Colour therapy

A long time between drinks - not intentional, more the result of a busy job and a bout of self-inflicted illness. I did the Dukan diet for a week and truly believe I poisoned myself with cottage cheese. To redeem myself and restore order to my world I present a small presentation called Primary Colours. It stars three necklaces:


This wonderful bold piece is from an op shop on the NSW south coast. I was on a road trip with an old treasured friend who indulged me with stops at all the little towns where there were op shops. She was driving (I can't) and sang Kookaburra Kookaburra What's So Funny from Sydney to the edge of the Great Ocean Road and back again. The beads are glass and the clasp is silver and marcasites. The beads work wonders with a plain white shirt and black skirt and cost me a dollar.


These subtle cloudy beads are from the farmer's market in Bayeux. Among the stalls filled with eggs, breads of every colour and texture, vegetables, live chickens and fruits was a man who seemed to know the location and contents of every basement and shed in France. He had a wonderful array of things - most of which were broken and charming - and in amongst his clutter were these. I love the clasp, I love their cool weight. And yes, I definitely saw the tapestry. I had studied it at University and argued an hour with my tutor that the tapestry was made by women. When I saw it close up I knew straight away I'd been wrong: it was definitely made by men. I wondered if I should write my old tutor a letter. Anyway, a wonderful glass necklace with a beautiful sterling silver clasp. Five euros. I wear these with grey and purple dresses and am always delighted by how they wake up a plain white white jumper.

These are the second last last thing I bought in New York. They are as heavy as a bag of bears and are unmatched for juicy citrus cheer when the sun hits them. I assume they are citrine quartz but when I wear them I am convinced they are citrines, the rarest and most precious of gems. They're from the Sloane Kettering Thrift Store on Third Avenue, a thrift store that changed my view of op-shopping for all time. They were expensive - $120 - but I was flying back to Sydney that afternoon and very sad to be leaving the city that looked after us so well for eighteen days. The last thing I bought in New York was a bowl of oatmeal and coffee in EJ's diner. (Just the thought makes me want a cup of diner coffee with some half and half.) I love wearing these beads - they look perfect with floral dresses, silk blouses and tweed jackets - every time I wear them I remember something else I love about New York.