Whiling Away a Hiatus by Caprilicious Jewellery

Hello folks, thanks for dropping by, it's always a pleasure to be with you. After I finished Woodland Fantasy I felt as if I would never have another idea again in my life, and that I had poured all my creativity, every last ounce of it, into that beauty. I know better than to push it, though and I played it cool, whiling away the hiatus by making little earrings until something came to me - and I'm happy to report that this week, I've had a germ of an idea. I opened the box of stuff I bought in Jaipur a couple of years ago and a moonstone seemed to jump out at me. 'Use me, use me,' it cried. How could I be rude and leave that sliver of moonglow behind?

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​I covered a piece of Lacy's Stiff Stuff with dark velvet and attached the cabochon to it with a silvery beaded bezel, and that's as far as I got this week. I've got the vaguest of ideas about how I will proceed, but Paisley figures high on the list. I'm still enthralled by Japanese Beading, and I guess I shall be using those techniques as well. Other than that, I haven't a clue what's going to happen and that's half the fun of it, watching a piece evolve as if by magic.

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I was asked last week after I made a bug in response to Nicole Hanna's Finish It Challenge what her piece looked like - well, I feel quite embarrassed to show you Nicole's piece, but Hey! She's a master at the art and I spent two evenings on a highly masochistic exercise just to get the tutorial, so I will show it to you. Feel free to have a good laugh!

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I saw this ad and decided to investigate as Adrian Hall, the chap who curates the exhibits was asking for local artists to display their pieces at the Temperance Cafe. I sent in a picture of Woodland Fantasy and was gratified when he accepted it almost immediately. I dropped it off in Leamington Spa today after work and it goes on show with the other exhibits tomorrow.
​I'm always on the lookout for ways to showcase Caprilicious and this works well for me. The Cafe opens tomorrow with this exhibition and a number of artists were dropping their pieces off as well. There is going to be a friends and family showing on Sunday from 3pm and if I'm not doing anything else, I might go to it.

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The Temperance Cafe is a community cafe, art gallery and event space in the heart of the old town of Leamington Spa. It was built in the early nineteenth century and has been restored into a cosy place where they serve food from local suppliers during the day and have jazz evenings, show films and live performances from the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet. They have regular poetry, story-telling, theatre and comedy nights. At least twice a week, they have live music from local and visiting musicians. All this in such a tiny space. Oh, I mustn't forget the art gallery and vintage items they sell. Altogether a little gem of a place, and the reviews on Trip Advisor are excellent. The cafe is not too far away from the centre of town and Mike found it last year when I was showing at the Museum and Art Gallery.

While I waited for inspiration to strike like a thunderbolt my fingers couldn't sit still. I wove a little strip using seed beads and attached freshwater pearls to it. Hung from a leather cord with pearls knotted into it, this one isn't going to excite your grandmothers, but it sure is different. Pearls and leather aren't meant to go together, but somehow they do in a very edgy manner. Very biker chic, and lots of fun. It's only a little square pendant, about and inch and a half wide, but it packs a visual punch.

My garden is looking pretty, and all the flowers have come out to smile at us having benefited from the time spent on them during the pandemic. At least someone's happy! Fortunately the weather hasn't been half bad so we've been able to enjoy the fruits of our labours.

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That's me for this week, folks. Have a fabulous week, and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place.
Until then
​xx

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