so that was Christmas

So Christmas is over.

Even the cricket is finished for now...

but this was what was keeping me busy leading up to Christmas

You may have already seen them on Instagram

but I have decided I find blogging (and reading blogs) more satisfying

so from now on I am going to try and blog more.

What are your thoughts on this dilemma?

I mounted lots of these as my Christmas cards (here's hoping they don't end up in the bin).

Lots and lots...

(i did put some on Etsy if you are interested)

Quick...

I am currenty taking part in an exhibition called "Weathering the Future".

It is a collaboration of artists and writers as described here ...

 

This is my contribution entitled "Opting out".

Melissa Watt has composed an ekphrastic piece as her description of my piece.

What do you think?

If you are local you have just a few days to view the exhibition at the Backspace Gallery in Ballarat.

 

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Up to speed: part 2

Then what happened?

We made our way by train to Lucca for what turned out to be 10 most fabulous days.

You know when you book something well in advance and you never quite know how it will go.

And in another country?

Well it was FANTASTIC!

 

 

 

10 days at the Casa Fiori doing a sketching class with James Richards:

Follow your Senses in Tuscany.

Everything about it was sooo good: food, wine, and my lovely classmates.

The days were structured so rest days (sketching at the casa) were alternated with sight seeing and sketching.

( I hope that link works. I'm not finding blogsy so great for doing this. But do look it up as they have another workshop next May as well others with other tutors)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe I'll show my sketches next post?

 

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Up to speed: part 1

Hello Italy.

I have been here for more than 2 weeks but just haven't found the time to blog.

You get out of practise don't you?

Prepare for overload....

 

 

 

We started with 3 days in Rome revisiting the sites from my younger days.

 

Most things are more beautiful than I remember but fences keeping you further back:

I'm pretty sure I dangled my feet in the Trevi fountain.

Now it's the battle of the selfie.

Next instalment: Tuscany.

 

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one inch

I was rearranging my scraps the other day

and decided to make some 1" strips

and then do something with them.

So satisfying.

And then one tiny pin cushion,

then two...

 

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vexillophile

My son has a friend who was a contestant on a game show 

and the big money question was

"What is vexillology?" 

Guess what is one of Sheldon's (Big Bang Theory) hobbies?

He won.

I am thinking a series here.

Soldiers Hill Artist Walk

 If you are in town the next couple of weekends you can see my work in this shop window.

It is the Old Butchers Shop, Pattersons, Ballarat.

 As you can see, it not ALL about me.

There is lots of great art to see.

Let me know if you want to meet up?

Book binding

I have been wishing my drawing was better

so with my exhibition over

that's what I am doing.

 

While I do have a couple of Moleskine books in reserve

I decided instead to make my own.

 

Oh why stop at one when you have to get all that gear out.

Strictly speaking this book is not bound but rather folded.

Very easy. Thank you YouTube (concertina book)

 

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Series

You know you can do workshops in working in a series?

I think it comes naturally.....

You start with one and think next time I'll......

and then text time I'll.....

and there. A series.

And then I think, I ought to keep a record.

Should I give them signs?

Maybe I should make some new ones.....

 

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