Right Here, Right Now.

I have somehow managed to shoe horn a little make-shift studio into this area, in the hallway, next to the front door of the place we are staying in here in London.

31 August 2011, London,  Cari-Jane Hakes

I have no complaints.  While I have breath in my body, I will keep hammering, soldering and creating.
Can someone tell me how on earth is it September tomorrow!?

I'm Pink Therefore I am!

Continuing with our monthly dose of pinkness (the last one can be seen here)...to be honest how did we manage to get this far in the month without what has almost become an institution on the Hybrid Handmade blog?  Perhaps it was my sister's wedding shoes and bouquet in yesterday's post that alerted me to the omission.  In any-case, here we go!

Source: vtwonen.nl via Cari-Jane on Pinterest

Source: intermissionthoughts.blogspot.com via Cari-Jane on Pinterest

Source: net-a-porter.com via Cari-Jane on Pinterest

Source: littlebluedeer.com via Cari-Jane on Pinterest

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Cari-Jane on Pinterest

Elsewhere today, I was featured in this beautiful treasury by miaandstitch over on Etsy (bottom row, second from the left).

'Once in a blue moon' by miaandstitch

Dish with blue crystall... ClayMystique $35.00	The Queen Bee Archiva... ImagineStudio $30.00	LIV aura crystal ring brianarose $60.00	The Small Magellanic Cl... DeepSpacePhoto... $20.00
Deep Blue Mitosis Set -... artologica $125.00	Just in Rare Blue Birdw... REALBUTTERFLYG... $198.99	5g Mineral Eyeshadow - ... Rhasdala $6.00	Blue Moon Clock CyberMoon $17.00
Constellations of the N... littlebrightst... $70.00	Midnight Blue Hearts Gl... Theglittersour... $3.50	The Ghost's Library... MoonIsSingingP... $50.00	Gorgeous Art Deco Butto... WickedDarling $14.00
Vintage sapphire moongl... MarilynsNewVin... $2.00	Winter Song brooch with... hybridhandmade $98.00	Beaded Bead Lapis Royal... alatsupplies $12.00	Abstract Glow / IN STOC... JenniferLynnPh... $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Balance is restored once again.

Hybrid Handmade Weddings - Bridesmaid's Necklaces

The final necklace in this new series so far I based on the silhouette of a swooping scottish eagle.  In all my trekking and climbing in the wilds of Scotland I have never seen one of these magnificent creatures. They are a rare treasure.  Beautiful, wild and free.

Fly Free - The Eagle, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

This third necklace uses my new favourite texture which I have lightly patinated.

Fly Free - The Eagle, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

Now, you may be wondering why these haven't appeared in the Etsy shop.  These first three were made as bridesmaid's 'thank you' presents for my sister's wedding which was held on Saturday 27th August.

Fly Free - The Eagle, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

It was a wonderful day that was filled to brim with happiness, beauty, colour and light.  I was honoured that my sister picked me to be one of the bridesmaids, and so the 'hare' necklace became mine!

The day was indeed a bright and sunshiny as my (yellow) dress!

27 August 2011, Battersea, London

Super big congratulations to the newly weds!  I think this little mosaic does a good job of conveying some of the spirit and joy of the day.

Fly Free, Run Free, necklaces, August 2011

I have a question to close todays entry - which creature would you add to this edition of necklaces?  Of all the things that flit, fly, crawl, stomp and swim on this great earth is their one that you hold dearer and higher than all the rest?

A Fabulous Friday Feeling

Following on from yesterday, here is the second necklace in the series.

Run Free, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

Once, when I was out running round the tracks between the fields that surround our home in France I startled a hare.  It was the first one I had seen in broad daylight.  It scampered and zig zaged, springing away from me, stopping, panicking perhaps and then bounding through the air and light and red poppies until there was a good half field length separating us.

Run Free, The Hare, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

I am a little envious of that hare.  It runs with a body built precisely to do just this -  run fast and free.  I on the other hand, struggle with a slight misalignment that hinders my speed and distance.  I do not run as free as that hare.

Run Free, detail on back of necklace, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

This necklace is inspired by more than just this though - for in other areas of my life I feel as if I do indeed 'run free'.  Freedom of expression and freedom of thought.  It is a freedom I value, treasure and am thankful for every day.

Fly Free - The Butterfly

I introduced this new series in last Friday's post - see here.  Late last night the beginnings of this series emerged from the polishing barrel.  I gathered them close and set about cleaning my bench.

Fly Free, Butterfly, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

This necklace has an interior, a depth and a space into which the wing dips and emerges from.

Fly Free, Butterfly, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

A delicate balance between what is seen and what is hidden and the beauty that rests on the inside - untempered by time, constant, true and pure.

Fly Free, Butterfly, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

On the back, a reminder, a mantra, a call.

Fly Free, Butterfly, August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

There are more to come.

Until then mes amis.

Some things that I have been catching in my net.

I caught some small boys running fast in a big space.

Tate Modern, London, August 22 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

The turbine hall in the Tate Modern is always impressive to me.  This time, there were no temporary installations - and so we were presented with just the raw simple volume.  It is so expansive it feels like a landscape.  My boys always have the urge to rush up the ramp and come running back down at top speed - often with a little skid and a slide at the end to kill the momentum before returning to my side.

Tate Modern, London, 22 August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

Today, more open spaces of a greener variety.  

Southwark Park, London, 24 August 2011, Cari-Jane Hakes

Elsewhere today, my Winter Song Brooch (top row) was featured in this lovely treasury by Bates Mercantile Co.  You can visit their beautiful Etsy store here.

'The Moon Is Blue' by BatesMercantileCo

Rainbow Moonstone Nugge... JulieGregoryDe... $38.00	Ghost Ship 8x10 littleBIGillus... $15.00	Winter Song brooch with... hybridhandmade $98.00	Flying Away - Original ... YannPendaries $11.00
Crash of the Atlantic -... NomadicNoteboo... $25.00	Vintage Miriam Haskell ... belmodo $135.00	Le cueilleur d'éto... steph1000r $120.00	Blue Moon Hatbox BitsysBaubles $35.00
Fairy Dress. Renaissanc... GoGothic $195.00	Midnight Owl Print twoems $23.00	Iridescent Suncatcher O... AvolieGlass $25.00	Original Painting by Rh... PaintBrushedBo... $279.00
My Seascape Moonrise StarEye1701 $35.00	Vintage Metal Pill Box ... vintagenowandt... $8.00	Altered Couture Indigo ... DivineRagz $45.00	Galaxy Berries - Polyme... BeccasBeauties $35.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.