Benches have moved to the Beach!

One day you're living in the city and the next you're living at the beach - it's a crazy old world, that's for sure!

Byron Bay is my new home and I'm starting to wonder at the B's in my life. Might have to expand on this project

Brooklyn to Brisbane

Yet another bench!

I'm starting to think I should rename this blog "The Bench Blog" and that I should seek help for compulsive bench collectors, as it appears I've overlooked yet another bench in my life!

This bench is tucked away in the Museum of Brisbane's Workspace for jewellers. In the past I had a residency there but, due to time restraints caused by bench number two and paid work, I only get to visit this bench two Thursday's out of the month.

As the museum is soon closing for renovations my time at this bench is quite precious and not taken for granted. I'm stocking up on the nuts and bolts that make up my bits and bobs. They don't look like much but they make connections possible and interesting (sounds like a dating service ad!).

Inspiration for the third bench

I have overlooked mentioning the third bench in my life - the kitchen bench! Loads of time is spent at this bench and although I only have a few original creations I get a lot of pleasure being inspired by other people's recipes.

My friend, Toni is a perfect example. In addition to being a food stylist extraordinaire, she is a truly inspirational blogger. This recent posting of hers provided me with some roasting-tomato entertainment today.

 I used these beauties in one of my favourite salads that comes from another friend and so is named...

Mia's Lennox Salad

220 gr baby bocconcini

8 roma tomatoes (in this case, grape tomatoes roasted a la Toni)

baby spinach leaves

2 Tbsp pine nuts

Dressing

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp dijon mustard

small garlic clove, crushed

salt and pepper

roast the tomatoes as on Toni's blog

grill the pine nuts

mix it all up and toss with dressing

Thanks very much, Toni and Mia!!

love is.....orange

In honour of my friend Mia's impending nuptuals to Cam, I dusted off bench number one and set about bringing this into the world.....

Then there were some earrings to match -

And voila! A wedding was had!!

Couldn't keep my mitts of the precious tho...
     besides, I had to show the post-wedding casual look!

Happy ever-after

Mia and Cam!!

Two Benches

This past year has seen the addition of a second bench into my life. My original bench is still here but has to share time with the new bench now and the new bench can be a bit greedy at times.

The purpose of bench number two is to create great works towards a degree (yet another!) in Social Welfare and Community Development. I'm studying by distance education so it's effectively my classroom.


Bench number one is still dear to my heart and although I don't spend as much time there I still get a lot of enjoyment when I do. Following postings will show what's been happening on bench number one.....

Christmas Revisited

Wow! A year has flown by and Christmas is almost here again. Unfortunately I haven't been able to greet the season with a stunning range of new jewellery due to many unrelated-to-jewellery reasons. We'll see what happens in the new year but for the moment I'm casting my mind back to last year and the Makes You Want to Rollarskate range.....

Featuring lightning bolts, tiny stars and hammered textures in a world of sterling silver and iridescent blue titanium.

It's all about going fast, dreaming big and having fun!

To view the whole collection go here.

Distracted

Lately I've been using my hand-work time to knit - rather than the jewellerizing that I should be chipping away at. I think it's a form of denial about the imminent hot weather that's around the corner - if I'm knitting then it must be cold, right?!?!?

Probably what I should be doing is developing these knitted metal pieces that were created earlier this year in a workshop with Erika Leitner.......


But I guess this is the journey I'm on for the moment!