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!

rings at last

I have been thinking for a while that it would be great to make rings featuring the beautiful czech lampwork beads that I use.

So I already make hat pins and pin brooches with them, as well as dangly earrings, which I have been doing for years.

I tried a prototype using craft wire, and soon realised I needed a ring mandrel to get the nice round shape. My test one was kinda wonky.

My lovely friend, Lindy lent me a wire wrapped ring that she had bought and I got the idea of wire wrapping, but needed some nice wire.

So guess what was on my shopping list when I went to the bead show the other week?

Now I had the right equipment - most important, but no time!

Yesterday was the first chance I had to play.... and wow! it was such fun. The rings turned out great!

First of all I used some czech faceted firepolished beads. When my daughter saw them she 'was , like, totally Cooool'! She took two to school to do a survey of her 17 year old friends - and sold one! What a great start.


Then I pulled out all my oval czech lampwork beads and a couple of pretty Venetian glass beads and made rings until I ran out of wire.







I'm really pleased with the way they turned out and I will be taking them to the next Kirribilli Art and Design market on13th July.

winter magic festival

Is this the only place in the world that is silly enough to have a mid-winter out-doors festival?

Over the years we have had rain, wind, sleet and sun, sun, sun! And so it was this year - a glorious, sunny, blue sky day - if a little chilly. Almost perfect and the many visitors, performers and stallholders were out in force enjoying the happy, joyous atmosphere.


The main street of Katoomba is filled with stalls, buskers and roving performers.


I set up my jewellery stall at about 7 o'clock in the morning and I wasnt even the first there.
we were on the eastern side of the street so had to wait to get the sun, but in the afternoon when the sunset I was in the last little bit of sun as it set between the buildings - and then it did get chilly!



It's essential to get dressed up - but I was so busy and the crowds were so thick that I couldnt get any good photos.



GC, my assistant got into the spirit of the day with dragonfly pants made by Lynne Lade and a sparkly hat.
Here he is suurounded by white haired old ladies!

We loved the devil and his unicorn dog. So cute!









All in all a great time was had and we finished the day tired, but very happy.

Bead show

Going to the quilt show is normally a social day out with my crafting buddies, we travel by train which takes an hour and we have a good chat on the way. But this year due to commitments we all made our way there separately, and met up when we got there. That was OK as it was a good chance to sit down and drink coffee and chat and rest our weary feet.

"H" is a quiltaholic and studies all the quilts, buys the catalogue and takes heaps of photos. This time she brought her daughter "I", who she had promised to knit a shawl for and they shopped for wool.

"C" likes to shop as well as look at the textiles.

Me I just like to shop!

I took a shopping list as I was determined to be very disciplined, this time.

And I did OK.

Bought some lovely lampwork glass beads from my favorite glass artists - dks and teriglass.

Czech glass from my favorite bead supplier - beadglass.

Oh well instead of reeling off a list I'll just show you in a photo.....

Wach this space for future creations from all these glorious treasures!

Golden Triangle Earrings

I have just listed these earrings in my etsy shop.

They are beautiful czech glass triangle beads and little gold beads.

The result is lovely and dainty.

You can see them here -

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12424961