#52 Lists - Week 4

This week's #52 Lists - Week 4 is all about favourite smells. To me, a delicious smell inspires both the mind and heart.

Here is my list.. and without doubt my No.1 favourite smell is lavender. I've got lavender soap, lavender hand cream, lavender scented candles, lavender scented cleaning products, lavender essential oil, lavender scented sachets in my drawers and wardrobe... and it goes on. Despite this, my house does not overwhelmingly smell of lavender (...which is a relief for guests) but rather a nice fusion of many favourite smells.

I realised while writing this list, how important it is to surround yourself with your favourite smells. I think I could have kept going but decided to stick to my Top 10.....

Sunday Snaps

Always a wooden box...

...by the door....

... more wooden boxes

 

 .....for the love of magazines...

...Murphy...working hard again...

...Geranium...waiting for rain

My Creative Space - Working with Silver

Long silver earrings are a favourite.

I've had these long elegant sterling silver earring hooks in my stash just waiting for the right beads to come along.

These new earrings using brushed sterling silver beads are called 'Elegante':

Silver beads populate my desk this week. Here are some others from the current stash:

I look forward to getting my hands on these.. 

Have a safe and happy Australia Day tomorrow.

Wednesday Words Of Wisdom

'He that would live

in peace and ease

must not speak all he knows

nor judge all he sees'

Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790

#52 Lists - Week 3

I like lists!

I write myself lists all the time and keep a small notebook in my bag just in case something needs to be added to one of my lists! This keeps me organised and jogs the memory....well.. most of the time!

I came across the talented and creative Pip from Meet Me At Mikes and have joined in #52 Lists for 2013 - although I'm a bit behind as I joined just in time for week 3.

Here is my list for week 3 - Favourite TV shows from my childhood:

After I took this photo and uploaded it to my blog, I realised I forgot to add 'Julia'- that would be my No.9. This was a great list to write as it conjured up memories of coming home from school, pouring a Milo and catching up with some of my much loved TV characters.

Sunday Snaps

In the bedroom....

....always a book...just finished!

...finally made something for myself...

... keeping the alarm clock company...

...garden raindrops... so welcome.....

....new earrings 'Amelie'

My Studio Space - More Organising

This week I pulled out all my cream, brown and amber resin beads with an aim to really see what I had hiding in my stash. I still has a few strands of stone beads to price shown here on top of the pile. The plan is to separate the wood, resin, stone and glass into smaller containers so specific beads are easier to find. I embark on this type or organising about twice a year and it really helps me stay on top of my inventory.

I've got more organising to do...I'll post an update at a later stage....

My Studio Space - Goal 1 Staying Organised

I've got a fondness for boxes made of wood - old antique boxes that have personality, a story and character. Over the years my collection has grown and they populate my living space, bedroom and dining room. I included one of them as part of my Sunday Snaps last week.

I often wonder where these loves come from.. we've all got them...things we are drawn to, perhaps collect, things that make us happy or curious.. and things that make our homes welcoming, comfortable and warm.

My love of little boxes has also made its way into my studio space... not so much the antique wooden type but just as appealing. To keep my desk organised, I've got a nice collection of small decorative cardboard boxes for storage.This purple one houses my stamps - I had it out yesterday as I packaged a necklace up to send interstate:

This next one has a French theme and keeps my business cards organised:

You can find these boxes everywhere but I've gathered ones that mean something  to me.. and along the way they keep my space organised. 

How do you stay organised?

Sunday Snaps

Murphy's summer haircut

.... on my desk...purple again

....Aquilegia in flower

..still in the garden... ground cover 'Isotoma'

...new earrings 'Blue Bells'

My Creative Space - New Earrings

Enjoying the meditative nature of wire wrapping - some new earrings made over the weekend named 'Iris':

I've been in a bit of a creative whirl in the past few days and this is what happens when you pile up your desk with a gazillion components that overbalance:

A container of silver beads overturned, landed in a box of beads on the floor, got stuck in my rug and those that were airborne scattered across the floorboards and rolled under furniture and into the most obscure places. I think I've found most of them but a part of me wonders whether I'll be discovering little silver beads for months to come!

Sunday Snaps

From a collection of wooden boxes..

... on the table...

..on the windowsill...

...in the kitchen...

...in the bedroom

..as always the garden

My Creative Space - Silver Earrings

It is good to be back into some creativity - working with my hands and diving into my stash of silver. I miss my creative time if I've been away from my creative space for a day or so.

Some new creations using silver plated beads and sterling silver:

'Exotic' listed on Etsy

...and 'Always The Sun' also listed on Etsy

 

2013 - Week 1

Week 1 of 2013 has been very low key so far!

Unfortunately I've had the flu and have spent the past 4 days sleeping (.. a lot), watching TV, reading and doing very little else.  No blogging, no creating, no exercise, no socialising... it has been very quiet indeed. Thankfully I'm starting to feel better and less fatigued... so a bit more energy to tackle other 'stuff'...

...a quick clean up of the desk and a new home for some of my jewellery making tools:

... and some editing of a few photos. This one is of a bracelet I made last weekend:

I've named this coral and sterling silver bracelet 'Rosie'. The charm is silver plated and is reminiscent of an antique coin. I hope to list this one in my Made It store over the weekend.  

Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend and some respite from this Sydney heatwave.

Welcome to 2013

I wish everyone a very happy and enjoyable 2013!

Last night I enjoyed the Sydney fireworks from a party near the harbour.

My photos were a bit of a flop and don't really show the fireworks very well:

You can only just make out the red lips (the red dot...) on the harbour bridge on the right hand side. I realised afterwards that my camera was not on the right setting.

Needless to say the Sydney fireworks never disappoint and are always beautiful and spectacular.

This time of year inspires renewal and encourages everyone to look ahead and think about one's hopes and dreams for the coming year. As the fireworks were unfolding I quietly set some goals for 2013 which includes making travel plans, expanding my fitness regime and setting aside more creative time (always on the list). I have some practical projects around the house to tackle in 2013 as well as a plan to do some paving in the garden too. In any case, I'm looking forward to what 2013 may hold! Best wishes to all.....