Fiesta

This is the newest piece that I have added to my website, I have always loved the colours and "rawness" that I see in beads that come from various communities around the world.( portugal,mexico and Africa) These beads have been made to replicate that feel. I hope that I have achieved it!

Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy

I am a member of the Polymer Clay Artsists Guild on etsy and have found all of the challenges and events they organise fabulous!Here is my entry for the May challenge. It is a byzantine cuff bangle. I have used a technique called mica shift,and made mosaic tiles to add to the cuff.
I enter challenges as I feel it forces me to try new techniques or to push muself in a particular technique.The PCAGOE are a great group of people and so supportive and helpful. I am really happy to be part of this community.

Here is the list of all of the members blogs:
PCAGOE Member's Blog List

First Place in Polymer Cafe Reflection Challenge

I have been in a state of shock today. The first thing I do when I get up is check my emails and check for any posts in the Aussie polyclayers forum. I happened to click on the Competitions and learned that I had won first place in the Polymer Cafe Reflections challenge.I have been in a state of shock today! Here is the photo of the piece that won.It was made to reflect my Greek ancestry and the minoan frescoes that I remember seeing in the museums.

King of the bird Kingdom

The cockatoos rule the roost!
The other birds stay away when they land noisily in our tree. They are also very messy eaters! They cut off whole branches from the Jacaranda Tree, the yard is full of leaves and branches from their eating frenzy. They are happy to sit and eat while I am in the backyard hanging out washing,often squaking at me as I do so! I snuck onto the upstairs balcony to take this close up of this fellow,but he heard me and was annoyed,as you can see!

New tennants in the tree

If you read one of my previous posts,you will remember that a possum found a place to rest in our tree just by our bedroom. Well today,whilst busily making a fascinator (hat) I heard some squaking from our tree.ran out only to find two lorikeets feeding their young in the tree. You cannot see the babies in the photo,they are deep within the hole,but mum and dad are there!
Will have to start charging rent for these noisy tennants!

Bushfires in Victoria

Australia is in shock and mourning with the recent devastating bushfires in Victoria. 180 people are so far confirmed lost to us,and the numbers are likely to grow. There are 5000 people now homeless as a result too. The people of Australia have been incredibly generous in supporting there fellow Australians and donating money, clothes,blankets,goods and volunteering their skills to help rebuild these peoples lives.
I pray for all of these people and hope that they can only find some comfort in the generous spirit of the rest of Australia.
We have also been saddened at the loss of wildlife and again, Australians have rescued injured little creatures and helped them to recover.
If you too would like to support the bushfire victims,please log on to www.redcross.org.au and see what you can do to help.

HOT in SYDNEY

Well the temerature here is rising and we are all swealtering in the heat. Our dog,who normally spends her days chasing birds and jumping to see the possum in the tree,is laying on her bed,too exhausted to annoy any of the backyard creatures. I knew she was off the boil when one of the "butcher birds" managed to inspect the balcony without poor old roxy lifting her head.
The cockatoo's have also stayed away during the heat,they must have found a cooler place to go and skquack. I dont mind,they carry on so when I am in the yard hanging out the washing. Birds are quite terratorial I have learned!
We live not far from a river and at night when all is peaceful,apart from the cicadas,We can hear the fish jumping out of the water to land a feast of insects which hover over the river.
It is amazing how all creatures,big and small are affected by the weather.
I sit inside where I am cool and use the heat as a brilliant excuse for not cooking...who wants the house heated up by the stove? I also use the heat as an excuse for not getting any work done...who can work in this heat I say as I look outdoors and see the guy accross the road mowing his lawn.
Australia,such a diverse land. Tomorrow I will probably need a jumper!