I never say good-bye

Having lived overseas for so long, I’ve become a bit accustomed to people coming into and out of my life.  At first it was really difficult to see someone move on that you had  formed a special bond with.  However, over the years, I have realized that true friendship knows no distances, time zones or telephone area codes.  True friends are still there regardless of where they live.  I can honestly say that I have not lived in the same country with the vast majority of my good friends for decades.  They are spread far and wide and whenever we e-mail or telephone, it is as if I just spoke with them yesterday even though months may have passed.  This month sees quite a few of those new found friends moving back to countries spread around the world.   I send each one of my friends off with a warm hug and best wishes for the next chapter in life, but never a good-bye.  Good-byes are not for people you know you will speak to again, will see whenever possible and have formed a lasting friendship with.  So Jan, I cherish the time we were able to spend together and do send you off knowing that we will be in contact.  All the best my dear friend!

Goodness, whoever would have guessed that teaching a few knotting classes now and again would keep me so busy!  I look at my diary for last week and this one coming and realize that in 10 working days, I only have 2 1/2 at home.  That does not leave much time for working on knot projects and getting ready to teach those classes.  I have, however, been out and about meeting a lot of really wonderful people and spending what little remaining time there is with D’Arcy (another one of those friends who will soon be off to greener and wetter shores!). 

So, in looking through my photo file, I have a few to share with you this week.

This is a wall hanging I did a few weeks ago.  I had never made a pan chang with two cords so thought I would give it a go.  It turned out so nice that I then needed to decide what to do with it.  I had this burnt jade piece in my cupboard from one of the previous Hung Hom shopping trips.  The bottom if a series of cross knots tied in a diamond pattern and in a vertical row.  Even though it looked good on the computer, in larger size, I see now that I really should have taken two sectional photos of this to see the detail.  You get the idea…

 

This necklace is a prototype for one that I made for a girlfriend in New Zealand for her birthday recently. 

It uses knots learned in the Knot Basics class and when paired together make a very attractive  gift.  Even the simple knots can be beautiful and elegant.

Since I received so many comments on Porsche from last week, I thought I would share another member of my feline family with you…

This is Simon.  Where Porsche normally sits a good distance from where I am working, Simon normally wants to sit ON what I’m working on.  As I’ve been typing this blog entry, he has been up on the computer desk 3 times walking back and forth in front of the screen.  Simon’s motto is “It’s all about me!”. 

See the Baubles & Knots page for dates of gatherings between August and December.  Mark your calendars!  The inaugural social/project work day will be Friday, 28 August at Jamila’s.

And as for classes, I’m finding that some of you  are wanting to take classes but the dates I’ve selected are not meshing with your time schedule.  I am more than willing to hold a class for you that fits into your schedule.  I know that summer is a busy time what with kids being out of school and travel; however, we all need to take a bit of time just for us and concentrate on something fun and enjoyable.  Other than the first half of July, I am in Hong Kong and am available.  Let me know what you would like to do and/or learn and we’ll make it happen!

That’s it for this week!  Wishing everyone a wonderful week and may you NOT get caught in a Hong Kong summer rain storm!

My weekly post

I want to thank everyone who has visited my blog over the past week.  I hope you have enjoyed what I’ve done so far and continue to.  Remember, if there is anything you want to ask, request a certain class or just want to check in, e-mail me at ejh_creativearts@yahoo.com.

I have updated the photos of the pan chang bail now so they are much easier to see.  Yes, this means that I have a new camera, have figured out how to use it, have successfully downloaded my photos onto the computer and know how to insert them into the blog.  I feel like I’ve learned a lot over the past week!

The title of my post today is a lead in to what my plans are for the blog.  Since I have so much to get accomplished prior teaching my various classes, I need to schedule my time carefully.  Intially, I will be doing one posting to my blog each week by the end of the day on Monday.  It will most likely be all-encompassing as I’ll add information about new projects I’m working on, classes, things I’ve picked up on my travels and the like. 

Before I get into a few projects I’ve been working on, I want to introduce you to one member of my pride of mini-lions.

This is Porsche.  This is her favorite spot to be when I’m in the craft room working.  From her perch, she can keep a close eye on what I’m doing and if anything hits the floor whether it be a bead or some cord, she considers it hers and is on it before I can pick it up.

Regarding classes, I have had to move the Tassel class on 2 July as David just informed me that we are leaving for New Zealand a few days earliler than I had planned.  I have rescheduled it for 23 July.  I also have a few other new classes to schedule in and I think I’m going to wait until the summer is over as everyone seems to be incredibly busy for the next few months.  That said, if you are here in HK and looking for something to do, please do get ahold of me and I’m always happy to add something in.  I’m away from 1-18 July and then here for the remainder of the summer. 

On the Knot Lesson page, I have put the class outlines in alphabetic order for ease of finding one that you are interested in.  I am also starting to add photos to a few to give you a visual of what the class will entail.

To take the pan chang bail one step farther, I did up this one with a great glass bead I’ve had for ages and then knotted a string of pearls from Jamila.  I’m quite pleased with the way it turned out and have received quite a few compliments on it over the past week.

 

 

 

 

Another project I put together is this Chinese Brocade fabric and chinese knot evening bag.  I made this for a very dear friend who is leaving HK shortly.  Chinese Knots are so very versatile and can be used for any number of projects.  I will be doing a lot more of the fabric/knot projects to show you the possibilities.

Well, that’s me for the week.  Until next time…

With all the talk of bails…

or is it bales?   I checked with the woman-in-the-know yesterday and found out the proper spelling is bail.  This is a piece, normally made of metal, that allows you to hang a pendant from a ready made necklace.  Or you work  the bail into a necklace and can then have  it permanently in place. Some bails have a snap opening to allow for changing pendants, others have only a loop where you attach your pendant with a jump ring.   I was playing around the other night wondering how I could make a bail out of Chinese Knots.  This is the first design I came up with. 

 

 

 

  

What I did here was start with a button knot where the cords come out one end (we have got to come up with a snazzy name for this wee knot!) and when I tightened it, I left a loop at the top; this is where your pendant can be attached with a jump ring.  Or if you want something more permanent, you can had the pendant before making the button knot.  Next I did a 6 row pan chang and tightened down all the loops.  I tucked the ends into the body of the knot and secured them with a small drop of glue.  Finally, I did a flat knot with tassel cord and inserted it through the pan chang.  I tied and then sealed the ends together and then tucked the ends back into the knot.  And there you have it.  The only thing is that there is an awful lot of “ends” being tucked into the pan chang at that one point so next I may try to put the button knot at one of the corners, instead of starting with this at the top, so the loose ends of the knot and the flat knot loop will be tucked in at different points. 

There are any number of knots that would be applicable to this concept.  And with all the cord colors that are available you could have a rainbow of  bails to thread over your pearl and/or bead necklaces.  Give it a go!

Well, here I go…!

My first post.  How amazing!  I thought it quite fitting to dedicate my first post to my Mother who turned 82 in April.  She is an amazing woman and I have learned so much from her through the years.  She has always been there for me when I needed her.  Her advise was always sound and just what I needed to hear…even though sometimes it was not what I wanted to hear! 

 

This necklace is a two color snake “loop” design with large hole metal beads at the junctions.  I am working on a couple variations at the moment; one with smaller loops, one with alternating the colors from inside to outside in each subsequent loop, and using a horizontal double connection knot instead of the beads.

So, here is your dedication Mom…I love you!