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Eventually got this thing completed.

Deviot By Bike

I was feeling a bit blue (well, a lot, actually) yesterday, so I decided to do what works for me - go on a long, exhausting bike ride. I filled the thermos with tea, made a sandwich, grabbed a camera and set off. The weather was a bit dodgy-looking, but as I went on, it improved (as did my mood) and it even started to get quite warm (especially on uphill sections.........!)

I went to Deviot via Gravelly Beach and back home via the Motor Road. It was not a particularly photogenic day, but grey days do have their own charms. Ate lunch on the little jetty at the Deviot Sailing Club. Watched the light dancing on the water. Poked around a bit and found these lichen-encrusted boulders on the beach.

All up - probably almost 40 kilometers round trip.

Afterthought: This piece (below) is finished now.

More.........

As well as the small fabric pieces, this week I am working on this new sculpture - working title "Eurydice". I have to wait for things to dry, so I'm working in stages (and trying not to be too impatient!) So it is good to have other things to work on as well.

I had a flying visit this morning to the weekly Farmer's Market in Launceston - first time I've been, but it won't be the last! Lovely fresh produce, nice coffee....good vibe.

Some New Work

Although most of my artwork usually revolves around making dolls and sculpting in some form or another, I do make frequent forays into other forms. This week, I've been investigating the possibilities of using stained, dyed, layered and embroidered fabric to create pieces with depth and layers of meaning. I've had the prepared pieces of fabric ready for some time - just needed to wait until the right moment to make the work. I used rust-dying techniques and walnut staining to colour the fabric and then I tore it into smaller pieces, which I layered in up to eight layers. The simple embroidery is best described as drawing with stitch over the created surface.

Here is a piece I made some years ago, which is kind of the "mother" to this new work:

And here's a bit of bliss for you - last night's beautiful sunset!

Also this week, I've begun the rather daunting task of digitizing Bob's enormous slide collection - he was a prodigious and prolific photographer and the slides date back to the late 1960's. Big job, but it needs doing, because slides do start to deteriorate after a long period of time. Here are a few early family ones from around 1972 that I thought you might enjoy! It's been a real nostalgia trip for me!

Saturday the 14th of September

The day looked promising......sunny, still and clear; not warm, but hey, it IS early Spring and even though the first few days of the new season were unseasonably warm, this is more normal. The day made the decision for me - I decided to go for a fairly long bike ride.

The river looked exceptional - mirror-calm and still.

I stopped at the Rosevears pub for a breather and a spot of lunch and encountered my sister and brother-in-law and some of their friends there as well, enjoying the beautiful afternoon in the newly renovated indoor/outdoor area.

When I got home after cycling about 35 kilometers, I still had enough energy to get into the garden to plant more vegetables.

I earned this!

Progressing..........

This is "Miriam Hope" - my "sepia" doll - not quite finished, but on the way.

It's Here!...........It's Here! And An Exciting Announcement...........

After a month of almost incessant rain, which broke all August records, Spring was heralded by a number of warm, sunny days. Right on the dot. The swallows are back, having arrived about a week earlier than usual and you can almost hear things growing (especially the weeds!). So I have been very busy in the garden planting vegetables and getting things under control. Mulch is my friend!

I had a birthday last week.........and look what my sister Linda made for me:

Isn't he the best?

He's all of about four inches high, seated. You can check out more of her work on her blog: http://bensonbears.blogspot.com 

This is a new doll I am working on - she's going to be finished in a very monochromy kind of way - like an old sepia photograph. I'm going to use the piece of fine old Irish crochet in her clothing somehow.

And I've been working very hard to get my studio re-configured to include a small gallery area, because I am one of ten artists on the West Tamar who will be opening their studios/galleries to the public this summer as part of the Tamar Valley Art Trail. (Check out the FB page: http://facebook.com/tamarvalleyarttrail ) The official launch will be in December, but I think most of the spaces will be open before that.  I am planning to be a "working studio" - people can come and see me work, but I will also have a number of my works on display: sculpture, dolls, paintings and drawings. I will also be displaying a selection of Bob's wonderful landscape photographs. I'm excited! I'll post some pictures as soon as I get it all done.