sasha + max studio

As a new week continues, I've been playing with red and rust tones, and adding very subtle textures. I've named this mini collection 'Red Carnival' as the colours have a retro circus vibe. I've made pendants with some large round pieces that have the multi angled stripes. Pendant Here are the unassembled components: And the earrings Have  good rest of the week !

As 2018 draws to a close (what a year, phew!), wishing you and your families lots of love and happiness. A long time ago, I took up beaded jewellery making to make gifts. Ten years on, whilst I'm selling online as Sasha + Max , the making of gifts for family and friends still happens, and maybe a few for me too....   It's of huge satisfaction to now make most of the beads as part of my polymer obsession, and tailor accordingly. The black and white necklace is for my sister-in-law, who hails from Denmark and has a wonderful modern aesthetic. The beads are my early cane work - stripes a a bit wonky but generally it hangs together, do you think ? The green necklace is for my Mother - a very stylish 80 something. I was inspired by the some of the one base colour / many shades work of polymer artist Judy Belcher . All the beads are polymer, paired with a Saki Silver clasp  As luck had it, my mother wore a matching modern shift dress on Christmas day that worked pe...

Teardrop I have been playing with polymer clay this year, wanting to put a lot more of my own handmade into my pieces, and totally enjoying this new direction. So much to learn, so many gadgets one could buy!   Building your own patterns, making canes, adding texture, creating beads - the world is limitless. So many great artists to learn from whilst wanting to work with my own style. The journey continues...  

Well hello, long time no see, and a belated Happy New Year to you. Hope you and your families are well, had a good break, and for Australian readers that you are succeeding in staying cool in this hot humid weather. We talk about weather a lot, don't we? It's a weird obsession of mine since school days. Here's some new pieces created over the holidays - some very colourful pieces and one very neutral. These will be added to the shops over the next few days. Woodland Sunshine Days Circuitous Circuitous Lots of bead shopping was done over the break, and little packages now keep arriving (got to love that)  - a bundle of Graceful Willow beads came just in time for weekend beading. Look at those colours ! Cindy makes amazingly unique beads, might need to go back for more. Enjoy the week. Earrings made with Graceful willow beads - great colour and pattern !  The Sasha+Max Studio shop links are Etsy Madeit.com

With the sorry exchange rate between the Australian and the US dollar and ballooning postal rates I've been trying to source more of my art beads from local artists. This necklace features torch fired enamel beads by the lovely Liz de Luca from Queensland.

Happy Chinese New Year! Off to celebrate with my husband's family tonight with a feast at Sydney Fish Market. Short and sweet post today - just thought I'd share images of how my goodies are packaged once sold. I buy my boxes from Fusionbeads in the US and wrap them in Japanese Washi paper and tie with butcher's string. Just done a restock of Washi paper from one of my favourite stores,  the book and art store that is Kinokinuya in Sydney city. What a great shop full of amazing design books, goodies and cards. Sadly there are not many book stores left in Sydney now. I love Washi paper, the intensity of colour and delicate prints are truly a perfect match for the Sasha+ Max style.  The above are 4 different patterns, must say its always hard to pick which papers to buy.

Best wishes for 2016. I hope that you have had a great holiday break. Australia typically shuts down for 2 weeks as it's summer here. We spent a few days down in country Victoria, at Mt Macedon, the region famous for "Picnic at Hanging Rock", staying with dear friends, eating, wine tasting and drinking, bush-walking - perfect. No resolutions from me, except to get the landscaping done at our "new" home where we have been for 8 months, finish painting walls, and perhaps to give torch fired enamel beads aka Barbara Lewis style another try as I have outdoor space and won't set the cat or home on fire. It's been hard to get back into the day job routine this week, but funny enough there is always time for jewellery making! Here are some new creations using handmade lampwork and polymer beads from my favourite artists. All available at www.madeit.com.au/sashaandmax

Some little treasures from this weekend's beading table efforts. A weekend of beading, friends to dinner, quality Main Coon cat time, and some gardening in our new courtyard as we recently moved from an apartment to a townhouse (my new project- the courtyards are very grey, think prison exercise yard aesthetic! Need some TLC and I think I need to hire a landscape designer). The necklaces are in the Sasha + Max Studio Made it store I'm "modelling" them with my new fake suede top from David Jones's Studio W label- it was a total bargain and will be a steady favourite this spring. Reminds me of Labrador puppies.. weird I know. Cactus bead is from the very talented Nancy of Round Rabbit.

Sasha and Max Studio (big cartel store only) has 2 specials running to help you stock up for Christmas Choose either 20% off, or Free shipping , for purchases $AUD50 and over when you enter the codes at checkout. Stop by our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/sashaandmax (and hey, why not like our page whilst you are there) and grab the codes. Happy weekend!

A few new pieces using very special (aka I've been hoarding) copper pendants from Daisy Chain Extra and Jade Scott. Ring Ring Ring Ring Summer Summer Foxy Foxy

I have been busy trialing and creating a new and very different range.  It is called Sasha +Max Black Label. Why? Typically the Sasha + Max style is weekend casual, whimsical and colourful, but my work day style in an architectural practice is more designer professional, and I wear a lot of structured pieces in black or white. I felt there was a gap for a range to wear to work or on a night out, hence the inception of the Black Label range. It is monochromatic, simple and classic, featuring semi precious stones, silver and pieces that can be layered together. Spike Spike I've closed Etsy, created a new logo which is the outline cat, and opened a store on big cartel, www.sashaandmax.com . that stocks the new range. My Made It store is still active and will carry the casual range. Hope you like it! Waterfall Waterfall Dead Gorgeous Reminiscent Moon

Eclectica  After 12 months of relentless work pace in the commercial architecture and design arena, and feeling like I was going to have a mental and physical meltdown, I've been on holidays for 2 weeks with 2 to go, the first week was in Tasmania visiting Cradle Mountain (a World Heritage listed park) and the indulgent and quirky MONA art gallery in Hobart (loved it, and look forward to going back), the second week at home which means I've had a lot of great beading time, exercise, and cat time. Have also had time to review older ones and rework to get a more cohesive collection happening (see Ecletica above). I hope you like the pieces. Pop  I'm really loving multiple strand necklaces, and Jade Scott's pendants. Daisy Urchin These beads from Mika at Pinocean are so pretty. Urchin I'm now focusing on my Made it store, as Etsy has been super quiet ..lots of looks, no sales for 12 months so I'm reviewing my direction there (am ...