Design Inspiration

I took myself off to the regional library to learn how to use the digital collection.  There wasn't a lot I didn't already know, but there were some rather significant holes in my knowledge that I have now filled in.  Nothing is going to change the lack of reception here on the island so I will visit the library when I do my grocery shopping and use their WiFi.  It is very clear that people of my generation are afraid of "playing" with the setting on their digital appliances.  Kids don't have this 'block' on their learning.  So, I'm going to have to learn to play some more.

Whilst I was on the mainland I had a look in some of the shops that I rarely get the chance to visit and I found some design inspiration in the shape of this parrot.

I think I will call him 'Percy'.

On the base it says his country of origin is China and It looks as though he has been cast in resin.

But he does look you in  the eye in a very knowing way!

And there is so much detail in this statue I think he would make a great subject for an embroidery.

I think those feathers would look good in fly stitch but I must get some of the other stuff finished first.  Still Percy is now on my 'to do' list.

WIPW

The shawl is blocked and completed.  The wool I used, although not the one recommended, makes it a cosy warm item.  The lace sections are not as distinct as I would have liked but it still works well.  I like the cast off picot edge and can't believe that I had so much trouble working out the pattern!  It was really easy, caste on 2, caste off 5.  Simple! Just shows you how a virus can confuse your brain.

My book cover progresses, slowly.  I have been giving a lot of thought to just how I am going to embroider the creatures and the birds that go over the top of this background and have decided to stitch them on linen  and then cut them out and applique them to the back ground.  I am also thinking of hand quilting the turtle rather than machine quilt it.

And I have some dressmaking ready to begin.  The fabric is so nice I think I will make a toille first to get the fit right.

 

Some old photos

Some old photos have begun to appear on Facebook.  Many are from my youth in the 1960's and 1970's and I am amazed at how the sight of them can transport me back to that time.

The swimming pool where I learnt to swim.  There was another pool out of shot where the diving boards were.  Oh, I Ioved the apple fritters from the fish and chip shop.

The railway station across the road from David Jones department store where I did my cadetship.  I started as a Xmas casual when I was 15 y.o.  I was too young to be allowed on the sales floor so did that first year in dispatch.  Everyday I got on and off the train at this station.

The ground floor of that store.  I had started as a cadet when this "British" promotion happened.  The 'Lion'  on the shield was sculptured from card.  As there was not a lot of work for artists  many were employed in the window dressing and display department.  Some of those men and women were super talented and the culture, at that time, just had no place for them.  (No wonder my father would not let me have anything to do with art.)  Those escalators had wooden steps and I had forgotten how everyone still wore hats and gloves.

And Cronulla surf carnival.  I might have been a child in that crowd.

A 5 minute walk around the rocks to North Cronulla Beach Puberty Blues was being acted not that long after this.

I'm glad someone took photos of all this.

Air

After viewing the exhibition, Air, at the gallery, there are some exhibits that have lodged deep in my imagination.  One of these was "Crossing" by Anthony McCall.

It was so dark in this space it wasn't until I was leaving that I found the Title board that was displayed outside the room of the exhibit along with a lot of other stuff.

When I entered this space it was just blackness although I sensed there was moving air in the space.  I could see nothing and no-one, but, the camera on my phone could see it all. I couldn't see the device that was emitting the haze that you can see in this image but I could see the bright lines on the floor.

I didn't realise there were other people in there with me until I checked my phone.

There was  actually quite a few people.

And camera on my phone gave me a whole new understanding of what I was looking at.

The sound of a wave seemed to come from inside my body not from outside. 

And the lines that the lights made against the haze was so 'solid'  felt I could reach out and touch it.  But then shapes moved in and out of focus.  A person quite close became a shadow and those in the light were 'almost' solid.

 Or they looked quiet 'ghostly', even though I was stand right near them.

I think I need to go back and look at this exhibit again.  There was so much I just didn't understand about it.

WIPW

I finished the shawl and it is now on the blocking board.  What a journey!  But, it did keep my hands occupied while my brain is on 'a holiday' due to the effects of the virus.  Those are still on going I'm afraid.  I am not going back to the sweater straight away as my brain is still fuzzy. 

 

I have some left over wool from the shawl so I think an easy hat is called for.  But, I would like to learn brioche knitting, so I think I will have a try at this free pattern.

I might end up screaming at this but I will give it a try.

I have now mapped out the pattern for embroidering my 'challenge' book cover.  I was very unsure about how I would do this.  I have taken a photo of the fabric and then drawn, in pencil, which is a bit hard to see, how I think I will embroider it.  I will machine embroider the turtle in gold thread, that one is decided but I might change the design as I stitch it on the back cover.  I have used shells, birds and the 'swirl' of the water in this design.  I think those themes match the turtle.

Taking of turtles, I was walk the beach looking for ideas and look what I saw?