reasons to be cheerful - unexpected blooms

One day, on my walk home from work I saw a large growth, like an artichoke, on a tall, skinny cactus. I was intrigued. I had never seen anything like it. Was it a fruit? A flower?

Over the next few days it grew longer and my curiosity grew with it.

It was late at night when I saw the flower had eventually opened, luminous under the streetlights. I woke up early to photograph it, before anyone could pick it.

new year updates

My goodness, what a long time it's been! Happy New Year!

The end of the year is such a busy time, I barely have time to think, let alone post anything. Here's a quick pictorial review of some things I've seen and done since I was last here...

The amazing Christina Adamson put on another wildly successful show at Petty Cash Cafe, these are a few of my favourite things, each artist getting 3 small square canvases to decorate as they chose.

my canvases, L to R, Atomic, Outrigger, Organic.

925 silver, stainless steel, acrylic paint on canvas

Then came Christmas and New Year's, spent mostly lying in a hammock overlooking lush bushland, with my superb family and a refreshing drink.

After a quick stop home to unpack and repack our suitcases, my lovely mixologist and I headed south, mobile bar in tow. We stopped at various towns and old wares stores along the way, until we got to the Robin Boyd designed motel, the Black Dolphin, in Merimbula. We then headed inland, reaching Canberra at the same time as summernats (worst timing ever), and then back to Sydney.

These are some of the things we saw:

wollongong antiques centre: if I had roof racks that dining set would be mine.

mmm, pavlova...

treasures of the deep, shell museum, 142 Beach Rd, Bateman's Bay

I was overjoyed to find it hasn't changed in 20 years.

The sun rising on the way to the beach, Merimbula

This would be my dream house, if only it wasn't in Cooma...

A wall of death, Mittagong Antiques

Two weeks break went by in a flash, quite like 2010, and I'm now back at work.

2011 is shaping up as a pretty interesting year, but in the meantime, if you missed the National Contemporary Jewellery Award in Griffith, it'll be showing at Sturt Gallery, from the 6th of February to the 13th of March. The gallery is on the corner of Range Road and Waverley Parade, Mittagong, open seven days, 10am-5pm.

And meanwhile...

My El Dia de los Muertos: Mourning Wreath neckpiece was selected as a finalist for the National Contemporary Jewellery Award. Amazing!

Unfortunately the exhibition opening, at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery, was the same night as the Girls Around the World opening so I couldn't make it to that one, but you can see some pictures here, courtesy of Metalab.

Congratulations to Simon Cottrell, who won the award for 2010.

girls around the world exhibition opening

Girls Around the World
Gaffa Gallery
281 Clarence Street, Sydney CBD
9. 9. 2010 - 20. 9. 2010

Gallery open Monday to Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm



We packed our bags, ready for opening night.
It went from organised chaos on set up day, to a tenmoregirls spectacular!

Tenmoregirls celebrate. Great job, ladies!

above: The Bricks of Waikiki and below: Bougainvillea, made from stainless steel, polypropylene and halogen fittings.

Photographed by Ian Koker (thanks for the great pictures, you're a star!)

Exhibition Artist Statement:

In desperate need of a holiday, we packed our bags and escaped to the sunny shores of Hawai’i.

On the big island of Hawai’i, I loved the landscapes. There are vast expanses of lava rock, barren but for the vibrant, tenacious Bougainvillea and an ever-smoking volcanic crater surrounded by lush forests. In stark contrast, but no less breathtaking, was Waikiki, on the island of Oahu. The streets are lined with the retro architecture from the tourism boom of the sixties and seventies, and constantly crawling with sightseers.

The holiday ended far too quickly, but then, holidays usually do.

Missed the opening? Don't miss our Artist Talks, Saturday 18th September, starting at 2pm. Bring your friends, ask questions, meet the makers! (no heckling, please...)

Thanks to A mi, for the opening night photos.

the fifties fair

Today, we made the journey out to Wahroonga, to the beautiful Rose Seidler House (Harry was such a good son), for the Historic Houses Trust's Fifties Fair. It was a lovely sunny day, everyone was dressed in their fifties best.

I went ready to shop, but found little to buy. There were, as always, lots of clothes and collectables, but we came away with no more than some ridiculously cheap tiki & hula girl mugs and a silk scarf.

But while I'm on the topic of buying great collectables, I just got this beautiful ceramic pot. It came from Etsy, it's Kenwood, it's oven proof and I love it. I still haven't had a lobster, but I guess collecting them is the next best thing...

please fasten your seat belts...

...and place your tray tables in their upright position.

more floral troubles

It seems 2010 is my year of cutting out flowers, except this time from polypropylene, instead of aluminium. I'm working on pieces for Girls Around the World, the tenmoregirls exhibition opening on the 9th September, at Gaffa Gallery in the Sydney CBD (more information about that very soon).

I'm not making jewellery this time, but with any luck, wall mounted, steel pieces. It's quite a step out of my comfort zone, so much bigger than what I usually make. A big thank you, once again, to the amazing Madeleine, for the donation of the pink polypropylene.


It's been a while since I posted last, and yet I've so little to say. I'll simply leave you with this as a treat. Great building, I do so love a decorative wall, and even the cross is stylish. It's a church I found in St Mary's on my way to pick up work from the laser cutter. Enjoy.