Being a tourist - Part 3

Today's post is continuing the tourist theme - this time being a tourist in our home town!

I didn't get much time to relax and do nothing when I returned home last weekend - we'd already booked a Bill Bailey gig and I wasn't going to miss it for the world, despite being heavily jet lagged.  (I love that man!  His humour had me laughing until I had tears rolling down my cheeks).  His jokes and musical talents woke me up briefly before returning to our hotel and blessed sleep :) 

Classic Andy Warhol screenprint pop-art - with our own added touch

Now, hubby had arranged a stay in one of the Perth hotels who are offering tickets to the current exhibition at the Perth art gallery as part of their special deals - so on Monday we tootled off to take a look at the modern masters - "Picasso to Warhol".  Fascinating viewing, although I must say I'm not really a fan of the abstract/cubist/surrealist movement.  I left with a huge question I'm still pondering - "what IS art?"  Confused.  What do you think?  Do we have to understand something for it to be art?  Does something have to be technically perfect to be art?  (As opposed to something that looks as if your dog could do it blindfold, and there was some of that type there!  Although that is only my opinion)  Is it all dependent on the perspective of the viewer?  Is beauty indeed in the eye of the beholder? 

Monochrome work by Mark Tansey (The Brothers, 1989) - with more 'artyness' on our part, lucky I was wearing a matching top

And where does craft fit into all this?  Craft is often seen as the lesser cousin of art, but often just as much work goes into the finished article.  It's a mystery I'm going to keep returning to as I continue my creative journey.  For now I've decided I'm an artisan, which sounds a lot more exotic than artist anyway :)

Detail of Mark Tansey painting - I really loved this painting.

The exhibition continues until 3rd December 2012.

Being a tourist - Part 2

The worst part of being a tourist is the journey home I think - I was not looking forward to the flight home, needless to say because I don't cope well with jetlag coming from the UK back to Oz.  But here I am a week later, feeling almost human and able to communicate with words again :)

So, thought I'd share a few more pics of my time back in Blighty ...

Summer weather ... it is August after all:

 My dad, my sister and I - celebrating dad's big birthday!

And a little creativity included to keep me inspired -

This is part of the shell galllery at A la Ronde - an amazing hexadecagonal sided house in Devon.  The stairs are so narrow you could just squeeze up them if only you were allowed to climb up them.  The Parminter cousins must have been very tiny!

And one of my favourite pics of a favourite childhood past-time, rock-pooling - on a delightful summer's day at the beach ...

It is wonderful to be back with my hubby and children, but I did have the most wonderful time catching up with my family on the other side of the world.  I was very lucky to be able to spend so much quality time with my dad, something not everyone gets the chance to do.  Very special memories were made on this trip xxxxx



Being a Tourist - Update

Tomorrw's the big day for heading back home to Oz.  I've had such a great time, highlights are long chats with mum, playing with my niece and nephews and teasing my sister, walking along the beach with dad and getting to meet up with friends I haven't seen in a long time.  Not looking forward to the flight, but eagerly anticipating the welcome at the airport :)

Being a tourist part 1

First of all I'd like to thank my dad for his help with uploading the photos - it's great to have a tech aid on this side of the world too!

Thought I'd share a few photos of my first couple of days being a tourist, which I must say I'm enjoying enormously :)

Here's a pic of the lovely British summer.  Dark and damp, just how I like it - now you can understand why I find Australian summers a little challenging.  Don't worry about the gravestones, no meaning to it apart from I love looking at old gravestones and it was part of a visit to:

St Pancras Church in Widecombe - yes, of the Uncle Tom Cobley and all fame.  An amazing place, the history just oozing out of the flagstones.  Another obsession of mine, stained glass windows:

And a bit of art - this time from our visit to Castle Drogo.  From the pics I've seen before of the granite exterior it seemed to me to be an austere place with no atmosphere.  How wrong could I be!?  It's incredibly homely and feels as if it's been filled with love as a family home, and I must admit to loving the absence of modern technology.  I have a hard time reconciling my love for all things old fashioned and my love for modern gadgets such as my iphone, kindle, etc, but hey I'll learn to live with it :)

Oops where was I going with the arty bit?  Oh yes, look at these beautiful tiles!  I was attracted by the patterns, then saw the little picture tiles in the corners and was smitten.  I'll have to post another photo with more detail in the future, for now this is all you get whilst I'm technologically challenged ...

My day was truly made when this little fella came up and posed for a photo for me.  Isn't he absolutely gorgeous?  My most favourite bird in the whole world is the robin, and I'd already taken quite a few photos of him in less exciting poses to make sure I did get a photo of some sort, when he perched right in front of me, tilted his head and seemed to be saying, 'this is my best side'.  Just divine.  It will be printed out and framed when I get home ...

So far, having a fabulous time really enjoying my time in my home country.  What's been your favourite moment of this week?

AWOL in the UK

Hello - back again!  This time broadcasting from the UK!!  I'm here visiting my dad who is having a very special birthday this week - I also realize I have no excuse not to blog as I'm not working and my biggest fan is in the same house and will not accept any excuses for not writing!  Once I get over my technical issues with not being able to upload photos at present (dad I need you for that too!) I'll be able to post pics of the British summer :). So watch this space ...

MIA

Hey everyone - feel like coming out of my cave for a while to say hi!  I know I've been away for a while, it's been hectic and I haven't been coping!  Sometimes I wonder why on earth I thought I could be a mum and have a job.  Hats off to those women who can do it - you're amazing!

Some other pretty heavy stuff has been happening, and my little black cloud of depression did try and settle over my head for a wee while, but I think I've managed to keep it at bay, and I do have a list of delightful things I want to share with you, I just didn't have the energy there for a while.

So I hope you've all been crafting or creating away, finding inspiration through your days.

How's life with you?

xxxxx

THE dress ...

This dress nearly broke me!  I finished it half an hour before HB had to leave for her big night.  But she trusted me to get it finished for her as I'd told her I would have it finished on time.  Bless her.  I even had her big brother involved, trimming off all the little frayed threads of chiffon hanging down below the hem.   It's taken me this long since the last post to be able to write about it!

For those who like to know such things, this dress deserves it's plus difficile/advanced rating, as it is a challenge - but what a feeling of achievement.  It's a Vogue pattern, number V2880.

It did look gorgeous when finished though.

Side ribbon detail

But even better than perfect when worn by my gorgeous girl ...

HB has said she wants me to make her wedding dress one day - it's not going to be chiffon and satin - simply gorgeous polycotton :)