HELLO AND WELCOME

Thanks for dropping by.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

'Cos I'm leaving on a jet plane...

'Cos I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again (but I do)
Oh babe, it's great to go...

Apologies to John Denver (who wrote it) and Peter, Paul and Mary (who made it theirs)

My bags are packed, it's early morn, Toy Boy's waiting, he's blowing his horn...

My little sister and I leave tonight for 12 days away - 

first stop is Bangkok, Thailand, 

2nd stop, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 

3rd stop, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

3 countries in 12 days - WOW!

The "reason" for the trip is to collect my niece (my sister's daughter), who has been at school in Cambodia for a term, but we will stop in Thailand on the way to have a look around, and in Malaysia on the way home to have a wee rest and some fun together.

I can't wait to see these amazing countries - here's a little taster photo from Cambodia
Not something we see everyday on the main street in Takaka!

I can't wait to get on that plane - don't you love that feeling of taking off for somewhere exotic?

I'm very excited!

Friday, September 14, 2012

If it wasn't for beads I'd go stir-crazy!

OK, enough already!

This is our 10th (tenth, xth) wet weekend in a row and it's now official - I'm OVER it!

It's got to the stage where I'm grumpy and inactive and have the energy of a tired sloth,
with the appetite of a puppy.
Does my bum look big in this?
 The only thing keeping me sane is the workroom and the beads - thank goodness I can escape there and lose myself in the work!
Here's what's captured my attention this week
Green Tiger Beads 


I'm about to load these babies onto the website.

I hope the weather's better where you are!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Introducing the new "Toru Series" of Earrings - and some corny jokes

The new "Toru Series" Earrings - NZ$45
I've been playing with this new design for a little while - they came about when I needed a simple little earring to match a very detailed necklace, and I needed to make a  longer shape to suit a stylish local lady.
The other day I asked on Facebook what this series should be called and Rebecca came up with "The Toru Series".
In case you were wondering, you readers who are not kiwis, toru means 3 in Maori.
They are made using my little handmade glass "spacer" beads with something tiny between each bead - maybe Swarovski crystal or a similar glass or metal bead.
The findings are still all sterling silver so they won't do anything nasty to your ears like base metal can.
They are about 2.5cms (1 inch) long and are hung on shorter French style ear hooks.
A small selection of colour
The possibilities for this series are virtually limitless!  That's why I haven't put them onto the website.
If there's a colour you fancy that you don't see here - please let me know and I'll take photos and make them up especially to your wishes.  As always, your wish is my command :)!

And now for some corny jokes!

I love corny jokes!  Is it my age? Am I reverting to childhood?

Why did the orange go out with the prune?
Because he couldn't find a date.

How do you organise an outer space party?
You planet!

What did 0 say to 8?
"Nice belt!"

What do you call a fake noodle?
Impasta!
Did you hear the news about corduroy pillows?
The make headlines!
What did the fish say when he hit a concrete wall"
"Dam!"
Proton: "I think I lost an electron"
Neutron: "Are you sure?"
Proton: "I'm positive"
What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work?
A stick.
What do you call a cross between a sheep and a kangaroo?
A woolly jumper.
Why did Beethoven get rid of his chickens?
They kept going "Bach-Bach-Bach"
OK - are you ready to get serious about Monday morning now?
What's your favourite corny joke?
Thanks to Pioneer Woman for the inspiration and most of the jokes :)


Monday, September 3, 2012

Ivory, Aqua and Turquoise & Beady Birthmarks

Turquoise & Ivory Long Dotty Earrings - $55

I've been super fired up experimenting with colours lately.  What do you mean, that's nothing new??
OK, I give in - I'm always fired up by experimenting with colours :)

This time it's turquoise, aqua and ivory.

They react nicely in the flame - especially the ivory and turquoise - do you see the little dark "sketch" lines that they make together.  These colours make magic together - like some people!
But I digress...
Ivory & Turquoise Long Dotty Earrings - $55
You may (or may not) also notice that I've started adding watermarks to my photos.

I'm feeling rather clever about all of this - never mind that I have just spent the entire week bent over my computer learning it all.  Just kidding about that last bit, but not about the feeling clever bit.  
I'm chuffed - it's something I've been meaning to do for ages.

I do it so if you want to use my photos for any reason they will always have their birthmark.
Ivory & Turquoise Tiny Dotty Earrings - $55
Ivory & Transparent Aqua CanCan Earrings - $55  
Oh, and I made some Moeraki Boulder earrings - these are really small - not quite teeny tiny ones, but little and dainty.  I'm always asked about these - are they glass?  Yes - they're etched glass.  Just made to look like stones.
Small Moeraki Stone Earrings - $55 
I've been spending lots of time on Facebook lately and have connected with an awesome group of people there.  Come on over and join the fun!

Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Queen's Silver Jubilee Dinner

We live in a very small isolated community and need a new hospital and medical centre.  Because it will serve comparatively few people funding from government is limited, so we need to fund-raise as a community for the balance.
As usual, in its own alternative way, this vibrant community has come up with its own unique way of finding this money.
Golden Bay is a large land area with tiny settlements based around farming areas, beaches and small commercial areas, so the thought is that each of these areas will have its own fundraising initiatives.
So all across Golden Bay there are progressive dinners, dance-athons, plant sales and fairs.



As one of the fundraising events for our area we held a neighbourhood dinner last night.  Five women friends (and neighbours) got together and cooked up a storm for 32 people and the residents of Pohara came out in their finest attire to attend.
It was a glittering affair, with men in dinner suits and military uniforms and women decked out in their most exquisite costumes.  Some of us hired costumes from the local drama club so we could be absolutely fabulous!

It was a huge effort and even bigger fun, the preparations have been going on for weeks!  Initially the idea came from the woman whose house it was held in - they have a lovely large open plan lounge, kitchen dining area and a big new kitchen so the final preparation of the food was easy.

 We set the room up on Friday afternoon...

Cheri and her husband are crayfishers and they provided the divine entree and the Yorkshire puddings to go with the Roast Beef main.
The menu
Rosita cooked the beef - to perfection, I might add - she and I had a last minute stress meeting yesterday afternoon to decide just how much we both needed to cook for 32 people - we had no idea of quantities!

Rosita and me - I wore Rock Candies with my beautiful hired gown.
Anne-Marie peeled and roasted 40 odd potatoes, cooked Cauliflower and Broccoli au Gratin, kumara (sweet potatoes) and peas.
Some aristocrats and some who have gone a little "troppo"!
 I made my favourite pate as one of the entree (appetiser for you Americans) options - something I haven't made for years, but with retro being all the rage it seems to be back in fashion.  I also roasted pumpkin and steamed carrots. 

The event was held in Marg's house, so as well as being in charge of decorations she made heavenly trifle and fruit crumbles for dessert.
Our host and hostess - love the hat!
We were all so nervous about our cooking responsibilities that it was hilarious!  We were all making things that we had cooked a hundred times before, just the quantities were somewhat different and the pressure was on to have everything absolutely perfect!
It all turned out so well - we were all really thrilled!
 We all met for the clean up and coffee this morning and agreed it was well worth the effort.  We're now looking forward to the next event.

Isn't it fabulous how these events can bring communities and neighbourhoods together?