Before:
during: (I detect a theme here)
And after:
Monday, August 31, 2009
Work in progress
Starting work on the first stage of The Big Very Important (Scary) Final Brief:
Before: during: (I detect a theme here)
And after:
Before:
during: (I detect a theme here) And after:Shoulda, woulda, coulda Sunday
Yesterday I shoulda slept in. But I got up early and headed to Trash and Treasure with friend Tania.
Where I bought a Sunbeam Mixmaster for $30 to "use in my class project". Woulda been better to not try and pretend as I knew from the moment I first clutched if to my beating heart that there was no way in hell I was going to be pulling it apart.
I coulda then gone home and cleaned the house. Instead Tania and I went to Spill the Beans cafe for their two-for-one breakfast special. We're not planning on going back. Want to know a couple of reasons why? Their breakfasts are too big (seriously: who expects to find FOUR eggs on the Eggs Benedict?!) and, when we got to the counter we were asked what we had so they could add up the bill ("Nothing!" I tried saying but, oddly, they didn't believe me). Finally, when I commented that I liked the waitress's headband (a vintage tape measure she'd wrapped several times) she witheringly informed me it was a tape measure. Sure, whatever...
We shoulda called it a morning, but Tania declared she'd never been to The Canberra Glassworks and wanted to see a couple of the Ranamok finalists and I was intrigued because I'd sold one of the entrants a Fink neck piece on Tuesday. (We liked these ones best)
We woulda been OK except we then had to pop next door to The Old Bus Depot Markets.
I coulda stopped myself buying a button bracelet by Natasha Jude. I tried, by telling myself I could make one but the reply was "yeah, right. Like you'll EVER get round to it!"
I shoulda spent the couple of hours I had when I got home cleaning the house. But I blogged instead (while doing washing, at least)
I woulda managed the housework except Cycling S came and picked me up and drove me to Barry by 3 at Pialligo Estate Winery...
I coulda just had a coffee but the High Tea (with bubbles and accompaniment by Zoe Barry on the cello) was too good to pass up.
And then I came home and (finally) cleaned the house!
Where I bought a Sunbeam Mixmaster for $30 to "use in my class project". Woulda been better to not try and pretend as I knew from the moment I first clutched if to my beating heart that there was no way in hell I was going to be pulling it apart.
I coulda then gone home and cleaned the house. Instead Tania and I went to Spill the Beans cafe for their two-for-one breakfast special. We're not planning on going back. Want to know a couple of reasons why? Their breakfasts are too big (seriously: who expects to find FOUR eggs on the Eggs Benedict?!) and, when we got to the counter we were asked what we had so they could add up the bill ("Nothing!" I tried saying but, oddly, they didn't believe me). Finally, when I commented that I liked the waitress's headband (a vintage tape measure she'd wrapped several times) she witheringly informed me it was a tape measure. Sure, whatever...We shoulda called it a morning, but Tania declared she'd never been to The Canberra Glassworks and wanted to see a couple of the Ranamok finalists and I was intrigued because I'd sold one of the entrants a Fink neck piece on Tuesday. (We liked these ones best)
We woulda been OK except we then had to pop next door to The Old Bus Depot Markets.
I coulda stopped myself buying a button bracelet by Natasha Jude. I tried, by telling myself I could make one but the reply was "yeah, right. Like you'll EVER get round to it!"
I shoulda spent the couple of hours I had when I got home cleaning the house. But I blogged instead (while doing washing, at least)I woulda managed the housework except Cycling S came and picked me up and drove me to Barry by 3 at Pialligo Estate Winery...
I coulda just had a coffee but the High Tea (with bubbles and accompaniment by Zoe Barry on the cello) was too good to pass up.And then I came home and (finally) cleaned the house!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
How I spent my Saturday night...
Back at Craft ACT for the third night this week.
It was the Bingo Extravaganza so there was a lot to do. Cleaning and setting up,
putting the prizes out,
and setting up for dinner.
Barb, the Executive Director, mysteriously disappeared so we had to rope a couple of Bingo-expert Nannas in to help sell the tickets and explain how the game worked:
It was a *ahem* full house
with suitably Nanna-esque decor:
As the evening progressed the Nannas got naughtier
(what a big box she has!)
I had no idea why they might have been acting that way...
There was true/ false trivia to break up the games
and very excited
and happy
winners.
Where was I while all this was happening? Serving dinner, selling drinks, clearing up dirty plates and glasses, collecting rubbish, loading the dishwasher and rinsing pots. Yep, working in the arts is so glamorous... (But did I have fun? Hell yes!)
It was the Bingo Extravaganza so there was a lot to do. Cleaning and setting up,
putting the prizes out,
and setting up for dinner.Barb, the Executive Director, mysteriously disappeared so we had to rope a couple of Bingo-expert Nannas in to help sell the tickets and explain how the game worked:It was a *ahem* full housewith suitably Nanna-esque decor:As the evening progressed the Nannas got naughtier(what a big box she has!)I had no idea why they might have been acting that way...There was true/ false trivia to break up the gamesand very excitedand happywinners.Where was I while all this was happening? Serving dinner, selling drinks, clearing up dirty plates and glasses, collecting rubbish, loading the dishwasher and rinsing pots. Yep, working in the arts is so glamorous... (But did I have fun? Hell yes!)
Friday, August 28, 2009
I think it's time to go to bed
After spending all day the National Museum Symposium I decided the only thing to do was buy a bottle of wine and a Turkish pizza for dinner, it being Friday and all. So I trotted across the road with my green bag, wallet and keys.
I bought the wine first. Got to the Turkish Pizza place, ordered my pizza and sat down to wait, putting the bag down on the chair next to me. Where it promptly fell to the floor, smashing the bottle, which emptied its contents into my wallet.
So I now have a wallet that smells like the inside of a bar slops bucket. Sigh...
I bought the wine first. Got to the Turkish Pizza place, ordered my pizza and sat down to wait, putting the bag down on the chair next to me. Where it promptly fell to the floor, smashing the bottle, which emptied its contents into my wallet.
So I now have a wallet that smells like the inside of a bar slops bucket. Sigh...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Random stuff
Class last night was a Library orientation session. Hardly exciting blog fodder.
Instead I thought I'd share with you some of the things that have excited me over the past few days (apart from the release of the 2010 IKEA catalogue and all your generous offers to send me one!)
This fabric, discovered when Quilting Mick made some Sunnyboy bags with it:
(Check out her giveaway here)
Lark's new op shopping totes (the perfect Christmas gift):
Pretty little pins' "Shh!" brooch:
perfect to wear when I'm working at the library (in a completely ironic way since we're not allowed to shush patrons any more)
This book, due to be released next week:
(Because I've always loved stationery and therefore art made of stationery)
My new Eames House of Cards which arrived yesterday and which I've only been wanting to buy for what seems like forever:
(Except I really wanted the black edition which only seems to be available direct from the Eames store with a massive postage charge...)
My newly ordered 2010 diary insert.
The fact that Eric Carle of The Very Hungry Catepillar fame has a blog:
And that Canberra Museum and Gallery offered their members free tickets to the Sites of Memory symposium at National Museum tomorrow.
What's not to like when your $30 a year gets you not only lots of great openings with good food and free champagne, access to a lovely quiet space in the middle of town with coffee, tea, biscuits and a big yellow couch to collapse on, but tickets to an $80 symposium?!
Instead I thought I'd share with you some of the things that have excited me over the past few days (apart from the release of the 2010 IKEA catalogue and all your generous offers to send me one!)
This fabric, discovered when Quilting Mick made some Sunnyboy bags with it:
(Check out her giveaway here)Lark's new op shopping totes (the perfect Christmas gift):
Pretty little pins' "Shh!" brooch:
perfect to wear when I'm working at the library (in a completely ironic way since we're not allowed to shush patrons any more)This book, due to be released next week:
(Because I've always loved stationery and therefore art made of stationery)My new Eames House of Cards which arrived yesterday and which I've only been wanting to buy for what seems like forever:
(Except I really wanted the black edition which only seems to be available direct from the Eames store with a massive postage charge...)My newly ordered 2010 diary insert.
The fact that Eric Carle of The Very Hungry Catepillar fame has a blog:
And that Canberra Museum and Gallery offered their members free tickets to the Sites of Memory symposium at National Museum tomorrow.What's not to like when your $30 a year gets you not only lots of great openings with good food and free champagne, access to a lovely quiet space in the middle of town with coffee, tea, biscuits and a big yellow couch to collapse on, but tickets to an $80 symposium?!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Big P, little P, what begins with P?
Prehistoric animals and
pachyderms
(all by Ben Hubbard. I was almost tempted to buy the elephant stools until I remembered I a) had no room and b) had a car insurance excess in my near future...)
Petite pear parades,
petting,
playing,
and pretending!
A patch of pride (to be closely followed by a pile of preparation)
and, finally a party (note minor promotion of our page which is my project).
pachyderms(all by Ben Hubbard. I was almost tempted to buy the elephant stools until I remembered I a) had no room and b) had a car insurance excess in my near future...) Petite pear parades,
petting,playing,and pretending!A patch of pride (to be closely followed by a pile of preparation)and, finally a party (note minor promotion of our page which is my project).Creativity on the cards
My Creative space this morning included the brief from last night's class, the results of present wrapping and card making for an upcoming birthday and a quote I rediscovered in my FLICKR pool and printed out for my visual diary.(Notes here)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Iron Artist
You've heard of (or addictively watch) Iron Chef. Tonight at class we played "Iron Artist" as a loosening exercise for our Big Very Important (Scary) Final Brief.
"Take two disparate 3D objects that have had a life or been functional and have now ceased to function or have been discarded - one natural (in our case a bucket of bones) and one manufactured (a child's bicycle)"
Then combine the two to make a piece of art in no more than 2 minutes. Our tutor demonstrates:
We discuss the symbolism of the finished piece and then have a go ourselves.
Next Monday we have to bring our own objects to fulfill the above descriptions. I seriously considered ringing the smash repairers and asking them to keep the bits they remove from Miss Daisy when they repair her for me to use in my final project. Except I don't have a car to transport them to class...
"Take two disparate 3D objects that have had a life or been functional and have now ceased to function or have been discarded - one natural (in our case a bucket of bones) and one manufactured (a child's bicycle)"
Then combine the two to make a piece of art in no more than 2 minutes. Our tutor demonstrates:
We discuss the symbolism of the finished piece and then have a go ourselves.One classmate produces the Bicycle Bird (which I suggested could become the mascot for a children's bike safety campaign):
And I come up with err... this:
Which I could say (if I wished to practice my Art Wank) symbolises the potential death of Miss Daisy. Note the skull portraying death. The daisy eyes. The colours white yellow and black, being common daisy colours. And the speaker symbolises the hissing noise coming from under her bonnet when the accident happened.
And I come up with err... this:Which I could say (if I wished to practice my Art Wank) symbolises the potential death of Miss Daisy. Note the skull portraying death. The daisy eyes. The colours white yellow and black, being common daisy colours. And the speaker symbolises the hissing noise coming from under her bonnet when the accident happened.Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday lovely Sunday
There was a rather expensive taxi ride to work this morning (as the buses weren't running yet).
A little sketching while I waited for the person with the pass to arrive to let me in to the library:
Lots of lovely Library users very happy that I could help them find what they were looking for.
I've give up trying not to borrow anything while I'm working and came home with Aardman's dark side DVD and Light, Air and Openness (a book on modern architecture between the wars). Plus renewals for Vienna 1900 and the Heroes of Modernism and Graphics Explained. In a car. With a colleague who gave me a lift.
I'd vaguely considered going to see Coraline in 3D after work this evening but the offer of a lift was more appealing. Besides, I get to see Coraline in 2D for free at ANU Film Group in November (if I can wait that long) and I have lovely new things to watch and read this evening...
A little sketching while I waited for the person with the pass to arrive to let me in to the library:
Lots of lovely Library users very happy that I could help them find what they were looking for.I've give up trying not to borrow anything while I'm working and came home with Aardman's dark side DVD and Light, Air and Openness (a book on modern architecture between the wars). Plus renewals for Vienna 1900 and the Heroes of Modernism and Graphics Explained. In a car. With a colleague who gave me a lift.
I'd vaguely considered going to see Coraline in 3D after work this evening but the offer of a lift was more appealing. Besides, I get to see Coraline in 2D for free at ANU Film Group in November (if I can wait that long) and I have lovely new things to watch and read this evening...
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Happiness is...
... a day off. With no engagements or reason to go past the letter box.
... four loads of washing on the line.
... a stack of freshly ironed hankies, tea towels and pillowcases.
... freshly scrubbed benches.
... end of financial year accounts as close to done as to make little difference: both business and personal.
... dishes washed, compost bucket emptied and bath cleaned.
... the weather being warm enough to have the back door open all day.
... some collar unpicking and button choosing. And it's not even 4:30pm yet!
... four loads of washing on the line.
... a stack of freshly ironed hankies, tea towels and pillowcases.
... freshly scrubbed benches.
... end of financial year accounts as close to done as to make little difference: both business and personal.
... dishes washed, compost bucket emptied and bath cleaned.
... the weather being warm enough to have the back door open all day.
... some collar unpicking and button choosing. And it's not even 4:30pm yet!
Friday, August 21, 2009
I think it's time to candle my ears again
I was sitting in the file room today when a Rather More Important Person Than I came in and said to my colleage "I've been told I need to be a better alligator"
To which I replied "Is that why you're wearing a green jumper today?"
He looked at me. I looked at him. We both blinked a couple of times.
"Delegator" he finally said. "Not alligator..."
To which I replied "Is that why you're wearing a green jumper today?"
He looked at me. I looked at him. We both blinked a couple of times.
"Delegator" he finally said. "Not alligator..."
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I'm just a girl who can't say no
I thought I was safe. I thought I (amazingly) had a weekend ahead of me (I remember those: I had one back in July)
But the lure of Officer In Charge on a Sunday is too great, especially when it's going to cost me $600 to bring Miss Daisy back from the dead (not counting the possible cost of new daisies required to resticker her mangled bonnet and such)
But the lure of Officer In Charge on a Sunday is too great, especially when it's going to cost me $600 to bring Miss Daisy back from the dead (not counting the possible cost of new daisies required to resticker her mangled bonnet and such)
Midweek migraines, miniatures and eeny meenie miney moe...
The Migraine Monster paid me a visit yesterday, probably to remind me I'm trying to do too much. As usual. I took to my bed and ignored it. As usual. But not before admiring the photographs Krista Peel sent me of her latest roombox: 
(If you're so inclined, prints are available here.)
By 3pm I'd staggered out of bed, tidied myself up and tried to look human for last night's Design Fundamentals class which involved a trip to The National Gallery to listen to Contemporary Australian Architects 2009 speaker Philip Thalis on Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects.
And the "eeny meenie miney moe" part of the day? Involved a flying visit through the National Portrait Gallery gift shop to start thinking about what to spend a gift voucher I received for my birthday on. I love gift vouchers and the long drawn out process of deciding exactly what to buy with them!
I also have to decide on which designer to use for my oral presentation for the Designers in Context part of the course which we received the details of last night. Terence Conran? Charles and Ray Eames? Raymond Loewy?
Decisions decisions...
(If you're so inclined, prints are available here.)By 3pm I'd staggered out of bed, tidied myself up and tried to look human for last night's Design Fundamentals class which involved a trip to The National Gallery to listen to Contemporary Australian Architects 2009 speaker Philip Thalis on Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects.
And the "eeny meenie miney moe" part of the day? Involved a flying visit through the National Portrait Gallery gift shop to start thinking about what to spend a gift voucher I received for my birthday on. I love gift vouchers and the long drawn out process of deciding exactly what to buy with them!
I also have to decide on which designer to use for my oral presentation for the Designers in Context part of the course which we received the details of last night. Terence Conran? Charles and Ray Eames? Raymond Loewy?
Decisions decisions...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Op shop outfit
In the spirit of perempuan's recent post on I Op Therefore I am - ACT:
Today's outfit consisted of:
Skinny rib: $6, Salvos Fyshwick
Skirt: $6, Salvos Queanbeyan
Shoes: $4, Vinnies Queanbeyan
Wool coat: $12, Vinnies Phillip (not shown)
Today's outfit consisted of:Skinny rib: $6, Salvos Fyshwick
Skirt: $6, Salvos Queanbeyan
Shoes: $4, Vinnies Queanbeyan
Wool coat: $12, Vinnies Phillip (not shown)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sketchy details
Still trying to get into the habit of drawing something each day to get more practice...
(Outside chairs and table drawn from the window seat of the place I had lunch today. And my ever present Keepcup. I'm rather pleased with the second sketch...)
(Outside chairs and table drawn from the window seat of the place I had lunch today. And my ever present Keepcup. I'm rather pleased with the second sketch...)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
So close yet so far away...
One and a half hours this afternoon spent in the far back corner of Tilley's with (sadly ex) Classmate Chris and we had a masterpiece.
A transfer from Mac to PC and somehow the sound disappeared which left me with this:
(Looks like I'll be providing my own sound effects at assessment tomorrow night...)
A transfer from Mac to PC and somehow the sound disappeared which left me with this:
(Looks like I'll be providing my own sound effects at assessment tomorrow night...)
Either circles are not as monotonous as I first thought
...or maybe it was just a very dumb idea trying to create a a work on monotony using my life as the base.
Yesterday's circles in my life included this:
and this:
(from this.)
Yesterday's circles in my life included this:
and this:
(from this.)
Friday, August 14, 2009
Today's treasures
Spotty shirt: $3.50 (Vinnies Queanbeyan: the collar sits a bit strangely so it'll be unpicked and finishing it as a chinese collar)
Daisy shoes WITH COLOUR! (Also Vinnies Queanbeyan: $4.00)
100% Merino stripy ribbed jumper (Vinnies Narrabundah: $7.00)
Where the wild things are book (Salvos Mitchell: $1.00)
Arty box with oil paints and watercolour paints and acrylic paints and brushes and matte varnish (Vinnies Dickson: $20)
I'm happy!
Daisy shoes WITH COLOUR! (Also Vinnies Queanbeyan: $4.00)
100% Merino stripy ribbed jumper (Vinnies Narrabundah: $7.00)
Where the wild things are book (Salvos Mitchell: $1.00)Arty box with oil paints and watercolour paints and acrylic paints and brushes and matte varnish (Vinnies Dickson: $20)I'm happy!