Ikebana 2

This is a relaxing hobby. Outlay for beginning, Stayput $10 (stayput.com.au) and a container from Vinnies $1. Thoroughly enjoying it and recommending it. Many tuturials on You Tube to get you started. Even taking my Stayput on holidays with me.

Boomers

Mums close to me today.  Here we are in 1961 in love and in fashion.  Boomers have a lot C Factor happening these days.  For instance, I went to my favorite coffee shop today for the ritual drink. Got my self set up with water and the arts newpaper and went to order coffee. Nek Minute - turn around and my water and paper are on another table right next door and two rather pleased looking boomers sitting there all cozy like -  at "my" selected table. So I walked over to my paper and water and placed it right smack bang in between them and said sorry guys this one has already been baggzed. Well, wifie boomer started chuckling and scooted over with her coffee to the next table and hubby boomer just sat there with a stunned look on his face. Thinking to myself, look out - gunna be a showdown here.... Nuthing, once I sat down and stared him out he scooted off too. He kept eyeballing me the whole time and I just keep reading my paper.  Cheek of bloody boomers hey!!! 

Architectural Illustration and Styling

I loved studying this unit. It will help me with my ongoing project on the old tropical houses in Katherine. As a side issue, I also learned the reasons I was having troubles identifying sections and elevations. Turns out that I perceive everything in 3D, including 2D images. That's why my art has a tendency to appear as if it is floating. That's why all my sections and elevations had peoples feet off the ground line.  The thing that finally made me twig was the teacher said in sections and elevations people have to have their feet on the ground. In 3D they are not. 52 years on and I'm still learning about Dyslexia and how different I am to others.

Prezzi

Made this for niece in laws birthday. Its her very own yarn-bomb. Feeling rather rusty around the edges tonight coz putting your art out there is always risky. See, if I received something like this for a birthday presents Id be very excited. Its only scrappy yarn so it has no value in the rampant consumers world we now live in. I know she will like it. Just got some jitters happening.

Scribble Drawing

Never drawn a face with square eyes before. Must be Christmas making its self felt in my unconscious mind. I struggling to keep my promise to myself no Christmas presents. I cant think of anything the males in the family would want except grog and I wont buy that for them. Maybe I can buy a heap of lovely nuts and just put them one the table or make up some sweet mustard pickles. Only 12 more sleeps till I see my rhone daddy. Yippee!!!

Common Good.

“Nelson Mandela was the epitome of selflessness, grace and dignity. Rather than personal gain, he devoted his life to working on behalf of the common good." Reggie Shuford.

What Does The Fox Say?

mean mean mean mean mean mean mean................mean mean mean mean..............mean mean mean mean mean!!!!!

A few weeks ago, on a road trip, I was given a jar of Blood Orange Marmalade. I'm not usually a jam or marmalade fan but this was a total taste sensation. At this visit which was more done for the person than myself I set up my Thermomix to show her how it works and made a home made lemonaide for her to boot.

When I got home I decided to make a jar of Blood Orange marmalade for myself and it just wasn't the same. So I asked if I could have the recipe.  A couple of days later the response was... I will give you a jar and possibly a mango chutney as well when you come to visit me again. I have to think over the recipe. I hate that mentality where you give the fish rather that teach the person how to fish. It infuriates me.  As you all know I'm a know all and I like to share my knowledge... yes a person with a learning disability loves learning. Its called growth thinking. I am wired for that thinking pattern its part of Dyslexia. I always try to take people along with me, so when I got this response it withered my regard for her somewhat.

Even if I did have the exact same recipe, it would never taste the same. This person doesn't understand the full value of her gift. Of course, giving your knoweldge away for free works against you sometimes, especially in the workplace but its a minor setback compared to the spiritual growth you reap as part of that.

Common good.................an inspiring goal.

From the Sketchbook

Ikebana - Day 1

Ikebana (生け花, "living flowers") is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. Always had a thing for this. I guess its due to the design elements.  Long way to go with this and next year I am going to enroll in a course with a Japanese lady and graduate with a black belt Ikebanahood.  I'm going all delicate... be scared, be very scared.

Special Aunt

Would love to recieve a card like this. Tickles my fancy!!!!

Jessica Jean Eddy

I love this girl. Jessys birthday is today. I wanted to make some art for her but nothing would come so I decided to do a portrait of her.  I really hope she likes it.  Its always a risk capturing someones image. It takes courage to be an artist.  Part of honoring my art is to make presents using my art. Bloody scary stuff. On the upside I got a lot of cleaning done before I could attempt it............

26 Year Old Neice

Gezz, that time went fast. For a girl who has everything, its hard to work out what to do for birthdays.  So I attempted this portrait of her and was quite pleased with the result. there are some similarities there and its kind of dreamy. Attached it to a card and sent it off.  Hope she likes it.

Ive been on a quick holiday to Victoria visiting freinds and relations. Very satisfying trip which requires a follow up post later.

DV

My Niece In Law sent me this picture of Simmone and Mark in Perth today. Mark probably hasn't heard of the term "don't raise a hand to the hand that feeds you" which mum always said after she told me "your too lippy my girl".

Knight Of The Highest Order.

Here is Dad in an Adelaide pub with his school teacher Wilf Stiller who taught him in Katherine. He was an outstanding teacher from all accounts, but couldn't quite impart Latin on a boy who was destined to be a brilliant motor mechanic and boiler maker. I love it that Dad takes the time to catch up with him when ever they can. Little Gentlemen..... 

Mental Health Week

Today at work they asked for people to design a little something for Mental Health Week. This is what I came up with.

On the sea of life things come at you from all angles so aim for something while balancing and holding on to something that will soften the edges.

Turkeys

About 13 years ago Hansy Croft (nephew) went up to Darwin for a weekend. My birthday was coming up and we got this little gamin bird and planned to show Hansys mum my new bird when we arrived back in Katherine. When I got out of the car to drop him off, I held the bird with just the head poping out of my hand and said "look at what Hansy brought me for my birthday" the look on my sisters face was priceless....sorta like "your joking crossed with "WANKA"! Too funny, she knows me well - that I don't like caging birds.  Anyway this little bloke is still going strong and sits on my balcony rail to stooge the cats of the neighborhood. Which tickles my fancy.

Gladdy and Gwenny

Sunday fun in a photo booth with Toni Tapp Coutts who has come to spend 4 nights with frolic amongst tulips, art, good tucker and to talk like Katherine girls do. Amazing how we hit it off and lift each other up. Known each other for 50 odd years but never really talked before. Toni is recovering from breast cancer after all her treatments and has short hair which I think really suits her. Can you see the comb over on the top right. We were in that booth and laughing and playing and when we come out the ladies behind the counter were talking about us smiling and I guess wondering..... Gezz it was fun.

During this weekend we have taken on our grandmothers names and personas. They were best friends. So from now on we will call each other Gladdy and Gwenny. I think they might have had something to do with all this. Hearing words I havent heard for a very long time "look now" "which one did this? Come on you mob, cant be no one!"

Clouds

This guy at work is a surfer and he has been asking me go surfing with him for a long time now.  Of all the things in the world. I think surfing would be the most poetic. Hes a dreamy kind of guy who loves cloud spotting, fossils and surfing. We became friends at the gym at work when I yarn-bombed the weight set.  So today I sent him a copy of my latest yarn-bomb and we started talking online about our most beautiful days. His was walking in the sun. His take on the sun is that it is more beautiful than the moon but because the sun is not allowed to be looked at but for a very few seconds we have to admire the moon for beauty. My beautiful day is when the sun and the moon are up together and perhaps a rainbow appearing. My take on the moon is that its more beautiful because it has an effect on every living thing on a monthly cycle but most of us don't know that. He said most men don't know this and its only because he surfs that he knows the cycles. I had never really thought about it being a bloke thing but there you go. After that conversation I was more focused on the clouds that usual and was rewarded with this beauty. Never seen one like this before.

I Can't See Them.

Seem to be the theme today at Floriade. I went to check if my yarn-bomb was there from last week but it had gone and I decided to make another to replace it. Chose the shakers and then got a stick and put the flower bomb in amongst the real flowers.  When I sent it to my sister she didn't see it.  Interesting though, that I saw a group of 3 boomers sitting under a shady area and went to sit down. One lady was rude and turned her back to me so I sat down right up against her back. Another lady said there is someone one sitting there and I said "I cant see them" which I thought was pretty hilarious.  On reflection, I wish I had said "yeah that's me, good pick up". Anyway I just sat there crocheting and talking to the returned friends until they left. I don't know why I get on my hobby horse and ride like the wind when people think they own public space. I wish I knew.

Researching My Towns Archietecture

Ive always had a thing for the tropical designed houses Ive lived in. Now with some study under the belt I can do something about documenting my home towns beautiful "old" 65 yo residential government homes. Ive been trying to get a copy of David Bridgmans Thesis on B.C.G. Burnett since July. No one wanted to part with the copies they had. So I wrote to David who a successful Architect, Interior Designer and Graphic Designer in Darwin. Took a while for him to respond and like sister says," if its meant to be the connections will happen in the most unusual places". This is certainly the case for me getting a copy of this document.  Here is his thank you card for sending me the document on CD no cost to me so I can use my text to voice software to read to me. Feeling rather blessed.
So when I sat down at 6am this morning to design a card for him it was rather scary as I don't know much about this person. So I gave it over to the unconscious mind to come up with something. After I finished it I sat back and analysed the meaning in what I had drawn. The organic shapes signify earthiness, the leaves pointing off the page mean movement in a discrete direction and the pattern at the top is a path.  I coloured the leaves on the back first and didn't realise they bled through to the front which could have been viewed as a mistake, as was the reverse path colours but I think it added something to the whole design. Looks rather blokey don't you think?

First Day at Floriade

Took the Watercolour Pencils for a test drive and had quite an audiance, this young lady was the only one brave enough to join me. It was quite unnerving at first but then I noticed they sat and chatted and watched and asked about drawing and art in general and then I realised that I needed the speil I tell anyone who shows the slightest interest in makers. Felt so much calmer after that. Even a 16 year old boy who is a cartoonist came over and chatted and showed me his art on his phone.  He said a number of times "oh I wish I had packed my sketchbook now",  So if today I have encouraged anyone to start doing art especially in public, Id be rapt.

Greatful Today

1. Walking around today I spotted these items which would make a nice colour pallet for a mans space. Nature is so intriguing. Its a great teacher if only we observe closely.  Working out my colour pallet and medium for my next project today. Found these cool Stabilio pastel pencils which might be better than coloured pencils for in the long run. I love pastels but hate the dusty grainy feel to them. 
2. When I went to the market today this man and his baby were taking ages to get organise which blocked me in when I wanted to reverse.  The car in front left so I thought I would just mount the small gutter and go forward over the hump. That's what Xtrails do. Well I went gently into to but the car wouldnt go over so I flattened the accelerator and it made the loudest burn out sound. The boomer couple who were watching at the front got terrified and bloke nearly dropped his groceries. Nek Minet, the bloke (one two many cones) and the baby come up to the drivers side and says, you are really impressing me now... Give it to her!!! Laugh, still laughin now, I remembered my 4WD Training and did the nifty wheel shift and off I went. Miss Humpalot canon-balling straight down to Tuggeranong.
3. Pool tonight - I thought this young woman had called me and coz I couldnt hear properly or see with out my glasses I got out the pool and went over to her. I said, did you call me? No...ok Ill just have a look at your lovely baby then. She said why are you here and I told her I have sore knees and she asked me would you like to pray with me right now? Yeah ok, and she said this awesome blessing on me holding hands. Message - Its good getting old. Thanks Godde!

Makers

Early this morning I had a coffee date with a friend from work. Behind us sat a young lady who was hemming this gorgeous dress for a 10yo to wear in a short film in progress. Her friend works at the coffee shop had made the dress and she was just helping out by finishing it off. I was so wrapped to see a young person sewing in public and couldn't contain my excitement. This young lassy was not put off by my excitement during the visit and asked me about the Irlen lenses I wear as an aid to my Dyslexia. She also has Dyslexia and shes about to do a PHD in Architecture. Well, that ramped up the excitement even further and I had to ask if I could take these snaps of her working on Bernices lovely dress.  What a great little embellisher. So cute these two girls are makers.

Fathers Day

This day gets more precious as time goes on. So many meaningful quotes on Facebook today but none of the sum up my love for Dad. Today needed a meaningful gift so I created a bunch of stubby holders for dad to sip the suds with. 
1. the Blitz bogged in a river
2. Dad at the river with family and friends
3. Nanna and Pa
4. My illustration of busy.

Teacher Friends

Ive known this couple since I was about 13. Kerryn was my teacher at some point during my time at school but I cant remember when.  Isn't life funny? She intoduced me to art in the park. First time kids in Katherine had free art supplies or any art supplies for that matter apart from crayons and colored pencils.  She has turned out to be a great supporter of my poems and art. Always trying to encourage me to do exhibitions. Johns right there encouraging me too.  This lovely cushion, which is machine quilted and embroidered by Kerryn is in response to a letter I wrote to her in June about the Dyslexic Sunflower at dads place. They both loved my artistic licence in drawing the centre yellow and leaving the petals brown. So lucky to have them visit me this weekend.

Lost

Today Anne went to Godde. We shared space in Katherine when she had a fight with her mum. She didn't stay long coz being grown up got too hard and she went back to mum. I couldn't be a mum to her or myself for that matter. So when I got the news today I went on a binge eat while pondering this girl. Basically, she was hurt by a guy who used her. Threw her self into a crazy working frenzy of a full time job and two part time jobs. That's when she hurt her back. Which led to prescription drug addiction. She is highly intelligent and a very sensitive soul. Seem to be the way of those tender hearts who cant deal with the ugliness of the world. Angry is coming in waves and I have no idea about what exactly..............yet!

Thankfull List For Today

• After a month, I had lunch again with Chad at Archives. I was just finishing my lunch when he walked in. I enjoy his company and the surprise meetings with good conversion and food. I have no idea who he is but his mother is an author in Canada. I like to wait for people to tell me rather than ask. Means you have to give them your full attention to pick up little clues.
• When I went to the library this afternoon this book was front and center on display and I picked it up then returned it, but something called me back and I took the book off the display. As I did this a lady behind the counter said " At last, someone has taken the beautiful book ". Apparently she had been watching people pick it up and put it back for 3 days. She came over and we chatted about the book and drawing peoples attention to objects and had a good chuckle about various antics she had noticed.  This kind of behavior tickles my fancy. Its great for connecting people, a sense of community. What attracted me to the book was the hand illustrations.

 

• And this music.................

Applying A Cold Pack

Explaining to dad on the phone today about the smackdown and how I was trying to hold three cold packs on at the same time. His response....."well luv, I better get off the blower so I can apply a cold pack to the back of my throat down at the Trailer Boat Club"

Thats my DAD!!!!

Nek Minet

Yesterday morning I drew this scribble drawing as I was of work with an arthritis flare. Basically had to lift my leg to be able to walk around.  Then about 4pm it started to come good so I went to James Turrells light sculpture at the National Gallery for my colour fix which makes me happy and calm. Then I went down to the National Library to do some research an left about 8:15pm. Walking along quite nicely and nek minet I www.smackdown into the concrete, turning my glasses in to wrap arounds. Squealing like a stuck pig until out of the dark two gorgeous young men come to help me. Well this is nice Im thinking and stopped blubbering. While helping me up, I let go this trumpeter of a fart and I was so embarrassed that Id farted I said "pardon me". But today I got my scribble book out and noticed that this is what happened to me last night. Mind you, I look nothing like this sheila but it certainly got me thinking.

Quilt Tart

Feeling super happy today, off to the Quilt Fair with Doris. This year there seamed to be a lot of 3D quilts which was rather nice.  What really impressed me though was the signs that said in a really nice way, Hands Off!

My Ironing Career Zine

Resurrecting this zine (short story) of my interaction with the iron to sell in my online store. Still planning how that store might work and look, but if I put it in words I usually bring it into reality.

First Ukelele Lessons

Well that was an amazing afternoon of fun. Blisters on the fingers but im going back for more...they promised a quick start and take home songs and they delivered that and a great afternoon tea full of excitement and friendship.

Reminded of the songs I haven't heard for a long time bought a little salty tear to my eye - Annies Song, written by John Denver.

Scaley Creature

Think this is about loosing the winter clothes as today is the first day for full summer kit. Even though its currently 7 degrees there is no wind and the sun is shining. I have more that a spring in my step. Thinks its a big arsed hydrolic jack in fact. 

Shedding my printer and scanner also as its thrown the towel in and I cant wait for the PC to die also so I can get something more discrete. I love it that Technology allows you to downsize "Stuff". From now on if I need a scan I will use the stuff available to me outside the home for printing and scanning as I hardly use those features anyway.

Great Great Grandparents

How lucky are we to have the picture of dad with his grandparents? I love the way dad has his feet placed and that one big toe jutting out. He still has incredibly beautiful shaped feet has little Robbie.  This was taken in South Australia around 1939. There is not much vegetation which is probably due to lack of water. 

Its a shame to think that these images will be lost to future generations due to technology changes and people not printing photos that will last more than 30 years. We are about to loose a huge chunk of information that has been collected in familys as the amount of pictures people collect on a weekly basis is just too much to manage properly. We no long hire an artist to capture a family in oils that will last 600+ years with the right care.

Nothing is special anymore, there is so much choice, so much stuff, we are up to our eyeballs in things,sounds, images, tastes,smells. We are still starving for touch in the first world though. I am seriously thinking of going in to extreme minimalism. I want things to be special, to be beautiful, to make me feel excited happy sad and downright cranky. Im getting old. Thats what it is..........

Aunty Carrie

Today would have been Great Auntys birthday. She was always so proud that she was born on the same day as all the other thoroughbreds. Gorgeous woman she is.  Last night I dreamed I walked across Australia with Art Garfunkel. Cant remember if his nose got sunburned or not but I had such a lovely time discussing all nourishing topics as we walked along the amazing scenery.  The feeling I woke up with this morning was peaceful and fulfilled. So like the times I spent with Aunty Carrie where we talked about all kinds of things that people who have an age gap of 50 plus years never talk about.

Corin Forest

Every year I try to drive the 36Km up to the snow to make sure I appreciate where I live and how many things are available to me in such short distances.  This photo is of the reflections in the frozen lake at Corin Forest. They have a roaring fire in the cafeteria where people bring their kids after playing in the snow to toast their marshmallows.  I sat there for quite awhile just watching them do their toasting and it was so relaxing and warm watching families interact.  Mind you, there were some hardcore char-grilled marshmallows and scrunchie faces being pulled.

Death By Inspiration

I should have known today. when I had been awake for only an hour and I was delivered two amazing inspirational images, that I was in deep trouble.

1. Heidi sent me this beautiful image from inside her frosted car.

2. The day is special because the moon and sun are up at the same time and everything is covered in a white frost and glistening.

Then on my trip to Archives....

3. Stopping to have coffee at Espresso Room and I over heard a lady saying Loud Coffee, when she was trying to say loud noise but because she hadnt had her coffee she got mixed up.  I cant stop thinking about what loud coffee would look like.

4. I found plans at National Archives that no one around knew had been created, even though I continued to hope.

5. I met Chad at National Archives by joining him in a lovely space while we had lunch. Conversation was so exciting covering the number of chidren I have helped parents raise through my detailed advice, Accents, Oil, Cypress Pine, Learning diffuclties, Canada, Snow, Know alls, Research,    Kites......well of course!! Playfullness, Writing Books, Greg ( the bloke that was sitting around the corner listening to all this who I don't know but thought I was muscling in on his territory with Chad), Truth and Making is Connecting.

6. While pondering the moon and sun thing, I remembered a quote by James Turrell - Light Sculpture - "the stars are still there in the daytime too its just the sunlight that blocks them from view." Id never thought of it like that.

Sometimes this all hits me so hard I feel like I am going to burst or at least cry which I did twice while talking to Chad. Nice to have my mojo back. Fetal position - here I come.

Dream Bedroom

This is Burnett House in Darwin. Designed by Beni Burnett 1938 and survived the war and cyclone Tracey.  This is my favorite tropical design home.  He had a lot of influence on the building in Katherine.  I have spent many a peaceful Sunday afternoon in room such as this. My home in Katherine didn't have many walls and while it was freezing in the dry season when the lowest temperature I experienced was 1.5 degrees Celsius, it was amazing in the build up to and during the wet.