Fused Silver or Viking Knit

I need you opinion. I finished this silver wire wrapped beauty and am trying to decide whether to use a fused silver chain or a viking knit necklace. What do you think?

 What a busy day we had on Saturday. First we went to the University of Toronto open house. Zoe would like to go there next year so we toured the campus, gathered information and were please with what we saw.

 Then we walked over to El Mocambo to see Cami. She once again had great cards for sale in the theme of the "day of the dead" and Frida Kahlo. Beautiful!

 Next was the Creativ festival. I discovered this new UK company with the most amazing wooden printing blocks. Look what you can do with them. The owners were the nicest people and it all reminded me of Rebecca Gill, from the UK who owns Stewart Gill paints. If you have never tried these, if you do find them give them a go. There are stunning. I had to restrain myself from buying stacks of blocks!.... Here is the website: http://www.colouricious.com/

And then the Grand Finale!! The Fashionshow was fantastic, maybe 200-300 people, very professional runway, great music and Zoe, walking the catwalk as if she has done this her whole life! Just excellent.

Creative Festival

If you are going to the Creative festival (http://www.csnf.com/f10_event.html) this weekend and happen to be there Saturday, watch out for the  fashion show of the Academy of design. My Zoe is in it as a model and you can watch her on the runway around 8-8.30 pm!!! It is her first one and she is very excited and so am I!

Florida

While it is stunning weather here today, it is 28 degrees in Florida... I am attending a cancer education workshop in Hollywood, Florida for the next 3 days. I will enjoy those temperatures!

Great classes

If you are interested in some great on-line classes, check Beaducation: http://www.beaducation.com/

Here is a felting class by Gail Crosman... Do I need another angle on my hobby? Felting? Hmmm....

I guess it is all a matter of time, yet again!

How precious life is!

Are you following the miner rescue story in Chile?

Unbelievable. It is a miracle that they can do this and that people can come out alive... Imaging the relief and happiness these people must feel. It brings me to tears...

A cool way to cook turkey!

Yesterday I told you we had turkey with 50 people. That meant cooking a number of turkeys and in a timely fashion. Have you ever seen this? On a wooden stick, wrapped with foil, then a bucket on top and then coal to keep it hot and cooking. It takes about 1 hour or so!

Happy Thanksgiving!

In  Holland Thanksgiving does not exist. I had never heard of it until I came here and even then did not really pay attention until I met John. Now I like it and I like turkey! We spent the weekend up north and with many good friends. A turkey dinner with 50 people! It was fun.

And in addition the weather was outstanding. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Black and white choker

Here is another choker I worked on at someone's request. Black and white on antiqued copper wire.

It worked well!

Inspiration

For a while, since my trip I lacked inspiration to start a new project. I managed to complete this and then got such nice feedback from friends that it gave me much needed energy and inspiration! This is copper wire, antiqued and then decorated with all kinds of beautiful beads. I used a viking knit chain to finished it.

Medical humour

Medical humour is something needed to stay sane in sometimes a complicated and difficult world. These anaesthesiologists are just great! Check the clip

http://nottotallyrad.blogspot.com/2009/11/waking-up-is-hard-to-do.html

An Extraordinary Jolly Christmas sale

Well, Christmas is only 3 months away so here we go:

Like other years, we are having another "Extraordinary Jolly Christmas Sale". This will take place on December 11th from 9.30 am to 3 pm

It will be at the Zion Church Cultural Centre

1650 Finch Avenue East

(on the north side of Finch Avenue East, one block east of Don Mills Road OR two blocks west of the DVP/404)

Stay tuned!!

Wandering in Rome

On our last day in Rome, we decided to "wander" and shop a little. We saw some very Italian scenes. Went to Piazza Navona, found gemstone stores  and enjoyed some VIP pizza. Zoe fell in love with Prada shoes!

What a trip and what a city. I will go back....

More Italy

Man, slow as molasses, this update, isn't it. yet I would like to complete it as it will help me remember later on. I am planning to make a photo book so this will come in handy!

We had booked tickets to see the Coliseum to avoid possible line-ups, which was well worth it as there was a like 4 hours long! It was hot and a lot of walking but so interesting and so amazing yet again. There was an exhibit about the life of gladiators. What a gruesome thing. I cannot imaging sitting there watching people get killed and beaten up. And it was very popular for very long. Bizarre really!

We took time to, following our visit to the Coliseum, to wander at length through the ruins of Ancient Rome. We saw if from the "outside" in the evening, but to see it up close was spectacular.

And in the evening, we went to see an Opera!! It was in an old church but so well worth it. (even though it was so hot in the church, without any air-conditioning or airflow... My favourite is Turandot by Puccini and this performance we saw was a "compilation of different opera segments. Guess what they sang?

Day 3

On the third day in Rome we toured around a bit. We started out at the Spanish steps and walked from there to a little market with old prints and books. Pricey but just amazing old beauties! From there we walked over to the Pantheon where there was a free concert. A nice surprise. Piazza Navona is near by and it is just a great neighbourhood. Notice the Papal hat and the keys to heaven?

In the afternoon we went to the ancient baths. This is a very large complex that was used to relax and meet people and socialize. Kind of like the modern day spa! It was hot and throughout Rome there are fountains that are clean and great if you want to quench your thirst with some cold water. After a little rest we took the bus to the part of town called Ancient Rome. Ruins that are 5 to 6000 year old. Unbelievable. They surround Piazza Venezia , a central square in Rome where one can spend hours! Another wonderful day!