A Glass Blue Wren - From Venice

Hello dear readers,

A few days ago, I came across a wonderful photo of a Blue Fairy Wren on Carole's Creative Corner.

Now for those that don't know, the Fairy Wren is my little blog icon that I use when chatting on various forums etc... the female Blue Wren (commonly called a 'Jenny Wren') in particular is my icon.  She is the little brown bird and the male has the intense colorful blue plumage... as is so often the way in the bird world.
The Jenny Wren can also be seen on my blog header.

Seeing those wonderful bird photos reminded me that I have never shown a photo of the gorgeous sculptural Blue Wren I purchased from Vittorio Costantini when I was in Venice earlier on this year....so here he is:

This little bird is so beautiful ...the markings and delicacy of the legs and feet in particular are truly spectacular... this is glass remember! Isn't he divine... Vittorio is a Master at his work and it was a real privilege to talk to him and watch him work for a while.

And now to a few more copper photos!!... I just can't seem to keep away from this metal lately. Here are a few things I have made over the last two days. I can't believe how I am loving working with the metal... the glass is getting a little dusty!

Silver and copper bead, deliberately textured with a dremel bit.

Copper leaf, cut from 24 gauge sheet metal, the word "HOOT" is stamped on it. (My husband said this leaf shape looks like a Christmas tree... I was going for an oak leaf!)

All metal beads so far.... still to be darkened in Liver of Sulphur.

Copper lentil beads and a little wire nest with pearls (I learnt this from a tutorial by Sarah Ortega.)

Hope you are all having a wonderful day...I know I am!!  Hoot!

Bead Table Wednesday - 2nd November - Fun with Copper

Hello dear readers,

This is what is on my beading table at the moment...excuse the fluff and debris in these photos!
I have been working on wire working basics the last couple of weeks and this week have been brave enough to try and make a few metal components from copper tubing...it has a been fun..I have even done a little soldering on the big bead...originally I had caps on the end of this larger bead but I just couldn't get it to sit right..so decided to solder some flattened jump rings to the ends of the tube...you can see the solder..I am not very practised in this technique at all!
It is amazing how long these little things take to complete...I have been at it most of the day!

I still need to put these in Liver of Sulphur and then polish them up. The corrugated beads are brass.

The two beads on the left are copper tubing hammered with a ball pain hammer for additional texture.

The long one with beads was originally a round copper cut-off, hammered in to a flatter shape. The dangles are very fine tubing that the Italians use to build their glass beads on (They then soak them in acid to remove the copper) This was VERY tricky to cut..using normal cutters flattened and closed the hole...eventually used a little saw to cut it.

I have had a lot of fun making these elements...still have a way to go...they are a bit rough! Today I am linking up to Bead Table wednesday...please click on the Btw log on my blog side bar to take you to the public flickr site for lots of beady fun.

Cheers,

Jenni

I Heart Macro- Wood Love

Hello dear readers,

Goodness...Sunday seem  to come around quickly these days! I often look back on the week and wonder about what I have really achieved.

Since retiring from paid employment, the days somehow seem to go so quickly. With no real structure to my day, it is easy to 'waste' hours of time on no real thing......a little extra sleep in...a little extra time browsing blogs...you know how it goes! Before you know it.....it is nearly lunch time and the day is disappearing before 'things' have been started!! (or before I am even dressed!) Every day is like a Sunday, really.
I have GOT to get more disciplined if I want to achieve more in my day!

Anyway... on to Macro Sunday....

I love wood. All sorts of wood. Both new and old.
Our house is full of many varieties of wood.....the old part of the house has Baltic Pine floors, the newer part, have Blackbutt floors. The piano is Burred Walnut, the inherited sideboard and formal dining table is Cedar. The new table is made from Tasmanian Blackwood.
Sounds like a real mish-mash when I read that back..but somehow..it all seems to fit together.

We have been wanting a narrow side table to sit at the end of the dining table in our family area and I have been wondering about what could fit in well with this melee of wooden styles and colours. Should it be a solid colour... could I be brave enough to have red or aqua (If I could find an aqua one of the right size, I would not hesitate!!)

Yesterday, we found a bleached wooden one which fitted the dimensions and some of the style requirements... so we have bought it home for a few days to see if we like it. The side table is a good match with the lighter tones of wood colour found in the floor.

It is made from elm and has been bleached..so is quite rustic in both appearance and finish. The drawers are deep enough to hold napkins and cutlery which is a real bonus.

It is not quite as pink as this in real life. The large pot is an old French olive oil container.

Handle detail up close.
This photo reminds me of I Heart Macro - Door Knobs of Florence post.

Full handle up close.

Wooden dowels have been used instead of nails...love that!

It sits not far from the kitchen which is quite modern...glass, stainless steel and off-white stone benches.... but I am a person that loves a combination of old and new, so that's o.k in my book.

What do you think...should I keep it or continue looking.......!!?? ( my husband groans when he reads this line!)

Please check in to Studio Waterstone to see more up close photography "for macro makers and the camerologically challenged".....you will love it! Click on the photo below to take you to the site.

Until another day, 

Cheers, 

Bead Table Wednesday - 26th October

Hello dear readers,

I wish I could say there is something stunning and outrageously beautiful on my bead table today......!!
No.....I am STILL working on my basic wire skills and will be for some time to come, I think!

This week, I have been going through a few jewelry books and have been practising a few elements from them.

I love the book "Bead on a Wire" by Sharilyn Miller and from it I have been making "easy links" with the idea of making a chain.

These are made from 15-gauge copper, as that is what I had on hand. In the book, it says to use 20 gauge wire for these links......so this will end up a little chunkier looking...but, hey..that's o.k....it will just be extra sturdy!

"Easy links" - the start of the chain.

More easy links!

The pile!!

"Pendant Dependents", also from "Bead on a Wire".

The coiled wire link in the last photo is from the book "Wire Style 2" written by Denise Peck). This link design is used in the "Encircled Bracelet" (designed by Cindy Wimmer) as shown in the book. ( Love this book!)

I definitely need to practise these some more.....this was my first try. 

Please click on the btw logo on my blog side bar to see what other btw fans have on their tables this week.

And that's it for today folks,

Cheers,

Little Gem

Hello dear readers,

No, I am not talking about gems of the sparkly nature but rather a quaint wooden ferry.

This sweet wooden boat was built in 1947 and originally plied the waters between Palm Beach and Patonga and the Hawkesbury River (Sydney, Australia)...serving the "Riverboat Mail Run"

Originally called "The Westhead", she is now berthed at  Gem Pier, Williamstown, Victoria...and has been re-named "Little Gem".
She still goes out on half day cruises for those that love to experience the charm and romance of a bygone era.

Today I am linking up to Texture Tuesday with our host Kim Klassen
The challenge this week was to include two of Kim's textures in our photo...I included the rustic crackle of "Crackerjack" and "Vintage" textures.

Head on over to join in the fun.

Cheers,

Jenni

I Heart macro - a cold day at the beach.

Hello dear readers,

It seems that Spring has flown ( I am in Australia) and in it's place Winter has returned......today has been grey and raining.
However, that did not stop me venturing out.....looking for some interesting Macro shots.

I am not a beachy type of person. Saying that, I do wish to clarify and explain that I love WALKING on the beach or sitting on the beach on a nice (not hot) day....I just loathe going to the beach with the masses and roasting in the sun...getting all hot and sticky and burnt is not my type of fun.

So today was a good beach-strolling type of day...perhaps a bit cool...but fine to get outdoors for a while and also take the opportunity to find something a little different for my Sunday post!

I was a little disappointed...even the sea life was sheltering from the grey day.....but I did manage to find many different varieties of sea-weed that looked just right for I Heart macro!

Love these green fingers! Look at that texture, too!

There are about 5 varieties of seaweed in this photo.

Love the pretty pink!

Nice contrasts.

Popped bubbles!

And a dash of my favourite aqua.

It always amazes me just how much beauty can be found when you take a look up close!

Please join in and take a look at I Heart Macro for all the other participants photos....

Until next time,

Cheers,

A visit to Cloudhill - Nursery and Gardens.

Hello dear readers,

Last week, I made an excursion to 'Cloudhill', a stunning garden and nursery.
'Cloudhill' is located in Olinda, 36 kms east of Melbourne, (Victoria, Australia) in the area of the Dandenong Ranges.

'Cloudhill' was originally a working garden pioneered by the Woolrich family during the 1890's. At one time, it was a plant and flower farm.

Now it is a garden, nursery and restaurant combination and a wonderful place at any time of year for both a meal and a day contemplating the beauty of a unique and historic garden.

Here are a few photos of my time spent there...I could give you more...the beauty of the plants and vistas there are astounding...every time I turned a corner I found something new and breath-taking.

One of the many walk - through garden areas with a view to further afield. The gardener is trimming one of the many hedges and sculpted plants.

The white Viburnum is stunning next to this old wall. Beautiful Japanese Maple (on the far right ) grow well here in the cooler climate of the mountains.

A path meandering down to the woodland area. Bluebells and Solomon's seal grow prolifically in the meadow and underneath this old tree.

 

An old fashioned Columbine (or Granny's Bonnet) also likes the dappled shade of the woodland area.

This is a Waratah, the floral emblem of New South Wales, an Australian state.

A beautiful old seat in the shade.

Sweet Apple blossom...can you see the tiny insect on a leaf in the middle of the photo?

Quirky and colourful garden ornaments at the shop.

Beautiful isn't it!? 

Hope you are all enjoying your day,

Cheers for now,

Color Time - the 3rd Color Palette Walk.

Hello dear readers,

As I mentioned in previous post, today would be the day of the Color Palette Blog Walk.....hosted by Brandi. This is the third colour palette walk organised by Brandi...and my second.

Come along and join in for a colour feast for your eyes.

As it is Spring here in Australia, my garden is overflowing with colour and perfume. Here is a small
offering of that beauty found there...it definitely brings me so much joy to be out there amongst it all.

Just look at these pretty colours!

Here are the links to the other participants. Have fun!

Francesca at Francesca Watson Designs -- http://www.francescawatson.com

Lori at Pretty Things -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Marsha at Marsha Neal Studio Blog -- http://www.marshanealstudio.blogspot.com

Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio -- http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com

Kerry at Kab's Concepts -- http://www.kabsconcepts.blogspot.com

Cynthia at Ornamental Style -- http://www.ornamentalstyle.com/blog

Linda at Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings -- http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Emily at Good Things* -- http://jorpins.blogspot.com

Erin at Treasures Found -- http://treasures-found.blogspot.com

Brandi at Brandi Girl Blog -- http://www.brandigirlblog.com

Jenni at Jenni's Beads -- http://jennibead.blogspot.com 

Shari at Exploring the Wonders of Life -- http://exploringthewondersoflife.blogspot.com  

Enjoy your day,