Post536 Mostly Art and Crafts

Much of the early part of the week was spent catching up appointments postponed because of COVID. Wednesday was a car service, Thursday optometrist and Orofacial pain doctor. 

In between appointments I visited the Himeji Garden. Even though there was a wedding taking place just outside, once inside, tranquility reigned. It is extraordinarily calming , even for 10 minutes, which is all I stayed. The sound of water is a big part of the tranquility.        

        

Both medicos are pleased with my progress. It looks as if some mild left-side headaches I’m having might be the result of the way I use my left hand in stitching. I’m now monitoring. 

Friday proved busy. I took the city loop bus in and out of the city for my haircut then drove to Melbourne St to look at the art works on offer at the upcoming Elders auction before going to Unley for a big grocery shop for Monday. My brother was interested in a couple of things so I went to check them out for him.

The Create in Stitch webletter advertised a new line in clamps that looked as if they might be able to be fitted to my "flexible" seated stand. While I find the stalk of the stand very flexible, the clamp is inflexible, so on Thursday I bought one of the new clamps. The fit wasn’t perfect, but good enough to be a substantial improvement. I took it out to show Simela on Friday. She, of course, got out her toolkit and made a few improvements. It now means I can attach a roller or frame, not just a hoop, to the stand. Yes!

The Elders auction was on Sunday. While checking things for my brother, I noticed two bark paintings. I am a sucker for vintage bark paintings. I registered to bid online and bought both of them. Family members will be interested in them. I hope to go and pick them up tomorrow, along with the two my brother bought!

Over the last few days I made 52 gift bags. The bags I cut out in January, from fabric bought at the Guild's trading table, have been sitting on my sewing machine ever since. I decided it was time to make a move on them. Tonight put the finishing touches on the last of them. Details, of course, in my embroidery blog.

While I am now free of Covid, I still have what appear to be symptoms of a cold - a cough, sneezing and a little congestion. This is, apparently, common after number of viral infections, including Covid. Advice seems to be that it is my immune system ridding my lungs of fluid and I am not infectious.  It should clear up in the next couple of weeks.  I am trying to rest, drink warm lemon water and take things easy. I didn't go to Aquafit today and stayed inside for most of the day.

I did go to Katherine's place for dinner on Saturday and hosted our family dinner yesterday, a lively and entertaining time. I had a busy day, beginning with fasting blood tests at 8.30am, shopping, cooking and meeting Barbara who had kindly collected my gallery purchases for me. I get the results of the blood tests from the nephrologist on Thursday. 

As well as family,  I have been visited most days by doves. On Friday they kept up a loud conversation. The rhythm of one of the calls sounded like "It’s Zeffirelli!". Once I got that into my head there was no eraser.

Just as I was wondering whether it would be wise to cancel my early morning coffee appointment tomorrow, Panayoula suggested the same, as there is Covid in her family. Seems it's everywhere. Instead I'm hoping to go and pick up the art works from Sunday's auction, then make more progress on the Inca cardigan. 

Post 482 A lot happened

When I began writing this, two painters were working on my back balcony, both young, one female, one male. They are considerate and intelligent about their work, and cheerfully painted through the Vergola.

The delays in painting resulted from a number of things - rain, to start with. As one of the few abseiling teams painting in Adelaide, they get called away to urgent jobs - and a few problems have been found in our apartment block along the way. After substantial problem solving, it seems  that the joint seals on the plumbing pipes running from the top floor balconies through the balcony ceilings below and eventually to the ground, have deteriorated (after 23 years) resulting in leakages which cause damage to lower floors.

There is an expensive 21st century solution - involving a machine that pumps a coating into the pipes, sealing the inside from top to bottom without a break. It's been referred to the Strata. As far as painting goes, this is good news for me because it means the leaks are not coming from the fabric of my balcony, and my painting can go ahead. It's already looking good. They will be back to finish tomorrow morning.

It has been a week for services. My new cleaner did an excellent job on Wednesday. It's a good arrangement for me - except it will occasionally present a clash with WES Group meetings which we will have to resolve. The window cleaner came yesterday - and the air conditioner is being serviced this Friday morning. 

In between, there was a birthday lunch for a friend, JEMS for Niamh, a family dinner of lamb shanks here yesterday (dodging football training and parent-teacher interviews) and Anthony's roast lamb at their place on Saturday, followed by our crossword in front of the Coronation TV coverage. 

On Sunday afternoon I took myself off to an Art auction, where I succeeded in buying the Jacqueline Hick   aquatint etching The Widows  which I was after.  I have a number of Jacqueline Hick paintings and thought this one would round off the collection. I picked it up today. The frame is damaged, and will need repair, but I'm pleased to have it. 

On my way to pick it up I called at Wakefield Press for a copy of their book on Jacqueline Hick. I am planning to document my art works and thought this a good place to start.

I also bought their book on Barbara Hanrahan, based on an exhibition I missed during Covid. 

I'm now ready to get on with the business of documenting. No excuses!

It turned out to be a book day. I got home to find in my letterbox an Alice Starmore book I had ordered. I'm not planning any needlepoint, but I'm interested in her Celtic patterns, which of course, can be translated into knitting or cross stitch. 
 

As well as the book in my letterbox, there was a notice of a parcel to be picked up at the Post Office. When I walked around to pick it up, it turned out to be an unexpected gift from my friend Robin - an amazing knitted mudlark by the Songlark Studio in Kandos, on Wiradjuri country, north of Bathurst in NSW. It looks and feels lovely, and comes with a reference to Matthew 6.26 - a bidding to regard the birds of the air which do not sow, reap, nor gather into barns. An appropriate reminder on what is, here in Australia, budget night! Thank you Rob. A great lift.

I was unusually inspired by another friend's FB post a few days ago. Vivienne made low GI ham, zucchini and corn muffins for lunch. They looked so good and sounded so healthy, I went looking for recipes, and ended up choosing a Keto one that used coconut flour and a lot of eggs. I made them today - and was a bit disappointed. While edible and healthy, they are more quiche than muffin in texture. I will eat the six I made, but will try a more conventional recipe next time.      

I have progressed the St Brigid sleeve. I am currently on the 5th of 6 pattern repeats - and will have plenty of wool. It is challenging and enjoyable knitting. 

Today is my brother's birthday. I do hope he's had a satisfying day in his busy life. We haven't been in the same city for a birthday for a few years now. That day will come. 

It has been a busy and auspicious week in several ways. I've also prepared my presentation on Glazig embroidery for tomorrow's WES Group meeting.

Yesterday's sunrise captured the promise and peace - even seen through the window before it had been cleaned!  I count my blessings.

Post 282 A lot of activity but not much to show

Today was the day of the Art Auction. I had set my heart on buying one of the two paintings by Christine Lawrence, an art teacher who taught with Jim at Craigmore High School and taught two of my grandchildren at primary school. I thought it would be appropriate for one of her paintings to adorn their family's walls.

I decided to go to the live auction rather than follow online. I'm glad I did. It gave me a good sense of the interest, prices and flow between on site, Internet and phone bidding.

Prices were generally high. In-house bidders were distanced and in booked seats. Water and sealed packets of slices of cake were distributed.

I didn't get either painting I was after.

This one, Heggie's Vineyard was predicted at $1800-$2700 and sold for $6200. I think it would have kept going to $10,000 had anyone hung in longer, so determined was one bidder. 

The price guide for the other, smaller painting was $1800-$2500 and it sold for $2700. I stopped at $2600. I'm disappointed, but not regretful. It's great there is so much interest. Niamh is apparently working on the statistics of the difference between predicted and actual prices. I'll report on her findings tomorrow.

Before I went to the auction I finished reading my book, phoned my friend Lorraine and we arranged to meet for lunch before Christmas.After the auction I went to dinner at friends and delivered a blow-up mattress they wanted to borrow. Ken had cooked a pasta dish and a lemon syrup cake for desert. We had plenty to catch up on.  Great to just relax with friends.                                                                                         I managed to finish this sashiko square. I like the way the Wonderfil thread worked.

This is my next one. I'm hoping tomorrow to have time to drop in to Riverlea Quilts to see if they have any other colour thread that would work.

I also need to get some eggs for tomorrow's dinner and a few supplies for the last of my family dinners this year. School finishes the Friday until the 27th January.

Post 281 Thinking about Christmas

It was, for Adelaide, an extraordinarily grey and overcast start to the day, no light flooding in. The contrast with the one tree with lime green leaves was stark. There was, however no rain, so after a couple of reconnaissance missions by doves,  

I watered the plants and put out some seed. It wasn't long before one of them returned.

I spent a bit of time getting myself a bit more organised for Christmas. I made a list!

I have one friend who collects ornaments for her tree. I thought this year might be the appropriate time to work this little oval of a bird for her. I think it came from my mother's stash. Maybe I can turn the sparrow into a blue wren. 

Jennifer called me and we arranged for me to have a crochet lesson next Thursday after Pilates. I had grand plans to test out my UK stitch theory today but it didn't happen. 

Much of the day was spent finishing the stitching  on  and constructing the third sashiko pouch. As with the first one, I couldn't avoid a rim of white lining showing  along the zip line. Luckily I remembered some orange gimp I had bought at a BATB market day.  It was a little tricky to apply, but does the job well I will now do the same for the first pouch.                       .

In the middle of the afternoon the wind got up and brought with it a bit of rain. I tried to photograph it but couldn't capture the effect in a still photo. It brought to mind Christina Rosetti's poem

Who has seen the wind,?

Neither you nor I 

But when the trees bow down their heads

The wind is passing by.

I guess you only have my word for it!

I have registered to bid online at tomorrow's art auction. I have my eye on one of the paintings as a gift. I called at the Gallery on my way to dinner and registered to bid in person. I have a reserved seat. All options covered.

I progressed another sashiko square, this time using some of Sue Spargo's Wonderfil Eleganza Perle thread. It works fairly well. I don't have enough choice in sashiko thread. I'll visit Riverlea Quilts on Monday to see what they have.

I'm enjoying both he ease of execution and the result of these panels.