sharing the studio

Happy New Year.

I hope Christmas was stress free and happy for all.

I'm still working flat out to get all my work ready for the February show. Yes I'm still waiting for him indoors to scan my pictures but first things first - he's decided his bike needs servicing and what better place to do it than right next to the kitchen table....

You can just see some gum leaves I'm finishing off. To the left of the picture is my laptop where my day job gets done... the kitchen table is still mine - just.

I'm wondering - how many artists share their studio with a Ducati and cursing other half as they lose bits while learning how to service their own bike?

girls' afternoon tea

Christmas afternoon tea for the girls - from left, clockwise:
asparagus rolls (height of NZ old fashioned dainties)
the now-famous Malpas gingerbread in boxes to giveaway
lemon cupcakes with dusted icing (cupcakes had royal icing on them - made with uncooked eggwhite - not good for expectant mums)
bite sized chicken and ginger pies
tiny cupcakes - who are we kidding? we just eat more
gingerbread cookies

christmas tree - work in progress

OK

A truly environmentally-friendly Christmas tree....

1. Pick up a bunch of fallen twigs in the park - pick up a mixture: ones with lots of little branches plus some chunkier branches
2. Paint the sticks using whatever paint you can find - white house paint is good but I found some water soluble metallic paint in the shed. Give the sticks a couple of coats
3. Arrange sticks in a large glass vase and add baubles.

I will get some more baubles when I go to the supermarket tonight and add more twigs but not a bad and free effort.

summer downunder jewellery

December is all about giving.

This year I'm working on sea-themed jewellery. I have forged big silver circles and threaded recycled Balinese glass beads onto them. They are frosted so they look like sea glass. Of course the frosted quartz pebble has made a reappearance - once these are gone I don't know where to get more - I originally bought this strand in Hatton Garden, London.

I have a myriad of shells picked up on beaches from around the world - many with holes just waiting for something to be made from them.

Finally I hit on the idea of making them into silver circle and seashell earrings. These shell slices came from Thailand - but I think the sea worn shells I have in my collection will also make wonderful earrings.


These haven't made it to etsy or the website yet but if you are interested - please get in touch. The earrings and frosted quartz pendants will be around $35AU. Balinese glass bead pendants $30AU.

daisy chains

These are part of a trio commissioned by a contact on my website.

Daisy chains - just in time for Summer!

I hope she likes them.

Have a great weekend all.

painting painting

I've been a bit quiet on the blog of late.

Apologies. I haven't been inactive - I'm halfway through getting pictures ready for the February show.

Here is one in progress in the studio - OK, it's the kitchen table.

I went to the market on the weekend and bought kangaroo paws and a bromeliad. I sorta like the bromeliad more than the kangaroo paws - they're kinda stringy and scary looking.

cast silver pendants

These went to NZ today....

Well the gumleaf with the bite and rough garnet, the lace pendant with the amethyst drop and the right hand lace pendant - I added a grey baroque pearl as a drop at the end.


hope they like them!

gemstone cufflinks

I have neglected jewellery for men for too long so have started to make cufflinks.

These are made of sturdy sterling silver wire with the ends melted to form a 'head'. I like to think the slight 'wonkiness' of the ends adds to their 'crafty' appeal.

Have size tested these ones to fit through a man's shirt buttonhole - nothing worse than cufflinks that don't fit.

These are not on the website yet but will be $30AU a pair.

What do you think about that?

pictures of the Art Sydney Stall

Left to right: My sister Marie, yours truly, my sister Theresa, stepdaughter Louella

Taken one the preview night 22 October.

Thank you

to everyone who came to Art Sydney to support me.

It was a great show and fabulous exposure... will add pictures when I find some.

Now I have a lot of work to do for the February show