Swarovski Crystal Christmas Decorations

The ultimate in gorgeous sparkly Christmas decorations!

I had some large crystals in my stash which I wasn't sure how to use in jewellery, so I decided to have a go at making Christmas decorations.

My lovely sister-in-law has given us sumptuous Christmas decorations over the years and they're a gift that keeps on giving - we get them out every year to enjoy.

They're not something I would buy for myself - I'm just too miserly - but to receive them as a gift is pure luxury!

They're about 100mm (that's 4 inches) long and 30mm wide with a loop at the top for the hanging thread (which is provided), and have a stiff red and gold organza bow.

Individually they're $35 and a pack of three is $100.

Find them on the website here.

In the meantime they're adding a little festive flair hanging from the candelabra in the workroom!

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!

Maxed Out!

Those who know me will confirm that there is absolutely nothing minimalist about me.  Among my favourite sayings are "More is more", and "Minimalism, schminimalism!"

So when the website crashed yesterday, and when I started looking properly I found that it had been misbehaving for 10 days or so, it should have come as no surprise that I had completely maxed out my data allocation!
Apparently my disc was totally overloaded...

Getting a little MORE was no sweat for my clever techie Anita.

The Toy Boy is just glad that it wasn't my credit card that was maxed!

So look out for lots of lovely new beads being added daily...Yeehaa!  I can have MORE!

Drumroll please....

THE SIGNS ARE UP!

It's taken six months, but we finally found the perfect sign writer and look what he made for us!

Alex Burnett from Mapua made them, and his specialty is 3D sign designs.  He has made the train and necklace out of a special lightweight foam made from compressed plastic bags.

So they're recycled, handmade and fun - just perfect for us!

What do you think of the name?  It was the Toy Boy's idea and is a play on the Indiana Jones movie title "Raiders of the Lost Ark".  We had to come up with a name of our combined work, and this seemed like a bit of a chuckle.

He also made the Golden Bay Toys sign for the side of the building - it has the 3D train on the top, and sits out a little from the building in a shallow "V" shape.

And this is a shot of the little courtyard in front of the shop - I love the little fernery and tables - it gives us a little distance from the street and invites people to linger.

We even had a soiree last week to celebrate the fact that we're (almost) organised.

It was a glittering affair, with the guests wearing their finest (beads) with a number of local celebrities in attendance.  The hostess forgot to organise photos...so you will just have to take my word for it.

I Fell Off!

No, I didn't fall off my perch, just felt a bit out of sorts and was fully occupied with just getting through the days with absolutely no added extras.

 "So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground."
Oprah Winfrey

I've had a bug - yes, the one I picked up in Invercargill and it has been very hard to shift.  I think I'm on the tail end of it now - I have the chesty thing going on. but am getting back into my yoga and morning walks - a sure sign that I'm feeling better.

Meanwhile there have been lots of fun things happening in the studio - the Raindrops series is moving along nicely with the new Palest Emerald Green Raindrops just finished and uploaded to the website today.

The Palest Pastel and Watercolours sets of Raindrops are also now gracing Red Gallery in Nelson for their exhibition celebrating the launch of the latest Nelson Arts Guide book.

And..TaDa...we have the new signs up at the workroom!  But more of that later.