The Birds and The Beads
One of Hamish's pet birds, visiting at Peppertown
While I am strictly a cat person - if I had to choose a second favorite animal, it would probably be birds. I love watching birds. They are so expressive. If I grow to be really old, I think I'd like to be one of those crazy bird ladies at the park. I'd wake up every morning (that is, if I can get my sleeping schedule sorted out by then), grab a bag of breadcrumbs and go out and find a nice bench to sit on for the rest of the day.
In the meantime, I really like taking pictures of birds - and seriously, Australia offers the best variety ever. I know there are lots more species out there - yet another reason to get myself back to Oz!
tell that they're around because of the loud screeching sound they make (causing most
Aussies to sigh, and me to jump up and down screaming "Lorikeets! Lorikeets!")
Ibises are cool. They're all over the place - huge, and pretty much fearless.
Damn, I wish I got a shot of a pelican.
I already showed you pics of the cockatoos at the Botanic Gardens in Sydney,
but this guy really wants you to look at him again.
I don't know what this bird is or what this plant is, but I really like them both.
Taken at Eumundi.
I know I'm probably the only person in the world who finds seagulls adorable...
but come on, they are.
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Now, on to a more important matter - the beads!
I always like to encourage my students to take the technique I just taught them and try adding something of their own to it - I get really excited whenever someone actually does.
an oxygen shortage disaster can be just what your creativity needs.
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| Jane is a real gem of a person - one of those people you can't help but love. check out another one of her beads on the right. I bought this one. > |
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The Wig-wag Bead Contest (known in Oz as the Wiggy-Bead Contest) is a fun little "tradition". I teach the class how to make a wig-wag, and then leave it up to them to find an original use for it - the winner gets a prize! The down side is, the winners' beads usually get confiscated by me (only with their approval and all), but hey, that's life.
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Georgie's cat and Sally's sunflower were the winners of week two:
Georgie used my "Egyptian Bead" technique to make an Egyptian cat!
And she gave it to me, which is incredibly nice of her.
More from Georgie: a "Swirly Streaky Sparkly" owl, and another little owl I got to keep.
This tiny little guy is a real treasure.
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Sally used my Streaky-Swirly-Sparkly technique to make a lorikeet bead (which had to be confiscated as well)! Come to think of it, all these little guys are birds AND beads! Woohoo! |
I also brought home this gorgeous star bead from Tracy and this lovely floral from Cindy.
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As if all the beads weren't enough, I also got some jewelry!
This beautiful necklace, in Aboriginal colors, was given to me by Tania:
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Maureen gave me this stunning bracelet:
Sally gave me one of her fabulous lily rings (the first orange one ever!):
And last but not least, check out the beautiful ametista(!) rose pendant Sharon made me. She also made an awesome pendant with my murrini, using it in a way that never occurred to me. How cool is that?
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Okay my dears, that's all for today. See you again soon - maybe even with some new beads of my own! Need to return to my normal productivity rate. Productivity is good. *sigh*
AWESOME!!!! Those Aussies are really talented! That must have been fun teaching a class that had such talent in it to see what kind of creative ways they could change something about how you were teaching them. I want to take your class, i wish you would come to the united states! I have mentioned you to two of the studios i go to in chicago and near indianapolis! Oh my gosh, i would just go ape s@#t over the lorikeets in the trees. I am a bird lover too, especially all of my turkeys. i will send it to you! cool! It is my birthday and my daughters birthday today!!! i am out the door to get her cake. i will send it later. Bye Sarah,
steph
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Happy birthday Steph! Today is my little brother's birthday too!
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