Purple Mangoes

We’ve discovered a funky place we really like. Wonderful owner, good food, and a homey feel. Here’s a little blurb on it: Tasty Takeaways

We’re planning to hold our Fall workshops there. Drop by and check it out and tell Alanna we sent you. A different menu every week (get on her e-mail list to see what coming up for the upcoming week), good food to take home for days you don’t feel like cooking and a woman living her dream. What’s not to like?

We’re ba-ack!! Its been a busy year for Susan and Liz, so Purple Mangoes had to take a back seat for awhile (PhD work, more than full-time jobs, life in general). But we’re back, with 3 workshops scheduled, a new venue, and some new project ideas. Our next workshop in Edmonton, on September 25, is completely full. October we’re doing a Blessings Bangle workshop (October 16) and November we’re doing the Seven Strengths Necklace (November 20). Send us a note through the “Contact Us” link on the Purple Mangoes web-site if you are interested in reserving a place in the October or November workshops.

We just got a few dozen silk ribbons from Kas – lots of blues, purples, some soft yellows and some warm neutrals that will look great with copper. The colours are just scrumptious and the quality of the fabric and finishing excellent. She ships things quickly and even sent an extra ribbon with our order. Check out her EBay store.

We went through our PMC books looking for just right projects, and found a couple that looked interesting. One of them is a PMC “spool” which is fired, burnished and then wound with small pearls and gemstones. We started our projects on Sunday, but need more PMC to complete them. I was reminded that while PMC is often less tedious to work with than traditional silver-smithing materials, it does take some skill to get a finished product that moves beyond the “Quik n EZ craft” level. I forget what it feels like to be back at beginner level with an arts pursuit – it takes patience and loving-kindness towards yourself, the medium and the people around you when you’re working at this less-than-competent level. Thank goodness for patient and optimistic friends and colleagues!

Woo hoo – we have business cards!! It took a long time to get them, but we’re really pleased with the design, and the printer (VistaPrint) was incredibly speedy.

Here’s what we played with today. These copper “croissant” beads are really fun to make. And they work really well with these big fused glass beads from Ghana and the crinkled silk ribbon. Now I need to make another version with seven copper beads!

We had our first meeting with our Advisory Council last Wednesday. The wonderful “Crone Jewels” (Anne, Elaine, Eva, Joan, Linda-Louise and Maril) had answers and lots of questions for us. We learned lots and had a good time too – and everyone left with their own “Near and Dearings” (thanks, Anne – for the new name you suggested for the Near and Dear Earrings).

Liz and I had a great time this afternoon making samples for a new workshop – Near and Dear Earrings. Liz made some gorgeous earrings with multiple hues of pearls. I went more with the gemstones. These are really fun to wear, and I like having my near and dear close by. Here’s a picture of Liz looking very movie-star-like wearing her new earrings and one that shows the earrings I made:

Welcome to our journal. In the next weeks and months, we hope to use this to share some of our favorite things – quotes, pictures, research findings, beautiful things and ideas that inspire us and might inspire YOU. Keep checking back.

Susan and Liz