My One True’s Gift

https://youtu.be/fLlttedKNlo

I would do anything for you

I would climb mountains 

I would swim all the oceans blue

I would walk a thousand miles

Reveal my secrets

More than enough for me to share

I would put roses round our door

Sit in the garden

Growing potatoes by the score…

Bit Exciting, I Say!

Alys Francis rang today to interview me about the quilt, and has put a link to a story on Ninemsn's home page! GO HERE. That's pretty exciting! Even if she did get my name wrong after the first go... it doesn't matter. So I thought I should post a couple more photo's. Have a look HERE for my original post, which has a bit about the quilt.

Above: A corner of the Crazy Quilt With Grandmother's Fans.

Bluebird.

Originally, I worked two of these on a Western style shirt I'd made, but ended up sutting it up to make a Crazy Patchwork, which is now framed. I took a clss where people made exactly my piece. I s'pose it's about 45 x 35cm in size. The birds are a good format for learning Needle Painting and don't take as long as you'd think. This photo is on one of my cards, available at Etsy.

Claire's Man.

I used a picture my blossy la Claire drew when she was a little boopy cutie pie. The pants are long for my purposes, in my favourite stitch, Ceylon.

Just Found A Source In Melbourne

For Pure wool felt. At l'uccello's in the Nicholas Building.

l'uccello's is a gorgeous shop on the second floor, which sells the most exquisite vintage haberdashery and fancywork supplies. Kim is luvverly too, and offers iced water to the parched shopper. If you want little bits of stuff for the most unusual gifts for Crafters, or maybe to give yourself a treat , then go get lost in the building. I did, and bought some amazing and old silk velvet ribbon, one thinks to make an equally exquisite French style cushion... and a 1960's silk rose for my shelf... and some pearl-like little bloopy things you put as stamens in flowers (which I have in an old ink pot as a vase and it's very pretty)... and a set of pink buttons that have no purpose but to please me (just like that other little pink button)... I would have spent more, but I really already have everything. My inheritance is such and I have so much beautiful trim and buttons and fabric and vintage stuff, it's very exciting!

The Nicholas Building, 205/37 Swanston Street, Melbourne. l'uccello is in room 5 on the second floor, enter via Cathedral Arcade where the Subway take away is.

Maybe I'll end up teaching there after all?

I Don't Really H A T E Them

I've never been one to maintain my rage.

Thing is, on reflection... and Shules, don't think I'm succumbing to the man or anything... but, on reflection I think I may not have offered a very good picture of what I want to do. I so completely hate the wankiness and whilst I might struggle to formulate a cohesive 'body' of work myself, I kind of expected them to trust me to get it together rather than convinced them of it. And I will have a good grouping, don't worry about that. I'm too flip when I describe the plan, and I try to fit their criteria instead of sticking to mine.

I have very strong opinions about the crafts and my place in its history and evolution.

Next time I'm letting someone else write it.

And can you believe it, someone flagged my blog as being objectionable. Huh?? What's that about? It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to.

(I see... You're not allowed to say 'hate'. Oooooh!)

Do Sour Grapes Make Good Wine?

Ok Ok Ok... I didn't get a spot at Craft Vic. And I'm a not so good loser ( I'm a dreadfully gracious winner though). My concept needs developing, as it happens. The thing is, I agree that my concept (as required in 100 words or less) was weak and vague and at best a 'perhaps' because I don't know nor care what my psychology is and was stabbing at a possible cause for my interest in conjoined bunnies. And who am I to say. AND, I don't care.

I like making things. If my gut tells me it's right, I do it and I feel strongly about it too, like a real artist. Damn having to explain myself.

I love the history and development of techniques in (needle) craft. You can only respect those (mostly) women who made beautiful things to wear or to make their homes pretty, and then thought of even more interesting things to do with the orange plastic net bags you buy oranges in. Things that look like actual flowers when they're on top of the fridge and you're over the other side of the room. I think such an ironic conceptualisation of the natural evolution of plastics in a post-modern world is brilliant and I want to further their cause.

So I'm terribly shitty. Terribly, terribly, really annoyed that the "Art World" continues with the myth that Art is neccessarily defined by Concept. In fact, the Art is in the Concept. The medium and imagery, the skill and graphic workability is not secondary, but unimportant. The importance of the object is relevant only as seen through it's justification.

Not that I'm so brilliant. But, anyone's work should speak for itself. And I intensley dislike the need to spin. And now I have to apply myself to spinning even more, and I wanted it to be over and done so I could get on with the work.

On another note:

I saw Myrtle Corbin's photo in a movie yesterday... 'Fur'. Nicole Kidman played the part of Diane Arbus, the woman who photographed people who lived on the fringe of society. Nicole acted limply. Like a wet, thoughtful snail. Gratuitously condescending, contemplating the 'freaks' of humanity with maternal affection (as seen by the tilt of head and kind smile playing at the corner of her mouth) and long, ponderous looks with pooling blue eyes. What could have been a good story was, you guessed right, turned into a Hollywood romance/tragedy. When she shaved the hairy man I wanted to snatch the razor from her insipid, caring hand and get the frikkin' job done! Pronto!

BUT, the colours were beautiful. I like the apartments a lot. I had a dream where we lived in those colours. I used to have coloured walls and it was so nice.

Oh... Myrtle Bunny is over here.

Anyway, thanks for listening.

The World Is Getting Smaller

I've been let loose with a desk and a computer at work, with much time to play. Whoo Hoo!

I found The Project Gutenberg, which is a thingy where they upload loads of books for us to use for free!! Bloomin' Fantastic! I had a little browse and found this book. I love knots.

Remember The 'Stuck On A Desert Island' Scenario?

As in, which book would I take to said island? And why is it always a desert island?

Well, looking (in Images) for something to inspire me for the sheets I want to make and embroider, I found that some dear person has scanned this entire book... my equal-first favourite and probably (historically) most useful book:

Encyclopedia Of Needlework by Therese de Dillmont

This book is amazing, truly amazing. It's language is beautiful, calling the materials 'stuffs' and evoking one to the execution of excellent decorative and feminine arts with the needle. It was written in the early 1800's and has been reprinted since then as far as I can tell. It always amazed me to see what the ordinary housewife was expected to know and do, and I've always hoped to be named amongst them by much application.

You must 'Favourite' this link. YOU MUST!

Well, The Day Didn't Turn Out Quite As Planned

We went to see The Edge Of Heaven and then shopping... all I could think of was my drawing and my curtains... well, the thought percolated at the back of my mind during the picture but then kept stabbing me in the eye with great force at the shopping centre, where I DID NOT want to be.
But I have to tell you, it's a beautiful movie. Some water escaped from my eyes and because I was trying no to show my emotion, it fell down my face. The music is superb and we hope to find a soundtrack.
Thing is, sometimes I laugh, because... why would I become emotional about someone's fictitious story? But this has beauty and loss and sadness and love and it is unexpected and those things are real even if this is not. The strange Turkish flute is enough by itself to make me weep with the tenderness of it all so I'm a soft target (sometimes. This time).
Do bother to see it if you can.

And I am right now finishing the backing. Right...... now!

I Watched 'Elizabeth, The Golden Years'...

I love Cate, of course. Our Cate. I might almost have noticed nothing except her beauty and the costumes!!!!... the fabric and the lace and the amazing designs that would leave Star Wars trying for a new idea in fashion and failing. Designs so extrordinary and beautiful that you could be tempted to doubt their historical accuracy. Go Bessie!

BUT, it is the most appaling movie I have ever seen, apart from every other block-buster from Underbelly to Who Knows What Else. Why is it that the film makers think we can't concentrate without a love interest that overwhelmes what is (in this instance) one of the most interesting moments in western history? Banal script, unworthy of both actors and historical characters alike.

And who is that man? Clive Owen. He was brilliant in Sin City, where his wooden acting was needed and appropriate, but here he was only ever 'reading lines' and badly. The music was in constant crescendo... like trying to whip up an orgasm when you really want to watch the tele and never quite get there... or if you do, it's distracted and you've numbed the edges by too much application... It becomes very tiring very quickly.

There was one Monty Python bit that made us laugh out loud... some poor bugger who's been severly hurt on some ship, just begging God for mercy and BOOF! Another cannon ball takes him out.

10 out of 10 for cossies. Worth a geek just for that. And it might make you want to check out the real history.

'No Country For Old Men' By Those Good Old Cohen Brothers

Went To The Pictures Today (Boxing Day). Seems to be a bit of a tradition. We saw the new Cohen brother's film "No Country For Old Men'. I love the Cohen brothers but I think they need a big hug.

Great film though, in a freak-out, palm-sweating, can't-go-for-a-wee-because-you-might-miss-something-even-though-you're-busting kind of a way. I'm lying (for effect) though because I did sneak out but I ran there and back.

It's bleak, to put it mildly. Tommy-Lee is gorgeous as usual. He plays a disillusioned sheriff trying to find and save a hunter-guy who's stumbled upon something bigger than he can deal with but doesn't know it.

Psychopaths are bewildering, and as I walked out of the cinema, I wondered if I really want to see anything about their wicked ways... but then again it was a good movie, full of the usual brilliant Cohen brothers' lines and detail. There was a crocheted poodle bottle cover like my Grandma used to make for starters. Everything in the sets is perfect. Every incidental character is perfect and I always love them for that. I think those brothers love people a lot. Regular people.

Later (that is... now) I've decided that it was terrific and they apparently had a lot of fun making the movie. And it IS a movie. Not real, so I can laugh inappropriately if I want to.

The movie reminded me a lot of Fargo... '"All this, and for what? Just a little bit of money..."

*******

'Death Proof' by Quentin Tarantino

We went to see this yesterday. VERY GOOD!! Funny and clever and good to look at. Yet another great Tarantino film. A good big screen movie with some great rags. Funkorama Extraordinaire!

I want to say more but don't want to give you any clues at all... Let me just say that the entire cinema started clapping when it finished!

The Time Traveller's Wife

I just finished this book and wanted to share (I read plenty that I don't share).

It's beautiful. Clever without being Clever Trevor. It's tender and not tender. I had little tears at the corners of my eyes when I finished and had thought it would make a good movie, if you could. Apparently they are, with our Eric (Chopper) Bana. 2008. Ha! I just realise that, when I read 2008 I thought, Oh It's only a twinkle in someone's eye, but that's soon! Hope it's good...

I saw it at the bookshop and on an unusual impulse, bought it. It's the time travel thing... I love it. The universe confirmed my intended purchase by naming Clare and Lucille as two of the characters. Two of my daughters, although my Claire has an 'i'. Good enough!

Not telling any more, just see what you can do, ok?

Just Read This Book...

''
I thought the title was embarrasing and seemed a bit patronising in some way??? Whatever it was, I hid the cover on the train while I was reading so as not to offend. I wondered if it would be an annoying book, but it's not. In fact it's lovely. The author (Marguerite Van Geldermalsen) (seemingly) had no agenda, no hippy ideal of becoming a local, no stupid thought to bring new ideas into the culture nor, it seems, to avoid them.

In other words it was refreshing. Just a gal who joined a different society to the one she grew up in. Simple.

Sometimes I wanted her to let loose a little and whoop or glow loudly with the in-loveness of it all, but there you go.

I'm in love with Jordan, specifically Petra, and with the other books I told you about, have loads of respect for the hospitality of the far east. They eat and drink tea together a lot and there's nothing wrong with that.

''

'The Kite Runner' By Khaled Hosseini

This is such a beautiful book which incidentally describes various Afghani customs within the storyline. Such as, the Afghan people, after seeing a movie for the first time, would be badgered by their friends... 'What happened in the end?' 'Did they find love?' 'Was the bad man killed?'. When the narrator came to America and happily shared the ending to other people, they thought it the rudest behaviour.
I always think that we know so little about each other. In my home, growing up, if a neighbour came to visit and immediately put the kettle on for a cuppa, it was considered an idication that they felt at home. Therefore good. When I met my now ex in-laws for the first time and did the same they were horrified and offended that I thought their hospitality so lacking and that I had the audacity to help myself. EVEN THOUGH my then boyfriend asked me to! Even though.
But, it was a different culture (English) and as I said... EX!
Anyway good people, read this if you want your heart broken tenderly.