Bear with me here…I think you will see how it happened. I wrote about making my block of colours based on the Tsarang apron here.
So I had my colourful block, and started playing around with ideas based on the panels of fabric being set at opposite directions. Came up with a pretty straightforward and very wearable little number where the panels were interspersed with ultra-marine glass beads or composite turquoise discs. Tsarang mala #1 and 2!
Then I started to think about the chunky necklaces that young Newari girls in Nepal wear for the bel-bibaha. 
This photo was taken by Siddhi Lal Kayestha. There are lots of variations on the bel marriage story but basically young Newari girls are married to trees so that if their human husband dies they are not considered widows. Not a great thing to be in Nepal, so it’s a practical measure. I’m sure that’s oversimplifying it but it gives you the gist of it.
Anyway, you can see the necklaces the girls wear and this was in my mind when I made the 
Tsarang mala #3. The curly shapes came from the animal horns that hang above doorways in Upper Mustang to keep evil spirits away. Fun shapes.
Then the horns started to get vaguely oceanic and tentacular. And the striped clay fabric was turned into petals rather that apron panels and, oh boy, was I having fun?! And here is Tsarang Mala #4. I felt like I
recognised it as what had been simmering in my mind (and kind of vaguely as sketches scattered through my journals for years!) This one will hang as #52 in the YON series and I want to make another version for me to wear on opening night. If you can’t wear a confection like that on your own Opening Night when can you? It is actually very comfortable to wear. When I started assembling it I was being rather careful with where things went but what happens is that they all nestle really nicely however you wear it. As soon as you flip the flowers up, the little curls just adjust to your neck and stay there. A lovely bonus! Comfy but a little different each time you wear it.
And I’ve had this idea for a teapot….
wow love it,(though perhaps not for me ) but it will look lovely on you, are you going to be wearing a sari,
much as I would love to come to Broken hill to your opening,sadly I cannot,thought maybe you were holding it in one of the Sydney galleries,but never mind we WILL catch up sometime,I shall be in Nepal from 29 October -11 Nov then I fly to England for a month to catch up with family over there havnt been back for 25 years so there are many new faces to see ,
Mmmm. I’d love to wear a sari as you know Pam!!! I’ve always said I’d wear one to the opening of an envelope so I guess I will need to consider it! I promise I will post some photos on the blog! I will email before you go. Sounds like you will have a fantastic time!!! And our visits will overlap a bit so let’s see what happens! You’d better make sure you take your sari over! Or just buy another one. Hugs, Wendy
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Wendy, I’m in love with this last necklace. Oh my! They’re all fabulous, but this last one sings to me. I love at the magic when you keep saying “I wonder what would happen……”
Have a wonderful time at your opening.
Alice
Alice this is a such lovely comment coming from the I wonder queen! It is a spirit that makes all the difference though doesn’t it!? Look at the work you have done recently with your wondering! Would you ever have thought. I am so excited to see which of your pieces are in the book. Still patiently waiting for my copy to arrive….
Wendy, this is gorgeous! I love that feeling of “recognizing” a piece that has been waiting to be born! I wish I could do the retreat in Australia with you and Tory! I know it will be magical! Can’t wait to see your opening night photos!
Best to you!
Hello Deb! How wonderful to see you here. Thank you so much for commenting. The recognising thing is interesting isn’t it? We’d love to have had you here for the retreat. Maybe next time? Numbers getting there and it should be fabulous. I will take opening night photos!
You’re a genius! Love this, and your work, and you x
Oh you lovely thing. Why not say that you have a writing job and come over on the 23rd to write about it? We both know about the whole putting yourself out there thing! All these comments are helping with the jitters!
The best of luck with your exhibition Wendy, such spirit lifting colours and the stories just pull you in.
Thanks so much for commenting Donna! Lovely to see your name here. It’s been exciting if a tad daunting!
Wow, I just love the way you have distilled this for years. So much colour, so much texture and movement in very funky necklaces. It looks very comfortable. Yes, you have to wear it, but you also need one to remember the stage in your polymer journey. It’s so cool to have a story emerging over time. Make sure you show us the one you will be modelling.
I felt very much like it had been distilled for years Sabine. I can tell you know just what I mean by the recognition thing! I will take photos and bore you all witless I promise! Thanks, as always for the encouragement. (PS A certain book arrived at the RFDS base today so I am getting a bit excited about that!
I am so intrigued by this: “The curly shapes came from the animal horns that hang above doorways in Upper Mustang to keep evil spirits away. ” I’ve searched the net for over an hour and cannot find a photo of this, do you perchance have one? I am wondering if these are Kudu sheep which have a curved horn?
Oh Kate you poor thing! I will email a couple of photos but I have curled them way more than they were in reality!! We kept an eye out for Blue Sheep on the trek without luck. Are they Kudu sheep you mean? As I said, I will send a photo of the ones I have. Thanks for dropping by!
Wendy, this is SPECTACULAR! I so hope I get to see it (on YOU) in person one day soon. Love your writing about your creative process on this series too!
Darling Dayle, what does it say about me that I am so giddy with excitement about all this!? I think that any spirit of exploration I develop comes so much from the spirit that you, Alice, Sabine, Tory, Marlene, Cynthia and so many others embody. You encourage that playful risk taking and journeying within a theme and I have learnt so much from all of you in that regard! To have you lot commenting on my little efforts is such a buzz!!! More soon Dayle!
Wendy, I love that necklace (the last one especially) and one like that would be perfect for you to wear to your opening reception. It does look fun to wear! Congratulations and I wish you all the best in your show!
Carolyn
Thanks so much Carolyn. You are very familiar with all this I think and seem to get it all done without the fuss I make! Maybe it comes with practice. I just got my copy of the Polymer Clay Global Perspectives in and Cynthia left my little vote of thanks to the Goods in! See page 128. Hugs, W