Shelly Beach, Caloundra-Queensland, Australia

Geisha Girls...

Hong Kong Market place....above

A few years back while we were traveling in Hong Kong, I found a small box of exquisite miniature block paintings in small frames-actually pendants of sorts.

Every so often I am inspired to bead a necklace around one of these….Here are a few examples of the “Geisha Girl Series” by Renee Blackwell Design.

Although the pendants/necklaces shown have actually sold, I do have several more to work with…Interested? Let me know here: hazelwildretreat@yahoo.com.au

(Note: Each side is a totally unique painting, which makes the necklace reversible and very versatile…)

These two shots are actually

of the same pendant..different image
on each side...

Pendants from Renee Blackwell Design

Meet Tarren Otte...Synchronised swimming for Australia

I meet lots and lots of people through my jewellery business and my endless travel. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I try and share some of these interesting people with you. This is one of my favorites!

Meet Tarren Otte-Synchronised Swimmer.

Tarren will be flying to India in October for the CommonWealth games....Go-Baby-Go!


Interview:

1.How, when and where did you become involved in Synchronised swimming? I started doing synchronized swimming 17 years ago. I had school swimming lessons and was invited to attend a training session by my swimming teacher. I have never looked back.

2.How often and where do you train? Do you have a coach? I train in the water 5 mornings a week. 2 of the mornings I do squad swimming before my synchro training. My coach is the National Head Coach - Anna Nepotacheva and I train at the Victoria University aquatic and Fitness Centre.

3.What do you like the most about your sport? What do you find challenging about it? I love that Synchronized swimming is so different. It is a bit of everything rolled in to one sport.
Synchronized Swimming is not only physically challenging but also mentally tough.

4.Where did you grow up and where do you currently live? For most of my childhood I grew up in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I lived in Mooroolbark until I was 14 then moved to Port Melbourne with my mum and step dad. Although moving to Port Melbourne I stayed at Lilydale High School to finish my VCE as I could not bare changing schools and leaving my friends.
I currently live in Middle Park with my boyfriend, Devinda and our two dogs, Axl Rose & Marli.

5.What is your next event? I am off to China in September for the World Cup where I will compete in the Team and Solo events. From there I head home for one week then off to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games where I will compete in the solo event.

6.How are you funded? Funded??? What is this (haha)... I currently fund my own training, competition and travel costs through the help of fundraising. But I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for my mum, she helped a lot previously.

7.What is your favourite colour, food, smell and place to visit? My favourite colour is Pink, food is Pizza, smell is frangipani and place to visit is Spain but this is only one of many.

8.Anything else you would like to comment on or say? After 17 years in the sport, 11 years competing for my country and 1000's of hours training, The Commonwealth Games will be my final competition. I have made this decision as Synchronized Swimming receives no funding and I can no longer afford it. As I am a qualified PE teacher it is time to work full time, earn a living and become a normal person (whatever that means).

Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the past 17 years!!!

Sydney Jewellery Show

Twice a year we exhibit at the JAA jewellery show which is a “trade only” show. This is where the jewellery stores come to buy and stock up.

These are BIG shows and a big deal for RBD (Renee Blackwell Design).

Lots and lots of work and endless effort….butI honestly love it...This is where I “roll out” my new designs and have the opportunity to “meet and greet” my existing wholesale customers and meet new ones… It’s a fun filled, exhausting, exhilarating four days. So two week ends ago we were in Sydney at the “Big Event”.....here are some shots!

Here is where you can find Renee Blackwell Design around Australia (and elsewhere...)
http://www.reneeblackwelldesign.com/venue.htm

And here is the list of our NEW retailers....have a visit to see all of our new jewellery designs.

NSW

Milagras Shop

Cosford, NSW

(02) 432 10707

Kings Hall Jewellers

Dubbo, NSW

(02) 6885 3500

Sew Soft Gifts

Charlestown, NSW

(02)4942 2252

Samara

South Hurstville, NSW

0403 306 061

Timecraft Watchmaker

Gymea, NSW

(02) 9524 9420

Precious Fusion

Cronulla, NSW

(02) 9523 4549

Tasmania

Paul Thomson Jewellers

Hobart, Tas.

(03) 6234 8859

Kerrod Jewellery and Gifts

Kingsmeadows, Tas.

(03) 6343 2885

South Australia

Aqua Living

Brighton, SA

(08) 8296 5460

ACT

Hive

Braddon, ACT

(02) 6257 9700

WA

Eternal Impressions

Ballajura, WA

(08) 9248 1247

Victoria

Healesville Jewellers

Healesville, Vic.

(03) 5962 5195

Lacy Jewellery Studio & Gallery

Meeniyan, Vic.

(03) 5664 0055

Queensland

Bellissimo

Port Douglas, Qld.

(07)4099 5150

Colour Blast Sunday....Copper!

Copper is such a great metal...I've been mixing it up with sterling silver the past year in pendants, earrings and rings.... Very effective!


Above Earrings Available by Renee Blackwell Design....Copper and Sterling Silver...Top Pair $65.00 and Bottom Pair $85.00.
Contact Renee at: hazelwildretreat@yahoo.com.au




LOVE THIS POLISH!!!!



go here to learn more about the metal, copper:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper

This is a good utube clip on copper etching...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uqpUeNZbMA

By the Way...all you jewellery designers and artists who read my blog.....do you work in copper? Let me know and I'll add your copper jewellery designs to this post!

mushroooms....

OK...i know this posting is a bit weird..but check out these mushrooms...their colours and textures are wonderful...perhaps there is a promise of some mushroom jewellery? i don't think so....but I do love natures sense of humor and variety!


But wait...when I "Googled" mushroom jewellery.....this is some of what I came up with!



And last but not least....here's a real "stretch" for me......anyone who knows me at all, know I DO NOT COOK. Never have, never will....nevertheless.....this soup sounds so yummy! (Let me know if you actually make it...)

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Spiced mushroom, corn & noodle soup

Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 18 minutes

Ingredients 1 tbs olive oil 1 large red onion, cut into thin wedges 3 garlic cloves, crushed 2 small red chillies, deseeded & finely chopped 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock 400g cup mushrooms, thinly sliced 100g shiitake mushrooms, trimmed 2 corn cobs, kernels removed 250g fresh Singapore noodles 2 tbs kecap manis 1/3 cup coriander leaves

Method Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic & chillies & cook, stirring frequently, for 4 minutes or until the onion is soft. Add the stock, cup & shiitake mushrooms & corn to the pan. Stir well to combine & bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium & simmer for 10 minutes. Add the noodles & kecap manis to the stock mixture. Stir to combine & cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Remove from heat & stir in the coriander. Ladle the soup into serving bowls & serve immediately. Variation: Replace the corn kernels with 115g packet sliced baby corn. Add 1/3 bunch chopped snake beans and 1 cup shredded cooked chicken with the noodles.