Tuesday 25 February 2014

Snow, Relentless Snow


The sun tried to rise this morning....


after yet another night of  marshmallow snow.


It piled thickly to branches


Even the ash branches are piled with deep slithers of marshmallow.
A very clinging snow indeed.


Monday 24 February 2014

Scratched Line Dancing


A week of trying out ideas for a piece I have in mind.


Couched rouleaux
stitched in between


On Thursday we received news that my car is a write-off
Destroyed by  mice.
We are still in shock!
We drove it home after a party one night
The next day it wouldn't start
and now it is dead.
Unbelievable.


The good thing is....
work can now start 
on one of my pieces for a show
with the theme
of patterns breaking down
and revealing new worlds
now that the technique is worked out.


Tuesday 18 February 2014

Always Thinking Marks


Yes, I am always filling sketchbooks
Doodling


or scratching


and rubbing


Holding the pen with purpose or loosely uncontrolled


Mostly thinking repetition


and sometimes just creating a mess!
But that's okay
I consider a sketchbook a learning tool
not necessarily a thing of beauty.


Monday 17 February 2014

The Mouse is Mightier than the Car


Not necessarily recording events
but certainly recording time.


My car wouldn't start on January first
and it still isn't fixed....
But at least now we know why....
Mice (bless their evil little hearts!)
have eaten their way through all kinds of wires.
The garage is basically taking the car apart
and finding mouse nests everywhere!
We used to keep mouse traps in the car
now we are going to have to think of more creative anti-mouse measures.


Between days of snow
the sun actually came out this week.
Behind the scenes I am working the beginnings of a theme
on pattern interrupted.


After studying the work of Australia's Aboriginal artists
I made a day of dots
raised dots
Interesting texture...
you don't feel the fabric just the little lumps.
Could explore this further.
And of course the week ends with a windy, blustery, snowy day.
Happy Birthday, Brett.


Thursday 13 February 2014

Our Wintry Garden


Piles of rocks
Piles of logs
branches piled up
blanketed


The stream is frozen


Five lines of tracks from the woods
making a beeline for the bird feeder
Must be the pheasants


Huge prints all over the garden
Snowshoe hares
leaping about the garden in search of juicy nibbles.


Icy snowline atop the woodpile.


Tennis balls iced solid are still playthings for rusty pups.
The sun has come out for three days now.
Thank you for that.
This has been a snow story winter.


Wednesday 12 February 2014

Recalling Brett's Early Years


A boy's sense of humour
He remembered this project
We laughed and laughed
Tears running down my face


It's hard work finding that inner child again.


So this is what a bat should look like.


Obviously a sweater that made an impression.


Minimalist!


A scene that's part of every Canadian child's life.


Happiness is.....


Teacher's comment was always that it could be neater.
She didn't actually say colour inside the lines!
I hope you have kept your child's schoolbooks.
These brought back memories for Brett
We laughed and laughed and laughed.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Wintry Inspiration


As we slept snow was falling


a light and clinging snow


blanketing youngling Christmas trees


Piling onto long sinewy branches


Softening Winter's landscape


Creating topknots for last year's blooms


Have a nice day.

Monday 10 February 2014

When There's no Time to Scratch!


I 've been a busy bee
no time to think
just stitch


When a son is visiting
just let the cloth tell you what to do
No time to design


A birthday celebration came in the midst of his visit


Cooking up a storm
Shooing away dust bunnies


for last Sunday's Super Bowl


Aaaah......relax
Just stitching some favourites


My, how time flies by.