Lately I have been making use of our brand spanking new library. I like going there-they have an awesome kids' audio library, and a cafe! I was looking for books on Australia for Ella for an assignment and I found a gem of a book from 1970. It had the Sydney harbour bridge and...the cat and fiddle arcade! The person who wrote it must have loved Tassie as the other states only had 2 pages and Tassie had 3! Sorry you non Australians, but I had to share that with my substantial Tasmanian and ex Tasmanian readers. This was a place in the town where I grew up. On the hour the cat and fiddle would move to the music of the nursery rhyme and the cow , the little dog and the dish and spoon would all come out. I think it's still there-I have certainly taken my kids to see it.
And I have been doing a bit of painting...playing with some ideas that have been floating around in my head for a while. I'm not sure this is finished, and I have another that isn't ready to share yet. This one is 14"x14"
Plus I have finally done a big canvas for this paper circle I did last year (it's just resting against the canvas right now). It's really hard to take a photo of it as the colours really change depending on the light (the flash went off).
It is basically reds and purples. This is it on it's own...Layers and layers of paint. It looks really bad in this light, but I'm actually quite happy with it. Hopefully when I finish it, I can get it into some good light to take a photo. I've always thought of that circle as like a sari, so hopefully when I put it all together it will work.
And because I have to do my "lesson" next week at the historical centre, I have been getting to know my spinning wheel again. Some time ago one of the cats had chewed through the drive band, so I hadn't used it for while. It's been fun to get into it again, but it still amazes me how time consuming it is-especially when thinking about it from a historical perspective. How did those woman find time in a day of cooking and mending and cleaning and everything else they had to do, to prepare, card, spin and weave/knit...it's beyond me.Both these skeins are just spun from a variety of blended wools and fleeces (alpaca, sheep of various kinds and silk) that I dyed myself. I used natural dyes, and dylon dyes and Koolaid dyes-they were all experiments. Then I card them together to blend them before spinning and plying.
Interesting that these colours echo the colours in the painting I've been working on...
Red is such an interesting colour, it really changes with the light...
Now if only I had more time in a day or could paint and read and spin all at the same time.
Interesting that these colours echo the colours in the painting I've been working on...
Red is such an interesting colour, it really changes with the light...
Now if only I had more time in a day or could paint and read and spin all at the same time.
love the new banner and the paintings are just amazing. the homespun colour is for me...... check out the Thermomix supplier as it is german and i know it would be available in USA...perhaps you could hold a party or have a demo one on one at home???? i was totally sold...thinking of space saving for when i move into my old age unit plus LOL...i can do it all in the one piece of equiptment...it did all those things and much much more and the cooking classes were great....the homemade lemonade was divine...crushed ice. 4 wedges of lemon skins and all water a little raw sugar(dont have to put it in)...2 second buzz strain and relax and refresh yourself.(i should sell the thing by the sounds of it hey????
ReplyDeletei love you new banner...those paintings are great and the homespun is divine....checkout that Thermomix on google and have a one on one demo ...they cook you a meal in the it ....love the fact it saves all those kitchen utensils and washes itself up (even melted chocolate and without chemicals)...sounds like i should be selling them doesnt it...where can i get $2000 to buy one????
ReplyDeleteOne is never an ex-Tasmanian, perhaps one just not living there at the moment, it may be worth asking some currently living there Tasmanians how the cat and fiddle survived the Myer Fire.
ReplyDeletePS One can become a Tasmanian, but once having become one, one will ever be a Tasmanian. I suspect there is a verse to that effect, possibly not written yet in the Tasmanian National Anthem.
Now let's hear it "From the land of the Dago to Tierra del Feugo..."
Yes, the Cat & Fiddle is still there, but it seems to have shrunk over the years...funny! And Tassie is still a great place to live despite the roller coaster temperatures - makes one resilient. I love all your colours and ideas, especially the reds/purples George. Good luck with the lesson. xx
ReplyDeleteOh Dad (and mum)! I have been meaning to ask you the words to the Tasmanian anthem...will tell you why very soon...
ReplyDeleteReading your blog, yes Dad sort of agrees some of those things you need more time for are important but we all, (including Dad) would like to know why dog walking was not included in the things you have more time for...everyone should spend more time dog walking, even Dad.
ReplyDeletelove to Honey...keep the pressure on Honey gal
S & R
wool is scrummy.. paintings wonderful. Love how you have a few of your circle paintings now. I adore them. Was at the cat and fiddle with Darbs and B last sat! After it finished I said"was that it"... things seem different when you are older! Girlies loved it though...
ReplyDeleteThe cat and fiddle was a highlight of visiting town when I was a kid. I remember we used to play in the fountain there, and wait for it to come on. That was probably before we had a television....
ReplyDelete