The theme for this week’s EST challenge is Self Portrait.  A difficult, but also wonderful theme chosen by this week’s host Dawn of LaTouchables.  We could be as realistic or as abstract as we wished, we could even translate our love for our favourite materials or colours into our ’selves’.  In Dawn’s own words:

“You may interpret this any way you like, as abstract or realistic as you wish. For example, you could be your favorite stone, your favorite colours, your favorite materials, the things that are closest to your soul, what you think is the core of who you are…with a twist…make it really YOU!”

My starting point was my favourite materials, which are beads, and my favourite colours, black and green.  I wanted something I would be happy to wear myself and which also portrayed a bit of the real me. 

Lots of beads and some experiments later …

… a clear idea for a pendant and coordinating cuff started to form. 

I wanted matte beads to form the basis of my set, because I am primarily a non-glitzy person, however I love contrasts and the occasional surprise so a few Czech glass beads were included as well as an edging of very small Swarovski crystals. 

The seemingly wild form of the pendant belies its precise nature and was worked in odd-count peyote, which is slightly trickier to work than even-count but gives the symmetry I was looking for.    On the surface the cuff is almost austere, but hidden underneath is a repurposed floral spacer bead from a bracelet I used to wear and love.

Visit Dawn’s blog to see all the entries from other team members.

It’s said that in Malta we have sunshine for around 300 days of the year.  These past 2 days were definitely not among them!  It’s been raining constantly for several hours so here’s my waterlogged moodboard:

HAND PAINTED SILK original painting. RAINY. GIRL STANDING WITH UMBRELLA by silkstory

If you want the rainbow by dindi

rain drop stick puppets by yourdoll

REMEMBER THAT RAINY DAY – decorative heart – french jacquard in gold mustard with cloud applique in gold organza and beads by loddelina

More Monday Moodboards created by the Etsy European Street Team members may be found on FleurFatale’s blog
www.fleurfatale.blogspot.com/

The sea is getting more inviting as each day passes. 

An inspiration to many, here a few marvels from Etsy’s European Street Team below:

Big Fish, Notebook, Journal, Diary, Leather by Kreativlink

Green Sea Flower Pyramid Pouch by P8Accessories

Nature Friendly Authentic Baltic Sea Glass – Blue – S to M – DISCOUNTS by alatsupplies

Felted Handbag medium – Aquarium by galafilc

Boat in Portugal – Signed Fine Art Photograph by starrybluesky

Little boats silver studs by mariastudio

Vintage Brass Sea Urchin Candle Holder by GiftsandStars

For you – Textile Sea Urchin Brooch by BlueTerracotta

only the sea by enchantedpond

Hand Drawn OOAK Large Squared Moleskine Journal-Octopus by gufobardo

DEEP SEA – collar/neckwarmer by ixela

Nuno felt bracelet with glass from the Baltic Sea by ing00te

Hand Embroidered Fabric Picture…Thread Painting…The Lighthouse by Lamercerie

The Library Bag… French Tapestry Fabric Lighthouse and Sailing Theme READY TO SHIP by ikabags

More Monday Moodboards created by the Etsy European Street Team members may be found on FleurFatale’s blog
www.fleurfatale.blogspot.com/

This is the best time of the year for country walks, the temperature ranges between the high teens and low twenties, so it is not yet too hot, and the fields are green and lush.  We make the most of it while we can, as unfortunately it quickly turns to brown with too much sun and no rain.

A short walk not too far from home is what we wanted today.  Our home is just outside the walls of Mdina, the old capital, which sits high on a hilltop with beautiful countryside below.

We took the road leading down from Mdina …

to where the now defunct train used to stop at the station

A perfect place at the bottom of the hill to take a photo of Mdina above, and a grassy field for the boys to play and for me to sit and enjoy the sun!

I’m already looking forward to the summer!  I needed to go with my youngest to a shopping complex a couple of days ago, and instead of parking within the building itself, we parked a short distance away to take a walk by the sea.  It was a t-shirt day, brilliant sunshine and no wind.  The beach was dotted here and there with small groups of friends chatting and some tourists with children playing on the sand.   This same beach is packed with foreign students in summer, who come to Malta to study English, but right now it’s perfect!

Counting the days to the first swim, not long now!

Mid-February … the sun is shining and the temperature is climbing again.  It has been a very mild Winter in Malta and it already seems like Spring is well on the way!  We’ve been having fresh strawberries available for the past two or three weeks too, a definite sign of warmer days!

We were out for a walk along the Bugibba and Qawra seafront over the week-end, with a view of Selmun Castle and St. Paul’s Islands opposite.  I had my camera to take some shots of my boys on their bikes and I couldn’t resist taking some photos of the view too.

Wooohoo!!!!!, gr8jewellery is among the nominees for ‘The Poppies’, a virtual awards ceremony. I have been nominated in the Favourite Handmade Jewelry category.

I’d appreciate your votes if you like my work. I’m listed as gr8jewellrey instead of gr8jewellery, but the link is correct.

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2010/01/poppies-vote-no-11-favourite-handmade.html

Thank you all

A Virtual Awards Event

I’ve had France on my mind since yesterday!  First of all I was on Etsy front page, thanks to YannPendaries who included my beadwoven Swarovski Pearl and Crystal earrings in his gorgeous treasury.   In addition, my eldest was studying for a French test he has today.  So this morning I took a trip to France:

Survival 2 – Fine Art Photography Print 6×6 (15×15cm) by YannPendaries

Blue faux fur Neckwarmer/ Cowl/ Tube scarf by malam

Just a little boudoir mirror …. by PamelaAngus

Souvenir de Paris. postcards by lapommevintage

More Monday Moodboards created by the Etsy European Street Team members may be found on FleurFatale’s blog
www.fleurfatale.blogspot.com/

Today I had a look at the shops that joined the EST this past week and found some fabulous listings!

Frosty mini crochet daisy … 3 pieces … Dark purple by SuppliesbyAyca

Violet Pencil and Watercolour Print by lilydove

Mini book necklace and mini book earrings by anticovalore

16 Dec 09 – Fine Art Photography by TheDailyFoto

More Monday Moodboards created by the Etsy European Street Team members may be found on FleurFatale’s blog
www.fleurfatale.blogspot.com/