sasha + max studio

Been busy beading this weekend-  trying to avoid Australian election overload - we've ended up with no real clear winner as it seems no one really clearly wanted either of the major parties. They were the same old same old....seems to more about media than actually having policies. Not too much to share today word wise, except to say that there seems to be a lot of red and terracotta used in my bead work lately - that and the birds.....  just can't help myself. The lovely art beads below are by Humblebeads, Outwest, Blue Seraphim, Chinook, and MACarroll

Hello and Happy Monday (if there is such a thing!) I'm so excited - the lovely MaryAnn Carroll has written a profile on Sasha+Max Studio on the Beads of Clay blog, a collective group of wonderful ceramic bead artists. As a lot of my pieces feature beads by  these artists MaryAnn decided to post a feature. This is a first for me. If you want to read a bit more about Sasha+Max,  check it out at:  beads-of-clay.blogspot Thanks so much to MaryAnn and BOC.!!!!!!!

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!

Made for my friend Bernadette 30th birthday, which we celebrated yesterday. The brief was "a bit of bling" . I think we nailed it with some sterling discs and some silver wrapped sweet Swarovksi pearls. Don't forget our sale - 24 hours to go - 20% off at our Etsy Store

Need we say more! Friends of Sasha + Max - thank you! We're having a 3 DAY SALE in our Etsy Shop !!!! The fine print: Checkout and make payment as usual, and we will refund your 20% of your purchase by Paypal (Refund calculated by excluding shipping costs. Ends Monday 2 August 2010)

Fresh new pieces on a cool Sydney winter's day.   Apple Necklace made with raku lampwork by Beeboo, an Elaine Ray lentil, and some sweet free form apple shaped beads by MaryAnn Carroll. This is the first time I've tried the beaded  loop button closure, seen here with a Mamacita pewter button. Can you believe that amazing pendant is glass? Outwest is a talented bead artist, that's for sure. A simple combination. Sometime I struggle with names for pieces, and end up a maybe bit corny, but it would be really boring  if we just called pieces by colour and type,  "olive and cream necklace".  Bullseye Necklace - hmmm....not sure about the name...

I'm so fortunate to meet so many bead artists over the net from all over the world, and get the opportunity to own their amazing beads. I have met so many fabulous creative people, not just bead related, in bloglandia and the internet since beading took hold of my life. The life of a bead addict is a good one. This pair is a simple combination of green concave (or convex depending which way you look at it) ceramic discs by Chinook paired with Mary Ann Caroll's ceramic beads. So simple -  I'm quietly chuffed with the results. New earrings made with some gorgeous hoops from Outwest that go (oh so nicely) with some raku teal lamp work beads by Blue Seraphim. Look at that pattern on those hoops - I'm in love with these babies!. There's one pair in the Etsy shop and one in the Madeit shop.