Proud Rock Nerd

A 22kg Fluorite. (Wow!)

I can admit it, I am a proud rock nerd. I love pretty rocks. I have books and books about them. I love the science behind them. The history of discovery. The tales about individual gems. The rarity and the symbolism. I go to gem shows to buy gems for my jewllery as much as just to poke around and see all the pretties on offer and learn something new.

As a child I collected tumbled stones and crystals. I'd spend my pocket money on pieces of pyrite, clusters of amethyst and smooth samples of rose quartz. I was so drawn to the colours, shapes, endless variety and beauty. I've never outgrown that awe and fascination. It's one of the things that really excites me about being a jeweller; finding interesting and unusual gemstones and designing around them. Alongside my collection of cut stones for jewellery, I have a collection of fossil, crystal and mineral samples. My children love to fossick through them. There are polished thunder eggs, fossilised ammonites, petrified wood, dessert roses and all manner of boulder opal. To some they are probably just so much clutter, but to me they are endlessly fascinating and I like to sift through them occasionally when seeking inspiration.

Recently I discovered a second collection of specimens at the Queensland Museum (images above) on a landing in a stair well. Oh, how I love a museum cabinet full of such wonders! The little name tags, the clear stands and angled lights, exhibiting the wonder of what lays beneath the earth of this wonderful planet of ours. I hovered before each piece until my poor husband and children dragged me away. Must find a moment to visit undisturbed...

Are you, or have you ever been, a rock nerd too?

33!

I celebrated my birthday this past weekend with some of my favourite people and favourite things. Having already had an early birthday present farm stay didn't stop my sweet family from making the weekend all about me. Dave took the children to visit the big dinosaurs so that I may wander through the wonderful Bristyle markets in the Whale Mall, we all explored the children's art room at GOMA, and then I left them busily making their own Magic Lands (and you can too) while I visited the Future Beauty exhibition, luxuriously alone. 

It's such a shame photography wasn't permitted, as words alone can not do justice to the experience. The space, the designs, the elegance and the outrageousness. If you are a lover of design, fashion or art, there is something in this collection for everyone - except possibly children. We meandered back to the car through the museum and gazed at dinosaur bones, pinned beetles and a formaldehyde shark. I stumbled upon a crystal and mineral collection tucked away on a landing in a stair well and drooled over the contents until my husband dragged me away. (I shall share pictures with you tomorrow.)

Yesterday there was flowers, wine, a lovely lunch and even a delightful nap.

Happy birthday to me and my beautiful twin sister! xx

Weekending - Deep Oceans

There's something about a museum cabinet full of labeled curiosities that makes my heart pitter patter that little bit faster. I'm especially drawn to new shapes, forms and textures, like the sea sponge skeleton above. Shapes and textures that often then find their way in to my jewellery after such excursions.

Yesterday we visited the 'Deep Oceans' exhibition at the Queensland Museum, Brisbane. I was just as excited as Cohen to see the preserved giant squid and wander through the cabinets and displays with an inquiring mind. At five, Cohen is such a little knowledge sponge right now, and so eager to learn. We are endeavoring to provide him with as many opportunities as possible to see and understand the world and feed his passion for learning while he is so receptive. 'Deep Oceans' was certainly a win in that regard. He loved looking at and interacting with all the displays, and then playing on the themed playground at the end.

Next weekend I am thinking we will visit the Planetarium.

A Trip to the Museum

Yesterday we took a trip to the Queensland Museum to see the Lost Creatures exhibit. Like many children, my five year old is fascinated by (and slightly scared of) dinosaurs. Needless to say, he thoroughly enjoyed himself, peeking at bones, foot prints, projections and fossils - and confirming several times that these creatures really truly no longer exist.

While exploring the rest of the museum we stumbled upon Collectomania, a weird and wonderful exhibition of collections ranging from pineapple kitchenalia to a wall of snow domes, from match boxes to shoe stretchers, licence plates to beer cans.

I've always loved visiting the Museum, and when one has curious children, visiting becomes a must.
Have you been to a Museum lately?
What did you see?