SimplyBea

A farewell........

2007-06-28T00:08:00.000+09:30

It has been a long while between posts here............. and so many things have happened that I don't even know where to begin.

Thursday 14th Jun - we were in Adelaide when the phone call came from the vet. My darling Champs has gone....... he is no longer suffering and we miss him sorely.

After a long period of not being well and being diagnosed with feline leukaemia and diabetes, they finally found out that he had cancer just the day before he left us forever.

I am still too upset to write at length about this. He will never be forgotten and always sorely missed. My little companion, demanding, precocious, beautiful and so well behaved...... we miss you darling......... no more bracing ourselves in bed while he walks over us to get to "his spot" in bed next to me........... he was only 8.5kg when he left us and that was just in 6 weeks from 11.5kg which was a sure sign something was terribly wrong but we didn't know what it was.

I am thankful he didn't go through a long period of sufferance (hopefully?) as he didn't show any signs of pain, some discomfort when we picked him up - probably from that awful tumor which was growing inside of him and the vet couldn't tell because there was so much fat all around him!

It couldn't have happened at a worse time - while we were away and yet maybe it was better that he was at the vet's because he wasn't alone when he went and they say it was very quick.

Can't write anymore for now - just a quick entry to let folks know why I have been so unproductive the last few months............ hopefully I will be able to get over this and get back into it.

Take care
Bea
Kangaroo Island

It was raining............

2007-01-21T11:25:00.000+10:30

Well - we had everything ready to catch all that desperately needed rain which should have come in the last couple of days................ but.......... we only got a few passing squalls which helped anyway and some rain is better than none.........

Parts of the island had huge amounts of rain but I guess we are just on the verge of the rain bands because we didn't get all that much.

Had to make sure that the caravan was secure (I have a few leaky patches in the roof) yesterday when the first squall came through and I got absolutely soaked even though I used an umbrella. There's no protection from horizontal rain!!!!

Have just cleaned up another batch of beads - hearts this time for Valentine's Day so all I need now are some photos to post them up.

Well - just a short one for now.

hugs
Bea - Kangaroo Island

Back on the torch....... !!!!!!!

2007-01-14T22:12:00.000+10:30

Well - that was a scare........... my oxygen concentrator was acting up a few weeks ago and I wasn't able to get a nice steady flame........ so I guessed it was the circuit board again.

We went to Adelaide last week for a few days of shopping and catching up with family and friends....... so the concentrator had a service and sure enough it was the circuit board.

Thanks (NOT) ETSA !!!!! The power spikes we have been having over the last few weeks were the most probable cause because that was like the last time a few months back when the circuit board went out on me........!

Now the concentrator is plugged in to a surge protector so hopefully it won't play up anymore. I might have to move my lampworking area in to the house just to make sure it doesn't get too hot in the caravan because that could be another reason the circuit board was damaged.

I got some new bead presses and am loving one of them especially so I guess you will be seeing more of that shape in my beads to come.

We also bought a new digital camera.......... one that fits into my bag and takes really snazzy photos........ so that will also help with the photos of my work.

All good toys - just got to find the time to play more.

stay tuned..........

hugs
SimplyBea - Kangaroo Island

2007 - hope it's better than 2006 !

2007-01-05T13:13:00.000+10:30

Well, 2006 ended on a sombre note for us.

We should have spent Christmas in Adelaide with Paul's family as it was "our turn" since we did not take leave from work last Christmas but it was not to be...... when we submitted our leave application we were told that since the island was on high alert for the fire season, no leave was going to be approved for the period.

When the new roster came out there were noticeably a number of staff who had been allowed time off during the Christmas break - so we were understandably upset by that.

The double whammy came when we received a phone call on 23rd December from Paul's mum notifying us that Paul's grandfather, Larry, had passed away overnight. The shock plus the fact that we could have been there with them was horrible to us.

It was to have been an important Christmas with Larry and Paul's brother David who had just come back to live in Australia after a few tumultuous years in the UK. The first family Christmas together again - but we were denied the opportunity because of a "management decision" which was very discriminatory and which we will have to take up.

Of course that has impacted on me and I could not feel enthused before and after that period. Firstly because I did try to downplay the disappointment of not being able to get away for Paul's sake and there was no Christmas feel for us at all this year from the time we received the roster and saw what had happened.

Now my oxygen concentrator seems to be misbehaving, so I haven't been able to get to the torch on the rare occasions when the nights have been cool enough.

Off to Adelaide next week for some shopping and we will be taking the concentrator to be serviced while we are there. Then I will have to relocate my torching area inside the house so that the concentrator is not subjected to the extreme weather changes as in the caravan - it's probably the reason the circuit board seems to play up.

Here's looking forward to a better year ahead.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Bea - Kangaroo Island

Happy Holidays.............. from Kangaroo Island

2006-12-22T22:33:00.000+10:30

So Christmas is just around the corner and my list of "Things to do" for 2006 is still long and unfinished.

At least I managed to get some new glass and if my oxygen concentrator doesn't fail me I might get a chance yet to play with some of the new colours. The weather has been against me - too hot on the nights I can get out to torch in the caravan, even though they have been few and far between of late.

I have been playing with wire and trying out some new styles which I hope to be able to improve on so that I can start doing some serious pieces to post on to the site.

I have put up a page with some of the things we have been up to in 2006.

Hoping that 2007 will be a year of success and happiness for you and your family.

SimplyBea - Kangaroo Island

December already.........

2006-12-04T22:24:00.000+10:30

It doesn't seem true but it is........... it's already December and I am so way behind with beading news and updates.

Christmas is just around the corner and I have some new glass to play with but no time to play.........

I am experimenting when I can and hopefully it won't be too long before I will be able to upload some pictures of "new" beads on my website.

Hopefully "Life" will settle and allow me to make the most of the time I have but for the moment it is still a mess.

Thanks for being patient and keep coming back for news.

hugs

Bea - Kangaroo Island

KL to KI

2006-10-23T22:07:00.000+09:30

Well - the end of our holiday in Malaysia has come to an end. I haven't had time to keep up with the blog but I have started on a page with pics and a "report" on what we did while we were in Malaysia.

I will post here when I upload that page.

Kangaroo Island - here we come! Clean air......... and NO HAZE!!!!!!

bea - Kuala Lumpur to Kangaroo Island

Penang - glitch @ Golden Sands

2006-10-08T17:07:00.000+09:30

Well - Just finally unwinding in our hotel room at Golden Sands after a dramatic check-in!

I had already started having a slight headache from the early morning start, sitting around the airport waiting for the flight to board and then there was the delay in the flight departure because of the thick haze (from those awful forest fires in Indonesia - to clear land!!!)......... and then looking forward to relaxing in our room when we drove in to the hotel........ to be met by a rude shock at the check-in counter......

They could not "find us" in their reservation system!!! Oh well - I thought, this is Golden Sands....... they will sort it out......

*hmph* except of course, there always has to be ONE bad apple in every basket...... I don't know where Razak was trained but he sure could do with some retraining because his "customer service" is inexistent.

Thank goodness for the Duty manager (Ann) who sorted it out..... and was very polite and helpful. Razak just couldn't even have bothered to be helpful. It seemed we were a real nuisance to have created such a problem for him..... and today being Sunday he just bluntly told us that nothing could be done about it and gave us some halfhearted and incomprehensible "reason" about the whole scenario not being HIS problem!!!!

Anyway to cut the whole uhhappy encounter with him short and (shudder) get him out of my mind..... all I can suggest is that if you have the misfortune of Razak processing your check-in; ask for someone else.

He wouldn't even look at me when trying to reply to my questions - I was talking to him and he kept replying to Paul!!!!!! So....... not even man enough to talk to me!!!

Ask for ANYONE and you might get some real service!

I LOVE staying here at Golden Sands and come here even though there are newer and maybe better/more modern hotels........ but if you want a hotel which isn't all "closed up" with a really nice "feel" to it........ I recommend you book in here. Just be warned..... do NOT have any contact with THAT Razak fellow and you should have a good start!

Thank goodness Ann is efficient and I can certainly recommend her for a Customer Service award.......... !

Well - going to have a rest for now and will try to get some pics to post here.

catch you later
Bea (not on Kangaroo Island for now)

Wired up!!!!!!

2006-10-08T10:53:00.000+09:30

Wow is all I can say for now!!!

Back in the "good old days" I was quite a techno wiz......... but in the last few years, I have been quite happy with minimal technology so long as I could get on the internet to buy my beading supplies and get in to my forums - that was good enough.

On this trip to Kuala Lumpur - I have been swamped with new techno awareness!!! First of all, I bought myself a new laptop which has wireless and the new chip (don't ask me what it's called - just know it is a heck of a lot faster than anything a few months back) and of course I have discovered wireless!!!

So this is my furst post here from a wireless network - at KLIA waiting for our flight to Penang.

So keep looking in - will be posting more often from now on.

hugs
Bea (off Kangaroo Island)

Holidays

2006-09-22T23:00:00.000+09:30

September has flown by and I haven't been able to keep up. Made lots of beads but no time to take piccies....... just have to keep plugging away to make sure that I have enough stock in the gallery and stores whle I am away on holiday.

Will try to be more organised when I get back *keeping hopes up* but it has all been too quick and I have been too tired to keep up.

Will be back end of October from Malaysia, hope you are keeping well and will try to keep this more current when I get back.

hugs
Bea - Kangaroo Island

September on Kangaroo Island

2006-09-12T22:10:00.000+09:30

Well - September has well and truly started and I am waaaay behind here....... !!!

Kangaroo Island is still waiting for winter and the winter rains... but it seems they won't be coming anymore.

We had a few wet and windy days but it's back to beautiful blue skies and glassy water for now.

Beading inspiration is fighting with lack of time - I have made up lots of new beads but just fighting with time to try and get them made up into pendants ready for sale.

I am pretty happy though with a special order which I finished last week for a 21st birthday present. Check it out here........ !!

We go away end of this month for a month to Malaysia for me to visit my family and have some time with mum. It will be good but between then and now - I have a very hectic schedule, so not sure if I will get a chance to post again before we leave.

Keep smiling and have a great month!

hugs from Kangaroo Island
Bea

We are moving .........

2006-08-20T21:07:00.000+09:30

We will be moving hosts in the next few days (I hope) so hopefully you won't even notice the transfer...... if you do, please let me know by posting a comment here.

Catch you later
Bea - Kangaroo Island

Links updated........... !!!!!!!!!!

2006-08-03T23:36:00.000+09:30

Well, spent tonight updating ALL the links on my website....... so please check them out and let me know if any are not working properly !!!

It's been a truly glorious day here on Kangaroo Island - not at all like a typical wet , windy and cold winter's day!!!!!!!!

Thanks
Bea - Kangaroo Island

Website Updates.........

2006-08-02T23:58:00.000+09:30

Well - finally got some more pics and pages done........

Check it out and tell me what you think............ here........

Bea - Kangaroo Island

Mix N Match finale

2006-08-02T20:23:00.000+09:30

Well - there you go, at least I managed (for once) to scan my work before sending it out into the big wide world.......

To see the photos better, you can click on the photo itself and it brings up a larger image on the page.

Let me know what you think... and if you are in Kingscote - remember....... the exhibition is on until August 20th and you can vote for the exhibit you like. There are about 60+ entries and I did not have time to take it all in but thought there were some really cool entries.......

hugs
Bea - Kangaroo Island

Beaches - Part 7 of Mix N Match

2006-08-02T20:20:00.000+09:30

All along the coastline, beautiful beaches sandy and rugged………

The beautiful sandy beaches with rugged reef and rocks which surround the island were the inspiration for this piece. Lots of fine silver wire and foil to create the organic look in the glass and the beads are alternated with Czecj glass bead rondelles wirewrapped in sterling silver.......

Sea Glass - Part 6 of Mix N Match

2006-08-02T20:17:00.000+09:30

Remnants of the past, bits of glass washed up along the coast tumbled by the waves, softened by the rocks………..

Etched glass beads to recreate the feel of precious bits of yesterday......

Lichen - Part 5 of Mix N Match

2006-08-02T20:06:00.000+09:30

The start of earth........... this incredible plant is the very start of forming earth. Able to resist extreme temperatures and conditions - survives where nothing else can........

The colours in the beads remind me of the lichen growing in the spots where sunshine is a rarity, damp and cold...... yet such an integral part of the beginnings of earth..... accompanied by moss agate, amazonite and bali silver beads wire wrapped with sterling silver......

Ironstone - Part 4 of Mix N Match

2006-08-01T23:25:00.000+09:30

Millions of years of geological development beneath our feet scattered around the island.........

I just love the combination of amber chips and beautiful swarovski crystals wirewrapped in sterling silver wire with my "ironstone" glass beads which are on a white Moretti base with Aurora Peach frit..........

Gum Trees - Part 3 of Mix N Match

2006-08-01T23:21:00.000+09:30

The greens and golds of the varied eucalypts that decorate the island.......

Semi precious stone chips in Moss agate, clear quartz, amazonite and some czech glass beads wire wrapped to complement the green glass beads made by moi........

Water - Part 2 of Mix N Match

2006-08-01T23:15:00.000+09:30

The life source and flowers which signify growth and continuity.........

Lots of blues in these beads......... can you tell it's my favourite colour? There's a fair bit of silver foil in the "bubbly" beads with the raised dots (rain/water drops.....) and I just love the feel of this set.......

Ocean Views - Part 1 of Mix N Match

2006-08-01T23:09:00.000+09:30

Inspired by the colours of the ocean and the beaches of the South Coast of Kangaroo Island.

The glass beads in this bracelet were made by me and LOTS of silver foil was used to creat the brilliant blues and organic tones in the beads.

Sterling silver wire and findings to connect and finish.

Mix N Match

2006-08-01T22:56:00.000+09:30

This is a collection of seven bracelets with seven seperate themes inspired by the wonderful nature I am surrounded with here on Kangaroo Island.

Each bracelet is made up of glass beads I made from Italian glass on my torch in my caravan studio and then wirewrapped in sterling silver. Some bracelets incorporate semi precious stones and swarovski crystals.
The collection is my contribution to the Settlement Day exhibition in celebration of the 170th anniversary of the first settlers to South Australia. The settlement of Kingscote on Kangaroo Island was the first attempt of the free settlers to settle in South Australia on July 27th 1836.

The theme for the exhibition was Pioneering - Past and Present. My interpretation on this was to incorporate the ancient art of glasswork to create glass beads for jewellery to be worn in a contemporary manner.

Each bracelet can be worn on its own or connected to another (or more) bracelets to be worn as a necklace of different lengths. Hence the title of the piece - Mix N Match.

In my hurry to get the display organised and the piece to the gallery in Kingscote (45 km from where I live) I scanned the connected bracelets without realising that there were only six connected - so you will only see six bracelets in the photo above this. When we got to the gallery, it was a beehive of activity, the committee had been working hard all through the weekend to repaint the gallery and reorganise the space for the exhibition. There were three new glass cabinets for the various jewellery artistes and so it was still "getting sorted out" when we arrived and by the time I had sorted out the display in my new case, it was late in the afternoon, I was stressed and too tired to think straight........ so we left town to come home and i realised I had not taken a photo of my exhibit in its pretty velvet lined display box!!!

I will do that when I next go in to Kingscote and post it here.........

The ensemble took a bit of working out - I wanted to have a variety of different inspirations and still keep a similar "look" for each bracelet so that when they were connected to each other, they would not look too contradictory or uncoordinated. I used sterling silver lobster clasps to ensure that they would clasp on securely and not be too distracting or break up the continuous flow when connected to each other.

July on Kangaroo Island

2006-07-29T21:44:00.000+09:30

Well - it has been another busy month with a few moments of panic here and there but mostly good.......... no beads up with this post yet but I have been busy making beads and working on my oiece for the Settlement Day Exhibition at the Kangaroo Island Gallery.

I am pretty pleased with the final result but I did not take a final finished photo after setting it all up !!! So hopefully I will be able to get a pic to post up by next week.

I called it Mix N Match and is a composition of 7 bracelets with 7 themes inspired by the island. They can be worn on their own or Mixed with others in all sorts of combinations to Match up for a short, medium or long length necklace..............

That's enough of a tease for now - hope to get some pics up soon.

IF you are on Kangaroo Island - go have a look at the exhibition, it is on until 20th August.

There has been a major revamp of the gallery as well and there are some new display fixtures and finally some decent glass cabinets for jewellery pieces. Lots more work to be put in to get it looking better but we managed to make it look pretty spiffy just in time for the re-opening of the gallery on Thursday evening.............

catch you later.......
Bea

Winter on Kangaroo Island

2006-06-11T15:43:00.000+09:30

Well - it is June................... so, it's officially winter !!!!!

Where has the time gone? I guess that's better than having it lag on and not having enough to occupy oneself with? I don't know.............

I have been without my torch for more than a week now *sob* because the oxygen concentrator just stopped working at the beginning of this month and if we were in Adelaide it would have been fixed and back here by now............ but of course because we are not "just round the corner" it will be a while before I get it back.

Hopefully it won't cost me too much to get it repaired and sent back - the tech said it should only be a five minute job (isn't that what they always say ?) and hopefully it is nothing serious as I have gotten to like my minor torch!!!

I guess if I am REALLY desperate to melt some glass I could always fix the good old Hot Head back up....... but, as Paul says - there is still so much I have to get done that this could be a good "brak" from the torch.......hmmmmmm but it is pretty cosy out in the caravan when I am torching........... a lot nicer temperature than when I am sitting here on the computer or beading......

The light is so beautiful these days with the lovely winter tones and ther sky is always pretty even when it is grey and stormy......... I look out of the window and see about 50 mountain ducks feeding in the nearby paddock, just a couple of hours ago a cattle egret flew up and perched on one of the branches in that gum tree across the paddock......... yesterday and the day before, Paul went out for a wander with his new camera and came back with some pretty nice shots of birds and landscapes........

I managed to finish the tutorial for Beads Etc and have sent off the step-by-step beads still on their mandrels, we'll see if they make it in to the November issue......... no real hurry I guess because I still have to get my website ready - but I am one step closer today.....

Check out my new form for visitors to email me - hope that will keep the spammers away....... it took me a couple of days to sort out the code and in the end it was oh so simple !!!!!

Just one of those "duh" moments.........

Well - better start dinner........ it's going to be yummy leek and potato soup, great food for cold days (and nights!!!).

Catch you soon
Bea

Kangaroo Island virus !!!

2006-05-23T14:25:00.000+09:30

Well - I am now down with a horrible virus of some sort....... three days of coughing and spluttering, not at all condusive to creative energy and just totally weary from feeling all blocked up..........

So, hopefully I will feel better and be able to get out to the caravan soon.

Apart from that, it is another cold day here on Kangaroo Island and the colours are on the silvery side............ shades of Kangaroo Island silver in the sky and I can just imagine there would be some really nice soft lighting on the water at Seal Bay.

catch you later
Bea

Another day on Kangaroo Island......

2006-05-19T22:09:00.000+09:30

Well - here's a bead just to get this site rolling.......... nothing really special, just in line with recent Mother's day...

A simple orange coloured heart bead to brighten up the day........ more to come, been busy making beads, that's way easier (and more fun) than trying to take photos........

Catch you later
Bea

From the caravan on Kangaroo Island

2006-05-18T23:22:00.000+09:30

Just a quick update for tonight. Had a couple of hours on the torch tonight in the caravan and hopefully there will be some nice glass beads to look at tomorrow morning.

Interesting day at work today, we attended a workshop on interpretive skills and there were a few good pointers.

Too late tonight to try to post some pics but I hope to get there in the next few days.

catch you later
Bea

Simply Bea

2006-05-17T22:49:00.000+09:30

Well - I tried to keep the name.... but looks like someone else beat me to it - go figure !!!!!!!

Anyway - hope this will work and I hope to be able to post pics etc here from now on.......

catch you later
Bea