MY MANTRA - TIME

Well, once again it's days and days since I've been here. I'm busy creating, reading and doing all those other things. Time or the lack thereof is my mantra.

I've made quite a bit of new jewellery.

My Garden

Claire's street wise bracelet

My charm bracelet insprired by the buddha

Little bird, one of my first ice resin pendants

Inspired by the sea

These are all fairly recent, with the button bracelet being part of Claire's 30th birthday present. I've used buttons like this before in a necklace but my memory got jogged by "street-chic jewellery" by Susie Johns. The bracelet with the bird pendant sold the day it went into stock. I'd made the ice resin pendant myself and it was one of my first attempts and is double sided. Don't know why I didn't take a photo of the other side.

I like to think, I do quite a lot of research. Mainly for ideas and also to see what's happening out there. I still find what's published in RSA a bit droll. I wish I could find more artisans in this country who made beads, pendants and charms. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough?

I love knitting and have managed to finish both Joce and Claire's jerseys that I started last winter. They got their jerseys in about March. Claire modelled hers for me, but Joce said she could not bear to put the jersey on in the heat we were still experiencing in March. I also managed to knit three jerseys for Liam. Not one the same size and generally all on the big side but Joce was very happy with them and Liam was warm.

Claire in her jersey

One of Liam's jerseys.



I also managed to finish a cardigan for myself, I forgot to make the button hole so I had to make a brooch to hold the jersey closed. No photo of the jersey yet just the brooch.

The brooch for my cardigan

I also purshased "Bohemian - insprired jewelry" by Lorelei Eurto & Erin Siegel. The piece below, although nothing like the pieces in the book, was inspired by the book.

Inspired by "Bohemian-inspired jewelry."

I don't, I think, have a parlicular style. Probably because I'm a self taught jewellery designer who hasn't found a particular style. It makes me happy when people buy pieces so I'm inclined to make more of what sells than anything else. Here's some more and most cerainly not all I've been doing.

The Blues

Be Yourself for Caron

Reminds me of caviar - no idea why

One big beautiful bead

Simplicity

Another little bird

For Fun

Hearted

Forever

I think that's enough for today or who knows when I'll be back.

I still have to record my current craze.

Going to cook a meal for supper out of "falling cloudberries" by Tessa Kiros. The most beautiful book, I have two others of her's. Wonderful stories and pics and the recipes are easy and fun.

TIME AND AGAIN

Time has never been a forte of mine. Unless I write down what's to be done and work off the list I'm usually all over the place. Time runs away from me constantly.

Being away from one's home gives time a new meaning. One's able to do and see things that can make being alive so special. We were on the East Coast in April. We went to the beach. Rich was fishing and I spent time inspecting the seashore, rock pools and just taking in the wonders of how beautiful and unstoppable nature is.

How long has it taken for the pothole to form in the rocks??

Aren't the colours just amazing. The sun shines it's hot, it rains and it's cold, the tides come in and out, nature carries on regardless of all our cares and concerns.

I had the most amazing peaceful and serene time on the beach this day.

 

  

I found this poem by Barbara Crooker on one of my most favourite blogs ornamental.typepad.com.








In the Middle

of a life that's as complicated as everyone else's,

struggling for balance, juggling time.

The mantle clock that was my grandfather's

has stopped at 9:20; we haven't had time

to get it repaired. The brass pendulum is still,

the chimes don't ring. One day I look out the window,

green summer, the next, the leaves have already fallen,

and a grey sky lowers the horizon. Our children almost grown,

our parents gone, it happened so fast. Each day, we must learn

again how to love, between morning's quick coffee

and evenings slow return. Steam from a pot of soup rises,

mixing with the yeasty smell of baking bread. Our bodies

twine, and the big black dog his great head between;

his tail, a metronome, 3/4 time. We'll never get there,

Time is always ahead of us, running down the beach, urging

us on faster, faster, but sometimes we take off our watches,

sometimes we lie in the hammock, caught between the mesh

of rope and the net of stars, suspended, tangled up

in love, running out of time.

BACK AGAIN

I've haven't been here for so long I've forgotten how. Everyday I think I should post and everyday I find some excuse not to. But I have to turn the page. Simon passed away a year ago and I've got to stop stressing about Joce and get on with life. I seem to have been in a state of apprehension. I've been making jewellery, knitting, reading, painting, I've even taught myself to crochet, but I don't seem to really be getting anywhere. My excuse is that I'm Liam's day time care giver or day mother.

So once again I've promised myself that I need to publish daily, even if its just a tiny post.

Adoration

This jewellery was a commission. Penny brought me some beads she'd bought while she was working in China. The greenish blue stones have brown and/or black veins. I've no idea what they are. Penny had a look at my various designs and chose two complety different styles. I had to dig deep as all I had were the beads and the designs she liked. The beads are heavy so I could never have used them all in a single piece. To my surprise Penny liked both pieces and took them both, as well as asking for a bracelet to match Adoration.



Adoration bracelet

To me this necklace has a North African feel about it. I used the beads and incorporated some Egyptian Silver as well as a number of charms that I've had forever. I enjoyed making the pieces and was thrilled with the results. The fact that Penny liked them both was very rewarding.

Nostalgia

BACK FROM THE DARK SIDE

I haven't blogged since November last year. I'm back from the dark side. I've suffered with depression and anxiety before. The first time it was diagnosed, I was in my late thirties. I was told this was more than likely due to a chemical imbalance. I was also going through a stressful time at work and had if not an errant teenager, a teenager, who was causing more concern than usual. I took the medication for about a year and then just didn't get a repeat of the presciption. I was feeling fine and went along happily with my life. Then in my late forties, I once again had extreme stress at work, with a change of the city I worked in, as well as for new people. One of those takeovers one is happy to survive, because you didn't get retrenched. In hind sight, retrenchment may have been a healthier option. So back I went on the meds. At this time I was offered a new career opportunity. I jumped at it, the people were great, the working conditions were ideal, it was still in another city, but I was sure I could make it work. After about 18 months, I once again stopped taking the meds. Four years and a few upheavals/traumas and an increased work load, my system said enough and I suffered extreme burnout. Six weeks at home on meds and therapy helped for a while. Eventually in early 2010, I had to take early retirement or sink into oblivion.

I was in turmoil from July 2009 until about October 2011. By October, I'd already weaned myself off the anxiety meds and one of the antidepressants. I was now taking one tablet twice a day. I was feeling good and in control and decided to drop the dosage to one tablet a day. Big mistake, but it took me until late November to recognise what I'd done to myself. The regression was frightening. I'm starting to feel okay again but am more cautious than optimistic. I sometimes feel that things are unravelling but getting a grip is easier each time.

It's hard to admit that I'm just one of those who suffer, at some point in their lives from chemical imbalances - whether the reason be stress, trauma or just plain old genetic make up that causes things to go tilted to one side. I know I've had stress and trauma, maybe not more than some people but enough to send me to what I call the dark side.

I'm writing this to record where the good part of three months has gone!

During this time I managed to make jewellery, go away for a bushveld break with Rich, Joce and Liam. Do some painting. Entertain some family on Christmas Day and hopefully other than those who see me daily, no one is the wiser as to my ailments.

This ice resin pendant was bought by Bonita. The picture is by Liekie Fouche and depicts the star sign Sagittarius.

 Thinking up and making beaded jewellery calms me, hence a few bracelets in various designs.

  

This was especially made for my Mother in law on the occasion of her birthday. At eighty five you know what you want. I was told that the item had to have a variety of whites and the length was specified, other than that, I had free reign. She was very happy with the result. 

Another bracelet.

This was make for Pearl, my son's Mother in law. Pearl has become a special friend, the necklace was made on the occasion of her 60th birthday. I also made amethyst earrings to match but forgot to take a photo.

Some of the beads and stones in this necklace come from one of those mixed packs, where you get some beauties and quite a few useless pieces. I'd had the turquoise coloured split rings for quite some time and the enamelled flowers, at the time they were bought, I'd no idea what I was going to do with them.

 Each of these four bracelets, came about because of a particular bead or beads in my stash. I'm trying not to always be on the look out for new beads but to make use of the beautiful beads I already have in

 stock.

A safety fin brooch for a winter jersey or jacket.

MINDS EYE

More often than not, what's in my minds eye is not what is produced.

I made this necklace fairly early yesterday morning. Hasn't worked out like I thought. So I'll probably have to do some more work on it. It needs a clasp and the pink briolette's don't seem quite right.

This beautiful orchid is one of Bevan's that I'm baby sitting for him and I'm so pleased it flowered.

Here are some beads that I bought yesterday, our local craft shop has a scratch patch.

And a bracelet Zelyne had bought, that needed beads and beads caps replaced.

LIFE & THE REASONS

I found this in my drafts, I was busy with this post just before we went to the Kruger, I'd run out of time. As I remember, I had every intention of carrying on while we were away, as I'd taken my laptop with me. Clever me forgot to take my 3G card with, so no blogging was done. By the time I got home the draft post was forgotten about. So here it is.

As mentioned before I suffered from burnout in July 2009 and am still not 100%. I've have had serious high blood pressure problems since 2009. I was at the doctor this week and am so thrilled that my blood pressure is now down to 136/65. I was touring the 160/90.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. Had I not suffered the burnout, I would not have been able to be here for Joce when she lost Simon, nor would I be able to look after Liam. Rich and I are enjoying looking after him so much. He is walking all the time now and the changes in him on a daily basis are amazing.

I think for the first time in years, I'll be organised for our packing for the Kruger. All the ironing is almost up to date, I just have to do a final load of washing tomorrow and make sure everthing is clean and tidy for our housesitters, Merryl and Roel.

I sent off two new necklaces and bracelets to the salon.

Violet

Sea Foam

Frida

Little Bird

THE BLUES

Somehow a lot I've made has gone blue. This time of the year the blues just appear. Must be the influence of the mags and all their sea side holiday ideas or it's the incredible colour of our skies in summer.
I quickly made these this morning. Decided I needed a pair to go with my blue and white striped blouse and denim skirt.

Lots of others things to say but not today. Have to go and make a spinach salad for our lunch at Bevan and Claire.

Earrings made with blue porcelain and blue glass beads. I love blue flowers, this is a Forget Me Not.

My first Hydrangeas