Margaret River is now the top place to live in Australia. I forget which travel magazine or survey confirmed this, but I would agree. It is a mecca for artists, wine buffs, surfers, lovers of the good life. It has top quality restaurants and small cafes by the dozen. It is near the ocean but also surrounded by bush. Another unique feature are the caves, deep under ground, dripping with stalactites and mighty up thrusting stalagmites, you are taken down by a guide and when you are deep within the lights are turned off. I have never experienced such intense blackness. It weighs on you and is like a living thing enfolding around you.
We stayed in Margaret River for 2 weeks during our 2010 journey around Australia and did not want to leave.
Glass is Ailsas theme this week and that brought back the memories. There are artists of every medium here and they are all world-class. Painters, metal workers, potters, wood carvers, and also glass artists. That brings me back to Ailsas theme.
Melting Pot Glass Studio
We wandered into “Melting pot glass studio” (click here to see some of the glass creations and more information about Gerry) Not only did it have an Alladins cave of beautiful glass on display it also had Gerry Reilly’s glass blowing workshop at the back of the studio. We were fascinated with the process. What a great opportunity when Gerry offered Jack the chance to have a go. Of course I had to capture it on video. Now Ailsas theme has given me the opportunity to show it to you…
Some of Gerry Reilly’s creations
Jack has just reminded me of the famous Chocolate factory that you simply must visit if you are in Margaret River.
gypsy life 
This sounds like such an interesting p;ace to visit. Love the glass art, and I’m sure I would also love the chocolate. 🙂
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I never knew that you could get so many different sorts of chocolate combinations, all yummy
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I’m loving the sound of the chocolate factory
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It is an irresistable place, lots of free samples…
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I love the video! To see how such a…filigree art is created….amazing!
And those green, vibrant colours in the collection…beautiful. Really are.
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Thank you for the comment, it is a real art and to watch an expert is fascinating. Jack just enjoyed trying and finding how hard it was
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Wow, what a unique looking collection. I’ll have to go and follow the link to see more. It never ceases to amaze me where I can get to once I enter blogland.
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Thanks for dropping by, yes thre are some lovely photos on the link, well worth having a look at.
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Margaret River and its surrounds was always my fave place to visit when I lived in Perth. Niw you can buy a lot of the local produce in Perth too. Such an incredibly beautiful place 🙂 visited the glass studio many years ago and have 2 beautiful blue pieces .. A vase and a bowl from there .. Some of my face glass pieces 🙂
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I would love to go back again, oh well, maybe some day, but it is so far away…
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Those are beautiful glass creations! How fun to watch Jack blow glass. 🙂 … I’ve been spelunking before, and I agree with you – the darkness is the caves is oppressive.
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Where did you spelunk? (I love that word…)
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Spelunk is a great word. The modern world wants to replace it with “caving,” but spelunking is so much more fun. 🙂 We were at Laurel Caverns in Pennsylvania. http://www.laurelcaverns.com/
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Caving sounds so sterile I would much rather tell people I went spelunking, it has a quirky ring to it.thank you for the link to your cave here is the link to the Margaret River caves, do go if you get over here…
http://www.margaretriver.com/what-to-do/1-caves
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Pauline, some of the pictures for the Margaret River Caves are stunning. Thanks for the link!
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It certainly was an incredibly beautiful place. They had different coloured lights highlighting different areas, just stunning
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how fun! you’re having fun with your internet connection too, aren’t you?!!! my slow connection played part, but it was enough for me to appreciate the glass blower and also to enjoy hearing your voice!!!!
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Hi Lisa, I put that post down in 2 parts so you may have to go back for another look at the photo of the finished glass… Not the one Jack had a go with though, that one went into the trash!!!!
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