My Jolly Rancher Ring (aka Liu Li)

A new jewellery story opened up below my office building on Water Street in Gastown. It is called Chic Winds and they sell some interesting pieces of jewellery. One of the more interesting designs they are showcasing is Liu Li jewellery.

An ancient form of glass making from China's Kingdom of Yue, circa 462BC. There is an ancient and complex technique for creating a mold that can only be used once. Expensive, naturally colored glass material is turned into a paste under fire, it has to stay inside the mold for 9 days to gradually cool down. During this period it is very difficult to control the movement of the liquid paste and therefore identical replicas are near impossible to create. Each piece once cooled is then put through a polishing process so that the final artwork can take upwards of 20 days of meticulous craftsmanship to complete. Because of the difficulties and the delicate nature of these techniques, the success rate for classic style Liu Li is less than 70%. No wonder in ancient times that Liu Li belonged exclusively to China's royalties.

But today, it belongs to me; one more happy single-hood present to myself.

I finally sewed the last stitch

Last Tuesday, I sat with Carla and Lisa and over some terrible soya pizza puffs, mini halloween chocolates, and Pelegrino I finished the final stitches which were in the Welcome sign just above the sewing machine. I guess, I could also sign it with my signature, heleno.

Now I need to wash, stretch and dry, mount and frame it. Then all that is left is Christmas wrap, a bow, a card with a big kiss to mom!

I will post a photo of it when it is framed.

Rowan and the Mighty Fraser

I took a new friend for a drive here a while back and realized it has been too long since I brought Rowan down to the river. So today, with my Canon Rebel hanging from my neck with a plastic bag in pocket incase of rain, we started off. It has changed a little from the last time Rowan and I took a stroll down here, but remarkably not that much.

There was a lovely little cubby hole that looks like lover's lane from all of the used condom wrappers lying around, but it offered a great lookout place to watch a bald eagle perched on a topless tree about 40 feet from his nest.

We also met a Beagle, who wasn't too friendly, and an australian shepherd named Mel who was extremely friendly. Rowan and Mel frolicked while Jan, Marilynn and I discussed the beauty of living so close to the water. They live on a sail boat and own a larger boat that they offer for small trips. Nice couple.

Right after the frolicking the rains started so I wrapped my camera in a bag and off we headed for home. We were soaked, but happy. Now for a warm cup of soup and some toasty fingers.