Happy New Shed (and a quick sale to celebrate)

Down in my back yard is a magical place.  It's a place I've dreamed of for years, a little place that I can call my very own, a quiet place to create.  

Since being in here, with my tools spread out and feeling like I have space to breathe, I've been inspired and have been working on my next collection named "Down the Garden Path".

I feel like it's a fusion between the greenery I see out my window everyday and my memories  of the Japanese temple gardens I used to go to when I didn't have a garden of my own.

This little piece in the front will be filled with an orangey-red resin representing the glittering scales of koi in garden ponds.  I would sit and watch them for hours as they would glide through the water.  

Near my apartment in Japan, there used to be a large glorious Gingko tree.  The leaves would flutter onto the footpath and would make me smile as I walked over their carpet.  My gingko leaf will be done both in a green and an autumn yellow.

The koi will also be turned upside down and filled with a beautiful sky blue resin reminding me of fluffy autumn clouds.

A Zen garden without stones just wouldn't feel complete, as they represent longevity and happiness.  I've taken a slightly different approach to my "Zen Stones", each one is hand carved out of jeweller's wax, cast in silver and filled with resin.  Each and every one is completely unique just as the stones in a garden would be.

I love when I carve them, they get surrounded by filings, reminding me of sand.  Maybe I should start raking it every now and then as I work.

Once filled with resin, just a single facet on each side shows colour.

Without rain those gardens would never grow, so added to the collection are little raindrops, coming down from the sky to kiss the flowers as I tell my little one.

To celebrate my magical new space (and just before I need to put some prices up), I'm having a quick sale that will end on July 1st.  Using the code "HappyNewShed" will get you 20% off either my webstore or my Etsy shop.  There is only one of the raindrops available in the sale (in the Etsy shop) and limited amounts of any of the sterling silver pieces. 

This is what my creative space has been looking like lately, to see more or add your own, head over here.

Flickr Faves on a Friday - Blogtoberfest Day 2

I had very good intentions of blogging every day in October for Blogtoberfest. Alas, we lost our phone and internet connection for a couple of days so I missed Day 1.

So here I am, beginning on Day 2.

This week, I found out that I've been given a spot in the next Boutique Markets at Portside on October 11th. I was talking to one of the very lovely ladies there about taking my stall display to the next level. She suggested a Japanese garden feel, while searching for inspiration, I was also drawn to the tea houses. How nice would it be to bring a little slice of Japan to the market.

1. San Francisco - Japanese Tea Garden, 2. View from the Tea House, 3. Tea House, 4. Tea Ceremony, 5. Japanese Village, Bukit Tinggi #3, 6. Spheres, 7. Japanese Tea House, 8. Japanese Garden Sick Day, 9. Lantern

Room with a Garden View

When I was in Kyoto last week, there was one day that I was in serious need of some zen-ness. I hopped on a bus that took me up into a little mountain town, Ohara. For a long time I sat alone in the large garden of a temple where the sun illuminated the small Japanese maple leaves. Water ran down the slope, playing notes on each rock in hit.

After a while I explored the area a little more and was drawn to this old house. Once again, I sat and absorbed the nature around me. From one side I marvelled at the beauty of a 700 year old pine tree.

While enjoying the view, I was served traditional, bitter, matcha tea, perfectly complimented by a very sweet Japanese manju.

The red carpet was set out in an L shape on the tatami matting. To my side, the garden continued with a bamboo background.

After a quiet half an hour spent like this, I felt like I'd had a full eight hours sleep. It's fantastic for the soul and I really have to remind myself to do this more often.

This is my zen contribution to Big Cat's BLOGTOBERFEST.