BEADING MANIA

Joce has been asking me for ages to make bracelets that are not too elaborate on beading elastic. As I started out making elastic bracelets, I haven't been keen to do them. But, I have quite a lot of blingly lampwork glass beads and decided to make a serious of bracelets using these beads. The are for sale at R50 each. I called the range Venezia.                       

I love to buy mixed packets of glass beads. It's like a lucky packet. I find that the mixed packets that I buy from Beads Direct, always have two or three of these beads in the pack. I don't see them in other bead shops anymore, so perhaps they are not popular or too expensive to import and Beads Direct are just using up old stock. Anyway the, what I call lucky packets, are great fun. One gets some duds and some stunning and interesting beads in these packs.

These bracelets, went to work with Joce on Saturday the 27th. Plus there bracelet stock already at the salon, but nothing on elastic. Joce and I decided to cost these bracelets at R50 each. The other bracelets are R150 or R250. We were sure the R50 bracelets would go like hot cakes. To our surprise, not one sold. Joce did however sell R1,050 of the other bracelets. One in particular had been in stock for ages and I thought it would never sell. The last of these Venezia bracelets pictured here I've decided to keep for myself as it goes so well with so much. 

I've been working with the pendants that I bought at House of Beads, some time ago now. I've made necklaces with two of them and to the brooch, I've added the option of a clasp, so it can be worn on a chain or ribbon.

Liam has just woken from his morning sleep. He's not being well, he's teething and not having a good time.

More, hopefully tomorrow and I can record what I've done with the pendants. I've also got some repairs to do. And loads of ideas in my head.

ON AND ON

Sunday, not one of Joce's favourite days now. The memories of how Si and her spent Sunday mornings are still to fresh in her mind, but we'll muddle through.

It's 10H47 and I'm still in my pajamas. It's going to be much warmer today, up to 26 degrees Celsius. We started off at 10 so we're in for this big variances for a while. Just the weather to cause flu.

More pics of recent jewellery. I did it again, I made a bracelet for Carina, my sister in laws, daughter in law and promptly forgot to take a photo, AGAIN.

Promise

Maki

I always have so many thoughts in my head. My thoughts flow all the time, what to do today, will Joce cope as a single mother. Mary-Ann is pregnant again, Luc is 4 months old and Jude is not much over one. Will she cope, how will being a mother for the third time in three years affect her. Have to see Lindy to help her with wire wrapping. Hope Mom's okay, we worry that she's lonely but she says she enjoys being alone. Bronwen has been making the cutest crocheted toy animals, I have to let her know I've seen them. Also need to get back to Glyn re the Miglio pendant I want. So much! always.

I've tested the balance of my chakra's with the help of the questionnaire in "The Magic of Crystals Colour and Chakra".

There is quite a large disparity between the chakras, with my heart, sacral and crown sacral chakras being overburdened. I'm now reading up on how to get some balance. I feel sure that the health tweaks I'm having, will improve if I have more internal balance. Going to give it a try, as the thought of going to the doctor, only to be sent for tests is not appealing. I know that the breakdown I suffered in July 2009, was related to mental stress over a long period of time. The aches and pains I'm suffering now, can't only be attributed to old age. I don't have balance due to all the changes we are undergoing.

The basins in both our bathrooms are cracked. The basin  in the first bathroom finally gave in and a chunk fell out. Joce had the basin full of water at the time and was really confused when the water disappeared and she had a wet foot. We've bought a new aluminium basin but need to find a cabinet. We just don't seem to get the time to find one. Our microwave is packing up after more than twenty years of use, so Rich and I need to do some shopping soon.

Found this great quick meal in the "essentials" magazine, August issue.www.essentials.co.za

Use up a pack of bacon

Serves 6. Ready in 30 mins. 2 234 kJ per serving. 28g fat. 16g sat fat.

1 Heat the oven to 180 C. put 300g large of pasta shells and half a butternut, peeled and cut into small cubes, in a large saucepan of boiling water, until pasta is cooked and the butternut is tender. Drain well. Put 200g smoked bacon rashers, cut in half, and 1 onion roughly chopped, in a pan and dry-fry until bacon is cooked. Add 2 cloves of crushed garlic and 400g tin of chopped tomatoes, and heat through.

2 Combine the pasta and bacon and spoon into an oven dish. Top with 200g Teleggio or Brie and 200g blue cheese, both sliced. Cover with foil and bake for 10 mins. Remove foil and cook for a further 10 mins.

I didn't have the required cheeses, so I used grated mature cheddar and mozzarella. It was still great.

Okay on with the day, it's now 11h38.

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.