I'd rather be......a Peacock than a Wren

My sister often turns her nose up at my taste in clothes - I'm too gaudy for her liking, which runs to whites and pastels and quiet elegance. I too was brought up to be ladylike, quiet and retiring - a 'speak- when- spoken- to' kind of a person. Unfortunately, I outstripped my upbringing - or is that fortunately? - and have grown into my own skin and personality at long last - and I am happy to shout it out loud - I LOVE COLOUR - there, I've said it now in print, and there's no going back - sorry Mona, and mum!

I saw these displays in a store on holiday in Berlin - which one would you pick?? I really want to pick the pretty grey asymmetrically shaped set  - it would fit what I was brought up to like - however, I know that I would almost certainly come home with the yellow and terracotta set.
In the same store I saw the most beautiful enamelled animal figurines made by Tom Hoffman - they are in a collection known as 'Tom's Drag' - the animals are highly coloured, with false eyelashes, diamante earrings - pretty, extremely kitsch, and very expensive - I took some pictures, but that's as much as I did - I have run out of display space for curios in my little house (and there is nothing but empty space in my wallet!). I have a link to Tom's website here if you want to look at some more.

I spotted these earrings made like tiny chandeliers in a little boutique - cute and quirky - and they even have tiny bulbs in them. A lot of Berlin is still being rebuilt, with cranes everywhere. The existing buildings, hastily rebuilt after 1945 to rehouse the folk, look uncannily like they belong in a suburb of Moscow. I wondered whether the colourful accessories I saw in the shops was a reaction to this general drabness all around.

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The display in the window of the shop reputed to be 'Berlin's version of Harrods' was a combination of quirky and utilitarian - see what you make of this display of clothes and kitchenalia on the same models...

The 'Harrods' of Berlin

Two out of the three 'Dancing in the Dark' necklaces I made last week flew out of my hands to a new home - I have a few more tribal pendants, and will add to the collection of 'Tribal Bling' gradually. The lady who bought this one said she didn't care for the spikes, so I offered to remove them for her - in my book, the customer is always right and I love that she wants to wear what I have made. What do you think - which version do you like? The spikes, I thought, made the necklace different - I suppose I can use them in another piece.

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 I made no jewellery this week, but have some ideas for what I want to make next. Have a great week folks, and I will catch you next week, same time, same place
xx