Bluebird Afternoon

Bluebird Afternoon is currently on display at the Wai Art Awards Show. Head on over and cast your vote for the peoples choice award! Carterton Exhibition Centre, Holloway Road, Carterton.

Desk Top

A glimpse of just some of the stuff covering my desk today. Those little blue bird earings have sparked some new creative ideas which I am excited about. More on that soon hopefully!

The first of April arrived in a flash and so this morning I drew a name out of a hat (well, actually a bowl). I'll be sending out a little stash of wall paper samples to Dena of Wilton Art. Yay Dena!

Autumn Light

The last remnants of summer are fading fast. I'm reluctant to let go, but I do love that beautiful autumn light.

Giveaway for you

This morning the hum of the city rises on still air and intrudes into my little sanctuary amongst the trees. All is green or grey out there. The trees, the hills; mottled verdantly. The city, harbour and sky; monochromatic through the drab light of dawn. I think its going to rain.

A few days ago I was pondering all the exciting creative projects on the horizon ahead of me when all of a sudden a sense of overwhelm engulfed me. Followed swiftly by Artist Block.

As I struggled against a composition that wouldn't arrange itself pleasingly, I realised there was nothing to do but walk away. Just walk away and do something else. Busy myself with other things until my muse returns. I'm learning this is the best way and I'm learning to have faith that inspiration will return.

Happily, my creative spark is back quickly this time, inspired by two fortuitous finds in second-hand shops - some vintage embroidery patterns and some old patterned wall paper. Gold for a mixed media artist.

Id like to share the creative abundance that I have been blessed with, so this is for you... I'm putting together a little pack of wallpaper samples to giveaway to one of this blogs followers. So if you haven't already, click "Follow" over there on the right column and on the first of April I'll draw the name of someone who will receive a little gift in the mail. Spread the word on your blog, let me know you have in the comments below, and I'll throw your name in twice :)

South

Sunday, I sailed back into Wellington. The end of my holiday south and also, it seems, the end of summer.
Two weeks, two weddings, two thousand kilometers, two cycle companions, two ferry rides, two plane trips, two lakes, two thousand photos...

First stop; lake Rotoiti where we camped, swam & walked.

Tea in the Library

From my spot up here on the hill I have been watching the cruise ships come and go from the harbour. They glide in on the calm summer water like reposeful cows strolling to the milking shed, and then not long later they leave again just as serenely. The sky has been blue for days on end and I am soaking in this summer warmth.

My thoughts have been where most every New Zealanders thoughts are directed right now, with the people of Christchurch. I am so grateful all of my family there survived the terrible earthquake.

Tea in the Library is heading off to Artbay Gallery today along with a few other pieces.

Death

Even in the midst of summer, death is all around. Ive been noticing nature's cycles a lot lately as I work in the garden. The abundance of cicadas are providing a great feast for the birds. I felt sorry for them, those poor defenseless bugs, but then I realised; Id feel sorry for the birds if they couldn't eat. Everything is connected.

I discovered this butterfly a few days ago and carefully carried him home to add to my collection of curiosities.

For those of you who entered my giveaway, thank you! We have a winner and her name is Theresa of Faerie Moon Creations.

Memories and Museums

Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us. ~ Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

I'm so full of inspiration lately since I started delving into some of the topics on my list.

I've just started reading The Museum of the Mind. It's going to spark a whole lot of new creative ideas, I can tell.

I'm reading it with a pencil in hand so I can underline all the parts that resonate with my art making.

Some more interesting things Ive discovered lately...

These bottled butterfly necklaces
The Uncontacted Tribes, this gave me goose bumps.
The art of Madeline von Foerster

Untitled

Finished! Now I need a cup of tea myself.

Yesterday I spent the day photographing tea cups and today I am beginning preparations for a tea party. Am I addicted to tea, I wonder?

Today's task; honey rice bubble cakes (scroll down for the recipe). I'm not sure these are traditionally served at afternoon teas, but when I was reminded of them by Donna and Christine, well I knew I would have to make them, you know, for old times sake.

One world, one heart, giveaway!

Imagine a room of ladies, piles of cakes and plenty of tea. Sweet little sandwiches on sweet little plates and tea sipped from delicate china cups. I spent the afternoon recently at such a party, when my talented friend Sarah set about baking and making tea for a few lucky friends.

It was so much fun Ive decided that the One World One Heart event would be the perfect time to host another tea party. So, come on in and make yourself at home. Pull up a chair. Have a cup cake, or perhaps you'd prefer a meringue? Tea? Now, have we met before? I'm Veronica. I'm a dreamer, a gardener, a baker, a sewer, a sometimes bicycle rider, but most of all, in my heart, an Artist. Its what makes my heart sing and what I want to spend more time doing. This little blog of mine is a chronicle of my creative adventures with a bit of other stuff thrown in the mix for good measure. Nice to meet you.

Now, some of you may be wondering, what is OWOH? Well, its a blogging event with the purpose of 'meeting' some fellow bloggers, kindred spirits and like minded souls, fellow artists, writers, photographers... the list goes on. Its a great way of finding some new and inspiring blogs to read, there are so many talented folks out there doing there creative thing and OWOH brings them all together. You can read more about it over on Lisa's blog.

So, thank you for your fine company, so glad you came by. Leave a comment letting me know you dropped in and on the 17th of Feb I will draw the name of one lucky visitor who will receive one of my little Art Block Prints as a 'door prize' Since its a tea party, it seems appropriate to offer you one of my teacup prints. Its a wee 4x4 inch print of one of my original mixed media artworks, mounted on a chunky canvas block. Perfect to sit on a shelf or hang on the wall.

Glimpses of her

Ive been working on this piece for so long now it seems. She evolves in stages and each time i set my paintbrush down I never know if she is finished or not. Until, hours later, I hear her calling to me again, just a little more paint over there, that part should be darker, or some other bit of useful advice. Her voice is becoming less urgent now, quieter, and I sense she is nearly ready.

Roses

My first post of the year comes a little late in the season, but thats just the way it is in summer isnt it?

Lately these summery days have been filled with roses. Roses on teacups, roses in books, and now, these lovely, vintage rose prints. Im not sure what I'll do with them yet, but when I found them I knew they had to come home with me.

Collecting Inspiration

There’s a soft hum entering through the open windows. Down the hill there, nestled at the water’s edge, the city slowly wakes. Its voice rises up on a gentle mist to greet me. I can look down on the city from here and see that today it is all awash with silver and white. Light, not snow. A summer mist. Not a breath of wind. The sunshine, shrouded, waits.

Inspiration. Where does it come from and where does it go?

As I began to ponder this question a few weeks ago my own inspiration slipped away. How curious. Perhaps this is not something that should be questioned? Considering inspiration and ideas has led me down some twisting, endless paths lately. I’ve only just begun to take the first steps on all their diverging trails.

I like to think that, so far, I have the beginning sketch for a map that I will eventually be able to fill in in detail.

A few marker points on my map so far…

Art

Other Artists and their Art

Nature as Artist/Designer/Creative force

Botanical Illustrations

Memory

Memory as history

Objects as memory / mnemonic objects

Inscriptions (on books and other objects)

Peoples personal stories

My stories

The traditions of discovering/recording/sharing knowledge and how it eventually becomes history

Cabinets of curiosities

Collections (public/museums and private)

Methods of display and labelling of collections of objects (compartments, boxes, labels, files -A container for everything)

Books (especially about nature, or novels)

Maps

Botanical Drawings

Letters (inc postcards and other communication)

Archaeology (lost or buried treasure or everyday items)

Myths

Knowledge

My research/learning about particular stories or objects

My research/learning about Memory/ Collections/ History etc

The Caravan Children captured my imagination years and years ago. I read and re-read this copy from my mothers childhood many times. Through out the story one of its characters secretly undertakes to make a 'museum' to record their caravan holiday. I think my love for objects as memory keepers must have begun in the final paragraphs of this book.

"And sometimes aterwards in the dark winter evenings the childern would ask Peter if they could look at his museum; and he would open his box and take out all the things he had collected. Then they would examine everything all over again and talk of the wonderful times they had had. They would look at the cloudy water in the little bottle and remember how deep and fast the water had rushed along the flooded river bed; and they would touch the piece of burned wood and remember how bright were the flames of fire at Melbury Farm. Then they would shut up the box and put it away, and hope very much that when the summer days came again they would be able to harness Dobbin the horse to the green and yellow caravan and drive away once more in search of adventures."

The Source of Ideas and Inspiration

Lately Ive been thinking about ideas and inspiration. Does inspiration create ideas, or do ideas create inspiration? It seems they are intrinsically linked, each feeding into the other in a perpetual cycle.

I've been wondering - where do my ideas come from? What exactly is my inspiration? How can I best use my ideas and inspiration to expand my creativity?

I think I'll assign myself a little exercise of naming my sources of inspiration and ideas as a way of understanding my creative process better. Once Ive done that I think I will be able to make use of my inspiration more effectively and direct the energy of it into my art with more intention. Thats the goal anyway!

Cutlery for Christmas

Detail of work in progress.

Ive just about completed three new pieces for the NZ Art Guild Xmas show.

Photoshoot

The harbour, flat, blue and bright looks like summer today. A few little yachts drift aimlessly out across the water. They're directed only by a little wind and the ocean's whim I think. Their sailors much surely be reading a good book or snoozing on the deck. At least that's what I would be doing if it were me out there.

I photographed my lovely (patient!) sister piled up with books and teacups today. Luckily she has an exceptional sense of balance.

My intention is to produce a small series like this.

Birds

Weather close and sultry. I discovered a most carefully hidden robins nest today in a marshy spinney in Elmdon Park. I was stooping down to gather some cowslips when a robin fled out over my hand from under the roots of an Alder tree growing close beside me. It was quite a small tree, supported by four strong roots which held it up clear of the ground, forming an archway. In this cavity, right under the centre of the tree was placed the nest which contained five eggs. The crab apple trees and bushes are looking very beautiful now, covered with pink blossom and crimson buds.

Edith Holden, 7th of May 1906.

Ive been reading The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. I bought it at the book fair simply for its sweet illustrations, but somehow Edith's rambles through the English country side have drawn me in.

One hundred and four years later, some things still remain unchanged. Thankfully. Last weekend I watched a Thrush tending her nest. Her home was not so well hidden, placed in a bush right by the house. She watched our comings and goings with alert bright eyes and all the while tended her young ones, bringing them food and keeping them warm and safe.

The apple tree is in bloom and a Korimako spent some time dining from its blossom.

Still Spring

The thing with spring is that it lingers. On and on. It promises so much and then it makes you wait.

I am ready for summer. I'm longing for sunshine that carries on day after day. This relentless teasing is testing my patience, it really is. One days sunshine for two days grey.

I am trying to hold yesterday's sunshine in my mind.

Towards the end of the long, long path leading to the house a tree has erupted into bloom. Its laden branches stretch over the walkway. As I leave or return home, I walk gazing upwards through the clouds of pink feathery candyfloss. Beautiful.

Photos inspired by Kerri who cant walk past a tree with out stopping to marvel at its beauty.

Fielder's Sponge

The Self Help Cookery Book, New and improved edition, (1939) is a treasure trove of recipes and household hints.

The copy I have is fragile, its pages loose, some covered in flour or cocoa. Between its worn pages someone once tucked a recipe, carefully written on a small scrap of paper. I found this little artifact and have given it a new lease of life in my art work.

I haven't tried the recipe, but let me know if you do! Here it is, copied exactly as it was written all those years ago.

Fielder's Sponge

3 Eggs, 2 1/2 oz cornflour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder,
4 Tablesp Sugar, 1 dessert Flour,
Beat whites of eggs till
stiff add yolks, add sugar
gradually, Beat till stiff
& sugar dissolved. Bake
8" sandwich tins
15 minutes

W. I. P.

Work in progress...