Making Progress

A lot of you will be familiar with the clutter in the foreground that is my workbench, but look beyond...yes, we hung lots of busts, pictures and posters on the walls this week, and at least my side of the shop and workroom is filling up nicely.
You can see the little courtyard outside in this photo - we are set slightly back off the street, and right on a side-road/alley which goes through to the library and a little park-like space where a market is held every weekend.
AND...you can see my latest project piece which arrived this week - an old French provincial candelabra. I can't wait to embellish it! I can see it buzzing with bugs and flowers.

Creating our Space

The Toy Boy and I have been as busy as bees for the past month creating a space to work in in Takaka - the little village in the area we live in.
I'm calling it a workroom, but it has a small retail area in the front for displaying our wares, and we are on the main street in what we jokingly call the CBD of Takaka.
Because my needs are greatest...in terms of space, that is (!), I seem to have cornered the largest share of the area, and have my torch, kiln and jewellers bench there, while I have kindly given the Toy Boy a corner and a large cupboard. My generosity overwhelms me sometimes! The toys will be painted and finished there, so we will both be there most of the time.
We are taking baby steps at the moment, and things are very empty and unformed, but we have opened our doors to the public, so I will share a little with you, too.
The colours are the same as they are in my studio at home - I still love them after living with them for eight years.
It's all so exciting - we are really enjoying putting everything together!

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?

How Society Changes in Times of Trial

We are still very focused on news of the earthquake at the moment - desperately hoping that more people will be found alive.
But no-one has been found for more than three days, and hopes are fading.
Tears come freely right now.
I have noticed how kind we all are to one another at the moment. The first thing we do whenever we meet is to ask how the other person is? Are their loved ones safe? Are they OK? And we listen...
We are so mindful that there are people among us who are hurting badly.
We make phone calls - when we can - to check that our wider community are OK - calls that we would usually put off.
Maybe this will make us all better people? If so, it's a hell of a way to find out!

Lost for Words

I feel that I must post something about the quake that has devastated Christchurch, but I'm not sure where to begin, or even that I can express how I feel about it all.

Christchurch was my home town - it's where I come from, and the old city has almost totally collapsed with many deaths.

Fortunately, all of my family are safe - though it took us a few days to find everyone as phone systems are either totally overloaded or down.

We remain glued to the television and radio, and already we have seen a face in the reports of victims which we recognise. A lovely young guy who worked in a music store locally for a while.

We all wonder what we can do? We have offered beds in our home for anyone who wants to run away, but what is really needed is money.

Donations can be made through The Red Cross - this is the fund that was also used after the last quake, and is now needed more than ever.

For information and images you might like to look at www.stuff.co.nz - they have regular updates.

To everyone in Christchurch I send my deepest sympathy and aroha.

Kia kaha!