Hello folks, how are you today? I was looking through my photographs and I came across some of the older pieces of jewellery I made and an idea came to me - I looked for the piece I was most proud of and decided that I love St Elmos Fire best of all. I usually know where each piece went to, but I can't for the life of me remember who purchased this one, although I think it went to a customer in the USA. I hope she's loving it as much as I do. 

Once upon a time, in the whimsical world of beads and baubles, a magical creation named “St. Elmo’s Fire” was born. This necklace, a masterpiece of color and creativity, has a story as fascinating as its intricate design.
​It all began in 2020, that unforgettable year when time seemed to both stretch endlessly and fly by. Amidst the chaos of Covid, a humble box of job lot treasures found its way into my eager hands. Among the eclectic mix of trinkets was a piece of fused glass, shimmering with potential and echoing with untold stories. This wasn’t just any piece of glass—it was destined to become the heart of my next creation.

With the fused glass in hand, the journey of “St. Elmo’s Fire” began. Picture this: a quiet workspace slowly transforming into a vibrant hub of creativity. Beads of every shape, size, and color spilled across the table, each one vying for a spot in this burgeoning masterpiece. The design took on a life of its own, guided by the luminous hues of the glass centerpiece.


The name “St. Elmo’s Fire” wasn’t just plucked from thin air. This necklace, with its swirling patterns and radiant colors, seemed to capture the very essence of the weather phenomenon it’s named after. St. Elmo’s Fire, for the uninitiated, is a weather event where a blue or violet glow appears near the tips of pointed objects during thunderstorms, named after St. Erasmus of Formia (also known as St. Elmo), the patron saint of sailors. Just like its namesake, this necklace has a magical glow, a beacon of light in the storm.

Creating this piece wasn’t just about stringing beads together; it was a dance of color and texture. The deep blues and blacks, interspersed with fiery reds and oranges, mimic the intense and unpredictable beauty of the natural phenomenon. Every bead was meticulously placed, creating a tapestry that’s both harmonious and dramatic.

 ​But let’s not get too caught up in the poetic allure of it all. The process had its fair share of challenges. Beads, as anyone who’s worked with them knows, have a mischievous tendency to disappear just when you need them most. There were moments when it felt like they were staging a mini-rebellion, rolling off the bead tray and hiding in the most unlikely places. Yet, with patience and persistence (and perhaps a touch of stubbornness), each bead found its rightful place.

As the final bead was set, “St. Elmo’s Fire” emerged in all its glory. The necklace is not just a piece of jewelry; it’s a testament to the beauty of serendipity and the power of creativity. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary creations come from the simplest beginnings—a piece of glass, a box of beads, and a spark of inspiration.

Wearing “St. Elmo’s Fire” is like carrying a piece of that luminous, otherworldly glow with you. It’s a conversation starter, a statement piece, and most importantly, a labor of love. So, here’s to the unexpected finds, the creative journeys, and the beautiful results that come from a bit of imagination and a lot of heart.

​In the end, “St. Elmo’s Fire” wasn’t just a necklace. It was a story. And like all good stories, it’s meant to be shared, admired, and cherished. So next time you see a piece of fused glass or a stray bead, remember—magic can happen.

And "what of the 'Octopuses Garden'?" I hear you ask. Well, it's been a bit slower in the making, with daily life taking it's toll on beading time. 

Welcome back to the underwater wonderland that is my “Octopus’s Garden” project! Now in its second week, my workspace resembles a vibrant coral reef—if coral reefs had stray beads and the occasional rogue thread. The coral reef is slowly taking shape, their beaded arms weaving an intricate dance that only they (and I, hopefully) understand. My trusty pair of scissors seems more like a wayward submarine, navigating through a sea of purple felt and tiny treasures. Each bead added feels like planting a little piece of magic. Stay tuned as I continue to dive deeper into this crafty ocean adventure, where every stitch brings new waves of creativity! 

At this rate, it will take a couple more weeks in the making, at the very least, but who knows? It may be sooner than that.........watch this space! Wilfred is certainly bored from waiting for me to play with him, while I concentrate on finding beads in colours that I think will suit the necklace.
That's me for this week, folks. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll catch you soon.
Until then
​xx

Hello lovely people, how are you today. I've had some time off work and mostly, the weather has played ball. I am doing a little course and my time off has been spent updating my portfolio and getting it ready for inspection next week. Between times, I've sat in front of the TV researching and making my next piece for Caprilicious.

Welcome to the whimsical world of “The Octopus’s Garden,” my latest and most ambitious necklace project to date. As you can see from the photo, I’ve embarked on a vibrant, beaded journey that promises to be as intricate as it is delightful. But before we dive into the details (pun intended), let’s talk about the labor of love that this piece truly represents. 
This one took a lot of thought - colours, beads, dimensions - a lot of assembly of the various components. All this took about 4-5 days. 

It all started with a vision: a colorful, undersea world brimming with life and mystery. Armed with a needle, thread, and an assortment of beads, I set out to bring this vision to life. Little did I know, this would be the beginning of a two-day marathon just to complete the initial section.
The first day was a mix of excitement and frustration. Blocking in the fish and the surrounding flora was no small feat. Every stitch had to be precise, every bead perfectly placed. After hours of intense focus, my eyes felt like they had swum a few laps in the ocean themselves. The fish are made from resin and a left over from another piece I made earlier which lives with a happy lady in India - let me show you the one I'm talking about.....

No wastage here at Caprilicious, folks! I wanted to use up the left over fish but didn't want to make another necklace of the same type. They are meant to be Koi Carp which live in freshwater, not really an octopus's habitat, but I hope you will forgive me for taking artistic licence with this. 

Now, here’s where the suspense builds. What will “The Octopus’s Garden” look like when it’s finally complete? Even I can’t predict every twist and turn this project will take. The necklace will evolve over many more days of hard work and creative experimentation.
Will there be more fish? Perhaps an octopus making a grand entrance? Maybe some hidden treasures tucked away in the garden? The possibilities are endless, and the excitement is real. I can't wait to see how it evolves.

Stay tuned as I continue this aquatic adventure. The Octopus’s Garden is far from finished, but every bead brings it one step closer to becoming a wearable masterpiece. I promise to share updates and sneak peeks as the garden grows, so you can experience the magic right along with me.

Feel free to share your thoughts or questions. I love hearing from fellow crafters and enthusiasts!

Hubby offered to take me to lunch - I wasn't feeling too smart and considered saying no. You know what it's like when you get used to slobbing around in your PJ's sitting on a computer, working away, but hey! one shouldn't refuse an invitation to lunch - they don't come that often. I ran a comb through my hair and slapped on some make up and perfume.
I still felt a bit 'blecch' so I opened the cupboard and stuck on a piece of my jewellery. Wearing this colorful statement necklace made me feel like a walking art gallery, and I couldn't have been happier!
​
From the moment I put it on, I felt an instant boost of confidence and joy. It's perfect for anyone looking to add a splash of personality and a touch of whimsy to their wardrobe. Trust me, this necklace is a game-changer. Lunch at the pub has never been better, especially when a couple of ladies came up to me asking about the necklace!

That's me for this week, folks. The cat and hubby are bored with the lack of attention and are amusing themselves - they are simple souls, really!  
Have a fabulous weekend and I'll catch you soon. 
​Until then
​xx

Hello folks, how are you today? Last week I showed you the fabulous centrepiece to my next statement necklace and promised to come back with the finished article this weekend, so here I am.

So for all you fabulous fashionistas and statement piece enthusiasts out there, I present The Jewel of my Eye!

For those of you who might be wondering, “What on Earth is an agate druzy?” – allow me to enlighten you. An agate druzy is a quartz stone featuring a layer of tiny crystals that dazzle like a disco ball in the sunlight. It’s basically Mother Nature’s way of adding a little sparkle to your life. And who doesn’t need more sparkle?

​Let me whisk you away to a magical land where our beautiful agate druzy began its journey. Imagine, if you will, an ancient forest bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. Hidden deep beneath the forest floor, a secret dance of elements was taking place. Over hundreds of years, tiny droplets of mineral-rich water seeped into a hollow space within a nondescript rock.

As the centuries passed, these droplets began to crystallize, forming delicate, glittering crystals – a druzy. Each crystal, no larger than a grain of sand, joined forces to create a stunning mosaic of shimmer and sparkle. This was no ordinary stone; it was a gemstone forged by time, patience, and a touch of magic.


The druzy agate, with its captivating green hues and ethereal sparkle, lay hidden, waiting for the right moment to make its grand entrance into the world. And as fate would have it, that moment came when I discovered this gem and transformed it into the breathtaking necklace you see before you.

Now, let’s talk about how and where to wear this beauty. This necklace is the ultimate conversation starter, so prepare yourself for endless compliments and possibly a few envious stares. Here are a few scenarios where this necklace will shine brighter than your Auntie Rosie’s Christmas lights:


1. Office Power Moves: Wear it to the office and watch as your coworkers’ jaws drop. That big presentation? Nailed it. Promotion? Practically in the bag. This necklace screams “I’m sophisticated and I know it.”


2. Casual Chic: Pair it with a simple white blouse and jeans for a casual yet polished look. It’s perfect for brunch with friends where you’ll inevitably have to explain where you got such an exquisite piece.


3. Glamorous Nights Out: Heading out for a fancy dinner or a night on the town? This necklace will ensure you’re the center of attention, without even trying. Just be ready for people to ask if you’re secretly royalty.


4. The “I Woke Up Like This” Look: Honestly, you could wear this necklace with your pajamas and still look fabulous. It’s that good.

That's me for this week, folks. Have a fabulous weekend and I'll catch you soon with more delights.
Until then
​xx

Hello everyone, how are you this fine weekend? It's been the worst summer for a long time and getting cold already. The nights are drawing in and soon we will leave home in the dark and it will be pitch black when we get back in our cars. Heigh Ho! And on we go, zooming towards the holiday that will brighten our lives and bring some cheer into our lives. 
You know how sometimes ordinary things can be turned into extraordinary masterpieces? Well, I had one of those moments and I couldn’t wait to tell you all about it. Picture this: a cozy afternoon, a burst of creative energy, and voila – a stunning piece that’s going to take center stage on my next statement necklace.

Allow me to introduce you to the newest gem in my jewelry collection! Yes, I made this gorgeous beauty myself from a sudden burst of inspiration. Go ahead, take a good look at the picture. Impressive, right? Let me give you a little backstory on this dazzling creation.
Bored with the usual bezel of peyote stitch, I decided to try something totally different to enhance this stone and scoured You Tube for a design tutorial. I found one by a lady who calls her channel Timeless Creations. The first problem is that she doesn't speak at all while she teaches, and the other problem is that I Neenafy the tutorial - I almost always change the size and shape of the beads so the end product never looks like the tutorial!
I changed the size of the beads surrounding the central agate (which was already larger than the stone in the tute) from 6mm round beads to glittering faceted haematite flat heishi beads, so it no longer resembles the finished product in the tutorial. That kind of substitution always leaves me struggling with bead numbers and sizes, but I secretly enjoy the problems caused by my stupid insistence on doing my own thing and rebelling against my teacher, the You Tube video. You can only imagine what I was like at school. A rebel, with the only cause being making more trouble for herself!

I stumbled upon this vibrant green stone that looked like it was dipped in magic. Its deep hues reminded me of the lush forests of some far-off land where unicorns probably frolic. And then there’s that intriguing, glimmering center – it’s like a secret portal to another world! Okay, maybe I’ve been watching too many fantasy movies, but you get the idea.
Now, as much as I adore this stone, I knew it needed a little extra something to truly shine. Enter the trusty beads and some twinkling silver accents. After a couple of hours, a few pricked fingers, and a whole lot of “just one more bead,” this little marvel was born. 

Unfortunately, the haematite beads are not visible in the finished bezel to the extent that their beauty demands - perhaps I should have put in a silver bead column after every third haematite? Who knows? I did think about it but worried that the bezel might not be strong enough for the piece of agate. The haematite is just visible, sparkling quietly away in the distance, behind the brash silvertone Miyuki beads. 
Anyway, the pendant, that once resembled a slipper animalcule (there, that proves I did listen at school) is now completed and looks perfectly credible - even beautiful, if I say so myself. And what about that beautiful fat baroque pearl dangling from the bottom edge of the pendanr - like a cherry on top of an elegant sparkling sundae!

But here’s the best part – this gem isn’t just going to sit pretty in my collection. Oh no, it’s destined for greatness! I know exactly how and what it is going to end up as. This lovely piece will soon be the highlight of a bold, statement necklace. You know the kind – the ones that make people stop and say, “Wow, where did you get that?” I can’t wait to see it paired with a simple dress and let it do all the talking. It’s going to be one of those “I woke up like this” moments, but with a lot more planning and a lot less bedhead. 

So, if you ever find yourself craving a little sparkle in your life, remember: sometimes the most amazing pieces come from a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of fun, and in my case, a bit of rebelliousness. Keep an eye out for the upcoming necklace – who knows, you might just find your next favorite accessory. 

That's me for this week folks, have a wonderful weekend and I'll most likely catch you next weekend with the finished article.
Until then, stay fabulous and keep shining!
xx

Hello folks, I know you're no longer used to finding me here two weeks on the trot - a change in my day job has caused that. However, I have had a couple of days off this week and as I mentioned last week, I've been playing with this pendant for a long time and it is now finished. As is my wont with most of the jewellery I make, I embellished it until it was groaning, and not another bead could be fitted onto it - only then would I give up and put my needle away. 

While I added to the pendant, bead by little bead, I spent some time thinking about why I am so hooked on Statement Jewellery - why do I make it, wear it and enjoy it? 

Let’s be honest: life after 40 is when the fun really begins. You’ve already spent years figuring out what works for you and what doesn’t—whether in life, love, or lipstick shades. Now, it's time to embrace your style with confidence, and nothing says “I’ve got this” like a fabulous piece of statement jewelry. Whether you’re heading to a lunch date, the boardroom, or just the grocery store, statement jewelry is your secret weapon to feeling amazing. And the best part? It’s fun, it’s fabulous, and it’s all about you.

Why Every Woman Over 40 Needs Statement Jewelry
1. It’s Your Personality on Display
   - Bold Choices for a Bold Woman: By now, you know exactly who you are and what you like. Maybe it’s a chunky turquoise necklace that screams, “I’m adventurous!” or a pair of oversized gold hoops that say, “I mean business—and I’m fun while doing it.” Whatever your style, statement jewelry allows you to show it off.
   - Mix and Match Master: Who says you can’t wear that dramatic pendant with your favorite old T-shirt? Or those show-stopping earrings with your power suit? At this stage, you’ve earned the right to mix, match, and make your own rules. So go ahead—wear that necklace with everything.

2. Confidence Booster? Check! I always wear a piece when I have to speak up at meetings or face a roomfull of people.
   - Instant Glamour: Bad hair day? No problem. Running late? Throw on some statement earrings, and suddenly it looks like you planned this effortlessly chic look all along. Statement jewelry is like a superpower—just one piece, and you’re ready to take on the world (or at least the day).
   - Own the Room: Walk into any room wearing a striking piece of jewelry, and watch heads turn. It’s like having a little piece of confidence hanging around your neck (or dangling from your ears). And who doesn’t love a bit of extra attention?

3. Conversation Starter Extraordinaire
   - What, This Old Thing? Statement jewelry is the perfect icebreaker. Whether it’s a necklace you picked up on your last vacation or a ring that’s been in the family for years, there’s always a story behind the piece. And sharing that story? That’s where the fun begins.
   - A Little Mystery: Who says you have to tell them where you got that stunning bracelet? Sometimes, it’s more fun to keep them guessing. “Oh, this? Just something I picked up in Paris...” (Even if Paris was a boutique two blocks away.)

Blue Jasmine started out as a project to use all the leftover slab nuggets I had in a little box at the bottom of my stash - I buy these beads/ pendants in strings, and oftentimes, there is just the one that isn't perfect - it has an odd shape, or the colours do not match the other beads, or one of the slabs was replaced by a focal which meant that this one was 'orphaned'. 
I backed them with coloured felt to bring out their own markings and arranged them into a floral motif on a piece of card.
And then I went to town! I am one of those who believes in the motto "Embellish of Perish" - I had no idea what the end product was going to look like, and left it to fate!
I popped some pearly beads between the petals and in the centre once I had put the whole thing together, but it didn't seem the finished article to me. I added a fringe, each strand ending in a blue resin jasmine with a crystal bead inside it - not yet, said my head. 
Eventually, I placed little jasmine flowers all around the pendant and it was done!   

That's me for this week, folks. Have a fun weekend and I'll catch up with you soon. Until then,
​xx
​

Hello everyone, it's great to be back with you today. The summer has almost ended and it was a pretty poor show this year. However, the garden is green and the flowers have all come out due to the amount of rain they have had, so I guess we shouldn't complain - there's always next year to look forward to.
When I last messaged you I was about to host the staff barbecue and for once, the sun shone on us, the weather forecast said categorically that we weren't about to be rained on from a great height and I cancelled the marquee I have begun to order in recent years after a number of my barbecues had to be moved indoors due to the rain.  

Life has been extremely hectic and yet I managed to hunt down a beautiful Ghau box that came to me all the way from Tibet. It is a simple silver tone box, with a little window, containing the image of Kwan Yin engraved into a back plate.  
​I thought about how this beautiful Goddess is worshipped and an offering of flowers came to mind - a Pushpanjali; which in ancient Sanskrit means the offering of flowers with folded hands.
Anyone who has visited a Buddhist or Hindu country has almost certainly seen offerings in the form of handwoven baskets of flowers, floating flowers with candles, garlands that are worn around the neck, or colourful clouds of petals which are scattered around a deity.
​Flowers and offerings have gone hand-in-hand in Asia since time immemorial. It's no coincidence that flowers are an established and important daily part of making offerings.
When I was growing up, the first task of the day set by grandma for grandad  was to pick flowers from our garden for the morning prayers. If one has flowering plants in the garden, it is common to find neighbours stealing a few in the early morning (before the owner wakes up) for their own offerings - everyone turns a blind eye, and no one believes that they might be doing something wrong. The rationale is probably that the flowers are for an offering to a deity, and who knows, it might be that the neighbours' God might be more powerful than the one at home - a bit of reflected good luck might come your way from not administering a good bollocking to the flower thief. 

Pushpanjali is the offering of flowers to the Gods with folded hands. 
The coral beads around the image of Kwan Yin resemble petals and the necklace, a garland of flowers put together with contrasting blues and pyrite chunky nuggets which had sat in my stash for ages.

I've also been sewing away every day at a pendant I'm making with a few misshapen orphan pendant beads - this project has run away with itself somewhat, and is now painstakingly coming to the end. It has loads of little pearly beads between the slabs in the picture, and a deep fringe - but I'm not sure I'm done with it yet. 
I need to finish it and add a necklace - it is going to be a very flamboyant piece for a brave woman - one who likes her statement piece of jewellery, and of course, Caprilicious Jewellery is the place to go to for your statement necklace! 

That's me for now folks, have a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend, and I'll catch you soon.
Until then
​xx

Hello folks, how are you today? I hope that you are enjoying the sunshine, wherever you are. In the UK we are warm as a piece of pie and basking in the rays. Unfortunately, it's not going to last, but it's fun while it's here. As always at the end of July, I have a staff barbeque at home and I bet, next weekend is going to be soggy, with rain showers, and the weather will be most annoying and uncooperative.
​Just now.......

.....this is what it looks like, and I'm off to snooze in the garden when the sun goes down a bit!

I made a necklace for a sunshiny day - cool glass beads, loads of them in a six strand necklace, tiny silvery medallions set with red gemstones catching the light of the sun. It will look great over a dark dress and is quiet enough to take you to the office, but will also go to lunch or the pub of an evening. 

I've been in court for the last two weeks on official business. I got up early and took a train in to Birmingham, which is about 30 minutes away from where I live. Every day I got dressed and went into my jewellery cabinet and wore a necklace by Caprilicious. I got on the same train every day, and every day it was the same carriage, and by coincidence, the same seat! I took a picture of what I was wearing and put it on Instagram - some way to pass the time! Here are a few of them.

The Hospital Uniform Policy wont allow me to wear any jewellery to work while I'm on the wards, so it was fun to wear one of my necklaces each day. 

That's me for this week, folks. Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll catch you soon.
Until then
​xx

Hello folks, it's bright and sunny today, the day following the summer solstice. The longest day of the year has passed us by and winter approaches. Am I going crazy or has summer gone by, wet and windy with not a sunbeam in sight? Where are those long hazy days the songs go on about, with the sun beating down on you, watching the ships roll in and away again? I decided to make a piece of jewellery to cheer my terminal sadness up, and kick start what the meterologists are calling a 'heat wave' - well, I'll believe it when I see it, is my reply.  The garden is looking lush however, with all the water it has had. We've not been able to mow the lawn with the ground below being so soggy, so the grass is green and lush, and daisies are popping up all over the place.

Made with slab nuggets of stabilised turquoise, faceted green Tibetan turquoise, faceted lapis lazuli I brought back from India and two of the largest baroque pearls I could find in my stash, this necklace is fun, yet quieter than most of the pieces I make. It will say quietly but firmly, that the wearer is a woman of taste and refinement and can be worn to the office, meetings, or even a lunch date. I'm going to court next week and will certainly try it out. I find wearing jewellery makes me feel better and more confident about myself and always wear some when I'm expecting to be in a sticky situation - it's like body armour, only around the neck or wrist. 

I'm going to be in court for the next couple of weeks - drat! just when I had a new idea for a piece of bead embroidered jewellery. Maybe I'll start it off this weekend before I lose the impetus, as this is a new idea and the piece will be full of texture and colour.  

That's me for this week, folks, have a wonderful weekend and I'll catch you soon with whatever comes out of my new idea - after all it's one thing to have a new idea and another to execute it and get the desired result.
See you soon,
​Until then
xx

Hello folks, how are you this week? Many apologies for being missing in action over the last few weeks but I've been having a few problems with my eyes and haven't been in a position to make anything. It's been a couple of years since I had my eyes tested and I thought I'd go along to the optician and have a new pair of glasses. Should have been simple, shouldn't it? Unfortunately, I had a significant change in the numbers for both long distance and near vision. I waited a week for my new glasses to be ready but sadly, the near vision ones were far from perfect and caused me severe headaches and pain behind the eyes. I had them replaced, but that took even more time than I thought and they aren't yet perfect. Perhaps I need to lower my expectations, after all, glasses can never accomodate like the real thing!

With some time off from work, I decided that I had to try the new pair of glasses out and make something simple - no embroidery, just a few strings of beads, perhaps? Rummaging through my bead stash usually gives me inspiration and today was no exception. A pretty pendant cast from a shell, some vibrant turquoise beads, abalone beads that I've been meaning to use for a long time and baroque pearls - and a necklace with an oceanic theme was born.

Abalone or Pāua is a seaweed eating edible sea snail. Its meat was prized by the Maori people of New Zealand and has now made it's way into other cuisines. Harvesting of this sea snail is highly regulated and it can only be picked from the sea bed by free divers - scuba diving gear is not allowed. Each abalone thus harvested needs to be over five inches long - anything smaller is returned to the sea bed. No person can own more than 20 Pāua or 2.5 Kg of the meat with the shell removed and recreational Pāua fishermen are not allowed to catch more than five per day. There is an extensive global black market in the collection and export of abalone meat. Pāua poaching is a major industry in New Zealand with many thousands being taken illegally, often undersized. 

The beads in this necklace are made of a mosaic of square pieces of abalone shell set in black resin, which makes them light and easy to wear. The necklace would be perfect to wear with the floaty maxi dresses of the summer which will soon be upon us, parties on the beach, cruises and barbeques - British weather permitting, of course. 

That's me for this week, folks. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll catch you soon.
Until then
​xx

Hello folks, I hope you are in the midst of a wonderful Easter break. The people in new York are celebrating with their annual Easter Parade where they wear outlandish bonnets - in a tradition dating back to the 1870s, New Yorkers dressed up in creative and whimsical Easter finery on Sunday to take part in the annual Easter parade and bonnet festival in Manhattan, with St Patrick’s Cathedral among the best vantage points. Pictures courtesy of The Guardian.
Hubby and I got back from our three week extravaganza in India with colds and coughs and sniffled our way past jet lag, only to find yet another time change this weekend. Fortunately I have a few days off after Easter to get used to the weather and springtime in the UK. 

As you know no doubt, I went to a wedding in Bangalore, India, possibly the last one in my family for now. My brothers son was getting wed and as my brother passed away fourteen years ago, we went in loco parentis. My sister in law was very excited and had many parties and events organised - we were totally exhausted by the end of it all. Here are some pictures for you - these are candid shots taken by members of the wedding party - the official ones are yet to make an appearance. 

These pictures were from a brunch hosted by my sister in law at a restaurant called 'Mirage' which was taken over that afternoon by our family, with about one hundred and fifty guests dining and dancing from lunchtime, into the early evening.  

We stumbled exhaustedly and not a little inebriated into bed that evening, and when we woke up, an army of decorators had put up garlands of marigolds and other flowers all around the house. This is how the facade of the house looked when we woke up in the morning.

This was for the 'Haldi' ceremony - where the bride and groom are smeared with turmeric and sandalwood paste - in ancient times, it was done to keep them healthy. In modern times, it is just another excuse to party. And party we did! There were Indian drums played to welcome the guests, followed by lots of singing and dancing. This party went on till late in the evening - we were so grateful that our room was accessible - we kept going up to have a rest and coming back down to a party that was still going on with a fresh influx of guests and latecomers till late in the evening. 

All the guests who wanted one could have turbans tied and ladies who wanted glass bangles had a man with a cart, waiting on their every whim. The men also had pearl necklaces given to them to make them look more like maharajahs! I persuaded hubby to wear a turban for a couple of hours.

This was only Day 2 and we were already exhausted. After a day's break, we headed out to the place we were staying the night before the wedding. As it was an hour and a half outside Bangalore, the extended family spent the night at the Discovery Eco Lodge, right next to the actual wedding venue - more partying into all hours - OMG, I don't know how they do it, I was exhausted already and hubby was a bit bemused by it all, to say the least, this is his first Indian wedding. 

We thought it would be a great idea to have our cuppa sitting outside the room, as it was so cool in the morning, but a family of monkeys who were going to their own breakfast spot had other ideas, and took a dim view of the intruders. I tried to shoo them away, but they took no notice and stood their ground. 

The wedding venue, Amitarasa was at the foothills of the Nandi Hills, a favourite picnic spot when I was a child. 

Mike was given a fabulous suit to wear which made him look like a maharjah! He was required to take part in some of the initial ceremonies with my nephew, and was tickled pink. I, on the other hand was a bit anxious especially as, being left handed, he attempted to receive flowers and other objects essential to the ceremony with his 'wrong' hand and freaked the priest out - the left hand is considered unclean by Indians for some very outdated faeco-oral reasons.

I'll end here today, and pick up the thread in a further post. Have a wonderful Easter and I'll catch up with you soon.
Until then
​xx