What Flower Are You?

I know, I know three in a row!
No, I'm not in search of myself. I know who, what and how I am!

I'm in the throes of creative deadlines. Bargains keep getting in
the way ~ am re-organising my house ~ not sleeping properly
there's too much bad ju ju in my boudoir with all the upheavel
so I meander off in need of some light entertainment and look at
where I land. Those who know and love me will say it's all true ~
the rest of you ~ try it for yourself!

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend.
You are quite the prankster that loves to make other
people laugh."

what Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Haaaaaaaaa ... I just had to go and do another of those quirky
tests ... Famous Last Words ... Waaaaaaaa what a classic ;~() !!

Your Famous Last Words Will Be ...

"Nice doggy."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

>

What Colour Blue Are You?

The Marvellous Maureen had this on her blog so I went and
tried it and here's the result ...

You Are Ocean Blue.

You're both warm and practical. You're very driven, but you're also very well rounded.You tend to see both sides to every issue, and people consider you a natural diplomat.

What Color Blue Are You?

A visit to the Sydney Craft Show.

We were in the queue before the doors opened, money
burning a hole in our pockets, lists of dream purchases,
comfortable shoes that felt like they had wings on them,
high on the prospects of a mega shoppathon, doses of
inspiration and motivation and the thought of the
OoHhhhing and Aaahhhing that awaited.

All was accomplished in grand company.

Now feet are throbbing, back is aching, savings are depleted
but the creative juices are teetering near boiling point with
beautiful ideas that are so simple it makes you wonder how,
after sewing for so many years, you didn’t think of it first!

The catering needs a mention. $7 for a bread roll with a slice
of roast beef and fetta cheese. $3.50 for 300 mls of fruit juice
(even the girl on the register apologised, embarrassingly, about
the prices). $6 for fruit salad which would have measured out
to about three dessertspoonfuls, totally outrageous prices yet the
hoardes queued for miles seeking sustanence to be further visually
dazzled and to max out the fantastic plastic!

It’s not so much that we cared about the cost, more so that we
were horrified when we first bought a bottle of water and were
charged $3 – "Wottha!" ~ highway robbery ~ especially when you
consider ~ us crafty women love our tucker!

Ozzee, Ozzee Ozee Ozzeeeeee, Oi, Oi, Oi!!!!

Pearl with her yellow and green eyes is proud to be an Ozzie tonight
as we watched our Australian Socceroos beat Japan in the first round
of the World Cup - C'Mon Aussies, C'Mon!

Yo Bro!

Little Willy's 60 today
But in 2001 cancer took him away
Damn ~ I miss him more each day...
Yo Bro.










This pic was taken in 1990 late one night after devouring
thousands of cool refreshing glasses of happiness! This was
our era of finally getting to know each other.

We became a formidable team when he was in town.

For sure my Bro will have his elbow on a bar somewhere right
now, placing 50 cent bets on anything that is racing, kicking or
crawling up a wall while chatting up sheilas, shouting drinks for
the bar, telling bad jokes and behaving like a total yobbo.
All at the same time!

Onya Bro!

Why Buy a Mohair Rug?

While op shopping today I spied a gorgeous rug in pink-ish,
mauve-ish, and pale-ish blue hues the label read 100% Mohair
Made in Australia, price - $8. For some reason I had to have it!
Pet looked at me, I shrugged “I dunno, I have to have it.” I was
thinking maybe I’ll felt this, do something crafty, give it to my
pal Veronica, I dunno – I had no idea.

When I arrived home I took it out of the bag, left it on the floor
while I unpacked the shopping then went to change. When I came
back out I knew instantly why I’d bought the mohair rug …

WHILE SEARCHING FOR MY CREATIVITY ...

This year my creative life has lost its splendour. Looking after
my Dad, boredom with the creativity I adored and feeling stale
has contributed to much gathering with little outgoing. Plenty
going on my head, gorgeous items all produced in my imagination
but nothing to show. I’m hoping to pick up the pieces soon. I’ve
started to knit, made postcards for a swap with a US group and
purchased some beautifulness to endeavour creating something
different ~ so watch this space. During this time I’ve been devouring
books and magazine to try to reignite the spark and heave me out
of the gloom.

A true reading joy came via The Sydney Morning Herald
'Good Weekend Magazine' in the stunning edition produced for
the 175th anniversary where I discovered the following two gems ~

Read #1 ~

‘Life under Rations” by Ruth Park.

Identity cards for civilians were part of life during World
War II. Without one, you could not get your food and
clothing ration coupons or a hospital bed or a job, and
certainly not entry to any official place or building.
Ruth Park found hers among some old papers years later
and the memories came flooding back.

The shortage that affected me most was needles. (Anything made of
metal was certain to disappear sooner or later.) I can still remember
sitting up in bed in my parachute nightdress, between mattress-ticking
sheets, crying because I’d lost my needle. You can’t imagine what it’s
like to be without a needle, with no hope of another till the war ends,
which was probably never,
Where did it go, for I never found it. Down a crack, I suppose, like
those long-ago years when we laughed, and had our hearts broken,
and made eggless, butterless, sugarless cakes, and waited for the boys
to come home and life to start once more.

Makes me realise how fortunate I am have own such a
bumper, creative stash.

Read #2 ~ Adoring all things Art Deco this is gorgeous ~

THE FLAPPER BY ONE WHO KNOWS HER.
August 21, 1926.

Certainly taken en masse she would seem to be a painted, pleasure
loving, cocktail drinking, cigarette smoking, thoughtless little lassie,
whose thoughtlessness to her elders and the aged in many cases
amounts almost to heartlessness. She would appear to have one
thought, and that thought, self and how much juice of pleasure she
can squeeze from the orange called life, and throw away the rind.
Traditions are trampled under her feet; youth is paramount.

Yes, all this is true, or so it would seems collectively. But,
individually, what so we find in the Australian lassie, anyway? A
clean-limbed, wholesome, sports loving girl, who can play a
game of tennis, golf, or hockey with anyone, who can row a boat,
or run a car all day if need be, and dance half the night, but who
can, also equally well, run a business, nurse the sick, make cleverly
and daintily her won and oft times her mother’s or sister’s frocks
and undies; who reads much , and oft times quiet deeply, who can
organise and committees, and provide for meetings for the benefit
of these same charities. She can, and does, all the time, look smart,
trim and fresh, as she goes about her business or pleasure.

I admit that oft times she is loathe to relinquish her gay freedom
and take-on the responsibilities of matrimony, but when she does
she can keep her home as well as any of the lassies of a former
generation, can be as faithful and loving a wife, as tender a mother,
as thoughtful as a daughter-in-law, as thrifty a housekeeper; and can
entertain her own and her husband’s friends, even better than the
young wives of former generation, for her style is more open, more
free – there is, to my mind, more of a comrade between the sexes,
nd less of sex thoughts than there used to be in our grandmothers’
time,

Yes, the flapper of today, with all her faults – and I admit she has
them – is yet to me a nearere perfect girl than any that has gone
before her. Miss Australia, all hail; I raise me hat to you, and I’m
one of your own sex, and old enough to be your mother.

Don’t you just breathe a sigh of relief at not being a ‘flapper’?

MY MOTHER'S DAY 2006.

Mother’s day for me was spent with the best daughter any
mother could ever ask for! We went to the City of Shadows
Exhibition at the Police & Justice Museum at Circular Quay.
It was fantastic and to anyone looking for something to do
on any weekend in Sydney do yourselves a favour and don’t
miss this amazing tour of Sydney in days past. The faces,
the fashion, the language, the crimes, the harpies and sharpies,
crooks and ginger joints is amazing. The set up of the exhibition
is marvellous. The information and the opportunity is look
through an historic Sydney police station, cells and courthouse
shouldn’t be missed.

We strolled along Circular Quay. The sun was out, the buskers
were entertaining and the water glistened. We were heading to
the Museum of Contemporary Art for lunch but found they
were only serving a two course set menu – too much for a Sunday
lunch for us! So we wandered through the MCA onto George
Street at the Rocks and into The Rocks Café. A table out of the
breeze, in the sun and the best calamari I’ve ever had (that’s
a big wrap) made my Mother’s Day a scrumptious delight.

After lunch we walked up George Street peering in shop windows,
watching the passing parade to Dymocks where I found the book
I’d been looking for for ages. Through Myer’s to Borders and
the latest copy of Belle Amoir as well as another book I’d been
lusting after.

Hope your Mother’s Day was as blissful as mine ~ I’m one
lucky Mother!

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers!

Born 1921 this is the happiest image we ever saw of Tess
Devoured by sadness
Her beloved obsession of two men became her illness.

She never let us know her
Set free in 2003 - peace and happiness at last - we hope
Happy Mother's Day Darling!

PEARL the GIRL.

This was taken the other night.

It was 2 am - what do you reckon she's saying???

She's got her eye on me that's for sure.

She's finally relaxing. Two days ago she found there's a bedroom

in the house. She's not ventured past the litter in the bathroom,

She sleeps lot's. Talks as I come into the room. She purrs at

every chance - she's getting a sleeker, furrier coat, she's begun

to play under the flokati rug so tonight I've made toys for her

and we've had her first play.

I think she realises she's here to stay!

The new Kit on the Block.

Allow me to introduce you to my new companion.

Resuced by a neighbour last week and known as Tibbles previously
the much loved companion of a lady who'd died was all we knew.
Tibbles had wandered the neighbourhood and was found being
mistreated by residents at a boarding house. She's malnourished with
wobbly legs, a skinny tail, bones that need some flesh on them but she
purrs like a luxury, expensive, highly tuned BMW.

My neighbour rescued her, carrying her home in a shopping bag over
the shoulder. The neighbour had a much loved, fat cat, that didn’t take
too kindly to an "intruder". Barriers were established. The fat cat in the
living room, Tiddles in the bedroom, always on guard, always awake,
extremely nervy with a scared and wary look in her eyes.

We’d auditioned her a week ago under the impression that Tibbles was
Mr. Tibbles. If I was having a house mate it was not going to be a
male of any description. The neighbour thought another home had
been found for Mr. Tibbles. I was disgusted and suggested that if he
wouldn’t live with this neighbour then why would he send Mr. Tibbles
there. It didn’t last and within 24 hours Mr. Tibbles had been chased
with a broom, not been fed and required rescuing again. Even more
distressed as well as in dire need of a manicure, we discovered that
Mr. Tibbles appeared to be Ms. Tibbles, her fate was sealed, she
moved in with me.

Along with a new home she was given a new identity.

Her name is now Pearl. She’s been sleeping since moving in on a fluffy
purple towel on the back of my couch. We showed her around including
where the litter was - only once - and at some stage during her
first night she ate some fresh chicken morsels then found her way to,
and used the litter. What a genius cat!

She's slept almost non stop and says a little 'Meaow'. A feeding pattern has
been established with Optimum dry food in the morning and as I prepare
my dinner at night she is served two dessertspoons of canned food.
Tonight I tapped the tin with a spoon and she came running. She devoured
only the gravy but at midnight she polished off the lot and then went to the
bathroom and back to her spot on the back of the couch.
We'll take her to the vet later in the week for a check up and shots!

I am happy to announce I am now the Mother of Pearl!

The Crack Up - I'm Over It!

Crikey where has the week gone I wonder? – having a darn
crack up that’s where!!!. Wearing that nurses uniform was so
out of character for me but a good result is taking place and
the button pusher is in rehabilitation, making a comeback.

I’ve found out who my loved ones are and they know how much
they’ve held me up through it all. Lessons have been learnt as
they usually are when a crisis hits me. My philosophy is there’s
no such thing as a bad experience, it’s all part of the lessons of
life. Out of something bad always comes something good – a
twist on an old adage that has stood me in good stead. My wisdom
has expanded, my inner self has become calmer. Thank goodness
I hear loved ones say!

I'm searching for a companion ~ a furry, mature aged, desexed,
kind. Purely for therapeutic reasons - yeah right ;~)
Then I'll be even more eccentric ... And loving it!

Howard of the Overflow!

For those of you who don't know the Australian Prime
Minister is being a prime chump over a deal done with
Iraq and the Australian Wheat Board! The following
was sent to me by a dear mate, Flick, written to the
classis Australan poem "The man from Snowy River"
get an Aussie to read it to you - you won't believe how
clever this is ~ enjoy and read with gusto!
Whoever wrote it deserves a coldie - or ten!

Howard of the Overflow.

(must be read out aloud with gusto)

I had written him a letter, which I had, for want of better
Knowledge, sent to where I met him at the wheat board,
years ago. He was chairman when I knew him, so I sent
the letter to him Just on spec, to make the point that
"Howard doesn't want to know". And an e-mail came
directed, not entirely unexpected (And I think the same
was written in some Middle Eastern bar). 'Twas his CEO
who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it: "Trevor Flugge's
gone to Baghdad, and we don't know where he are".
"But when he left Australia, he was going to meet with Alia,
A trucking mob in Jordan, who were keen to grease the
wheels. For 10 percent commission, they could swing
Saddam's permission To get our wheat accepted; it's the
mother of all deals". "But I guarantee, Prime Minister,
that there's nothing at all sinister. The chaps at DFAT
told us that the sums looked quite okay. When you're
selling wheat in billions, what's a quick 300 million? If it
keeps the Nationals happy, it's a tiny price to pay."
Sitting here at Kirribilli, I've been thinking, willy-nilly,
That it's somehow reminiscent of the children overboard:
But I can handle Rudd and Beazley, as I always do, quite
easily By endlessly protesting that there's nothing untoward.
I'll tell Bush next time I meet him at The White House,
when I greet him, That I'm sure he'll understand about the
wheat board's quid pro quo. He'll forgive this minor error in
the global war on terror When I look him in the eye and
tell him Howard didn't know.
_____

Easter Egg Wrappers - The Collectors

Friday night at 8pm the ABC shows a quirky 30 minute
program 'The Collectors' that makes me feel not so odd.

This weeks Collector Cam was a gal who saves Easter Egg
wrappers! Now's your chance! Don't let the kids throw the
wrappers away. You can sit for hours slowly rubbing the
creases from the foil as the aroma of chocolate tantalises
your senses. Slip them into an acid free folder, colour
co-ordinated and each time you open them the sweet
smell will be there to remind you ... for next Easter and ...

What a yummy way to spend Easter - for now and forever!

Postsecret

My PIC sent me the link to Postsecret so do yourself
a favour and go take a peek!

Like my PIC it's gorgeous!!!

Thank gawd it's Friday - Happy Easter!

Happy Easter all!

I'm having a day off from the button pusher.
Sun is shining, I'm catching up on my domestics
and feeling as happy as a lark.... how does a lark
feel I wonder ~ Ooops look out I'm rambling. Too
much time has been spent in the twight zone...LOL!

Are you missing me?

Popping in to say I'm still in a nurses uniform.
Maybe I'll take to wandering. The Button Pusher
is coming out of the twilight zone, letters have
been written about the unit manager. You read the
stories about the hospital system and when you
least expect it you're amongst it.

Management has a lot to answer for. The staff
are doing their best. Management don't talk to
each other, the staff, the family and least of all
the patients.
Today I met a woman who's relative had been
taken to the wrong nursing home from the same
ward where the Button Pusher currently resides.
The woman's relative had been badly treated and
when discharged was to be transferred to a new
facility. She'd come to the hospital to get her
relative, with dementia, transported. The staff
told her she had to move him. She went to war,
telling them they took him there and it was up to
them to get her relative to the correct place.
She was then off to see another relative in the
cardiac ward ... my lot seemed not quite so bad!

I'll get back to you shortly!

Next Wednesday trivia!

On Wednesday of next week, at two minutes and three seconds after
1:00in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
You'll never see that again!

The Week That Was.

For the past week my life has been turmoil! The Button Pusher
has lost the plot and is in hospital. Dehydrated, stroke, urinary
tract infection ??? any, either or all of the above. The Button
Pusher wandered off yesterday. No cause was determined. Questions
need to be answered. Then restraints were fitted. I arrived and
turned. Staff was removed from the section. Today I'm back there
like a dog without a bone. Tomorrow Pet and I will get to the
bottom of the episode. Letters will be written, heads will roll!

Thought I'd been the April Fool - Not!

Was it the Melbourne Games or the Commonwealth Games???

Missed me anyone?? Engrossed in the Games has kept me
away from cyber space. But I've come away wondering
whose games was it?

Melbourne will take all the cudos, but what about the rest of
our gorgeous country? What about the blonde haired, blue
eyed, fresh shiny, beaming faced angels (girls and guys) who
won medal after medal? Double the number of the UK with
no other nation in coo-ee of such a total but were all these
bronzed Aussie winners from Melbourne - no way - but you'd
have thought so!

Channel 9 who broadcast the games and tonights closing
ceremony wants a floggin' for a number of fuax pas! The
audacity of switching to a commerical break "to pay some
bills" according to Ray Martin during John Farnham's
performance. Yep I am a Farnham fanatic! Why not an ad
when the Bollywood extravanganza was taking place??

What about the channel 9 nob head who after interviewing
the amazing Melissa Lui asked her to cross back to the studio
and when she missed the cue he proclaimed it as a "Bronze
medal" performance? C'mon you loser I was screaming, she's
13 years old, she a legend - disgraceful.

As for Channel 9, Ray Martin should have stayed home here
in Sydney instead of, under the guise of commentary, plug
"his" show with interruptions of brilliant moments with his
innane and self proclaiming banter.

Channel 9 made plenty of blunders - too many to mention here!

An another thing - what about the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in India?? Whenever we've seen a travel show from that country
- right back to the days of John Saffran on that ABC show 'Race
Around the World'- viewers have been appalled and saddened at
the poverty of India. The starving children begging on the streets,
kids running beside cars in the last series of 'Amazing Race' begging
for money. What about the experiences of pretty girls travelling and
their stories of how Indian males poke and prod femaile tourists at
every opportunity and we're expected to send our sporting beauty
talents there? Holey Dooley.
One can only wonder what's the bill for the extravaganza we've
just witnessed?? How in 2010 is a country rife with poverty and
population explosion expected to produce a similar extravaganza
when it's unable to feed its children??
Something's not right.

But Melbourne takes the cake - the home of Aussie Rules! Oi
did they forget that Sydney Swans are the current Premiers??
What, doesn't anyone play Rugby League or Soccer down there??
What about the lovely ditty recited by the actor at the beginning
where he included a line about "the fingers of Shane Warne" - are
they the same fingers that sent R rated texts to women?
EeeUuuWww! Melbourne can have him.

Where was some indigenous representation ???
Oh that's right Paul Kelly and Casey Donovan got the gig!

Aussie's are celebrating across the land at the prowess of our
sporting heroines and heroes, Aussie families are glowing with
pride, some international athlete's have absconded but who'd
blame them, the games are finished the closing ceremony is over ...

So does that mean Melbourne's closed now???

GET UP has Got THEM in their sights!

Get Up is at it again and good on them.

We're 11 weeks into the Cole inquiry over the AWB wheat bribes
scandal and everyone's eyes have glazed over. In this drawn-out
tale of corporate scheming, accountability loopholes and legalese
it's become almost impossible to keep track of the facts, much
less why the public should care. Unfortunately, this just lets the
government off the hook - which is just what they're counting on.
That's why GetUp has created a new ad, to get past the spin,
jargon and media fatigue, and drive home the real story of AWB.
Watch the ad now, then send it to five of your friends: http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/AuthorisedBribes The real
story here is simple and very serious. Under the Howard govt.,
Australia's monopoly wheat exporter paid Saddam Hussein's
government almost $300 millon in bribes, a rort of the oil-for-food
program that Saddam used to get around UN trade sanctions, and
buy weapons. The Howard government received at least 24 clear
warnings of these bribes, but instead of investigating the allegations,
it chose to vigorously defend AWB to our allies and the UN. Last
October, when the UN inquiry finally revealed what the government
should have known all along, the official reaction was a stock-in-trade
response: deny and delay. Eventually, they announced an inquiry
with limited powers to question the government; silencing the critics
while ensuring a third party gets all the blame. It is crucial that people
understand the seriousness of this scandal before it slips off the radar.
We've created an ad to explain it --- can you forward it to five people
today? Click the link below to watch the ad and send it to your friends: http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/AuthorisedBribes
Sometimes a bit of direct humour can send a strong message.
Australians deserve to understand why AWB matters.

Says it all doesn't it?

When STUFF Becomes Art.

There's no greater hoarder or maker of wonderful things out of found
objects than Moi. MJ is now capable of opening the fridge when others
have wailed "there's nothing to eat" and created a feast for the
famished.

My CV includes "the ability to make something out of nothing"
and the word is out!
Read on ~

Make Do Exhibition at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery

Make Do is an exhibition of recent works by Maggie Stein and
Robyn Moloney showing at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Camperdown,
from the 8th to the 19th of March.

Both artists have been inspired by what others discard and love to
transform pieces they find into objects of beauty. They frequent
Reverse Garbage and local Op shops and can be seen rummaging
through stuff dumped on the street, often finding items which catch
their eye and imagination. In making their art they love to play with
colour, pattern and texture.

For Robyn Moloney “make do” brings together her petit-point
tapestries and ‘around and around paintings. They are made from
wool and canvas from discarded tapestry kits; cardboard from
cereal boxes and found frames and bits of wood .She is inspired
by anything that has that home made, make do feel about it,
anything that has the mark of its maker – like patchwork rugs
and nice bits of wood.
She says “A couple of years ago I began a project called ‘Goes
around comes around’. The rule is to make do with what’s around
– to buy nothing new. I don’t know what’s more thrilling – making
art or finding good junk.
Birds and flowers seem as good a subject as any. Some are a record
of what’s around me at the moment. They bring some joy to me in
my semi- industrial part of Marrickville.”

For Maggie Stein the title “make do” expresses a desire to make do
with what we have and also expresses her sometimes compulsive
desire to create.
Maggie enjoys working on wood in a variety of shapes. She uses a
mixture of media and techniques (paint, collage and assemblage)
to adorn surfaces with a rich patterning and over layering of shapes.
Her inspiration comes from many sources including ancient cultures,
architecture, her inner self and the natural world.

She says of her work
“I like the idea of an object having a previous life; some of that
patina/ history contributes to the direction of the work. I enjoy
the intuitive process of working not really knowing where it’s
going but feeling compelled to take the journey”

Venue: Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Pidcock st, Camperdown.
Hours: 11am to 5 pm Wed to Sun until the 19th of March.

SOoooo......... now you all might understand why I'm up at the crack
of, garaging, why my fave saying is "out with the old, in with the older".
But why there's been no exhibition of my work???
Pop round some day and you'll see why!

Make Do sounds like a perfect Artist's Date doesn't it??

LOST ALONG THE ARTIST’S WAY!

At Week 6 “the Recovering a Sense of Abundance” AW journey was progressing nicely. Mmmm abundance had a pleasant ring to it. Plentiful, yep I have loads of enthusiasm, talent, positivity, modesty, this week will go well. NOT!!!!!!!

That God word appeared again. That was it for me. The lights went out the shutters went down and AW became buried under gorgeous copies of Quilting Arts, Cloth Paper & Scissors, and anything else in reach that didn’t include the G word.

The G word produces an irritation that makes the hairs on this fair flesh stand upright. Despite years of discussion, listening to points of views of believers and non-believers, as well as almost coming to terms with the thought that god is really within each individual, when the G word appeared on p.106 foe me it became an I’m Over It reaction!!! Questions like “what if god’s a woman" …well … hello, what does it matter?

Don’t get me wrong here. People who believe have my utmost respect. If it makes them feel better then it makes me feel better for them too. Such personal opinions have long made me wonder why the word offends me. How the over use of it by the G blamers …those who won’t accept responsibility for their own actions as they echo “G made me do it” make me want to scream … Nah you did it yourself. We have choices. We have a subconscious and using the G word as a reason for how, or when, or why and why not something was or wasn’t done is a cop out!! Phew glad that’s off my chest.

So with that revelation AW, MP’s and reading was put aside. Not out of my thoughts though.

Today - Day 52
The AW commitment had been made. As a woman of my word the feeling of letting myself, only myself, down irked me.
So today, the afternoon of Day 56 AW’s returned to my daily life!
Morning pages plus reading and journalling from p.106 to p.149 the end of chapter 8.

Briefly:
WEEK 7 –
Jealousy doesn’t exist in my life so the exercise on p.124 is not for me.
Archaeology exercise has all been dealt with an not where my creativity lurks.
Positive Inventory, taking stock of the good I have to build on in the present is everything – all is good in my life!

The Tasks 1 – 7 were inane.

Task 8 – Five Fave Films
The Generals Daughter
The Angel one or is it Michael with Travolta – anything of J Travolta
Moulin Rouge
Old black & white’s

Task 9 – Fave topics to read about
Positive Thinking
Memoirs
Australian history
Stories of survival
The Irish diaspora
Week 7 Artist’s date - was book shop trawling – coffee – craft store = Heaven.

WEEK 8
I was confused as to why Cameron writes that all artists’s must learn the art of surviving loss. Isn’t that a human experience that all people whether artistic or not have to face? Flagging and mourning loss has been done over and over for me so I found this topic of no value. I did agree with her observation that academia harbours a deadly foe to creative spirit. As a mature age student, in 2003, I earned a degree in Sociology. But what a slog it could have been had I not realised, early on that academia wanted to hear what they wanted to hear. Criticism and argument had to be addressed in a format that had been around for hundreds of years. No individuality, no off the wall research and no criticism of them. Academia is for academics. To hold the outside world in awe, to separate themselves from the status quo and to squash any glimmer of individuality that might challenge their hallowed halls – bah humbug.

This AW sends me off on tangents that stroke and make my thinking creativity blossom – but drat – that’s not why I’m doing this …that’s another story!!
I agreed too with her “every end is a beginning” that old adage “one door closes another one opens” is a much used personal fave as well as her “HOW instead of WHY ME’. Cameron has played with my thoughts. From irritation to agreement she has got my creative thinking, creatively writing nut just as she get’s me calm she throws the curved “too old” number and I’m Over It again!!
Early Patternings exercise was all done in my life years ago.

The tasks were back onto the “DREAM” routine again and like I’ve said before, I don’t dream. The “list 5 things you are not allowed to do” Come ON … there is NOTHING that I am not allowed to do!!!! So for me these exercises detracted from the zillion positive things to think about and accomplish – these exercises were a load of codswallop!!! Gone sufing!


WEEK 9.
Julia’s reminding me that my artist is a creative child – well how come this kid has the money to gain and gather the goodies needed for the upcoming projects of beauty and wonderment I’m about to let loose.

I’ve Blasted through the Blocks minus resentment.

Week 9 Artist’s Date was stupendous today. With my PIC the most amazing visual feast of all things any artist could need was discovered plus finding another stunning publication heralded that creativity is flowing in the right direction and loaded to the hilt with FUN!
Stay Tuned!

THE AMAZING HUMAN BODY SHOW an Artist's Date.

Week 6 Artist's Date was to The Amazing Body Human Body
Show and amazing it was!

My most learning moment was to see how high up in our
body the heart and lungs are. I couldn’t stop thinking of that
old adage “my heart was in my mouth” often exclaimed when
shocked, surprised or frightened – now I know why. That the
heart is surrounded by the lungs was a learning experience
too. However more amazing was the delight felt at having
given up smoking twelve years ago as I saw the appalling
condition and discolouration of the lungs of the
“specimens” and “speciwomen’s”.

The following was a puzzlement -
Had the organisers of the show removed all identifying
information for any specific reasons? Had acadaemia decided that
these were only of scientific value therefore not worth, according
them, any identifying information? The commentator told how they
were all Asian people yet we were left wondering who they had been,
what age had they died and why? Were they athletic? We noticed
differences in their hands, arthritis in fingers, yet we knew little else
and we wanted more. Not for a macabre reason but to be able to
understand who these people had been and what they had done in
their lives. Had the woman had children, if so how many, how old
was she? How was her body different to say someone of a younger
or older age? Why was she right at the back of the display when
she should have been with the male at the beginning of the display!
This was a patriarchial event for sure!

The Sydney Morning Herald has a short video where lots of these
questions are answered and where the money making v the
scientific debate opens up as to what the real reason of this
"show" is about.

For twenty bucks admission plus another three bucks for a
recorded hand held device, too man questions weren’t answered.
The recorded commentary lacked. It was perfect for a bunch of
school kids. We could have saved that money as the printed sheet
told more. The lighting was appalling.The skiing guy was almost
in the dark, most of the display cards revealed little. Wasn’t this
“show” meant to be life changing, educational and controversial??
It was thought provoking maybe, hopefully life changing for any
smokers peering at the indigo coloured lungs of each body yet
overpriced and not well prepared for the general public.

From an anatomical perspective the exhibition was enthralling.
Personally it was life changing. Many years ago I willed my body
to N.S.W. University. Not any more. The thought of this wonderful
shell being ripped through a bandsaw to become one centimetre
slices is too disturbing – AND … there’ll be no more lamb grillers,
pork chops, or liver and bacon served out of my kitchen either.

Lost your block found a WOMBAT.

You know when you've lost something and
searched every darned where yet still can't
find it?? Well that's how it's been round here
searching for the block pictured. Ready to
to pull the doona over my head, the urge to
look in one more spot came - and voila!!

Yee - bloody - Haaaa! This was the take to
Nowra CQ Retreat block last November to
be embellished and emblazoned with all kinds
of magic. It shows traces of Crumebum and
Ms P but blocks made way for fun.

Now it's found it's to become the first in a new full of fabularity project.
Lost Block no more - WOMBAT for sure!
Watch this space ... game on!!!

The Topp Twins - are tops!

A rare night out tonight to The Topp Twins show. A
unique K- one-W-one musical and comedy duo we
laughed till we cried. The receptive crowd cheered
and applauded the music, their look at life on and off
the farm, their travels plus their sending up of anyone
in their sights!

@enmore was the venue. Unfortunately we stood for
the whole show wondering why these joints sell tickets
yet don't provide sufficient seating. Food was great but
the kitchen was overwhelmed - sad!!!

The Topps made it all worthwhile!

Untouch - able Girls ... YeeHaa!

PAINTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOXES

BOXED ART PROJECT

Sydney's Canterbury Council is calling for community artists
to submit ideas to paint the more than 80 traffic signal boxes
in the area. They're those grey blue boxes at every set of
traffic lights screaming to be emblazoned with quirky art so
if you have never noticed them before, get ready to, as artists
turn them into their own community art canvas.

An exciting new website promotes the work of artists who have
participated in this community art project.

Check out the work of participating artists.

There is the potential to win monetary awards.

On the website are photographs of a number the remaining
boxes still unclaimed - linked on the website – “Unclaimed boxes”

Mmmm if only there was a box under cover ready to be CQ'd,
embroidered, beaded and bedazzled for all so see ..... if only!

What a great idea!

BONDI BEACH - born and bred.

Last Saturday a tiny slice of land at Bondi Beach was sold for
$3.5m . This "postage stamp" is right where my Mum lived as a kid
from 1923-1925 in a three story block of red brick "flats".

In 1925 they moved to 148 Campbell Parade, (smack bang between Hall
and Roscoe St's) on the main drag, of Bondi. The trams rattled past their
front room eventually as a sad reminder of how Pa was killed when
he fell from a tram in Oxford Street Woollahra one night in 1931 on his
way home from work at East Sydney Tech. Life changed.

Mum and her Mum, Rene, stayed in 148 Campbell Parade. They saw
the bombs come over Bondi in May 1942 . By August that year she had
met and married my Dad.

Born and bred in Bondi has been a catch phrase of mine. My first
swimming lesson was at the now famous Bondi IceBergs Pool . Bondi Beach
Public School was my first school. From 1957 - 1960 148 Campbell Parade
became my home too.

My early married life was in Bondi, my kids were born and bred in
Bondi, my hubby used to surf South Bondi on a balsa board right in front
of the IceBergs.

With those and a squillion more memories if I'd had $3.5m I'd have
bought that smidge of dirt, but like I've said before ...
I was born beautiful not rich.

AW Week 5 & 6 in Review

Twpo for the price of one - Weeks 5 & 6

You might wonder - what happened to week 5 of
The Artist's Way.

WEllllll it really wasn't me. Too airy fairy. Too much about
wishes and those who know me know I don't wish. I'm a
realist and if I want something to happen then do my darndest
to I make it happen. Time is too precious to be wafting off,
daydreaming and wishing - get ya head out of the clouds, get
on with it or get over it - life's too short!

My 5 imaginery lives are - sort of the same, sort of not!

If I were 20 and had money - I would still do it all over again!

If I were 65 and had money - well we'll wait and see about that
one!

Ten way's that I am mean to myself - couldn't think of one!

Ten items I'd like to own that I don't - nope

My favourite creative block is - now I know here it's not meant
to be a Crazy Quilting Block - but that's what comes to mind!

My payoff for staying blocked is - don't have one as I am always
on!

The person I blame for being blocked is - well no-one because I
am not a blamer!
So there.............!

Week 6 - Recovering Abundance.

Money Madness Exercise.
my answers are in red

1. People with money are rich.
2. Money makes people rich.
3. I'd have more money if I won some.
4. My dad thought money was to hold on to.
5. My Mum thought money was to spend.
6. In my family, money caused us to live.
7. Money equals wealth.
8. If I had money I'd buy a house with an ocean view.
9. If I could afford it I'd have that house with an ocean view and a GSP.
10. If I had some money I'd spend it.
11. I'm afraid that if I had money I'd - wot is there to be afraid of??
12. Money is wealth.
13. Money causes - it depends.
14. Having money is not a worry.
15. In order to have more money I need to get off my butt.
16. When I have money, I usually spend it.
17. I think money is necessary.
18. If I weren't so cheap I'd - I'm not cheap.
19. People think money is the root of all evil and they're jealous.
20. Being broke tells me I was born beautiful not rich.

So there was then the pick the rocks, pick the flowers, clearing (I'm
always doing that), creation, (always doing that), communication
(ditto), acceptance (ditto), prosperity (there was plenty of that this
week) - I'm smiling!

I'm still up with the morning pages, the artist date was done,
synchronicity abounded, a week of health related high's and lows.

How can that be when I am only 39????