TIME FLIES

It's about two weeks since I've last been here. Do I try to do too many things? I'm reading five books simultaneously:
Crush It - Gary Vaynerchuk
The Magic of Crystals Colour & Chakra - Lilly, Martin, de Winter, Hale
Sacred Contracts - Caroline Myss
Creative Mythology The Masks of God - Joseph Campbell
The Body Farm - Patricia Cornwell
I know this is not sane, how can one possibly read five books at once. I know, one can't. But I'm trying. No patience to finish one and start the next. I need to know everything all at once.

I've been making jewellery like crazy. I've moved my stuff to the dining room as Liam is still in the studio. I wasn't getting to make jewellery and I was becoming cantankerous, I was missing making jewellery.

So, first here is the photo of the Buddha with the Chicken by Michelle Penny. And then pics of the jewellery I've been making. I was so keen to send Joce off with eight of the bracelets that I forgot to photograph them and one got sold. The rest came home to be photographed. Well Liam has just woken up from his afternoon nap and is grizzly, he has a cold. I'll have to carry on later.

2011/08/19
This is the first chance I've to get on with this post. Can be quite frustrating, as one has all these thoughs in one's head and then you have a day's break. Anyway, such is my life at present.

Unless it's an order, or a gift, the jewellery is not made with anyone in mind. It's not even made for me. I just enjoy working with the beads and wire and seeing what transpires.

Buddha & Chicken

Bohemia

Red Sea - SOLD R250

Kashmir

Full Moon

More later, the pics are taking ages to download. I'm off to the hairdresser for a much needed haircut.

Dott

2011/08/20 Back again and still loading photos. Still not finished but I have to attend to chores. More later.

Flora

Watery

For Fun - SOLD R250

Spring Unlocked

Made for me

Daisy

Opulence

For Claire

Neptune - SOLD R250

THE TIME MACHINE

Tick Tock, Tick Tock. Time waits for no one. I just can't keep up with this machine. Time just flies and it has nothing to do with my age.

Rich retired on the 31st of July 2011, not of his own choice, as is happening to so may people nowadays, he was put on early retirement. He's going to take some time off and then start his own venture. This is obviously his first week at home and he has been so busy helping Joce with her house renovations and still Simon's estate, that he hasn't had much time to chill. I also haven't had to get used to having him around, as his been so busy.

Well, it's now two days since I started this blog. This time machine is too much. I finished the necklace which was an order. I'd done the necklace in blues and got a request for it in mainly lilacs. In fact it went to work with Joce on Saturday the 30th without my even taking a pic of the final product. I hadn't changed it though, I've just no record of the clasp, but no matter.

The Secret

 I know that I've put these paintings of mine on the blog before. I'd decided to have The Secret framed. The woman at the framing shop loved the painting and tried her best to buy it. But I always find it difficult to sell things I've made.

I was so pleased with the result of the framing, that I threw caution to the winds and had my Indian Girl with Poinsettia framed as well. I went for a very over the top frame. I just love the result, Rich thinks its a bit much but it's hanging in the sitting room anyway.

Indian Girl with Poinsettia

This is Bronwen's button necklace. It was almost finished at the time I took the pic. I just had to add the clasp and some ribbon embellishments. I'll take another pic before sending it off to Scotland.

Bronwen's Button Necklace

I've filled some bezels and make another necklace and will probably take photos tomorrow. Then I have to make bracelets, my stock at Joce's salon has really run down.

I got really brave on Saturday and went to Irene Market with Liam. I thought I managed quite well and bought a few things from friends. I painting from Michelle Penny, an ornamental plate and a wall plaque. I'm as usual pleased with my purchases. I've only hung the painting of the Buddha and Chicken because there was an open nail in the sitting room wall. Pics to follow with the next blog.

I've got so many ideas buzzing around in my head, for necklaces and bracelets, as well as bezels, that I don't know where to start. Let alone have the time. Sylvia, my sister in law gave me phlox seedlings and I need to get them planted, as well as the rocket seed I got from Mith, my mother in law.

I think I'm starting to feel less stressed since Simon's death. I felt so overwhelmed and sure that I was not going to cope with the responsibilities of looking after Liam, Joce been sad, as well as having Rich at home. A good friend, who recently lost his daughter in a vehicle accident, said that the sooner one accepts that life is not going to be the same as before, the sooner one will cope and get on with life. Easier said than done, and I'm sure he is experiencing the same. We'll all have up and down days for quite some time still.

LIFE DOES GO ON

Today it's a month since Si left.

Time waits for no one. Life goes on.

We had a hectic day yesterday. At 09h00, we had to meet the chap installing the alarm at Joce's home, as well as the chap for the quote on the blinds for the bedrooms and flooring. Then off to Parkview for breakfast and a visit to the bank to sort out some matters. Then off to SARS, as they were suddenly querying a 2005 tax return. Joce was in the queue for an hour but got sorted. By now it was about 13h00. I still had to get to House of Beads, to have a look at a metal stamping set that they were going to order me. We had Liam with us and he needed to have his lunch. We went to Pure for a light lunch and fed Liam. I wish I'd taken some pics at Pure. 

We got to House of Beads at about 14h30 and then we had fun. The metal stamping set was just what I wanted, so that's on order. I bought the hammer in the meanwhile and the block they assured me I could get just about anywhere. I'll have to chat to Bev and also about what gauge metal to buy and where.

House of Beads info@originalbeads.co.za now have a studio where they give lessons and a gallery for the work done. I think the works on display are mainly creations by Louise van Stade. Joce and I just have to have some of the creations.

We didn't get a chance to chat to Rina, as she was giving a class. I wanted to find out more about the pieces we purchased and any stories behind their creation.

This one is a bezel, with I think a polymer clay insert depicting the sun.

This is also a bezel, with what I think is a resin picture set in a metal oval as well as a metal charm. I think these are also set in polymer clay, but I'm really not sure as the surface is not very smooth.

This is the dearest brooch. What a happy Buddha. Brass, base metal, a watch casing? and a polymer clay face?

Joce absolutely adored this pendant. It's an angel with the most beautiful buttocks. I never took a photo of the back today, but will soon. The angel is quite light in weight but I don't think it's aluminium, perhaps pewter?

We'll find out more when I go to get my stamp set.

Louise van Stade is featured in "the Bead Book" issue 31. www.beadbook.net.

Joce is going back to her business on the 26th. She felt she had neglected her business while Si was ill and she had Liam. She went and stocked up and is all set to start afresh. She's such a brave and dedicated person. She loves her business and I believe, although there is trepidation regarding the questions she will get about Simon and the sympathy, she is quite excited to get back out there. I'm sure she is going to do just great.

I decided to get to know my camera a bit better today. Of course not from the manual! I decided I needed to take some photos of myself. They were such a disaster, that I've deleted them all. Never knew I was so un-photogenic. I was trying to take photos in the study before 10h00 today and with the sun streaming in. It was probably not the right light to work in anyway. Hence, even the pics of the House of Beads purchases are not so good.

I've bought quite a lot of stock lately and my fingers are itching to get back to the beads and wire. I think I might move Liam's cot to Joce's room for the day tomorrow and try and make something. I also need to back away my purchases.

Hopefully I'll be back soon. Lots of "I's" in this ramble. Am I getting my spirit back?

SOMETIMES LIFE THROWS STONES

There are times when one feels that life will never regain balance.One seems to just start recovering from a stonning, only to have it start all over again. What's been happening in our lives of late has been so upsetting and sad.

The last time I blogged was the 14th of June 2011. It seems so much has happened, although it's truly one thing. Where to begin? What to share? what not to share?

Simon - January 2010

Simon went back into hospital on Friday the 17th of June with his leg severely swollen again and in severe pain. Joce and I had to carry him to the car, he was so weak and in so much pain. I waited with Si in the sittingroom, while Joce got the car as close to the front door as she could. We were on the sofa together in the sun. I sat close to Simon trying to comfort him. In his own way he said goodbye. Simon passed away in the very early hours of the 22nd of June 2011. Joce and Rich almost made it, Si had been gone for about 10 minutes when they got to the hospital at about 00h20. Joce said he looked so beautiful and at peace.

One wonders how we will ever recover from something like this, but as we have been told by so many "life goes on".

Words can't explain how I have felt and am still feeling about this tragedy. So I choose to be quite because I can't explain. I'm inclined to withdraw when I'm stressed, or having to cope with something painful. In our circumstances, my withdrawing would have been impossible and cruel to Jocelynn, who really needs me now. Family and friends have been incredible. There has been a steady stream of visitors from the morning of the 22nd, till well after the funeral. Wonderful family and friends are still keeping contact.

For me this is a time of giving, coping, contemplation and soul searching.

Outwardly, Liam who is now 10 months old is unaware of the tradegy that has stuck his family. He was hardly sitting when Joce moved in with us the beginning of April, now he is crawling and pulling himself up every chance he gets. He is a delight and most certainly the light of Joce's life.

As far as we can tell Joce is coping well, but even with one's own child, who knows what she is keeping to herself. She has been so strong since Si was dianosed in June last year.

We've had a very cold July and my poor garden is really looking sad. We don't get snow that makes the garden look like a wonderland. We just have dusty browns and yellows. I've been putting a few ornaments in the garden to cheer things up a bit.

I've not had routine in my life since May 2010. As soon as I feel, okay, now I'm getting somewhere, something happens to upset the apple cart.

The garden ornaments are from Mr Price. Although I love having original items from local crafts people in my home and garden, in this time of need the items from China are cheering.

I also managed to plant some Swiss Chard and Rainbow Lights spinach seedlings, as well as some pansies just off the patio.

When I walk around my garden, my insides churn at all the things I feel I should be doing. So much to tidy. I'm not inclined to let Mother Nature take her course and like the flower beds to be weed free and the stones and  pathways to be clear.

Spinach seedlings with sunflower seed shell mulch

Pansie

Self seeded Primula

Here I left nature alone, these primula have seeded themselves from last year.

Beading and making jewellery has not been at the top of the list of late. Liam's cot is set up in my studio, so I've been doing things on my lap whenever possible. Here's the simplest bracelet made up of a muddle of glass beads and metal, threaded on elastic.

The beaded bangle is one of my birthday presents to myself. They are resting on a necklace of mother of pearl buttons. Bevan and Claire got the necklace from Kim Sacks Gallery in Johannesburg.

Emma

My birthday present from my very dear friend Bon. I've named the piggy watering can Emma. Bon and I went for breakfast last Saturday at Cafe 41 in Arcadia. I had a great time, just sitting and chatting in the winter sun in their courtyard. Bon knows me well, I don't even have to explain. Bon also made the birthday card, so special.

The card Bon made

I splurged out for my birthday and bought a smallish Persian carpet for the sitting room. I'll take a pic another day. Liam's playpen and toys are all over the carpet.

My thoughts and feelings are all over the place. I have an overwhelming desire not to leave our home. But then can't settle when I'm alone. This has been an unfamiliar time, these past four weeks of grieving for one so young and also for the loved ones left behind.

Maybe our time for healing, peace and the comfort of routines will soon be upon us.

The necklace from Kim Sacks Gallery.

PROCRASTINATION

" Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self- conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things." - Ray Bradburg

I need to adopt this attitude everyday. And I'm trying. Life is slipping away while I whine and procrastinate.

Most times I think I'm a nut or most certainly not the norm. I'm always trying to make myself do things. I wonder why. Maybe this is my answer.

"The creative person is both primitive and more cultivated, more destructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person." Frank Barron

I'd like to believe this is me.

Glyn (my sister) came to visit for a few days at the beginning of the month. She came to give me a hand, some moral support and to visit our Mom. And spend some relaxation time with us. It was great having Glyn here, I wish we had more time together. While she was here, Glyn bought one of my recent necklaces and chose black buttons for a button string necklace.

I love this necklace, I was really pleased with the combinations and of course the pendant which I made.

I'd  made a button necklace for Rochelle, (I forgot to take a picture so Rochelle will be sending me a pic) and have laid out the design for Bronwen's. Today I must just do some of it.

I laid out 84 necklaces on Thursday last week for Sylvia, she wanted to have a good look. Unfortunately, just before she arrived we had a power failure, so Slyv took four home on apro, as she couldn't decide by candlelight. The power was off until the next morning at nine. Not pleasant. I'm now cooking dinner a bit earlier, so if we have a power failure at peak time at least the suppers cooked. Rich hates take-a-ways at the best of times.

I haven't packed the necklaces away yet. I want to sort out some for Joce's salon. We haven't had any displayed for more than a month. We've been a bit distracted with Si being in and out of hospital. He comes out today, after a deep vein thrombosis, which we are told is common among cancer patients after radiation treatment. Si had fifteen sessions of radiation.

The front and back of Joce's jersey are finished, the back front of Claire's jersey is finished and I'm busy with the neck opening on the front. This jersey has a hood. I've started a jersey for Liam with Scottie Dogs on the front. At this stage I'm not sure what to pick up and what to put down.

Wimbledon starts on the 20th and then all I'll do is knit, as I love watching the tennis grand slams.

I'm sitting in the sun at my laptop and am loath to leave, but there are things to be done.

Fading Hydrangeas

 Fading hydrangeas in the garden.







A bird hide at the coast on one of our holidays ages ago. I remember the day and weather so well. The storm over the sea was very threatening but it was such a calm place to be. Bevan painted this from a photograph Rich took. Oil on board.

Bird hide at the coast

I've always wanted Foo Dog bookends but of course could never afford the real thing. Woolworth's had these recently and I just couldn't resist them.

Foo Dog bookends

FOOD FOR THE SOUL

I seem to lacking food for the soul. I think the tough times we are going through at present, are wearing me a bit thin. I know that there is always someone out there having a worse time, but when you are in this space it's hard.

I haven't been able to get much jewellery made and seem to be hopping from one thing to another, not really actually achieving anything. Without sounding too whiny, I'm finding all these household chores a real grind. I'm even getting really irritable about it, it's really soul destroying work. You've hardly done something and it needs to be done again. There is definitely more to life than housework.

Soo, I took some pics about two weeks ago, early in the morning, of some of my favourite necklaces that I'd made when I was starting out. I was so disappointed with the pics, that today, I took some more but I'm not crazy about them either. I'm going to have to work on techniques, as the pics aren't showing the jewellery off, they are much more "jewel" to the naked eye.

Spring

These pictures with the blueish tinge were taken in the early morning in the shade, in the garden.  I was so disappointed with the photos that the mood for writing about when they were made and the inspiration behind then vanished into thin air. 

This one was inspired by spring (I think) and the business of the design appealed to me.

Tuareg Dream

This one was inspired by a web site I went on when I first started wanting to make my own jewellery. It was a site that showed beads and jewel from West Africa and the surrounds. They made sourcing the beads sound so exciting. I bought the amber beads from a chap in Johannesburg who said he came from the Sudan, but I'm actually none the wiser. It's copied from a design done by a Tuareg nomad.

Monied, because of the coins and keys.  The silver bee pendant was bought from a bead shop, that has now unfortunately closed. She used to keep really special beads and pendants but said that there was not much of a market for her choice of goods.

What's Left is made from beads in the stash that I love and then matched up with complimentary beads.

Monied

Steel Bee

What's Left

Here are the same necklaces, photographed in the mid-afternoon and on grey scarves.

Rambling On

I am a daydreamer, a compulsive shopper (I hate this about myself), a romantic realist (if there is such a thing), a book and magazine junkie, probably a TV addict and I fancy myself as being NOT a run of the mill granny.

I love gardening and miss our gardener, who has been off injured for about a month. The garden is more fun when he has the place all tidy and I can potter.

I've not had any perfume for about a year now. I removed the samples from my daughters magazines, not before she has looked the mags though and ignored the samples. I tried 212VIP by Carolina Herrera. It's gorgeous, it reminded me of my working days when I always had perfume to wear.

I need to go and help Joce with Liam now. Si is back in hospital as he has a large (long) blood clot in his one leg. Apparently cancer patients can suffer from this. So, his in hospital while they get rid of the clot. He should be home tomorrow. Joce has caught a cold and is not feeling so hot.

More another day. Crazy writing to myself like this but hopefully it's therapeutic.

A BIT MORE OF THE CRAZY STUFF

A few Sundays ago, Joce decided we needed to eat breakfast alfresco on the patio. Poor Si, he found it a bit chilly as one can see. He ate as fast as he could and then closeted himself in the sunny sittingroom for the rest of the day.