Finishing off

 Well, our Scottish adventure begins in earnest tomorrow as we head off to our home in the Highlands.

We have been working right up until we go, but have also taken moments to enjoy magic and beauty.

This first shot was of my shadow after I arrived at exercises one morning - it was 3 degrees outside and I had taken a lovely shot of the sunrise; and then glanced down and loved the texture and mystery here on the concrete.

But back to finishing the work... I was wanting to hang my burnt bundle in a Perspex frame. Barry very kindly made me an extra long brass rod needle for threading my very fine nylon thread through the envelope so we could tie it on. Here it is on our high tech work bench (kitchen bench) with a hand towel as protector.

We did some measuring and then began drilling the holes. The first hole was a dream. The second hole not so much. The drill bit warmed up so much it began to melt the Perspex, and then when it had, that meant that the drill bit kind of got glued into the hole in the Perspex.

An interesting dilemma.

But lots of patience and ingenuity working out to encourage the drill bit out of the hole were brought into play and after a wee while we had successfully removed it.

We then tested threading the nylon thread through the envelope and through the holes and tying them off and I think it will work.

Our work station.

And as a complete and utter absurd aside - how is this? On Saturday we were alerted to three stags (with excellent antlers) wandering around below us here in sub-tropical Maleny in winter!

I wonder if we will see any when we actually get to Scotland???

And for more moments of beauty, I took this photo of a ceramic heart that hangs off a sculpture near our front door. 

Such a hotch potch

 And didn't I get some odd auto-corrects with that title!

But it definitely sums it up. I have been working hard on my second book for the exchange with Annwyn, but because we are not posting much about the books until they have been received across the oceans, I have very little to show for my studio time.

There are however, some fragments of this, that and other.

My Dad is involved with a Shrove Tuesday (pancake) event on Valentine's Day and in a rather brilliant and creative venture on his behalf - he asked if I had any heart shaped cutters which he thought he might be able to make pikelets in. And here was the selection I offered him... the adventure has begun.

I am participating in an exhibition in a regional gallery in March; and need to have three shelves to display my work. So here I am at my best, literally cutting and pasting to see the best display options.

B and I walked past this after having a coffee in Caloundra. On closer inspection we discovered it was actually a bandaid and now I want to find me some of them!

B and I joined forces to create these displays for my lovely cousin's optometry business. B's blogpost has the details.

My highly sophisticated book press - with thanks to Liz for the Dewey book (so great to delve into; and to grab when needed for other purposes).

Testing the beginnings of book number 2.

Water drops on one of Dad's orchids this morning

B had a birthday a week or so ago and the deck was decked with twinkle lights and peace...

Life is full and life is varied.

Wild/Flower Women III

 Barry and I took a trip to Gympie during the week to see the Exhibition Wild/Flower Women III. There is a long and lovely history of women artists and writers walking this country near Cooloola and recording the flora and wildflowers.

Here, I have captured some of the works which captivated me.

This enormous piece Impermanence (5m x.1.1m) by Joolie Gibbs held my gaze for a long time.

Some details follow.  It was the scale, the intimacy, the wash, the absences, the layering...there is so much held within this work.  The inks were also made from native flora, (bunya, mangrove, eucalyptus bark), and the whole thing was so beautifully integrated.

I have never worked this large and I imagine there is huge skill needed to keep track of the whole and how it is working, whilst offering so much detail...

It was awesome, in the true sense of the word.

A beautiful piano scroll draped alongside vial of ochre  by Melissa Stananrs come go walk and care for country.

A vinyl wall work banksia aemula  piece by Ulrik Sturm.

Found rusted tins... Grasstree Spikes by Barb Hart.

Referencing Xannthorroea I imagine  

Two tea cup, saucer and plate sets by Judy Barrass - handmade paper and print. I adored these with their Australian wildflowers and had to work really hard to NOT pick them up and feel them!

And as you wander to the toilets if you look down here is this whimsical transfer along the skirting boards. I imagine that Ulrike has been playing!

And across the road from the gallery, a graffiti heart.

It was a great day trip and the work was wonderful. It filled me up and lifted me. 

Small pieces and always something

 I am still working on the small things and am happily finishing off a few bits and pieces.  Here is my little stitching sampler pouch.

I really did enjoy making this and forcing myself to do something different with each patch and each stitch. So even if nobody else knows what is going on I can look at it and go yes - one thread circle; two thread circle!

Front

Back

 

Inside.

I thought about lining it, then decided to go with the full story on display - its for me after all. I also wanted to see the right side of the linen that I chose to use the wrong side of as a reminder of what lies beneath.

I think I will put my needle case (my next project) and a few small bits in it, and then put it in my fabric bucket.

I chose to re-twine two lengths of two strands of some of the DMC thread I used for stitching to make the cord.  Whilst watching the West Wing reunion Special laugh...cord twisting is a time consuming thing to do.

And just more details...

And as I collected something from the bedroom the other morning, sunlight was coming through the glass heart I have on my bedside table. I love this.

And then the something else...it was good to meet these two the other morning.  

Good in the sense that I now know where they live and hang about; and what type of snake they are - yellow headed Whip snake.

Will keep my wits about me as I wander and garden...

Great camouflage I thought!

A full heart

Or my heart is full...

We have arrived home safe and sound, and are settling back into the rhythm of things, a little sleepy at times, but well on the way to 'normal'.

One of the things I keep an eye out for as I wander here or there, is hearts, and I have found them in many unexpected places and taking many forms, and this trip was no different .

On a gate in Edinburgh

And on a wall in Edinburgh...

One of the ropes for tying down fishing nets had fallen this way, and if I cropped it, there was a heart.

The door handle on the fabulous boat shed on Loch loyal looked heart-shaped to me.

A manhole cover at Sumberg Lighthouse on Shetland hid a heart.

The mosaic on a wall in Lerwick, Shetland was more planned.

On a wall inside St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney there were a couple.

This is one of my favourites - a rock on the walk to Armadale broch.

Our door stones at the cottage - I collect rocks and pebbles and stones that appear heart-shaped to me; and the group is growing.

 A leaf heart in Singapore.

And now we are home and my heart is full. Another door stone heart and peace.