Truly Blessed

Every once in a while something will take your breath away. A wonderful sunrise, or sunset, an unexpected vista as you turn that corner in the road, a fabulous piece of art that just speaks to you.

Yesterday I had one of those moments.

It started about ten days earlier when I commented on Manuela Wutschke's blog. I've long been a fan of Manuela's wonderful work, she is a supremely talented glass artist, but had only recently started following her blog quietly & commenting occasionally. On this particular occasion Manuela was celebrating her & giving away one of her beads....oh my!!

I couldn't believe my eye's when Manuela left a comment on my blog that I had won one of her beads.

My bead arrived in yesterdays mail. I knew from the photo on Manuela's blog that it was going to be special, but nothing (not even Manuela's fabulous photography) prepared me for the reality of what I opened.
As I slowly unwrapped the outer packaging & saw the elegant & sophisticated box & 'Business card' (a mini work of art in itself) I just knew that what I was about to see was something extremely special. I was right - that first view of it literally took my breath away.

Sitting against it's black velvet background was a work of art. To call it a 'bead' doesn't seem to give it the credit it deserves, it appeared as a rare & precious gem - yet far more beautiful than any diamond or sapphire that I have seen.
The detail & depth in it, provided by the layers & layers of glass just drew me in & I realised I was holding my breath.

I eventually picked it up & looked at the other side (two works of art on one canvas). As I let it nestle in my hand, it imparted a distinct feeling of someone who is passionate about what they do with glass. There is no other way to describe it.

Needless to say that I still really can't believe that I am the owner of this bead (although the jewelry designs started popping into my head right away) - I just keep looking at it in awe.

I tried taking some photo's outside, in order to catch the way it glitters when the sun catches it but I haven't done it anywhere near the justice it deserves, the sun has made the colours look washed out. The best photo is on Manuela's blog - here.

A pale representation of the the sight that greeted me when I opened the box.

Not small! But the detail is amazingly fine & perfectly executed.

A slightly better representation of the colours.

Manuela is not only a supremely talented artist, she is also an absolute sweetheart.
Thanks a million Manuela :o)

It' still summer in New Zealand

well in my head it is anyway. Or rather 'was'...until this week.

I've been thinking bright, & I've been thinking colour - last week I was even shopping for new flip flops. Last week I was still wearing flip flops.

I don't call myself De'borah de Queen of de Nile for nothing !! However, one can only deny so much.

That was last week. That was before it decided to rain. Now I know winter is on it's way. Along with the rain (which has been heavy & persistent) came the drop in temperature that meant some wardrobe readjustments just had to be made.

Now don't get me wrong - I love winter clothing! I adore boots & absolutely think the best of all fashions trends (whether it is in or not) is layering. I love seeing short worn over long, layers of colour, jeans with longer tops & topped with short jackets, waistcoats or vests & many combinations in between. I also like wearing some of it ( I'm kind anal about age appropriate), although I do tend to not get too carried away by what is classed as 'in fashion' - but likely to go right back out of fashion PDQ'!

Two of my favorite ranges are from New Zealand fashion houses that have been around for years (more than I care to remember). Vamp & VSSP, not cheap but certainly worth every cent you pay for the items.
Nice fabrics, quality workmanship & they will last for years. A lot of the items when analysed individually will also remain in fashion for years.

Love this look (& of course it has orange in there!)

My first experience with an item of clothing from the Vamp range was a pair of trendy black fashion jeans back in the early 80's. Those darn jeans just wouldn't wear out. Seven or eight years later when I finally put them in a Mission bin - they still looked like new apart from the styling. It certainly taught me a lesson in you get what you pay for.

These days I can't justify buying much from these ranges - working just one day per week doesn't allow a person the excuse to buy clothes the way it did when I spent more time at a Gallery & had exhibition openings to attend. But it doesn't stop me from looking (& thinking of the clothes from these ranges in my wardrobe that I need to shrink a couple of sizes to fit again!)

And if anyone asked me 'How to dress like an artist?' I would simply reply 'layers'.
I can easily imagine either of these ensembles with either skirts or 3/4 pants or a pair of gaucho's & boots .

Love this too!

And I can imagine the top layers in the image above teamed with this as well.

I would also say that black cotton/spandex leggings & short, short denim mini skirts don't count as layers - well not in anyone over 25 anyway!