Thursday Thoughts...

“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” 

Michelangelo

This one feels as if it is for anyone who has ever overheard somebody saying about their art " oh, I could have done that" or "my six year old nephew could have done that".

I have heard it a few times about my, and others whom I admire's, work and it always makes me want to shake my head and say i only you knew or understood.

It seems as if Michelangelo might have been shaking his head all that time ago too.

The other times I try to explain to people what a piece of art is made up of is when they think that because something may not have taken ages to create (because, I don't know, you have mastery of your subject), and they think it is over priced. 

For me, I often reflect on what got me to making that piece is the years I have spent preparing for it. The times I have stopped, started again; thrown something out because it doesn't work until I learn and discover exactly what does work. It is all the years of practising calligraphy until you know you can can form a letter O just so... or its the skills you have built up over time and the understanding of your materials that enable you to do this whiz-bang thing without tearing your hair out.

People so often don't see what goes on behind the scenes. They so often don't know of all the fails, before the successes. They so often don't know the hours of practising and practising. And all of the testing and trialling to determine what goes best with what when you are trying to achieve a certain goal.

Until they sit down and actually try to do it themselves.

Teaching Western Calligraphy to Japanese students in Tatebayashi 20009.

2025, the year in review

 I usually use that never-never time between Christmas and New Year to ponder and reflect, to plan and to dream. This year it has not been like that, with all the heft and heaviness of shifting and moving, but I have grabbed some moments to ponder the year of making that was.

I felt like I was an artist almost each and every day last year; but interestingly I didn't make a huge amount of things. What I discovered as I wandered back through the year was that I had done some lovely things; one thing was very involved, intricate and time-consuming; I spent a lot of time in my head writing a conference paper and preparing courses; my making was varied across materials; and that a lot of my art time was thinking about how to move what to where, how to promote and sell art when we don't have a physical shop and generally re-imagining my world as a maker.

As ever, in alphabetical order only and with no ranking of favourites, here are the ten things I made this year that I like the most.

1. Book of Silences

I loved this whole process; the honour of working with the words of friends, and the testing and trialling that came with the challenge of a representing silence... In the end the wee book is a marvellous thing and I cherish it, and its making.

2. Building Narrative

This is a bit of a catch all for me as maker. I included Building Narrative because I enjoyed it and was proud of it. I presented a paper on Building Narrative in Artists' Books at the  BIND25 Conference in NZ; and I presented two one-day workshops on Building Narrative here in Maleny at the studio of my friend Kim Herringe. Both of these things took a lot of work,  a lot of care, a lot of thinking, and both are a creative product (in my mind). Not so much to show and physically hold in your hand - but I am comfortable saying I made them!

3. Silver pebble jewellery.

I continued to make and sell sterling silver pebble jewellery. I did some commissions, I went big, I tried new things. It is a lovely thing to wear jewellery that you have made I must say; and I also love seeing it on others as it shimmers and moves .

4. Nest.

I really enjoy working with Lindsey when we are in Scotland, and this time I asked her if I could try to make a nest. It was such a fun process and I really got into it. The result was a layered, sterling silver nest that could be sculptural, or a pendant. It has inspired me to try and make more.

5. Peace around the world.

We have been making and sharing peace weathergrams for International Day of Peace for many years now. Over a decade at least. This year was no different - the weathergrams are used cutlery holders that my dad and his folk collect for us; and we letterpress print a message of peace on them and make a hole and tie some string. But this year felt different. It felt like there was such a yearning for peace (and care, and kindness) across the globe. And this year, without prompting, folk sent me photos of their weathergrams flying boldy and bravely in oh so many marvellous places. It truly lifted my spirits and gave me hope.

6. Red Card.

I made my first book about Australian women being killed by their partners or former partners over 11 years ago. It is still a crisis in this county and so little has changed. This book is simple. It is loud. It is full of me being so sick and tired of all the talk and still women are murdered with monotonous regularity. I give a Red Card to governments, to the media and to men who kill the women they loved.

7. Resist.

Sometimes your work is significant. Sometimes it addresses national concerns. Sometimes it seeks to encourage gentle and peaceful ways of being. Sometimes it is small, heart felt and simple. Sometimes it is sent as a reminder that people care, and that we all need hope.

I hand stitched these fabric remnants with red french knots, depicting the word resist, and sent it to friends in the US. I used braille as the format language - because nothing is safe with communication and we sometimes need to talk in code. Small. Not much but something, and yet I loved doing them and they are among my favourites of the year.

8. Serviettes.

I did mention sometimes your work is small, but brings great joy, and so it was with these serviettes. The joy I feel is well out of proportion for what they are and what they do, but there you go. I loved exploring the wing needle and hem stitches on my machine and I love that I now have some lovely serviettes to use - and that they look gorgeous!

9. Simply Being.

This book was a long time in the realising. I have played with the words for years and years, finding them in my journal, re-working and re-writing them. Finding them again. And deciding on how to bring them into being - it seemed I had so many options.  And this I hope is the first of a few different ways of making this book. 

10. Square Alphabet.

Again, this isn't exactly a thing you can hold in your hands, but I did enjoy the making of this alphabet so much! It was a recollection of a calligraphic exercise from many moons ago, which clearly has strong connections to the Berber alphabet, and ends up being almost a code I can use to write with.

As ever, thanks for coming along on the wander and for being part of my year - I appreciate each and very person who reads and comments and shares their thoughts. This year's top ten had a lot of variety and I think that reflects that I didn't have a body of work I was pulling together, so instead I got to play in lots of different puddles.

Go well into 2026, and may we all find, and share: love and care; peace and generosity; and hope and kindness along the way.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Reading for me is spending time with a friend.”

 Gary Paulsen

As the new year arrives and we ponder what it may hold, and how things shall be, it is lovely to start the  with the idea of books as friends. And books and friends.

Two of my favourite things and things that I hope will both play large parts in my 2026.

When I think about books and how they have accompanied me through life thus far; how often I turn to them for companionship and for passing time; there is definitely a through line that connects them with friendships.

Books offer me a lot of the qualities that my friends do - a chance to sit and think, to smile, to sometimes laugh out loud; to feel connected and to enjoy time together. They also go well with a coffee catch up! With friends I often chat about books, we recommend and share them between us and we purchase them for each other for gifts. I often say you are never alone with a book. And you are never alone with a friend.

Books and friends and books as friends go hand in hand.

We have spent time in the recent days printing and writing our 2026 cards. This year mine are full of feminist purple and multiple varied 2026s in wood type. As they head out into the world I wish for a year of hope; of peace; and of kindness. A gentler year in which we find our way back to our best selves and in which we create and make and continue to share.

Thank you all for the time you spend here - I look forward to another year of connecting in blog-land. Go well.a

The hard yards and chaos

 I really hate this part of moving. Having done all the thinking, the planning and the first cull, the time has arrived for the hard yards.

On Boxing Day we built some new IKEA cabinets. Given we are moving to such a small space, we have had to re-think what we can have; but also how and where we can store it. All told there were 4 cabinets with 14 drawers to build - and drawers are fiddly, especially making sure you have the slide runners aligning in the right direction. Luckily we have made many IKEA drawers in our time. It was a long day, but this is the remnant packaging, which a friend has said she will take for mulching her garden so that was a a win.

Each day I spend time at the studio sorting and sifting. We are only just beginning to do the shifting.

The categories are throw, give away, sell, keep in studio, keep in storeroom, keep in office. And so the desks are now covered in all sorts of thing which are going in all sorts of directions...

The book shelves are nearly empty - deciding what to do with treasured books is one of the hardest things.

I have also worked my way through many of the drawers and cabinets and cupboards. I leave the drawers open to remind me what is done and what isn't yet done. 

Both of these sets of drawers already have new owners. Along the way, and behind the green drawers, I am collecting remnant papers to share with a papermaker friend so she can pulp them down and renew them.

The crockery and cutlery that was in these drawers and behind these doors is going to our Neighbourhood Centre. As are the microwave and kettle, some art and some more cupboards.

Nothing like sorting out under a sink! Still, there is a lot less stuff in there now. Most of it will be used for cleaning when we reach that stage...

The pile in the corner for the FINAL GARAGE SALE (17 & 18 JANUARY) is growing...

We think the stash for the local vintage and collectables guy is just about ready for his perusal. Lots done, and lots still to do.  Each and every day has us down there working and moving.

And to finish on a nice note, here is a shot of our Christmas Day table - with the runners and coasters I made here! They worked really, well providing a table setting for four people and were lovely, lively and bright. The bowl was filled with multi coloured baubles and three candles in crystal star holders. With twinkle lights!

It was all a joyous delight to behold.

I am thinking I would like to make some hot pink  or red or orange coasters to add even more colour. We shall see...

Thursday Thoughts...

“My dear, 

In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. 

In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. 

In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. 

I realized, through it all, that… In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. 

And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” 

Truly Yours, Albert Camus

At different times I have found it hard to confirm that this quote is accurate, but I am working on the theory that it is close, and that the sentiment holds.

On Christmas Day, after a horrific terrorist attack in Australia eleven days ago, so many of us are searching, and seeking to understand, working hard to find a sense of hope for peace amongst us.

These words are a small salve for me - that sense that in amongst hate, it is possible for us as individuals to keep true with love.

To find calm amid a storm, to find peace amongst the warring, to have hope in amongst the dire...

It seems so very very hard, when we are overwhelmed and overcome by darkness, to recall that within us is a light. It flickers, flutters, and then catches again and shines brightly.

We are better together. We need to shine our light brightly, for ourselves and for others.

As Christmas arrives and we turn towards family, friends, community, rituals, and gentle remembering, I wish for peace.

Peace within, peace between us and peace between nations.

To all my blogging friends who share so much and support each other so much, thank you for another year of magic.

Wherever you may be, and however you may spend the time, may your Christmas be bright and beautiful, may you be safe, and may you find and celebrate moments of peace.

A miscellany of making

 The bits and pieces nature of the end of the year continues. Barry posted about a post he had made for a friend here and here (an action shot of me at work and all!). In the lead up to it he had asked me to write the lettering on it so that he could rout it.

I always print out a computer font at about the right size so I have something to guide my handwriting. Here it is with possible tools for transferring to the log.

Lead pencil on the timber, quite hard to photograph!

Gone over with a permanent marker so Barry could see the paths he needed to follow.

In some spare moments I have been putting together a couple of pairs of earrings - here's one set.

The other work fits more into preparation for making, than making per se.  In preparation for transitioning from the studio I have been trying to get my things in order. I am trying to make sure I only take with me things I will need and use; and not just grab everything because we run out of time and it's there. I am also trying to make sure that what we take is in good working order. 

So over to the tins of ink we use for letterpress printing.  Four of the tins really needed a good clean up. For whatever reason the sealing surface had not worked and the top of the tins had hardened and become unusable. There were several 'interesting' moments as I tried to remove the hardened ink and scrape the still usable ink off and back into the tin!

In terms of making I also sometimes like to think of decorating as making, and here we have a bowl full of twinkle lights and baubles which graces our table....

Hopefully I will get a good run at proper making in the next wee while...

Some Christmas sewing

 It remains a bits and pieces time of year and I have been fiddling with this and then that... achieving very small milestones, and feeling very chuffed when I do!

For some reason I decided I wanted to try and make a some chirpy-cheery table runners and coasters for our Christmas table. Barry and I went and looked at loads of fabric and landed on this lovey bold bright and beautiful gum blossom design by Jocelyn Proust.

I managed to cut and sew all the things I needed, and then I sat quietly fraying edges. Such a therapeutic thing to do - steady and meditative.

I had sewn two pieces together to give it a bit more heft, and this is where I have begun fraying one side of the fabric but not yet the other side.

A before and after so to speak.

And then there were coasters...

And runners...

And there were leftover threads. Plenty of threads.

Enough in fact to make a nest...

Thursday Thoughts...

“Painting is a means of self-enlightenment.” 

 John Olsen

John Olsen was a celebrated Australian painter with a unique style. I am no art critic, but would use words like vigorous, bold, bright, whimsical and squiggly to describe his work. He died a few years ago, aged 95.

I responded to this quote I think because it seems to say to me that art, painting, and creating are really important things for us to help understand ourselves.

The word enlightenment is a bit more than I can necessarily chew; but he positions painting as a tool that helps him on his quest for self understanding; for digging deep and trying to get to know the what and the why of himself.

In small and non-at-all-comparable ways, I find I learn a lot about myself from my making. The things I choose to make about; the palette I use and the ways I tell the stories of what the art is about. All of these things give me insights into myself that might not have become so clear without the art and the making.

I am not sure I have had any major revelations from exploring my creating and making; but I have most definitely learned a lot about myself.

The Bridge, John Olsen.

Flower cards

I learned that these simple flower cards, blank inside, were popular when they sold out at the recent studio sale.

As a small gift to myself on a difficult day, I went to the studio and sat with them, quietly painting and drawing nine new cards.

Watercolour pencils were sharpened! It is hard to think of a more satisfying moment than having a box of beautifully sharpened pencils.

And so it begins with scribbled shapes across the card. I tend to follow the same pattern for them as it makes it easier for folk to select.

And then I add water...

And then the outlines get drawn in loose way.

And then I package them up with a lovely envelope and they are done.

I texted a friend the images of the finished ones and she promptly bought seven cards! 

So I am back to the drawing board, but in the nicest way.

Elements of this and of that...

 It's the time the year where demands seem to stretch you and pull you this way and that; and there is not often a steady run at anything. Life as a maker creator becomes about grabbing small moments; following up small things; taking a chance on a spare half hour; and doing things in small stages and with small steps.

This post reflects just that.

I handed over the wee book I stitched during the week; and was fortunate enough to view and handle the original. What a delight and special thing that was.

You can see how it would not have survived a new generation of regular interaction, so what a wonderful heirloom kind of thing to do, to re-imagine it as a new book, with lots of love.

I also started to play around with thoughts of my 2026 card. 

I pondered wood type; in a couple of ways, but am yet to land on exactly the design and layout I am after. And also yet to decide what colour I want to print with. But I have begun...

And the studio clean up and tidy up continues with decisions being made every which way (decision-making is exhausting may I say...). 

We have a bunch of collectable type things in the studio so we are in touch with our local vintage guy and are putting together a bundle of items for him to consider. I went through my calligraphy nibs and decided he could have a lot of them, but that I  would save the ones I use the most.

Which sent me looking through all the little packets of nibs I have and sorting and re-packing them. 

Starting afresh with full sets; buying new nib holder so they are clean and shiny (not stained and rusty...). 

And don't they look fine!

A full set of William Mitchells, 

and the spares below...

 

A full set of Brause nibs, with the spares above.

It's funny how good a clean and tidy up can make you feel!

Finding moments at the moment is gold; achieving small things feels medal-worthy.