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.

Figuratively Speaking........

Just completed this new piece.......it will be one of four recent works that I have been invited to show in an exhibition called "Figuratively Speaking" along with eleven other artists. The show will run through most of the month of September at Lady Franklin Gallery in Hobart.

Here's the exhibition announcement with all the details.

Launceston Cataract Challenge

The Cataract Gorge in flood 

My late husband, Bob McMahon, regarded Launceston's Cataract Gorge as one of this island state's most wonderful, accessible assets. Since 1972, when we were transferred to Launceston as young teachers, he used the cliffs of the Gorge as his own personal playground, and his name is on so many of the first ascents of the fabulous little climbs there. In later years Bob passed on his love of this unique little gem of a place, situated almost in the heart of Launceston, to countless school, corporate, girl guide and other groups, which he took climbing and abseiling there. He always infected them with his boundless sense of enthusiasm and joy and delight in a unique and special place. Bob also published guidebooks to the climbs and other delights of the Gorge so that others could share what had given him so many years of pleasure.

Bob had always wanted to showcase the Gorge much more, to help realize it's potential as an adventure tourist drawcard and to that end, he got together with cycling guru, Ian Ferrier and budding young entrepreneur Cade Smith over a year ago to make a drawcard event a reality. Thus the Launceston Cataract Challenge was born. In the middle of planning the event, Bob's life was suddenly cut short, but so important did the others regard the event, that they decided it really had to go ahead without Bob and to honour his memory.

So on Friday last week (under a warm, sunny sky after weeks of ceaseless rain), Ian, Cade and a few others organized a media event to give the public a small foretaste of what the Challenge would entail. They set up a zip-line above the flood-waters and also arranged to do a traverse of Kings Bridge. One or two brave media personnel even volunteered to have a go!

Launceston Cataract Challenge will be held on Sunday 27th October 2013 and will entail road bike, mountain bike, ropes, kayaking and running events for individual and team competitors over the age of 13. To find out more, go to http://www.launcestoncataractchallenge.com.au

Is Winter Ending..........?

We have had serious amounts of rain this past month, after a dry start to winter. Now there is water lying where I have never seen it before, cascading off hills, flowing over roads, flooding creeks, drains and streams. But hopefully, we can soon say goodbye to all this wet - I can't help feeling this is winter's last hurrah. Or am I being too optimistic? Will have to wait and see.
Here is my paddock:

Meanwhile, I'm spending quiet hours by the fire sewing, painting and making music by turns. Not much work in the garden until things dry out a bit. Here's a new little girl, as yet un-named.

And here she is with her "sister", Millie.

I'm hoping things are dry enough for me to start planting things like potatoes and peas in the next week or two......fingers crossed!

It's quite difficult to take a selfie whilst playing the violin!

A Slightly Shabby Little Princess

It took me a long time to get this doll completed for a very patient customer.......life has been conspiring against me this past year. But I spent some quiet, contemplative time by the fire hand-sewing these clothes using mostly vintage fabrics and laces.........and now finally she is done and on her way. I really like her faded colours!