I've been shopping - again! My creative space.

Bead shopping, of course!

Buying lots of lovely summer brights!

I'm so looking forward to summer - are you?

Actually the main reason for my shopping trip was to get some chain - so that mission was successful!

Oh, yes - and some more bits of brightness!
Delicious - yes?

A while ago I had some cute beads which I made into sweet little earrings....then I lost them, sadly.
So while I was in Sydney last week I just happened to pop into the button shop in the rocks and picked up some more.
Can't wait to get these turned into stud earrings.

Meanwhile back at the workbench - I created some simple silver pendant necklaces.
Next I need to make some gold and brass ones ready for my next market >>>>>>>>

What's going on in your creative space this week.

I'm joining in with My creative space over on village voices - pop on over to have a look or join in.

In which we fly to Leh above the Himalayas - Wordless Wednesday

Vanishing Paris - the art of Eugene Atget

Have you heard of the French photographer Eugene Atget?
I must admit that I had never heard of him until I went to an exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales last week.
I love old photographs and Paris is eminently photogenic - so it was a must see for me!
And was I blown away!

Atget photographed the streets of Paris between 1898 and 1927 when Paris was being radically remodelled and modernised.
Many of his subjects no longer exist having been demolished to make way for the wide boulevards and parks, metro and stations of the new modern Paris.

Atget is most famous for his street scenes which depict a way of life to shortly disappear - the small shops and businesses, the street vendors, the courtyards and alleyways.

 

Because of the type of camera he used which needed long exposure times some of his photos show delightful blurry effects from people who are moving with an almost ghostlike appearance.

 

Or he would work in scenes without people to limit the moving - these make Paris seem like a ghost town.

 

 

Here we can see the photographer underneath the cloth that covers his camera reflected in the grand mirror.

 

Many of the photographs remind me of places that exist in countries I have travelled to recently - strangely reminescent of parts of India, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Even the pictures of the street traders have their counterparts.

It seems that Atget was actually a very influential photographer and is still inspiring people today - there are flickr groups dedicated to Atget hommage - here and here.

Photographs sourced from atgetphotography.com.

What's your style? Industrial chic or cosy colonial?

Now I am not and interior designer, nor an expert on architectural styles, but last weekend I was lucky enough to stay in 2 totally different places, and it got me thinking.....
What is my style?

Is it the cool modern interiors of the Harbour Rocks Hotel in the Rocks area of downtown Sydney or the grandmotherly comfort of a guest house in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney?

Here is our room at the former -

and some other images from their website -

image courtesy Harbour Rocks Hotel

 The hotel has been sculpted out of heritage listed buildings that are 150 years old. Built on the site of Sydney's first hospital the buildings have most recently been used as workshops and flats.
Their website has some photos of the buildings before they were renovated - quite a job!

image courtesy Harbour Rocks Hotel

I wasn't sure how to describe this style of decor.....Industrial Chic?
And sure enough when I googled it - up popped these images -

image from apartmenttherapy.com

image from Bonnie's murals and more

image from twistedsifter

What do you think? Your style or no?

And now for something completely different.....
In complete contrast our accommodation the next night was more cosy, colonial country.
Kurrara Guest House in Katoomba is an one hundred and twenty year old custom-built guest house.
Katoomba has long been a tourist destination due to the amazing scenery and temperate climate so it's not surprising that some enterprising business people built these guest houses.

I must say that I'm not a great fan of tizzy, chintzy places but Kurrara has just the right amount of comfort and period style without being too OTT!

Actually Kurrara falls into the Federation period of architecture, which was the start of an individual Australian style. Typified by verandahs, shingles, gable windows and the use of ausralian motifs.
Kurrara is a very sweet example of this style which is being lovingly refurbished by the present owners, the lovely Evelyn and Iain.

So what's your style when you are looking for accommodation?
Or is price and location your only consideration?

Unleashing the beast! - my creative space

 It's been a while....and so I'd forgotten how difficult it could be.
It has deceptively clean simple lines.
It comes in it's own zip-up bag.
But underneath that calm exterior lies a beast with a mind of its own!
....yes, it's the OVERLOCKER!
I wanted take in the side seams of some dresses - in particular the dress that I got for $3 from Vinnies which I'm going to wear to a 50's party on Saturday.
Which meant that I had to unleash the beast!

One hour later - I needed a rest, a cup of tea, calming down....
Then I even went to the lengths of going out to the shops....
I didn't want to admit defeat....but I cold just use a zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine....couldn't I?

NO!

Then, for no apparent reason, I had the 4 threads arranged in just the right configuration - and BINGO!

 I had side seams sewn.

Then it was just a snip to run up the side seams of the other 2 dresses.

By now I was in full-blown mending mode.
So I stitched some of Mr planet's trousers that had come adrift and sailed gaily on to adapting son's tshirts.
Master planet does'nt like tightness around his neck (and I swear I never tried to strangle him when he was a terrible-two-year-old!).
I don't know if this will work, but I cut of the neck ribbing and sewed a hem with a sort of zig-zag stitch.

I'm really missing not playing with my beads this week, but life has been much too busy.....maybe next week - until then....

I'm joining in with my creative space on Village Voices - pop on over and see what's going on over there.

Learning something new or finding inspiration

Where do you go when you want to extend yourself or learn a new skill or technique?

Some people take classes.
Others may find the answers to their questions in on-line tutorials.

Me? I subscribe to beading magazines.
This is how I've learned (almost) everything I know about beads, beading and beadwork in the 16 years that I've been playing with beads.

Bead and Button was my first infatuation, and I have copies going back about 1998 I think.
I've kept them all of course but it's almost impossible for me to find anything in the very old copies.

I can't remember when I first discovered Beadwork, but I used to just buy it occasionally from the newsagent until I finally succumbed to a subscription.

Both these mags are bi-monthly and conveniently arrive in my letterbox on different months, so spreading out the beady joy.

They have both also had babies - with an emphasis on quicker stringing design rather intricate beadwork ideas.

And, yes, I found their charms irresistible too!

I love all these for different reasons, and they all have great "how-to" sections as well as general information, trends etc and always check out the advertisers for supplies.
Mostly the projects are submitted by contributors and tested by the magazine's team, so you know they are going to work for you.

Do you buy magazines for your craft?
Do you subscribe as I do?
Where else to you get tutorials and instruction?
Ideas and inspiration?

Summer brights - my creative space

We've had a lovely couple of days warm spring weather, a little windy maybe, but definitely peeling-the-layers-off weather.
So my thoughts have turned to bright summery colours and long necklaces which look so great with summer fashions.

I'm loving these decorated shell beads and I have some bright stone beads to pair with them.

These ceramic beads have been great favorites - so they need to make another appearance.

This is what I came up with - 

I'm joining in with Our Creative Spaces over on Village Voices - pop on over and have a look!