New creations

The countdown is on till we are away on holidays. In the meantime I am trying to fill the last of the commissions and finish one last request of my sister's so I can take it with me when I go. Well, she didn't actually ask but it's obvious from all the hints being dropped she'd love one.

She liked my curlicues necklace, but as she already has some turquoise and howlite from me, I decided to use something else. She mentioned that she wanted something in red coral so that's the new idea to play on. Curlicues meets coral. It's about half way there now, then just one last simple necklace she actually did ask for outright but that's a quick and easy project.

Back to the curling....

Wow it's pouring!

For the first time since I moved to NZ (almost 6 years) I am experiencing a great storm!
It's pouring down by the truckload, hailing and some spectacular lightning and thunder to cap it off. The road is flooded, and looks like a whitewater course!

I love storms and they have been one thing I have missed in moving here. I feel vitalised and recharged. I just love it. It's made me feel inspired again.

Heatwave

For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, you might be thinking summer sounds nice, but today is so hot I am just going nuts....along with my cheeky son who hasn't sat still, or stopped whining all day.

I am sitting and trying to do some weaving but it feels like it's too hard to move. I am working on a simple Celtic knot, since anything more complex will probably roast my brain. Ok. so maybe not, but the heat has made me lethargic.

Blah.

Manaia Pendant

That's manaia NOT mania.

For those not in the know, a manaia is a creature of Maori legend. It is a supernatural being, an iwi guardian (tribal guardian), to ward of danger, to frighten away intruders. The manaia is a bird-like figure, a spiritual and mythical creature.

I have been thinking for a few days to do a Maori themed weave, and my husband has really urged me to do one. I decided on a manaia. Bone carving pendants of manaia usually have a second element too - and I was going to use a hei matau (fish hook). After making that decision I started thinking about our niece named Manaia, and thought a koru (furled fern frond) representing new beginnings would better suit a small (almost) toddler just starting her journey through life.

So, I am sitting here and weaving, and waiting to see how it will evolve as I work......