Shirt number 2 for son number 2 is completed. As this was a rush job to give to him when he was home for a weekend, there are no more photos of construction, only the final item.
There are still some fitting issues in the armpit, although this yoke fits him much better. The sleeves look oddly full in this photo, but they really are not.
The kilt was for our annual Burns Supper, so much fun.
What change in the world in a week. I don’t address politics much in this blog, but I fear for the future for all of us when truth is distorted so blatantly, and the only politics presented is the politics of fear and division.
Inspiring then to find the words of Valarie Kaur. Her speech is shown here, demonstrating that it is possible to be passionate without being opinionated, to be bold without being dismissive of others, and to be truly brave. Her closing words will resonate for me during 2017 - “ what if this is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?"
Walking with that thought in mind, a natural “womb” was photographed.
On the return journey, seen from a different angle, a hidden treasure was revealed to the camera.
Laughter and joy can still be found, we just need to look for them more closely.
I have been pondering this question for a few weeks as I see publicity for revivals of three theatrical / dance productions that I saw in 1982, 1990 and 1992 respectively. Two of these have been publicised as “ not seen on stage in the UK for a generation”.
All three of these stand out in my mind after all this time for different reasons, and it seems important to me to embrace these works again as we are in such troubled times as a species sharing this planet.
So I would encourage anyone reading this to go and see:
"Ghost Dances’ by Christopher Bruce, performed by Ballet Rambert, touring and at Sadler’s Wells, London. A first exposure for me to contemporary dance when I saw it in 1982 and a production that has stayed with me - for 34 years: music, movement, costumes all superb - tickets booked.
“ The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus” by Tony Harrison at the Finborough Theatre, London, on until 28th January. This was my first exposure to performed verse in 1990 and I have never forgotten the experience. Brilliantly updated, and in this 50 seat setting, an intimate encounter with very physical theatre.
“Angels in America” by Tony Kushner at the National Theatre, London. Such a moving, but occasionally baffling, pair of plays when I saw them in 1992. They were staged in the Cottesloe, which then seated around 350 people. The new production will be in the Littleton, seating 890 people, therefore presumably all to be done on a much larger scale. It will be fascinating to see how well this play translates to 2016, particularly as it starts in April, 3 months after the start of Trump’s term of office. The National box office have already warned that these tickets will sell out quickly.
And the drawing? Yes it continues:
Feather from the “nature table” that seemed to have been attacked by some sort of mite, leaving a big gap along the shaft. Pencil and ink pen.
Serendipitous charcoal rubbing of the back of a section of last week’s collage of vases and jugs made me rub over the whole lot. Charcoal.
Corn cob and husk, pencil and charcoal. I could not get my eye in for this at all. Too much going on , so I then focused on a tiny bit of one of the husks.
Tip of a corn cob husk. Pencil. I was very pleased when I “saw” the hole in the husk and the light falling through that in to the cast shadow.
Paint can, pencil. Two in one day as I knew it would be difficult to fit in drawing time the day after.
Waiting for a break in the rain, to run to the Finborough Theatre. The reflective tray was very difficult. Pencil.
And the sewing? There is another shirt underway - yes for my younger son, he hates boring clothes.
Perfect placket, thanks to Off the Cuff.
Cuffs with contrast inside fabric - amazing what I find in the fabric stash.
Like so many quilters, I have piles of hexagons pieced and waiting to incorporate in to a quilt. As this is the start of another year, I have laid mine out again, in a different order that was last seen on here, 6 years ago!
As with all hexagon quilts it needs more hexagons. Just as well I have Game of Thrones seasons 5 and 6 to watch as I really only stitch these in front of the television.
Drawing continues, favourite pincushion, pencil and watercolour crayon
Artist’s model ( with lost foot) , pencil
Is it still drawing if the “drawing” is done with a scalpel? Collage, black paper and metallic pens
Hand-carved spoon by Anna Casserley, charcoal
Learning - charcoal is not the best medium for this scale of drawing
Fabric hexagons ( grandmother’s flower garden blocks), pencil
Learning- a drawing always looks more accurate after you have not looked at it for at least 30 mins. Always have the eraser to hand before starting to draw.
Wax block and needle threader, pencil
Learning - go over the margin/ border of the page if you have to
Pincushion ( a favourite, bought at the Dansel Gallery many years ago)- pencil, watercolour crayon, pen, calligraphy ink
Learning- try more colour and don’t be afraid of ink
