sasha + max studio

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.

Those who know me well understand my (slight) weather obsession -I always want to and do know the forecast, which is bizarre when I live in a fairly temperate climate, but may be left over from my days living in Canada. Here is Sydney, we have had 2 weeks of sunny days of 24C+ in what is meant to be the cusp of winter - it is the warmest May on record. Coastal Necklace   Whilst that's great for us and for the sunbathing Sasha cat, what does it all mean long term? Whilst not wanting to get all politically charged on you, dear readers, Australia's current Prime Minister Tony Abbott of the skimpy swimwear belongs to the climate change denial camp. It is hard to deny that our climate has changed but this guy decries a lot of other things ( the disadvantaged, the need for higher education at an affordable rate... I worry about my nieces and nephews....). That's enough of my high horse politics, as I know you come for the pretties. Here are some recent ones................

Blue Filigree Blue Filigree I have had some large pendants that I bought from Round Rabbit a while ago, and they are seriously much bigger than I usually bead with, leaving me somewhat perplexed as to what to do with them. I set up a pattern and basically modified from there with colour. Filigree Necklace Filigree Necklace Lavender Filigree Lavender Filigree      

It's been raining almost non stop for about 8 days in Sydney, and winter has hit us. A great time to stay indoors and have some quality beading time. Mosaic Bracelet Early this year, my friend Sue asked me if I could teach her how to bead. We booked a date, and then her friend Lynne asked to join in. What has resulted is a social beading girls club at my place, and yesterday was meeting no.3. I get out some of my bead stash and the girls bring some treats, wine and of course beads along as well.  We kick off with a nice cup of tea and some sweet treats, then get into it for a few hours, and round it out with wine and cheese and more chat. Dining table as work bench Lynne hard at work Sue playing with earring styles Sue and Lynne 's skills are coming along really well - they are working through getting to know the jargon (head pins are not called sticks!), design composition, crimping and learning to be patient with microscopic beads. Next time they w...

Back at the beading studio this weekend.  Here are some new pieces using Round Rabbit pendants, and my first use of silk fibre. Relic Sahara I've struggled to get back to the bead table as I am now missing my creative partner, maine coon cat Max, who loved to hang out with me and check out the beads. Max lost his battle with kidney sickness at the young age of 4 years and we had to let him go - we are all devastated. Sasha, his sister, is puzzled and is looking for him all the time, and our home is very quiet without the gentle giant. We were very privileged to have him in our lives. Thank you for your kind messages over the past couple of weeks - it has meant a great deal to us.

It's been a good beading weekend, making lots of pieces to restock the shops which had been cleared out somewhat by a fabulous wholesale order to a Queensland store, Urban Dweller.  Amanda of Urban Dweller is always scouting for crafty goodies, so we are very happy to be part of that! Here are some of the weekend newbies. Raining again today after a wonderfully warm week, so please excuse the quality of the lighting for the photos. Pink Chunky Bracelet Green Apple and Wood I also got a lovely package of ceramic components from Nancy of Round Rabbit on Friday, and the earrings all feature her pieces. Fringe earrings Plum Raku Earrings Plum Ribbed Earrings

I think I've gone bit craaaazy this afternoon - it is 41C here, and its 6PM  day 6 of 30 plus weather, and a 150 year record. I'm weather obsessed.. always have been since I was a kid ...  anywho.. . back to beads! Regular readers might have observed that I' ve got a thing for birds and hearts - just can't help myself.  Well today its hearts a plenty. Jennifer of Blue Seraphim made the sweetest glass hearts - if you're quick you can grab a set at her store . that is,  if I don't give in and buy some more myself.  I've made 2 pieces with them. Bless Your Heart Necklace This one has a nice casual feel, and I like that the heart is off to the side.I'm a big fan of assymetry. Heart of Glass Necklace Not much to this one, I know. I wanted to let the hearts speak for themselves - they are so beautiful and voluptuous. Nancy of Round Rabbit also makes amazing porcelain hearts that are total contrast - grabbed about 4 on the last RR update bin...

In a month or so we go away to Lord Howe Island , which is a world heritage listed island about 2 hours from Sydney - it's the kind of place you have to stop, relax, walk, bike ride, eat great food and do lots of chilling out-  it's been 12 months since our last break away and I can't wait... no mobile phones  no blackberry reception , barely any cars...truly getting away from it all..  Daydream Necklace  Any who, there is a point to this...  The water is the same intense yet iridescent colour as the beads in this Daydream necklace. The crackle glaze that MaryAnn Carroll produced with these beads  pairs well with Round Rabbit's sweet pendant. Have a wonderful weekend!

Is it just me, or do you agree a girl can never have too many shoes or beads...? These beautiful beads are brought to you by Blue Seraphim, Round Rabbit, Everyheart, and Bee Boo. I have  been doing too much beady browsing, the bonus being that Sasha+Max's beady booty is looking well and truly replenished. ..............Stay tuned for new jewellery goodies, and enjoy the weekend!

The rain keeps falling ( I swear we will need that ark I mentioned a couple of weeks ago...have to Google how to build one soon!)  and the temperature is dropping in the southern hemisphere....  we need a surge of colour and pattern to keep happy!.. I like to think of these as little medals to happiness. These Japanese necklaces now in the Etsy and Made it Stores

A busy week trying to get over the flu which has knocked around me and my work colleagues, minimal sleep due to coughing fits...meowing cats..... Thank goodness for weekends so we can catch up on rest! Dinner with my darling at an amazing French restaurant last night called Guillaume at Bennelong , which is in the Sydney Opera House and one of the best, in my humble view.... (if you're ever in Sydney, it is a must visit). A busy weekend lined up, but had time to make some new pieces, the first is a blue version of the Emerald Forest Necklace posted a couple of posts ago, made with Round Rabbit' s wonderfully mottled edge blue pendant, and some large lampwork beads by Indy Jules . The Denim Blues Necklace . Not a very original name, but hey... Next one I called "Crazy Saturday". Mamacita's Bubble pendant is up on my list of all time favourites, seen here with some treated wood and textural chain.

 Emerald Forest necklace Loving the big porcelain pendants I bought from Round Rabbit - this beautiful textured one reminds me of an abstraction of  the alpine forests you see in Europe or New Zealand's Fjordland. It sits nicely with some simple green lampwork beads and a chunky chain. Sputnik Blue Earrings I'm also having a thing for spiky and bumpy beads and have been stocking up at Pinocean and Blue Verre. I know I showed the Green Sputnik's last week, but hey, here they are again. The feature beads used for the earrings and the necklace are by Mika at  Pinocean. There are a few more in the mail on their way to the studio. They are a bit controversial - you either love them or.. ..not.. Me, I can't get enough, and end up keeping half of them for myself... an occupational hazard for a beadaholic. Sputnik Green Earrings

Phew what a week!  I finished up at my day job on a Friday, and started a new role with a new firm on Monday. Busy, busy. I set up Sasha and Max on Facebook (after much hesitation - it was not a very user friendly site for a Gen X gal), and I've been a beading demon this weekend, making lots of  pairs of earrings and these necklaces. It's interesting how using like materials and scale but in very different styles can deliver some diverse results - I'm having a jewellery open afternoon next Saturday with my lovely Mum, and the possible age range of the ladies attending will be broad, hence the experimenting with styles. Hey, my jewellery design style is generally my style, so it's either your thing or not, but it does range from clean lined to more decorative when I feel like it. The top necklace has a connector from Summers Studio , combined with 2 scales of wooden beads and seed beads. It is a good mix of contemporary and classic. The middle one makes a ...

Just check out these beauties ! The Sasha+ Max team have been very naughty this month buying a heck of a lot of ceramic pendants and beads.We can't resist the stunning textures and colours in the work by LeAnn of Summers Studio, Mellissa at Chinook , Nancy of Round Rabbit , and MaryAnn at Macarroll -  you can feel the love that these ladies put into their work. Am working on photos skills, not one of my best talents that's for sure (believe it or not I've come a fair way, and  yes it's hard to tell, as I have a long way to go!)  Have been playing with photo backgrounds as we're bored with white. The advantage of having a day job as an interior designer is that we get our hands on all sorts of samples to use as textural backgrounds. The photos in the post are the first in a few experiments. The black is woven vinyl flooring from Swedish firm Bolon. Here are some new earrings with an exotic antique vibe, using Chinook beads, Swarovski crystals, and sculptural...