Back again with BAZOLA

Hi there - it's been a while - a combination of other priorities, other distractions, and plenty of procrastination.
Thanks to all my blogger friends out there who take the trouble to read my blog, and for being patient with my lack of updates.

I hope everyone has a very rewarding, fulfilling and most of all,

PEACEFUL 2013

I have not achieved much creatively in the past few months, but hope to change that soon.
I managed some Bazola a couple of weeks before Christmas - a creative collaboration of jewellery between Barry Smith and myself.
Main Street Gallery, in Montville is our stockist - the pendants sell for app. $90 and the earrings app. $70. Contact the gallery if you are interested in purchasing, they are happy to post out.

P27

P28

 P29

P30

E64

E65

 

 E66

 E67

E68

E69

...and a funky photo taken of the earrings above when my camera was playing up - the shutter sometimes gets a bit stuck...

...much love to you all...

Miracles happen

I have not been blogging for a few weeks - busy with 'wabi sabi' and 'Bazola' jewellery, making a 'blurb' book, teaching Digital Design at Maleny Arts Retreat, local Art4place admin stuff, helping my neice who is 8 months pregnant with twins, and getting things in place for my upcoming trip to China - yes, I'm off again - a VERY unusual year.
A couple of days ago I came home after my morning of teaching and found a box by the back door. Miracles of miracles.
Nearly 4 years ago, I sent over $2000 worth of MY BEST wabi sabi jewellery to a gallery in Perth, Western Australia,  which subsequently disapperaed off the face of the earth. I tried for months to chase them up through other arts bodies in Perth, even the police, all to no avail.
Yes, the whole lot was in the box from the 'owner' of the mysterious gallery [which by the way had a brilliant looking web site]. All in good condition - just needing to be repacked in my new custom boxes. No word of explanation, receipt, invoice or 'how's your father' - but hey - I'm not arguing. - just one of life's little mysteries.
This is one of my favourite neckpieces of all time - not often I find a yummy piece of wire like this on the road!! - think I'll keep it.

...the stack of jewellery back from the disappearing gallery,

...and this is my stack of 'Wabi sabi' jewellery ready for 'Art on Cairncross'.

Some of the finished neck pieces made with the unwound stainless steel wire...

...and lastly a fun piece made with recycled 'silver' chains - there are lots of ways to wear this piece.

Bazola in the Library

12 pairs or earrings ready to go into boxes,

display system sorted,

A4 promo sheets laminated,

...then this morning, Barry and I set up our 'Bazola' display in the library showcases,

...with my tools at the bottom of this case,

...and Barry's tools in this case.

Some pics of earrings in boxes, reflected in the glass shelving.

While we were doing this, Fiona was hanging a 'mini show' of hers and Barry's work to help promote the Open Studios. Check out her flash new app. on her phone - it's a 'builder's level' - yeah - must get me one of those...

...and then the mandatory coffee afterwards at the 'Green Kitchen' - ahhh - wouldn't be dead for quids!

Just one last thing - I am having terribly frustrating times trying to comment on lots of peoples' blogs - Google keeps asking me to sign in every time I comment, type the verification code, etc, etc. I ask my computer to 'stay signed in' but it won't cooperate. Any ideas?

BAZOLA

brooch/pin to wear on scarf

It's been a week since the last post - been busy with family, friends, mini renovations and 'other stuff' in general. However, I see that Baz has been posting on Bazola [even tho' he is out of town working!!], so I  have managed a few hours of Bazola in between other things. We have committed to a mini exhibition in the local library showcase next week, so I had better get my skates on.

These are my Bazola work spaces - a bench in the studio for drilling, hammering and messy stuff,

...and the dining room table in front of the TV for evening 'not so messy' stuff. just as well I live alone!!

This is some of the recent stash given to me by Barry-  as requested, some 'corrugated' bits...

Here are some 'before and after' developmental pics to show some of the processes.

...earrings,

brooch/pin,

I am pleased with the way I did the back - always a tricky one when I am 'fabricating' my own fingings.

On another note, I want to show off my new front door and my new deck rails - renovated by my clever friend from Beechworth, Ross Taylor...

Before and after...

I was always going to get rid of those green diamonds - only took me 15 years!!!

...and I was never overly keen on the 'cottagy look'.

Now to get a painter, a gardener, a house cleaner....one step at a time.

Bazola pendants

 

 

 

 



Christmas aftermath and Bazola

We have had SO much rain in this neck of the woods - luckily where I live is in the hills and I am high up, so no flooding here, but I feel for all the people on river flats throughout the country. The snow in the Nth hemisphere has also left me grateful for living in a moderate climate with all the necessary amenities and conveniences still in working order.

Nevertheless it has been a bit of a dreary couple of weeks - family away camping on the beach in the rain for Christmas, daughter in Haslemere, UK, slipping and sliding on the ice, and I am feeling rather sad after my elderly Mum's death a few weeks ago. Friends have kept me motivated and feeling loved - several dinners, coffee catch ups, and a lovely Christmas dinner with a very dear friend and her family.

I also managed to get back into the 'Bazola' jewellery - so another batch is ready to go to the gallery.

 

 

 

 

 

I will do 2 posts - one on the earrings, the other on pendants. I am approaching 100 posts so I am cheating a bit to get there faster. Stay tuned for a give away!!

MAIN STREET GALLERY, MONTVILLE

The Christmas show is up and running at the fabulous Main Street Gallery in Montville, situated underneath the Poet's Cafe in the centre of town. Thank you Mark for supporting us so enthusiastically.

 

...my 'Small Gestures' paintings and Fiona's rusted metal books,

...some Bazola Jewellery,

and some of Barry's beaten metal bowls,

...some of my 'Forest' paintings, with Chris Pantano glass,

...Fiona's 'Dreamboats',

and Barry's light catchers.

There are lots of other great works in there as well. Check out the web site for more good stuff.