Where Did It GO???

Okay then - 2008 is almost DONE - tomorrow being New Years Eve - and the past year has slipped away and what do I have to show?

The past few weeks for me, have been as busy and chaotic as everyone else.

Since my return from Melbourne and the fabulous Book of Memories workshop, I seem to have not had a moment - that was mid-November I guess, and Christmas needs start to press about then.  I have done little art - besides Christmas cards - but lots of agonizing and I have RESOLUTIONS for 2009!

For 2009 - I am going to do less stressing.  This is BIG.  I sadly have to quit many of my groups, I know too well that groups depend on members input for success, and I have not been active in lots of them.  Those I have been active in - well I fear that I have let them down - I sign up for "swaps" - and immediately panic, redo everything that I do, then feel disappointed with what I actually send!

I have found, in reviewing my art over the past few years, that the things I love best, are the things I have done, because I wanted to do them - the singular pieces, the one-offs.

This is what I will do in 2009 - what I want to do!

I have diversified into fabric and fibre rather a lot this year - I want to experiment more, with those media, and with the paint and texture that I love.  Dye too -  and RUST - there are so many wonderful experiments to do and if I don't have to actually reveal them to anyone, if they are only for knowledge and experience and PROCESS - then there will be no pressure and only the joy of creating.

This is the plan.  I am such a lazy soul though - I am a bit afraid that without pressure, I will just grind to a halt!

If anyone has a prod to poke me with I would be grateful!

So that is the plan for 2009.

2008 had a gorgeous December - I was involved with a 12 Days of Christmas swap - each day from 12th December, we opened gifties, and what a joy it was!  I shall scan and take photos and post them I swear!

And there WAS Christmas!

What a big one it was this year - 4 families combined - everyone brought food and drink, and it was big and loud and diverse.  Such fun.  I have photos of food..........

In 2009, I also resolve to post more pictures.  Pictures are GOOOOOOOD!!!!!

hope that someone is awake still............  hugs

Requisant in Pace - Buster-Cat

Dear old Buster-cat has crossed the bridge - she is now chasing mousies in Heaven (she never caught one on earth, but maybe it is different up there - but if so where is mouse-Heaven?  Maybe she won't catch one there either, the joy is in the chase so they say).

The time came - I had always said, since she got Dementia a couple of years ago, that when the bad days out-numbered the good, that we would help her over.  In the last couple of months she had failed terribly, totally deaf, painful movement, little appetite, and such mental confusion.  She had  come to the conclusion that she needed to come indoors to pee - and for a cat who had such sweet manners, that was so alien.  

So on Monday, with heavy hearts, we took her down for her final vet visit.  They all knew her medical history, so fortunately there was no last minute "are you sure this is necessary?" discussions.  Even Ben, the young and bouncy vet, was sad and quiet, and we all did what was necessary - I signed papers and paid accounts, and Ben did what he needed to do.

Even though I knew and still know, that it was the right thing to do for Buster, I felt terrible grief, when I was stroking her and her little heart  stopped beating.  So quickly - she had gotten  so small, her little face was tiny, and yet her lovely coat was still silky and thick, even though it was falling out under my loving stroking.

There is a kind of sad resignation ruling the house just now.  We all miss Buster - poor Kofee-dog is just realizing, she is clingy and worried about us both, bringing us toys and looking at us with love.

Funny how dogs are closer to us.  Cats OWN us - dogs love us.  Either way, they are a huge part of our families - when we lose one, our grief is just the same.

I have been recalling when we lost our old dog Storm.  When he passed I was so grief-stricken, he was such a lovely old boy - but I was comforted by the fact that I knew he would go straight over the bridge, and that he would find my dad, walking Duke (a neighbour's dog that he loved, and walked daily), and that Storm would fall into step with them, and all would be right , and as it should be.

We take comfort where we can.

Been A while....!

Remember that I said I was a technophobe?  I have definitely proved it - it has taken me all this time to get into my own blog!!!

Buster-cat is hanging in, getting thinner, but seems to be no worse over all.  Kofee-dog is getting more solicitous of her every day though - and dogs have such sense about what is going down.  Husband said this afternoon "it seems like those Biblical representations of The Lion and The Lamb when you see them together" - well we are still pretty sure that Buster would be the Lion in such a representation, she can still make poor Kofee recoil in horror.  One swipe of those brutal little claws and Kofee wonders what she did to deserve it.  

Kofee so much wants to be loved by Buster - she does her very best, but Buster is the quintessential CAT - she is aloof and arrogant and demanding - she has NO sympathy for lesser beings - and all beings are lesser....  she being CAT after all....

I had the most wonderful weekend - a couple of weeks ago.  Travelled to Melbourne to attend the Judy Wilkenfeld Book of Memories weekend workshop.

Fabulous organization from Kathy and Marg - a great weekend of sharing and laughing and trial and error - and laughing - and the wonderful inspiration from Judy (RedVelvetCreations).  

I had been kind of seeking a vehicle for doing a piece of work for my parents.  My dad was born in 1909 and died in 1993 - my mother born in 1921 and died in 2005.  They were born 12 years apart in age  and died 12 years apart.  

I had very little memorabilia from their lives, but wanted to make a piece of work that reflected what I had and what I knew. 

For the few days before I left for the workshop, I was in a frenzy of delving through those boxes of photographs that we all have - ("who is this, when was this?)  you know the stuff.  "I will get it sorted out one day if I can find a living relative who might be able to help me to sort it out....?")

So - since I don't want to look like an over-achiever which I am definitely NOT - I need to point out that I had spent quite a lot of time -  before I packed for the workshop, thinking of what I might use and what I hoped to produce.

I was delighted with the work that I did through the weekend - I have not finished by a long mark, but it is well on the way to being a testament to the work and lives of my parents - people who struggled and lived through such hard times with 6 children and nothing but hope in their pockets.

As soon as I can remember how to load photographs on to my little baby blog, I will do that - and put up another slideshow of the gorgeous weekend that we all had, and my wonderful book (I do think it is wonderful!) that I worked on.  

I stayed with my beautiful eldest daughter (I have two beautiful daughters) and she too attended the workshop, it is so nice to be able to spend time like that with my daughter!

Since that workshop weekend, I have been busily engaged in making little gifties for the "12 Days of Christmas" swap with one of my Aussie groups.  There are thirteen participants, we each make 12 little gifties of our choosing - we send them to our hostess, she packs them up into baggies - one of each for each of us - sends them back to us - we get to open a little parcel each, on each of the 12 Days of Christmas!!

I sigh a little over the sheer amount of work I am forcing myself to do (I KNOW that I could have done it more simply but did not have any of those thoughts....) but it is going to be a such-fun swap!

Tomorrow I will ascertain - I hope!! - or at least remember - (and if I can't then I will seek aid) how to put up those photos - you will love the book from the workshop I am sure - unless you are AGAINST things that look so old and decrepit that they might have been dug out of a cellar.........  sigh.....

cheers!!

I Forgot To Explain.....

I posted that I had worked out WHY I am am so tired and grumpy lately!  I forgot to explain that, and it was a gentle query from Bethel (of Bethania), that reminded me!

To the right, you see Buster-cat.  Buster is an elderly girl - about 16 or so by my memory - and she is arthritic, deaf and demented.  And she utterly forgets to bring that tongue in, but that is irrelevant.

The "arthritic and deaf" anyone can cope with, but the dementia is really difficult.

My husband was away in NZ visiting the family, and while he was away, she decided that rather than wanting to come in or go out 16 times per night, that it was LOVELY to sleep on my bed, snuggled in and warm.  That worried me not at all, but when the husband returned, he objected strongly to having the old snoring creature (HUH??  snoring??  the cat??) between us.  So then Buster cat wisely moved herself to the un-husband side of the bed, and snuggled up sooooo warm and cosy, to my chest, that I could not (can not) move in my sleep for fear of waking her and setting off another yowling festival that keeps the entire neighbourhood awake!

It may sound as if I am flippant about the situation, but I am not.  Buster has been part of our lives for a long time. I cannot imagine the pain that families with older relatives go through with this problem.

Buster variously decides that other positions are the OUT door.  Sometimes it is the ensuite bathroom door - once it was the oven.  She goes out, then stands indignantly with an expression that clearly says "WHY???? am I out here?" and immediately sets forth with the "I WANT IN" - and it matters not a jot which side of the door she is - she wants the other one!

(NO I did not let her in to the oven!)

On the other hand, the local currawongs have NO kidney problems!! I know this, because they eat the food that she leaves, on the front deck.  (I started feeding her out there a couple of years ago.  The kitchen had been gutted prior to rebuilding, and she simply had no idea which way  was "UP".  It seemed unnecessary to further confuse her....)   As she had a total renal failure about 5 years ago, and has since gloried in the expensive Hills Science Diet KD, I know that what she leaves, is the renal salvation of all the local currawongs.

Unfortunately currawongs also have their left-overs.  Some of it is very difficult to scrub off your deck furniture.....

So that is the answer to the tired-and-grumpy issue!

Nothing at all to do with the sad lack of sales at the Exhibition last weekend.  I sold not a single baby blanket - but the shawl will be the next payment, on my next workshop - the Judy Wilkenfeld weekend in Melbourne in November!  Yay I am ahead!!

I so enjoy reading comments that you leave - please continue to do so!

cheers

Spring Has Sprung

This is the gorgeous explosion of blossom, that is making at least one corner of my back yard, look gorgeous.  

Spring in Canberra is something special.  We do complain about our weather, with good reason, but at least we DO have clearly defined seasons.  Autumn is glorious, winter is shocking, spring is beautiful, then summer - well  - unbearable.

It has been worse over the last ten years of course, with the drought that seems never-ending, but most of us here are not trying to make our living from our land, unlike those hardworking farming folk, who have also been suffering this for so long!

Some parts of the country seem to be getting far more than their fair share of rain!  I have a brother in Newcastle - they have had so much rain for the past couple of years!  It is heartbreakingly lush and green up there, every time I go!  I saw people hosing off their drive-ways - I wanted to get out of the car and PUNCH them!!  Not fair, I know, but we have been on rigid water restrictions for so long, as is a lot of the country, that it just seemed soooooo wasteful, and hence my desire to punch them silly!!

And I am a very peaceful person, under normal circumstances!  :)

Oh I am so happy to report that my big shawl has already sold at the exhibition!  I was a bit concerned when I did not see it there today on sale, but was left with a MUCH better feeling when I was told that it sold on opening night!

The weekend is coming up, and saturday and sunday will hopefully be busy days - I am really hoping that some of those little baby blankets are also sold!

Selling your work is very tricky - there is no way that you would ever be able to recoup your costs AND a decent hourly pay rate, but I know that some people are able to do that, and I applaud them!  I know that through my work at the craft shop, when people come to us, asking for something to be made or mended or fixed in some way, I have no trouble asking them for a decent rate, for the artisan who does the work for them!  But I also have the advantage of KNOWING that they can't do it themselves - or why would they be looking for someone to do it for them??  Presumably they value whatever it is that they require work to be done on, so that makes it easier.

The question is of HOW to persuade people that YOUR OWN work is valuable.  If anyone has any insight into this tricksy question, I would be glad to hear your opinion!

Okay that is it for the day.  I am so far behind in my art commitments, and have a busy weekend with the exhibition, so leave with big hugs to all who have posted encouragement to me, and hope to post on Sunday night, with a cheery nod to a successful weekend of sales!

cheers!

Been Busy!!

and lost the last post altogether!!  See?  I said I was a technophobe!

These are baby rugs - either cot size or crib size, and a contemporary version of the traditional wool embroidered baby blanket.

The central motif is needle-felted in merino and the embroidery in mohair or merino.  

I sure hope that they sell! They are being offered at the local textile group exhibition next weekend.  I am also hoping to sell some button necklaces, and my huge woolen multi-yarn shawl.

The shawl was actually supposed to be part of the Exhibition - The Living Reef - unfortunately I have just discovered that as such, it should have been lodged last weekend.

Sigh - one day I will grow up and be on the ball.  

And I have discovered WHY I am so tired and grumpy!  In my next post I will explain all - AND I will post another picture!!  

I really want to say thank you to all who have posted such encouraging comments on this little baby blog - it could grow up to be major fun!!

hugs to all

Sunday Blues

I am feeling a little tragic tonight - no real reason, just tired and flat I think.  Maybe I will feel better after a good sleep - sure hope so.  Actually I tried to have a good sleep this afternoon - I feel asleep in my chair after a vigorous day of cleaning up the disaster of a back yard that I currently loathe.

It was not a good sleep, my poor head kept falling off my neck, and waking me, and that is less comfy than it sounds funny.

I had a very brief visit from my beautiful daughter overnight.  She flew in in the afternoon, from Melbourne, and left early this morning to drive to Orange, in New South Wales, to teach for a week.  

Happy Fathers Day to all the Australian Dads.  Don't know how my husband feels about FD without girls around - I know that I found Mothers Day to be a bit of a loss.  

Like all the holidays, I guess that commercialism has built these days up, to be huge in our minds - and if we don't live up to the dream, then we are not doing it right!!  I love Christmas, but am always beset with fear for the weeks leading up to it, that it won't be what people need of Christmas - and WHY do I feel that I am responsible for Christmas anyway????

Beats me!

So no arty fun this weekend - there is a pile of goodies that need to be completed and sent off VERY soon, but none of them got touched.  Why does LIFE interfere with ART on such a regular basis?

That beats me too!!

Okay next post will be more cheery and will sport photographs of something - I swear!

Birdies For Deb - The Watchers

I finished a piece of work to send to my friend Debbi in W.A. - I was full if trepidation when I sent it off - I have been in an arty-drought for some time, a bit overwhelmed by life from time to time I guess, but the deadline loomed as they do, and I had to stir my stumps and get moving.

I don't generally jump on bandwagons, but gosh the birdie craze has me firmly held.  I even sent to the US to Green Pepper Press, to buy Michelle Ward's fabulous Painted Ladies plate.  Anyway Deb's canvas was a great excuse to put rubber and ink together!

Now that Deb has received it, I can post it here.  I used a canvas board, and some fabric that I had rusted, and one of my precious pieces of mica.  The piece is called The Watchers.

Though my scanner is now working, it was not when I had to send the piece, hence the dodgy quality of the photos!

Button Day!

My friend and I heard a rumour that there was a Textiles Display at the University last weekend, so down we went.  Discovered that it was Open Day at the uni, which was a fun experience.  Many young people and their hopeful parents wandering around dreaming of a bright future.

We headed to the Textiles Faculty, not a lot to see, though what was there was very impressive, and found ourselves at a table manned (womanned?) by three lovely young women, who were making buttons to sell to raise money for the Department.

Why do Universities have to sell buttons to raise funds?  Is this not peculiar??  A button cost $3 - buy ready made or make your own.  How many buttons would they need to sell, to keep the Faculty afloat??

Being Crafty Types, we elected to make our own, and had such fun!!  I remember childrens toy button makers, never had the experience myself, but this was one hefty older brother of the little FP toy from a toystore!  It was lots of fun - simple pleasures are still good to me you see...:)

I hope I don't develop into a true cynic any time soon....

Succumbed to the Pressure!

Well no pressure really, but being constantly red-faced when asked the question "what is your blog?" - I have decided to put my toe into the water so to speak.

Being a blogging virgin, this may never be a cool site, but being a techno-phobe, this is one big step for me!

I have been fortunate enough to have attended some wonderful workshops in the past few years, and will eventually get some of the wonderful things I learned there, to my blog.

This year I attended a 2-day workshop in Sydney with Michael de Meng - I am a huge fan, and learned many things to do with Liquid Nails, and deconstructed books.  Michael is such a great teacher, and it was a joy to learn from him - even "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" session, was much less daunting than I had imagined!  Michael has a wonderful ability to make you believe that you are truly an artist.

In May I was in Melbourne for the Artistic Journey Retreat and had classes with Misty Mawn (I still can't paint faces!), Nina Bagley and Traci Bautista - such a wonderful weekend, and my thanks to Jacky and Jo from Artistic Journey, for their courage in putting themselves "on the line" first, and bringing teachers of such quality, to Australia.

I am looking forward to my next workshop - also in Melbourne - early in November, when the amazing Judy Wilkenfeld will be teaching a two day class - Book of Memories.

Judy's work stuns me.  I have been fortunate enough to see her "Esh" work, in the flesh, to handle it and examine each detail - while Judy explained each part of the work.  It is such a powerful piece.  

Well so much for my first post!  Now I am going to try to add some photos of my work, in case I can never find my own little blog again!!