Some Good Finds

Had a few fabulous finds in the op shops. Bought some old saucepans to use for dyeing. Found an old rusty iron one I had lying around and cleaned that up. Also bought an old linen shirt very cheap. It was coming apart in the side seams which gave me the idea to unpick it and use the pieces to dye. I spent the late afternoon sitting quietly, mindlessly unpicking. Those mundane chores are very good for me. They still my mind and I somehow find peace. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I adore the holes the machine stitching leaves and the different shapes of the pieces with button holes here and frayed edges there. It shows the fabric has had a history and that's somehow comforting to me. Mmm all too delicious without the calories. Will no doubt come home on Monday with some newly made felt which I will endeavour to dye. My excitement is building and building.

I finished the commission piece for Naracoorte Primary School that I will deliver to them on Thursday. Not sure on the title. Usually the title comes to me while I work on it but not this time. "Letters and Numbers", "School Days", "Learning", "ABC and 123", "Days at School" are some titles I have come up with but none seem quite right. Any suggestions???

altered, stained and found papers on canvas

100cmX75cm

Can't Wait for the Weekend

I'm finally over this cold and feeling more like my old self. Back to gym tomorrow, yay! Feeling a little frumpy without my usual exercise. I notice how grumpy I get without it. I think those close to me notice too hehehe.

I'm off to Naracoorte on Thursday morning. Will deliver the commission artwork to Naracoorte Primary School and say hello to the kids I met while I was artist in residence. Then going to pull down my exhibition and pack up all my artwork before going out to dinner Thursday night with Vanita and some of her friends and then Friday I'm heading off to Horsham with some new friends for the felting weekend. I haven't been in that neck of the woods since the 1970's. Horsham is the gateway to the Grampians which is one of the most beautiful places in Australia with waterfalls and fabulous bushland. http://www.thegrampians.com.au/ Well it was in the 70's hehehe.

Had a few low times in the last couple of weeks so this trip should really lift my spirits and once home will get back to cleaning out the shed so I can try out some dyeing and eco prints and felting. Oo exciting times ahead.

sniff

Still sick, sniff. Not really sick enough for bed but not well enough for gym. Just feel blah! Not getting a lot done which makes me grumpy :(

Its Sunday. I did end up getting a bit of a cold but not bad enough to stay in bed. The big shed clean up is moving along so slowly, groan. I do the same as I do for my artwork; small doable actions daily. Then the small actions will add up and before I know it the shed will be done, right? I try not to look at the whole thing. Just little sections. The shed is quite big, factory size so it will take some time.

Been reading Eco Colour by India Flint. Its a fabulous book about dyeing fabrics using natural dyes rather than synthetic. I really like the eco prints where leaves and flowers are used to imprint onto fabrics. The old fingers are itching to get into it and experiment with this world of textiles that this book has opened up for me. It will be my reward for cleaning out the shed. I need the space in which to do it and I'm determined not to use my kitchen. Check out India Flint's website but be warned its addictive. http://www.indiaflint.com/

Pruned my roses yesterday. Yes I know I'm about a month late but its been so cold and gloomy outside that I just couldn't bring myself to do it before now. I didn't intend to do it but I was walking through my much neglected garden yesterday and the sun shone with the promise of spring. I just needed to be out in the garden doing some ordinary mundane thing and before I knew it the roses were pruned and my hands cut from the thorns. Yes I have gardening gloves but didn't stop to put them on.

Today the sun is shining again and its been a pleasure doing the washing and hanging it out on the line. Its still cold but its nice to get some sun.

Watching Olympics

Made quite a big hole in the shed cleanup on Wednesday but now I'm getting a cold grr! Spent Thursday taking it easy. Laying around in bed, watching the Olympics and trying hard not to let this cold take hold. Now its very early Friday morning. Woke up hot with sore throat and thick head. No! I don't want to be sick now. Hard to stay healthy when people around you are coughing and sneezing. Ok, a big drink of water and back to bed, its much too early to be up.
Good news, got my requirement list for the felting workshop. Very exciting. Its only two weeks away.

The Shed

Is it just me or is time moving more quickly than usual. Hasn't been anything on the news about this scientific phenomenon so maybe its just me that thinks so.
There's been a few family issues of late. One involving my sister Ilka and another involving my daughter Julia. Too personal to discuss here but I can feel their weight on my shoulders. I'm very worried and saddened but trying to keep positive thoughts going.
Had a couple of bouts of overeating grr! I've been doing so well and then I made chocolate chip cake for Bob's birthday. My thought patterns are this: if you are going to have a piece of chocolate cake you might as well eat chocolate and biscuits and all those other naughty things you know you should keep away from. Chocolate chip cake is all gone now and I've vowed to get back on the straight and narrow.
After gym today I'm finally going to start clearing out the shed. I need my new studio space as I've truly outgrown the space I'm using now. I know it will take some time to clear the shed properly but it will be worth it. Artwork will probably be on hold for awhile although I know I will have to spend some time on my art otherwise I'll get really grumpy. My need to create is as strong as my need to breathe sometimes.
Wish me luck as I head off into the uncharted realms of the shed. If you don't hear from me soon, send out a search party. Yes the shed is that bad. I might need to leave a trail so I can be found in case I lose my way.
Off to gym first.

Photos of My Week in Naracoorte

THE EXHIBITION OPENING

Interview for the local newspaper




THE COLLAGE WORKSHOP

some beautiful papers were stained

and altered

made some new friends

Hi Grant

lots of sticking, sticking and more sticking

WORK FROM STUDENTS OF NARACOORTE PRIMARY SCHOOL

I was really made to feel special in Naracoorte. The Naracoorte community is made up of such a wonderful, warm and friendly group of people, who accepted me into their midst, it brought a tear to my eye at my exhibition opening.

My week as Artist in Residence at Naracoorte Primary School was an absolute delight. I had so much fun with all the kids, some of whom came to my exhibition opening, that I felt quite heavy hearted to leave them. Hi to Graeme, Annie and Adele. I wish to sent a very big thank you to Dylan Bartels who was such a support to me that I really don't know how I would've managed without him. He gave up his recess and lunch times to help me clean the multitude of brushes, paint trays and water pots and helped me set up for the next class. He worked tirelessly putting out chairs and helping me without even being asked. He's such a special kid and I hope I get to see him again when next I'm in town.

I also enjoyed the collage workshop I gave and made some new friends. I love sharing information I've gathered in my artistic exploits and in sharing I also get so much back. The group who attended the workshop have inspired me with a whole lot of new ideas which are formulating in my head. My art will have to take a back seat for a little while as I've outgrown my studio space. I'm about to give the shed a good clean out and plan to be ruthless and throw out as much as Bob will let me. We used it as a pottery studio and now its storage and a general dumping ground. Well that's all about to change so I can set up a nice studio space where I can leave work in progress set up and not have to pack up every night. Oo I'm so excited, plan to start the clean up next week.

Anyway that's me all caught up after my exciting week away. Will be going away again around the 28th Aug. My exhibition needs to come down and then I will be joining a couple of new friends in a felting workshop weekend which is being held in Horsham. Have wanted to get serious about felting for some time now but never got around to it. What's that saying of Buddha, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear". That's how I feel about this felting workshop. The exhibition, residency and workshop I was working towards was over and I was ready to explore new grounds and a new media when I heard about this felting workshop. Spooky isn't it? hehehe.

One more thing, a big happy birthday to my Bob who is 57 today. He's still my knight in shining armour and my best friend :)

Back Home From Naracoorte

I had the best time in Naracoorte. The community is so full of warm and friendly people who excepted me and made me feel so welcome. I'm having trouble fitting back into my normal routine. Still warm with the glow.Will post some pics soon. Still haven't unpacked all my art supplies, groan.