sasha + max studio

Wow, what year, hey? Pinch myself as I never say this, but I'm really looking forward to Christmas. I always love getting together with my small family. I have been making 2 "semi-Christmas" style ranges - saying that, they are not overtly Christmas so can be worn year round, as versatility and lots of wearing of what you love is my thing.  This is the first range, rather originally named " Gold+White".. I know, hey, you're asking how did she come up with that name ?!!  There are lots of styles and patterns, all hand printed by me on my own mix of Premo gold and pearl clay, which gives a beautiful subtle shimmer without too much bling. As always, a very limited edition.   I've added to both my stores so you can find a selection at  Sasha+Max   and the made it store   www.madeit.com.au/sashaandmax Next up, the green and white range - maybe I can come up with a more creative title? 

It's been a weird and strange time across the world. Australia is in lock down like many countries. Whilst I'm typically home based and in and out of my studio / home office for both my business as a commercial + workplace interior designer and my jewellery work, like many of us I'm now 100% at home - I'm going a bit stir crazy as I am missing my social interactions, but it is so important that we all stay home at this time.  New pendants  The future impacts of the post lockdown world will be interesting - perhaps all this working from home time produces more creative and strategic thinking on how to interact whilst being able to spending more time with loved ones? My cat certainly is very happy with the new regime. For me with a senior parent at her home alone, and loved ones in essential services, I know the worry will continue for a while yet. Sasha taking over the office  At Sasha and Max I am still creating pieces and the online store...

Well hi there, happy Sunday to you, hope you have been well! Spring has arrived in the Southern hemisphere today - a beautiful sunny day. Life has been hectic, but it feels like I'm gaining some control having recently opened my own commercial Interior Design Studio, Texture Collective ,  after many years working for other firms. I thought I'd say hi after way too long, and share some recent work with you as my clay work skills have developed. Today is the black and white work, playing with canes and textures.  My work is available in 2 locations, www.sashaandmax.com which is all polymer clay work, and Madeit, http://madeit.com.au/sashaandmax which is a mix of polymer and beaded pieces. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great 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...

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

It's a long weekend in Sydney - a good time for reflection and creative pursuits. My sister-in law Grace suggested that I join her for the Frida Kahlo Diego Rivera exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW. What a wonderfully curated show it was, telling in detail about their tumultuous life, the world at that time and the stories behind each work. Photo by Nickolas Muray Self Portrait with necklace Frida was an amazing women who dealt with some very tough health issues, and died tragically young in her mid 40's. She was a total ground breaker for women in art, never playing by rules.  I felt totally inspired both by her work and use of colour, and particularly by Frida's very individual look.  Photo by Edward Weston Her way of wearing chunky jewellery paired with authentic Mexican clothing was enough to get me back to the jewellery studio to make the below, and online to build my chunky bead stash. Frida Get in fast as the show at AGNSW...

Hi there. Hope your weekend has been creative. Hard to find the time some days. I bought this Tibetan bead from Lima beads in the US - isn't she lovely? She had to be the focus of a statement necklace. Enamel beads seem to be also going into my pieces of late - love the texture and colours. One day I will make my own when I can get some flame space organized and work out how to ship Barbara Lewis' torch flame tools to Australia. I also was tinkering with some other bright beads, one of Humblebeads gorgeous birds paired with a Golem lentil bead. Classic layout. Made for each other.

Hi there. Hope your weekend has been creative. Hard to find the time some days. I bought this Tibetan bead from Lima beads in the US - isn't she lovely? She had to be the focus of a statement necklace. Enamel beads seem to be also going into my pieces of late - love the texture and colours. One day I will make my own when I can get some flame space organized and work out how to ship Barbara Lewis' torch flame tools to Australia. I also was tinkering with some other bright beads, one of Humblebeads gorgeous birds paired with a Golem lentil bead. Classic layout. Made for each other.

 Autumn is making a very slow start in Sydney, we still are having balmy 25C days. In anticipation of the cooler weather, I'm embracing the rust tones in my clothing and jewellery. Carnelian beads are perfect for this time of year. This is a little collage of some of my favourite pairings. Earrings available at Sasha and Max Etsy and Madeit shops. Clothes by Country Road and Trenery (this post is not sponsored, I just like their range and am a frequent buyer! )

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

Wishing you and your loved ones the best for Christmas. Thank you for your support over 2015, and wishing you the best of creativity and handmade for 2016.

I've been a busy beader -  both the Etsy and Madeit stores are filled with lots of lovelies for your holiday gifts. Shop sasha+max at Etsy Madeit

Simple is best sometimes...

Hi there, why is my post thus named Technologically challenged you might ask? Well I've been trying to work on a mail chimp database to get my act together with a quarterly newsletter. I've added a button the top right hand side of this blog....I'd really love it if you can give it a whirl then we can see if the thing's working!! I also need to get my act together on Instagram... working on it! Here are some new bits of eye candy. The first features a gorgeous bead made by an Australian lampworker, bought at a Sydney bead show  - have hoarded this for 12 months... meet Flower bed necklace.  The second is named Shades of Grey. It features Kazuri beads with some recycled wooden ones from a broken 'Elk" necklace. Nice and chunky.  These Sorrel earrings have the most amazing lemon lime beads, a bit hard to photograph but wow, they are intricate. And these Sierra ones are some nice modern geo fun Have a lovely weekend.