All done ...

It doesn't show up so well on the photo, but I just added a little colour and a birdie. Now they are all packaged and in the post.

Peace

I am going to Art Journey Retreat in March 2007, and this little quilt is for a pre-retreat, chunky book swap, using Lost Aussie rubber stamps. I really enjoy working with these stamps, partly because they are beautifully designed, deeply etched rubber; partly because many of the images started out as photos Marie takes right here in Albany.

I am contemplating adding some tabs to the right, but am just going to leave it be, and look at it, for a day.

I don't often explain my art, after all, art is what you see. But as I was playing with this one I was looking at the bare leafed tree - with just a hint that is would be new, and the peace message below - a little like a war memorial. I had been teaching the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in one class at school, and in another, the Vietnam war. This woman (Queen of Spades?) seems to be a little bit orienatal. With so much racism being expressed, I wanted to express hope for peace and forgiveness; for a new day, like those I see around me this spring.

My best e-bay buy ever!

$36au(about $27us) including postage - and I love every cm, every gram of the 4.9 kilos, every twist that is going to be formed.

What is it you ask? Copper wire! And I love copper soooooo much. The large wooden reel (gotta love the reel) - is about 28 guage and will last a life time. The dark red to the right is about 14 guage and the others fit inbetween.

This glorious wire is insulation wire found in a shed and at this stage is still covered in dust. I am not sure if I will be able to use it for jewellery - but for assemblage, pure bliss! The copper goes all the way through. The reels are gorgeous. And I do not have time to play today. Aaaagh, I am itching to get my fingers on it.

Those hard to reach places....

I could not resist sharing taking these pictures of Hamish and Charles, this morning. They have different parents and were 'chosen' within a week of each other, and yet they really are like a lot of brothers.
The best of friends, willing to go that extra mile, prepared to clean the INSIDE of each others ears. And today all was peaceful. However, quite regularly one will decide to nip the others ear (usually Charles), and then it is on! War! Chasing each other, hissing, tackling, rolling ... Until they forget, and the war turns into a game.
The game quite often ends in my big claw foot bath. As they race through the bathroom they will remember what fun it is to slide in the bath. Run up to the top and slide down the inside - like a banana slide. Friends again ... Unless one lands on top of the other ...

As I said, just like brothers ...

And don't you just want to kiss those two little noses?

Fear Less Arrived

This wonderful collage by Kelly Rae arrived today!!! What a joy it is to have one of her originals - and to see how she has built up the layers.

It is also interesting the difference a space makes. I bought the collage reading Fear Less, Kelly has titled it Fearless. And now I read both in her eyes.

If you have not checked out Kelly's work then I have her link to the left.

Breaking the Drought!

Yes, I know it was only a week without creating ... it felt like longer. There are 90 one inch tiles here, all made this long weekend, 63 of them are for Dotee's swap. The other's will make some gorgeous cards later tonight or tomorrow. It was such a joy to create in a way which used so many different ideas, textures and colours; and I am so happy to have my inky fingers back.

The cooking bug has still got me and I now have a huge pot of broccoli soup to divide into freezer containers - after a bowl for now. Yumm! I can eat soup all year round.

Creations of the Day

This week has been incredibly busy as I prepared my year 12 class for their mock TEE (next to last exams) and had parent interviews for lower school. It was such a joy to reach the weekend and to begin a few art projects, and to catch up on some sleep. I am sure I will have some art to share before the week is out.

This morning I baked for the first time in, ummmm, years? So here you see lemon tea cake and lemon muffins. My tree has reached its annual peak. I took over a hundred lemons to school on Monday and it was impossible to tell where they had gone from. I am predicting lemon cordial and lemon butter next.