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 :)

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!

Tiger Bead Earrings and New Walking Feet

I've been busily uploading lots of new earrings - mostly Tiger Beads - I have been taking the time off between shows to spend quietly on the torch playing with overlaying transparent colour over an opaque "twisted" core.  I find it amazing hos soothing it is to just potter away on the flame and lose myself in the flow of the glass.

I like the way that the opaque blended core accentuates the intensity of the outer glass.  Each colour behaves differently - purple is really great!

I like the way that the opaque blended core accentuates the intensity of the outer glass.  Each colour behaves differently - purple is really great but hard to photograph!

And now from the strange but true files comes the story of my new walking shoes...

I bought some new Vibram Fivefingers from Soul Shoes here in Takaka and they are the most amazing "shoe experience" ever!

The shoes are great - my feet feel so much more alive and active! I can feel  my toes moving as they are meant to, rather than just moving as a "block" inside a hard soled shoe.  They also support my feet and help with my posture and all those attendant aches and pains.

At the end of the week I just throw them in the washing machine with some quality laundry soap on a cold delicate wash then dry them in the sun - they're almost like a thick pair of socks.

I have a rude friend who who said that I looked like a hobbit!

I don't care - I'm comfortable and I don't care how daggy I look on the beach at dawn - I have only a trusted group of women friends who see me!

Red Raku Barrels

I thought it was time I showed you the Red and Black Raku Barrel beads that I have been making lately.

The Raku Barrel beads all began when I was trying something out for someone in Australia, and we were trying to come up with a shape and style within some parameters for her.
I've used glass raku frit (tiny shards of crushed glass) for a long time now in my beads, and have always loved it in combination with red and black.  As I understand it, the colours in Raku glass are made by using a lot of metal in the recipe, and that metal is usually silver.  Anyhow, it gives a lovely effect rather like that of tiny pebbles or spice sprinkled around.

Being an ex Cantabrian (that's the province in New Zealand where Christchurch is located, for you folk overseas), I have a penchant for red and black, especially in these post earthquake months, when our hearts go out to the people there.  I wanted to combine them both in some beads but in a kind of subtle way that's more wearable than the usual sporting colours.
So...without further ado...here they are...

Red and Black Raku Barrels Necklace

This is the first necklace I  made with the smaller shards of raku glass.

Red and Black Raku Barrels Bracelet 225mms

Red and Black Raku Barrels Earrings 1

And this is the set that I made with the larger shards - I can't decide which I like best!

Red and Black Raku Barrels Necklace 2

Red and Black Raku Barrels Bracelet 2

Red and Black Raku Barrels Earrings

I've been experimenting with the barrel shape in bigger beads too - here it is in the same True Red and Black, the same as the other ones here.

Medium Red and Black Raku Barrel Pendant

I think they look vaguely oriental, and because they're smooth and long, they're lovely to wear and quite neat and dainty looking.

There are a few more to look at here.

So, what do you think?

Candy Stripers

I just had to take a photo and share these new beads - I love them! I love the way that the colour part of the bead is tiny, and it floats within a body of clear glass.

I have a new clear glass which is gorgeous - still from the same place, just nicer.


I'm going to make these beads into earrings, but I already have an idea buzzing around in my head for a necklace - oh, and I want to try lots of different colour combinations, too. Do you have any suggestions?