a grrl and her dog

...a little story ( in images) about a grrl with a dog which I think you will love if you dont already know her!

image : from Guerilla in the dog house

grrl with hallowig

dog with hat

tea and scones?

not just knitting... love this felt disc jewellery!

ok... now that you are here I think its time for you to jump over to Denise's wonderful blog grrl + dog so that you can read the latest post Hot House Symposium which I very much enjoyed reading...

a wee quote form the grrl herself:

      

Enter the artists.

As visioners of alternate futures,

artists have a precedent as the "go to" people

in times of crisis when new ideas

and solutions are needed.

She tells a great story about a project by a group of English ladies - this photo is featured in that story.

Ive been away this weekend and enjoyed a slow couple of days mostly spent conversing about the kinds of changes afoot in our personal lives and communities near and far - coming home tonight I was delighted to hear from denise and this prompted a visit to her blog and the thought to have you visit and read what she has to say on her recent experiences. All images are credited to Denise Litchfield. Visit her website here.

Liked this image below of our grrl on radio....

pondering what's come before in order to move on...

I found a series of work I've not looked at properly for a long while... Clean white walls offer the perfect chance to reconsider things I may or may to want to leave behind. T read more about this go to the next post!

close up

close up

come on a mystery tour with me...

...down the steps

around a corner

into the space

and click here........................................

all lit up...

Turning 80 requires a memorable cake... and so it was when pastry chef friend Vanda arrived pre-party with her best creation for the very excited Olivia...

...who loved the fact her birthday cake was a strikingly large cappuccino in a very pretty floral cup which had people lining up to view. As we'd already dined on a wonderfully rich dark chocolate flan nobody was urging for the cake to be cut...instead it was posed with for many a photo and taken home for next day indulgence!

...inside was a wonderful italian style trifle - Sunday visitors were the lucky one's to try the birthday cake! Half was saved for a special tea party tomorrow ...at 80 one must definitely make one's party last a few days!

Olivia at dinner describing the size of her cake perhaps?

A beautiful book on the artisans behind the scenes at the Moscow State Circus - a gift from a lovely friend. The most appreciated gift of all was the attendance of her friends and family ... all of whom made it such a memorable evening!

My mother belongs to the generation who has offered without question a lot of community service and

neighbourliness. The evening celebrated all these layers of involvement with others and was a heartwarming and delightful occasion. It was great to see people showing their affection from different parts of her long, well-lived life.

whimsy...

some recent finds whilst out and about trawling..... first up Anja Mulder - at flickr

below: from Anna Pugh

below: from Feizuo in Bejing , China

visit Flickr 

Seeds are utilised here by Kristina Johlige in her work...see more at her wonderful blog: smultronsplats

below: eavesdropping

below: from the blog of a friend of Kristina Johlige comes this photo.  Ieva's blog is called "dinge die ich mag" or 'things that I like'. Have a look also at this lovely blog... the 2 very talented artists have collborated for the photo below this interior....the hat was made als by Kristina. 

 from Sophie at The Fabulous Garlands whom I've posted on last year.

All of the images here came from links first discovered visiting the wonderful weblog: The Art Room Plant by Hazel Terry based in Edinburgh. Maybe whimsy is not the word that best describes each one of these images here...but it certainly describes my mood when trawling this evening!

I allowed whimsy to be my guide... after all the focus needed of late it is a sensational feeling to be free to float for a few days...to let things take me away from general preoccupations. I found so much in a short space of time I felt keen to share...this is just for starters!

Good night ...i'm off to bed... early for once!

good news for dear ada fans...

After almost 5 years and 3,100 posts or so.... dear ada decided it was time for a new chapter.... and signed off on this magnificant  weblog. 84 comments later (to date) I just noticed there's been a decision to publish photos on a tumbltr site. This is good news for followers indeed..so if you dont know this blog do take a peek and if yur keen to  see the new (abrieviated and less frequent) site go to the tumblr version of dear ada.

screenprints from birdie (dear ada) - found at birdie's flickr site:




flickr - from industrial beauty set



pale L.A. set



found at dear ada blog:


Mogu Takahashi


Found at the tumblr site: Josh Blackwell - Plastic Baskets. It is a must to go see this extraordinary collection...for their pure inventiveness...and patterns employed.

                                        

From the website archives:

Loren (XXL)

Dots Speak Dots 2005


Dice Roll 2004


Love handles 2004

love my tartans...

Still on the nostalgia theme of the previous post... here's some unearthed and sadly knocked around photos on a tartan theme... have always been fond of tartans despite not having any Scottish heritage.

I must say that Saturday celebrations were absolutely wonderful ... Sunday was a series of visits from people on route to the airport - breakfast, brunch, lunch, whatever ...wonderful moments with 

loved ones. Many thanks to those who left the greetings to the birthday girl... much appreciated!

Some tired little bunnies around these parts I can say... photos will be posted soon .... but very low key day here today!!!

The much loved picnic rug that was well utilised through-out childhood. Loved seeing that come out of the cupboard! A signal to adventure...our family picnics weren't in green parks with flower beds, but in out of the way country areas where fences were jumped and riverbeds and creeks were sought as destinations. No 4WD for our off road adventures... my father was daring!




The tartan overalls... and do note ... I am sitting in front of a magazine rack with country life and house and garden magazines and the telephone for company. I did start young with my interest in both communications and the magazine format ... bringing me to where I am at this blog today!




All photos from 1959... heres a cousin Ruth and my mother Olivia...on the bridge at one of our river picnic spots.
well... so much has been happening over these past 2 months in particular. Many deadlines and I must say I feel the need for a change of pace. On that front I have good news... more on that soon!
But...I do apologise for being not out there in the blogosphere visiting all the blogs I love to touch base with. I really value my interactions in this realm very much... but as all of you know sometimes things demand our focus elsewhere for a bit... ! I shall return!