I LOVE this little oil lamp my beloved GJ Pearson made many years ago. For some reason we haven’t lit it in a really long time. So, now we are using it every night and it’s delightful!
Bud Light with metal wind-up duck and sad spider plant. © GJ Pearson
A few more new pieces…
Wire-wrapped by GJ Pearson Canadian 1957 coin with silvery pearls, onyx and lepedolite. © Firehorse Designs 2013
Wire-wrapped coin and pearls, detail. © Firehorse Designs 2013
Wire-wrapped coin and pearls, detail. © Firehorse Designs 2013
Peachy-pink pearls and faceted glass with a chandelier crystal pendant. © Firehorse Designs 2013
Clear chandelier crystal with pearls, detail. © Firehorse Designs 2013
Brown pearls braided onto red threads with miscellaneous stones and a carved brown jade pendant. © Firehorse Designs 2013
Pearls and carved brown jade pendant, detail. © Firehorse Designs 2013
A week ago we hosted a birthday dinner for a friend. We decided to have just hors d’oeuvres plus a special dessert, all with a French theme. Here’s the result:
(PS Forgot to take any pics of the dessert: lemon yogurt cake with home-made lavender ice cream and sparkling wine.)
The whole spread. We couldn’t have done it without Choux Choux Charcuterie (olives, jambon de Champagne and Fol Epi bread), Terra Nossa organic farm (sausages and chicken livers) and some inspiration from here.
GJ’s home-made paté along side delicious French olives, candied walnuts and a lemon rosemary goat-cheese dip for crudités.
Tiny caramelized onion quiche and organic sausage/sage/pear bites.
Delectable cheeses and meat from Choux Choux.
Baked brie with fig jam.
Such a beautiful morning at the Dallas Road waterfront. The ocean was calm and the Olympic Mountains were glimmering in the morning sun. Just after I took this, I met Fred the west-highland terrier and his human. Fred sat by my feet while I spoke with his human; I wish I had remembered to take his picture as he was so very sweet.
Here are a few of my newest pieces. Hoping to make at least a dozen more before a special event at Arrogant Pirate, the shop which carries my designs.
An amber-coloured chandelier crystal hanging from pearls of amber, silver and grey colours with amber- and clear-coloured faceted glass. © Firehorse Designs
Amber chandelier crystal, detail. © Firehorse Designs
A single clear crystal chandelier drop hangs from amber-and silver-coloured pearls and clear- and amber-coloured glass. © Firehorse Designs
Clear chandelier crystal, detail. © Firehorse Designs
Small white pearls and green stone on red thread with coin, resin cinnabar and a pale jade Buddha. © Firehorse Designs
Pale jade Buddha detail. © Firehorse Designs
The chandelier pieces hanging at Arrogant Pirate.
The pale jade Buddha hanging at Arrogant Pirate.
This piece was commissioned by a friend who had a special memento coin from her family. GJ wrapped the coin in wire and I hung it from gorgeous blue apatite stones and moonstones with pale teal embroidery floss. © Firehorse Designs
This antique watch chain with medallion and encased coin wanted to be hung as a necklace. I added a smokey-blue length of suede into which I sewed tiny seed pearls. I also added a grouping of pearls to the chain. This piece was commissioned as a gift and the recipient was very pleased. © Firehorse Designs
An almost-stormy day last week.
Looking north at stormy sky, with Ocean Point Resort, float plane leaving, harbour ferry, our infamous blue bridge and a gorgeous SALTS ship in view.
Looking out towards the entrance to the harbour. We considered turning back, but I’m glad we didn’t as this didn’t develop and it was such a nice walk.
We were surprised to see these large yellow irises growing wild.
Lupine blooming along the cliff top.
This Hummingbird flew down and landed on a branch just where we were walking along Dallas Road. It was so close and stayed for so long, we couldn’t resist taking a lot of pictures. In this one, as a bee flies by, you can almost make out the rich magenta colour of its throat.
Scratching its little neck.
And again, with the stormy sky closing in.
It’s been drizzling the last few days so thought I’d post some pics from finer days last week.
One of our local SALTS training vessels with the magnificent Olympic peninsula behind.
Beacon Hill Park in Victoria BC: every week brings new colours, ever-changing landscapes to explore. I’m looking forward to some summer picnics this year.
Fields of unending camas.
Another lovely prospect in Beacon Hill Park, camas creating a purple hue through the meadow.
Found this glorious Rhododendron while running an errand. I thought their season had ended, but this one was still in its full splendor.
The first California poppies we’ve see this year.
The first wild rose we see along Dallas Road. The scent is magnificent!
Happily wearing our Fluevogs today!
GJ is looking mysterious in his Swordfish from the mid-1990s. Vintage tie and velvet smoking jacket complete his ensemble. At Arrogant Pirate, Dragon Alley, Victoria BC.
I went with my red Mini Zazas.
Another of my favourite neighbourhood haunts is Trade Roots, a furniture and home decor shop at 545 Herald Street. Their small space is full of gorgeous antiques, furniture custom crafted from reclaimed wood and fixtures, and imports. This welcoming and inviting shop is also a great place to find unique gifts!
Trade Roots: one of our favourites. Chinatown, Victoria BC.
Beautiful postcards and packages of assorted buttons and interesting bits and bobs.
I dream of sitting at this desk with all its magical drawers.
A large selection of super-cool lighbulbs.
I love their line of metal shelves and cabinets from India.
Reflections of our wonderful neighbourhood.
A recent install of maple and pipe shelving at another neighbourhood treasure, Arrogant Pirate in Dragon Alley.
More new work from the last few weeks, also all over at Arrogant Pirate. In the next week or so I hope to take some pictures of these being worn so the length can be seen.
Gorgeous teardrop pearls and brass bells necklace. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.
Pearls and Austrian coin wrapped by GJ Pearson. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.
Pearls and British 1943 florin coin wrapped by GJ Pearson. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.
Pearls and Austrian Mozart 25 schilling coin wrapped by GJ Pearson. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.
Pearls and Canadian Centennial Bobcat quarter wrapped y GJ Pearson. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.
Pearls, jade, wood and painted bone. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.
Pearls, mother of pearl and coin. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.
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