I have a new l♥ve... but shhhh... don't tell my husband!

Swarovski 2mm round beads!

I have only just discovered these beauties and it was only because I had decided to create the Rivoli Twist necklace in the latest Bead & Button magazine. The piece requires around 260 so I ordered 280 of them and they arrived yesterday.

OMG how adorable are they... not to mention super sparkly! I can't believe I haven't used these beads before. I think I might start using them in my beaded cabs when doing a picot edge.

I think I might have to take advantage of the Artbeads 20% off sale and order a heap in every colour of the rainbow... or at least every colour in the range!!

Have you used these beads yet?

Look what came out of my garage!

I haven't made any cabs in a while because it's just too cold of an evening in the garage where my microwave kiln is set up but on Friday night I braved the cold and created a few new ones. Thankfully our garage is attached to the house and not a mile away!

I have only used translucent glass. The fiber paper doesn't seem to stick to it like it does with the other glasses...I have no idea why...I guess it is one of those unresolved mysteries!

I have to say though I am loving the clear glass - the frits seem to blend beautifully.

What do you think?

The Amazing work of Ron Mueck

Today we visited 

Queensland's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) 

to see the exhibition of Australian artist

Ron Mueck

This has to be one of the most amazing exhibits I have seen in a very, very long time... undoubtedly the best since Masterpieces from the Guggenheim in Sydney back in 1991/92.

"Since being discovered in 1996, Mueck has become one of the most significant figures in contemporary art, His 'hyperreal' sculptures capture the human form with incredible realism but in magnificently distorted scales".

Mueck has also worked on Jim Henson's "Fraggle Rock" as well as working with Henson's team during the making of the movie, Labyrinth.

Mueck's pieces are in private collections as well as galleries throughout 

Europe, United Kingdom and the USA.

The pieces begin as sketches and maquettes which Mueck then models the form in clay using only his hands and a few modeling tools before casting it in either polyester resin or silicone or sometimes both.

So without further ado here are the pieces we saw today. 

Unfortunately flash photography was not permitted so please excuse the poor quality of some of the photos.

Please accept my apology if the nudity offends... remember it is ART and amazing art at that.

~~~

Dead Dad 

(1996-97)

20.0 x 38.0 x 102.0cm

~~~

A girl 

(2006)

110.0 x 501.0 x 134.5cm

~~~

Wild Man

(2005)

285.0 x 162.0 x 108.0cm

~~~

Mask II

(2001)

77.2 x 118.1 x 85.1cm

~~~

In bed

(2005)

161.9 x 649.9 x 395.0cm

~~~

Two women

(2005)

82.6 x 48.7 x 41.5cm

~~~

Old woman in bed

(2000)

24.0 x 94.5 x 56.0cm

~~~

Man in a boat

(2002)

159.0 x 138.0 x 425.5cm

~~~

Still life

(2009)

215.0 x 89.0 x 50.0cm

~~~

Drift 

(2009)

118.0 x 96.0 x 21.0cm

~~~

Woman with sticks

(2008)

170.0 x 183.0 x 120.0cm

~~~

Youth

(2009)

65.0 x 28.0 x 16.0cm

If you haven't discovered Ron Mueck yet then be sure to seek his work out... 

a truly amazing artist.

RON MUECK YOU ROCK!!!

Holiday Fun

Here's what we got up to on our recent holiday

to the Gold Coast.