sasha + max studio

How has your weekend been - did you watch the Olympic opening ceremony? I loved the Queen with James Bond, probably the best part of the show for me! It was our 5th wedding anniversary yesterday, so on a crisp sunny winter's day we went for a long lunch down by the beach at Balmoral at the Public Dining Room (strange name but great food), a wonderful restaurant with  a casual fitout  of oak flooring and original Eames chairs. Here are a few new beaded pieces. The first is a partner to the Snowgum bracelet, and has beads by all the fabulous ladies, such as Gardanne, Bo Hulley, Elaine Ray, Shannon Levart and Pip's Beads. Snow Gum Owls I must say those owl beads by Pips Beads are sooo sweet. They did not need much but a splash of colour and some wire.   Red The bracelet continues my obsession with Elaine Ray's ceramics. Sasha says "Have a great week!"

The necklace shown here was made with some of the beautiful beads I received from Anne of Gardanne .  It was a good week for earrings sales this week, which means I have more bead money to play with over the break - excellent! The day job finished for the year last Friday, so it is time to rest, play and get ready for a feast at our place on Christmas Day - it is summer here but we still have the big meal. I really love hosting Christmas lunch - this is year is a smaller group than usual with some family off celebrating in Denmark, others in New Zealand - it is wonderful to have family  together and for everyone just to relax. Some planning and shopping for the feast is yet to be done, so I'm off to peruse the recipe book stash for some ideas for what to have with Aussie chef / cookbook guru  Bill Granger's baked ham, and mango salsa. Not sure how your year has been ? Judging by the wishes over at Lorelei's blog it seems like a mixed bag for us all -  I wis...