Mirror mirror on the stall

I have been searching for ages for a nice mirror for my market stall, so that customers can easily admire how well my pieces suit them!
Up til now I have had a small cheap hand-held mirror, but needed something decorative, good-looking that would stand on the table and I wouldnt have to stand there and hold it. Holding it is OK if there is only one customer but if you are trying to serve several at one time it is difficult.
So, I began a search of all the op-shops, furniture stores, $2 shops, second-hand shops, bric-a-brac, collectables, antiques - you name it I looked there!
Ideally I was looking for an elegant, yet not too fussy number - round, on a small pedestal stand with a swivel mirror, big enough that a customer could view their head and chest, so that they could see themselves when trying earrings and necklaces.
Sound easy!? I'm easy to please!
But no!
Anyway the last time I was at the Richmond (NSW) market I wandered around all the stalls and lo and behold! there was a stall with a choice of two. Perhaps not exactly what I had in mind, but it is great! and the price was right!
Not only that but I could have sold it twice since then!
But, if I sold it, even for a HUGE profit, then I would be back to square one with no mirror.









Here it is in'stalled' at the Kirribilli Art and Design market.




Next Richmond market - Saturday 9th August.
Next Kirribbilli Art & Design market - Sunday 10th August.

Friday gang bike ride

It was a beautiful winter's day. The friday gang went for a bike ride.

This one goes from Prospect Reservoir in western Sydney all along dedicated bike paths, through the Olympic equestrian centre, along Orphan School Creek and on and on through suburbia.

It's a great feeling whooshing down the hills, around the corners over the hills and far away (actually we didnt do too much whooshing UP the hills - more like puffing and panting on the way up).

We stopped for lunch at this little lake in the middle of a housing development.

Along Orphan School Creek there are amazing sculptures made out of bike bits but they look like birds!

There is every facility here - this next to an old farmhouse ruin.

We didnt check if it was in working order!

After a rejuvenating coffee and cake back at the car and a few days recouperation of our saddle soreness, we're planning another expedition soon.

Watch this space!

Making things takes time

I set myself the goal of making ten things a day!

This is quite easy if the things are earrings, OK if they are bracelets, manageable if they are necklaces - impossible if it is beadweaving! Which takes FOREVER!

However I have just learnt a lovely technique - triangular peyote stitch, and little pendants work up really quickly.

Thanks for Sandfibers, for the initial inspiration. While I was trying to work out for myself how to do it, I found the how-to in a Beadwork magazine. Fantastic!

So far I have only made two - with size 8 seed beads, they are rather big and clunky, and I have yet to make ten in a day - but with a bit if practise.....watch this space!