Jennifer Findlay

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-03T10:50:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year!!

I wish you success and happiness in 2012.

This is a very late new year post. We have just returned from a wonderful Christmas and New Year with family on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. Thanks Sue and Mark.

Here are some photos of our wonderful New Year's Eve at Morning Star Winery.

Sue & Mark in the Sunken Garden at Morning Star

The Restaurant at Morning Star

Fireworks over the winery

Merry Christmas

2011-12-18T18:25:00.001+11:00

Thank you to all the lovely people who have supported me and purchased my work throughout this year.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope for a lovely holiday with my family and wish the same for you.

Citrus fresh

2011-12-10T15:50:00.001+11:00

I have had lots of pod beads and discs lying around for ages so finally got to work and made use of some. I love the fresh citrus colours of this necklace.

And a pretty bracelet with a silver glass focal bead and lots of fine silver.

Busy,busy,busy

2011-11-29T11:03:00.000+11:00

Well, I really have to put my nose to the grindstone and start working on some new creations. I have a very busy weekend coming up.
Saturday is the annual Lorien Christmas Market at the Lorien Novalis School for Rudolph Steiner Education at Dural. This is a lovely location only 10 minutes from home - I'm really looking forward to it. This market has great guiding principles:
http://lorienmarkets.wordpress.com/

Then on Sunday it's the annual Mona Vale Christmas Fair. This a huge market and it supports some very worthy causes:
http://www.pittwaterlife.com.au/current_d.html

I hope the weather is good - the prediction is for 21C and fine, but there may be a few late showers on Sunday.

Virtual Craft Fair

2011-11-27T10:44:00.000+11:00

Lori Anderson had the brilliant idea of hosting a Virtual Craft Fair on her blog. The fair runs for 7 days fron 26th November. You should go for a look at the wonderful creations of the participants. There are giveaways and links to their online stores for lots of Christmas gift shopping.

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

Bali - Island of the Gods Part 2

2011-11-10T12:06:00.000+11:00

As some of you know I have had an horrific time over the past 3 years with a family breakup and my mother's sadness and recent death. Bali was a break I badly needed and my wonderful husband made it happen for us.

Not only did we have a great time in this tropical paradise but also came home with a couple of treasures including a 1 metre statue by one of Bali's great master craftsmen - a fabulous wood carver from Mas village and owner of the Ngurah Gallery there. He has had two exhibitions in Australia and is due for a third soon.

The birds in the head dress of the small goddess symbolise good luck and that good luck was working for us on our return flight. We left Denpasar airport early (1am) yesterday morning in the midst of a tropical storm and experienced a lot of turbulence soon after take off. After some very bumpy flying there was a loud bang on our side of the aircraft - the plane had been struck by lightning!! Luckily there was no damage and all the instrumentation was still working.

Island of the Gods

2011-11-09T16:28:00.000+11:00

We are just back from a short but wonderful holiday in Bali. The Samaya, Ubud, was absolute luxury and so beautiful. This is the view of rice terraces from Scene restaurant where we breakfasted each morning.

And here is a view of our villa with private plunge pool.

It was a very real culture shock to see how much Bali has changed since I made two long visits approximately 30 years ago. However, despite the development, the people are just as wonderful and two streets back from the main tourist drag in Ubud you are in another world - traditional, quiet and serene. I was delighted to find two of the small guesthouses I stayed in all that time ago still exist - Puri Muwa on Jalan Monkey Forest in Ubud and Lila Graha in Bedugul. And Canderi's homestay and cafe is still going strong. The Balinese are very resilient and are taking these dramatic changes in their stride.
We spent the entire holiday in Ubud with day trips to some of the most beautiful and important sites on the island. More photos to come as we download them.

New Work

2011-09-21T13:05:00.000+10:00

I have spent the morning photographing lots of work - a long overdue task. Here is a small sample.

Salad Servers

Coffee Scoops

Cheese knives

Email me for details.

Spring in the garden

2011-09-15T12:30:00.000+10:00

It is another glorious spring day. I'm having a very lazy day as I feel a bit under the weather today - hayfever and some unknown bug are spoiling my day. However, this glorious sight in the garden helps me feel better. The weeping cherry is in full bloom and isn't it magnificent!

Bobbin Beads

2011-08-16T12:14:00.000+10:00

Thanks to the lovely Nat (Beadmonki) I have some bobbins to play with. I have a long way to go to catch up with Nat's brilliance but here are the first few.

Just for a laugh

2011-08-15T16:04:00.000+10:00

I recently attended a marvellous marble workshop with one of Australia's wellknown glass artists - Bernard (Bernie) Stonor. The class was a tremendous learning experience and we had lots of fun as well. Just look at these pics of Brenda Coleman and me doing the Time Warp.

It's just a jump to the left...

and then a step to the right...

Sad Sunday

2011-08-14T16:45:00.001+10:00

I'm sitting at home feeling very sad. Tonight it will be 4 weeks since my dearly loved mother passed away. I'm a bit teary and missing her very much as we always spent Sunday afternoons together when I didn't have a market to attend.

As well as remembering mum I'm also spending time trying to think of happier times and looking through photos. So, here are two I would like to share with you.
First one of mum's incredible embroideries - Flemish Flowers.

Second, a very happy day spent with Bob in Kyoto. Just as we were walking down these steps very light snow started falling.

Thank you

2011-07-03T18:33:00.000+10:00

Today was a beautiful day at the market and I want to say thank you to all the lovely people I met at the Heritage Craft Market. It is so rewarding to talk with you. So wonderful to learn that you still love the piece you bought from me months, or even years, ago. So thank you one and all. I look forward to meeting you again in the months ahead.

Gas! & Gerry Hall interview

2011-06-29T22:18:00.000+10:00

No more torch time for me until I buy new hoses. I could smell gas in the studio today and checked all the gas connections with soapy water - no leaks. Finally I inspected the gas hose and found a hole!!! Perhaps a bit of hot glass landed on the hose and burnt through - I don't know. I have had this set of hoses since 2005 so perhaps I'm due for a new set.

Another fabulous interview on Artscape last night. Viginia Trioli was speaking with the very luscious Gerry Hall. What a beautiful, warm and intelligent woman. Here's the link:

http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/784090

Bryan Ferry

2011-06-15T11:38:00.000+10:00

I saw the most wonderful interview with Bryan Ferry last night. Virginia Trioli was the interviewer for the ABC's program Artscape. The two of them just clicked and Bryan came across as a perfectly charming and very attractive man. I have adored him since the early days with Roxy Music and it was great to see what a warm and natural person he is despite all the fame.

Here is a link to the interview:

http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/780586

The Artisans Fair

2011-04-13T15:51:00.003+10:00

The opening of the Artisans Fair on 9th April went well. It was lovely to meet so many new people.

However, after speaking with stallholders, the fair organiser has decided that autumn is not the best time of year to start an evening market. Therefore, the Fair has undergone its first change and will become a daylight market operating monthly on Sunday from 9am to 3pm starting the 15th of May. There is still the possibility of "moonlight markets" in the summer months.

I'm feeling rather under the weather at the moment with some sort of infection that requires me to take antibiotics!!!! So, no time at the torch for a few days at least.

The Artisans Fair

2011-04-06T10:19:00.001+10:00

A new fair is starting this Saturday, 9th April. This fair is dedicated to original, handcrafted pieces made in Australia. I'm very excited to have been invited to paticipate.

Bring A Picnic Variety of Registered

Outdoor Food Stalls

Bella Vista Artisans Market

2011-02-26T13:08:00.000+11:00

I'm very excited...preparing for the first Artisans Market of the year. This is a new market for Australian handmade only, plus gourmet food and plants. I'm very pleased to be part of this new venture and hope it is a great success for all concerned.

Please come along and say hello.

Michael Barley tutorial

2011-02-08T16:11:00.000+11:00

Today I purchased a great tutorial from Michael Barley on how he makes his windows beads. I highly recommend it. Micheal has very generously shared his technique for making this fabulous style of bead.

February already!!!

2011-02-06T13:33:00.001+11:00

I can't believe that time is flying by so fast - it's already Feb and I haven't posted on my blog. I have just created a facebook account after resisting for so long. I was afraid to join because I feared it would be addictive and it is. Please join me on facebook.

Apologies for not attending the Heritage Craft Market at St Ives today. I was unwell overnight and wouldn't have been able to cope with all day out in the heat.

A couple of beads I made for a Reaction Challenge.

Sydney has been in the grip of a heatwave for the past week. Hopefully the expected cool change will arrive some time today. Despite the disastrous floods in other parts of Australia, in Sydney we could really do with some rain to refresh the gardens.

Turkey gobbler

2010-12-07T10:53:00.000+11:00

I found this photo on Jennifer Geldard's blog, titled Happy Thansgiving", and just had to share it.

Houseboat heaven

2010-11-12T18:08:00.000+11:00

We have just returned from a week on the beautiful Hawkesbury River in New South Wales. What peace - no phones, no television, no newspapers, no internet access - just pure relaxtion. We saw a wondeful pair of sea eagles but, as we had left the camera at home, I couldn't take photos of them- the phone camera was just not up to it. Tiny swallows flew around the houseboat all day and there were many different breeds of duck on the river.

Spring is in full swing

2010-09-28T10:21:00.000+10:00

Spring has well and truly arrived in our garden. Here are a few photos of the wisteria and hellebores.

A couple of small bead sets

2010-08-03T17:41:00.000+10:00

Sandstone Jewels

Faux Turquoise

In the sea and on land

2010-07-25T09:43:00.000+10:00

Back to creating

2010-07-20T10:11:00.000+10:00

Good news - I'll be back at the Rocks Designer Market in August - I'll post the date later. Life has again settled down and I'm able to get back to working with glass.

Life is getting back to normal

2010-04-29T09:15:00.001+10:00

Well, after a lot of turmoil and disruption over the last 12 months my life is slowly settling down and returning to normal. I actually made four beads on Tuesday and another four yesterday. Yippee!!!

I have also had time to experiment with some tutorials that I purchased from other bead makers. Here are few beads I made based on Jennifer Geldard's Window Bead tutorial. Jennifer is a wonderfully creative US glass artist and I have several of her beautiful beads.

Fabulous 3-D Embroideries

2010-03-19T17:00:00.001+11:00

Today I want to show some of my mother's wonderful 3-D embroideries/ wall hangings. I 'm so proud of her work and feel that it's time more people know about it.

So Beautiful

2010-01-10T22:53:00.001+11:00

I'm the luckiest person in the world!! Just look at this beautiful bead that arrived in the mail from Manuela Wutschke. Manuela is my favourite bead maker of all time and one of the nicest people I know. Her bird beads are my favourites of all her beads.

Taking a break

2009-12-02T11:37:00.000+11:00

What a long absence! I won't be posting on the blog for some time yet. My dear mother is not well and she is staying with me for some love and caring attention before visiting my brother and his wife for the same. So I'm afraid I don't have time to take photos and update the blog at the moment.

Bead & Gem Show 2009

2009-09-28T10:25:00.001+10:00

Some photos of my booth at the Sydney Bead & Gem Show.

Thanks to everyone who visited me and bought my beads and wearable art.

I have had a tiring, but fulfillng, 3 days at the show. It is very rewarding to hear all your wonderful comments about my work.

Great fun at Loren's class

2009-09-21T10:17:00.003+10:00

This is a photo of Loren finishing off my paperweight.

Loren's class was amazing. I'm still recovering. We didn't finish until 4.30am on the last day!
We learnt an amazing number of techniques. Loren is very generous and demonstrated lots of techniques that were not included in the class curriculum. Hopefully, I will have absorbed some of this knowledge.
Now it's a last minute rush of preparation for the Bead & Gem Show stating on 25th September. I really am a last minute person!!! I'm looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones at the show. See you there.
Jenn

Exciting times

2009-09-09T10:52:00.003+10:00

Stunning examples of Loren's work
I will be leaving for Melbourne tomorrow for a 5-day class with Loren Stump. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. Loren is a legend in the glass art world. Class times are from 10am - 6pm, however, the class can go on until 10 or 11pm!!! I hope I can keep up.

Learn more about Loren's work here: http://www.stumpchuck.com/

Market Days

2009-09-01T19:54:00.003+10:00

The laughing kookaburras wake me early each morning lately. Their joyful song and loud cackling is a delightful start to the day.

It's Bob's birthday today and he is far away on the other side of the country in Perth, Western Australia. Birthday celebrations will have to wait until the weekend. Chloe and I miss him when his work takes him away from home.

Speaking of Chloe, she is sitting on eggs at the moment. What a shame that she doesn't have a mate and no little chicks will emerge after all her hard work.

Well, it's market weekend again. I will be at Mosman Art & Craft Market on Saturday the 5th and St Ives Heritage Craft Market on Sunday 6th September. A trip to the market would be a nice outing for Fathers' Day - bring dad along for a fun-filled day on Sunday.

News update

2009-08-22T14:25:00.002+10:00

Well, I've been absent for ages again but I have excuses. I'm on jury service at the moment fulfilling my civic duty.

And.. I'm sick .. I have a nasty virus . I've been tested for Swine Flu and don't have it thank goodness. My doctor is trying to get me well by Monday so the trial can continue - I would hate to be the cause of a retrial. Luckily, we had Friday off as one of the legal counsel was not available!!

The weather is still glorious and I'm looking at a beautiful blue sky from bedroom window. I wish I could be out there in the garden.

Experiments with a new technique & new glass

2009-08-07T15:04:00.003+10:00

Here is my first try at the "bubble Bead" using brass mesh that many beadmakers are trying at the moment. And some test beads using the new Double Helix silver-laden glass "Ekho". This glass produces many colours and the most gorgeous mother of pearl lustre. I can't wait to make some real (not test) beads using this beautiful glass.

Market weekend....

2009-08-03T09:56:00.006+10:00

What an amazing weekend - the weather was incredible - warm and sunny. Not at all like winter. I had a lovely time at the markets meeting the people who buy my beads and wearable art.

Something I've noticed of late is that people are more buying finished jewellery than beads. I wonder why this is so? Now I need to be disciplined and make more jewellery and felt pieces. I do so love to just make beads.

Inspiration

2009-07-29T09:12:00.008+10:00

Inspiration comes in many ways and from many sources. At the moment I have a bit of a creative block so have been looking at photos. Here a few from our trip to Japan in 2008.

Beautiful Kyoto street

Temple garden, Kyoto & Feeding the deer, Nara

Winter sunshine

2009-07-25T11:40:00.004+10:00

Rose hedge before pruning

Well, another long absence. I have been back with my mum and dad. Mum needs a lot of support at the moment but hopefully things will settle down soon.

On a brighter note, we are having wonderful winter weather - beautiful sunny days and the rose hedge is still flowering prolifically. However, we will have to prune it soon. The hedge looks just like this now but the other roses have all been pruned and the magnolia has lost its leaves.

Butterfly

2009-07-03T15:34:00.001+10:00

I've created a butterfly to get justice for the #comfortwomen forced into sexual slavery during WWII. Will you?

www.amnesty.org.au/comfort

Welcome home

2009-06-23T13:57:00.006+10:00

Well, I have been absent for ages. Lots of things going on in my life at the moment. I have just returned from spending 3 weeks with my mother who was quite unwell. She is back home now and hopefully will remain well and able to stay at home for quite some time yet. This is mum the day before she was released from rehab on 19th June.

I missed my dear Robert and Chloe very much and and am glad to be reunited with them.

It is so long since I made beads or felt and I can't wait to get into my little studio!!!

Mosman Village Art & Craft Market

2009-04-16T17:24:00.003+10:00

I'm very happy that my work has been accepted at the Mosman Village Art & Craft Market. Meet me there on 2nd May. Now I must think of some beautiful things to make for Mothers Day gifts.

Heritage Craft Market

2009-04-06T10:25:00.004+10:00

Padimelon with joey in pouch - Tasmania December - I love this photo.

I had a wonderful day at the St Ives Heritage Craft Market yesterday. I met many wonderful new people and caught up with some regular customers. It is so nice to be out in the open air on a warm, sunny day surrounded by people, their pets and lovely music by Casey O'Donovan. It was also great to chat with my fellow stallholders and trade goodies with them.

No new beads or felting to show as I have injured my back and can't work at the the torch or the felting bench. I have been doing some fusing though, as I can sit down while composing the pieces, but no photos yet.

2009-03-18T18:09:00.004+11:00

My brother sent me this wonderful presentation. Click on the lion cub to start the presentation.

What Tarot Card are you?

2009-03-13T16:04:00.003+11:00

I am The Moon
Hope, expectation, Bright promises.
The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.
The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

I found the link to this on the blog of the wonderful glass artist Manuela Wutschke.

What tarot Card are you?

2009-03-13T15:45:00.003+11:00

This is Chloe, our Eclectus parrot. Isn't she lovely. She is the inspiration behind my bird beads.

Craftfest 2009

2009-03-12T16:21:00.000+11:00

It was wonderful to meet so many lovely people at Craftfest, 6-8 March. Thanks for searching me out and buying my beads and felted jewellery. I had a lovely time. I'm now refreshed and have lots of inspiration for new projects.