but it heading off for a monthly swap I am involved in.

Now to the question, has anyone used the microwave kilns for PMC (Precious Metal Clay) - I would love some feedback from real people and not brochures. I have tried a few pieces with my blow torch - but lets just say the frustration levels were about the same as attempting to photograph this piece - aaaagh! Is 10.30am too early for a gin and tonic?

A brief interlude ...

I am currently working on a couple of art works and jewellery pieces that I can not share yet. It was a pleasure to take an hour out yesterday and visit the beach with my Brother, SIL, niece and the dogs. The sun was shining, the water was blue and there was no pressure to ‘do’. Today finds me back doing marking and cleaning house and yet the scent of salt seems to hang in the air ... perhaps I should have bathed Archer?

Age and Beauty

My darling Nana recently sent me this photo of herself at 16 and another taken 70 years later at 86 years or age. Nana made the comment, 'old age isn't a pretty sight is it?'. How my heart cried out as I examined the two pictures; out of respect for my Nana I am not sharing the newer picture, and yet it brings me joy - she looks lovely dressed for a wedding, and I see her heart in the gentle smile upon her face. It was nice to see this older picture, and my Nana was pretty, but I look at her now and I see true beauty.

My Nana lives in England, and yet she has been the first to hear many of my secrets and hold them close, as she does for all my cousins. Nana is encouraging and kind and she really knows how to listen. She sets boundaries too - when we whinge about our parents, as kids do, she gently tells a story that will remind us of our parents strengths. Nana has the gift of being able to accept all people exactly as they are, and to relate to people of all ages; she values that which is important to each of us and would never miss asking about my fur babies.

How is it that we can spend so much time chasing down antique furniture, and as many of us do aging perfectly shiny new items, and yet live in a society that teaches us to disdain the signs of age on our own earthly bodies.

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.