Sunday, December 28, 2008

Sparkle


It's been a while since I have been able to be crafty/creative - I have been soaking up the sun - surfing, snorkling, walking, etc. Making the most of the holiday atmosphere. Instead I post images I did a while ago but which I have not had a chance to post. Terrible photos - taken with my imac but cest la vie. I love having this forum to post and write so I keep plodding along, waiting for that one sparling moment when I sit down again with brush and paint.

These images were all done with watercolour pencils.

Bless you all and hope you had a relaxing xmas
xxx


Friday, December 26, 2008

Witches Charms

I bought myself the book "The Little World of Elves and Fairies" for Christmas. $11 second hand. It was in a bookstore in Dee Why for years and every time I went in I would say "no, I don't have the money". Finally, the other day, I spent half an hour looking for it until I finally found it and bought it. After about two years!!!

The illustrations are beautiful. They are by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. Ever since I was little I was in love with this image. Being a witch was my very first career aspiration. Bless. 
 

Witches Charms
The weather is fair, the wind is good
Up, dame, on your horse of wood!
Or else tuck up your grey frock,
And saddle your goat or your green cock,
And make his bridle a ball of thread
To roll up how many miles you have rid.
Quickly come away,
For we all stay.

The owl is abroad, the bat and the toad,
And so is the cat-a-mountain;
The ant and the mole sit both in a hole,
And the frog peeps out of the fountain,
The dogs they do bay, and the timbrels play.
The spindle is now a-turning;
The moon it is red, and the stars have fled,
But the sky is a-burning.

Ben Jonson.

I know it is Christmas and not Halloween, however it is always the right time for witchy things. Here are a few relatively old pics of mine (2007)

The Fortune Teller


Halloween 2007

xxx

Monday, December 22, 2008

Pepperkake fun




I took inspiration from the blog 'Tiny Happy' and made Norwegian spicy Christmas biscuits - Pepperkake. There are a few recipes on the internet and I just used one that I thought was the best for me. They were really really good; the white pepper is fabulous. I iced them with an icing sugar and lemon juice mix. 

The dough needs refrigeration for 24 hours and rather than rolling it out and using my lovely cookie cutter shapes, I was lazy and cut the dough into irregular 'bits'. I thought they looked terrific. The dough was enough to make heaps - I still have a ball of fresh dough in the fridge (I wrapped three large orange size balls). 

All the cooked ones are gone...only crumbs and the absent smell of nutmeg and ginger. A few for the neighbours, a few for a friend and the rest for us. Fat and happy.

Happy Christmas Blossoms!
xxx

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Bag of Bliss



On my doorstep from Susan. It smells divine. Will drink some tomorrow.

xxx

Friday, December 19, 2008

Buttons and chai

The Christmas decorations turned into pictures. I couldn't help myself.



And the buttons...



Me: "Hey Pauline, I know that room is your store room but you know those buttons in there...Are they for sale???"

Pauline: ""Why? Do you want them?".

Me: "Ooooh yes if you are selling them".

Pauline: "No, you can have them". 

Me: "No, really I couldn't!"

Pauline: "I will be glad to get rid of them, I keep having to pick them up off the floor".

And that is how I came across the buttons.
Such generous people in this life!
And waiting on my doorstep was another Christmas present. A beautiful bag of chai tea from a friend who delivered it while I was at work. I am so lucky. Photos to come.

Bless
xxx




Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Urban wonder

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU

Another animation

This is so beautiful. So lovely to watch. Urban street art wonder. Simple yet complex, sophisticated yet whimsical.  

Long live Youtube 

Bless 
xxx

Monday, December 15, 2008

Loving and leaving


My dear friend Georgina left to live in England yesterday. I will miss her to pieces but will visit soon I am sure. Georgina with the English rose skin, the heart shaped face, the love of dance, and the appreciation for delicious food is nanny to Damian and Marianne's three beautiful girls. Marianne's gorgeous blog is listed in my blog list under applehead. Marianne loves and has purchased some of 'Amanda Blake's' art which is also listed in my blog list. I don't know Amanda Blake but I too love her work. And why do I write all of this? I guess I love the little intricacies, interconnections, relationships and inspirations in life and on the web. 

Bye Georgie girl, Marianne, Damien and the girls! See you soon on the other side of the world. 

Ps. This photo is not Georgie walking away, but my partner walking along Manly pier. Just a metaphorical shot.

Bless
xxx

Sunday, December 14, 2008

A lovely animation

I just want to share a great YouTube animation - simple yet so effective. 



Bless
xxx

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Breathless


December...My darling December. 

I love this time of year but, like most other people, I am so frantic there is not much time to sit and enjoy. The canvas is blank, the brushes are dry and the remnants of November's glorious artmaking activities take over my desk - trying to say "hey! I am still here you know!

I am not complaining as the artmaking sits at the back of my head waiting for another Froghopkins Rennaissance. I cancelled the markets on Saturday due to bad weather and laziness; and really, my heart was not in it.  

Instead I do other things. Working, engagement parties, walking for fitness and health again. 

And I surfed today. I 'rode' my first two Sydney waves ever. I have been surfing countless times to no avail. I have caught waves before but these are the first two I can honestly say I rode. I am reluctant to include that glorious time in Waikiki where I rode a long board on a wave which seemed to go on for eternity. That one seemed too easy, too magnificent, too glorious. If I am to include that one I would say I have 'ridden' three waves in my life. BLISS.

I love summer.

xxx

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Camilla and the Crow, final

Camilla and the Crow


It is done. Finito. The bubbles around her head are of glistening gold, as is her necklace. She definitely is royalty. 

It is funny but I am working with only 8 colours at the moment - 2 blues, 2 reds, and ochre yellow and black and white. Oh, and of course gold. I need to do some shopping otherwise all the paintings will end up looking the same. But then, sometimes it is nice to have some constraints within which to work. And we can't always have everything.

Now to the shops to get another coffee and some chocolate. 

Bless
x