At book group

Last month at book group we read Astray by Emma Donoghue, a book of short stories by the same author who wrote Room, which we read 18 months ago.

The book group were split right down the middle on this one, 3 of us loved it and 3 didn't!! The stories were all based on real people or events, little snippets from history. Many of the stories are about people who emigrated from England and Ireland to America, others are about journeys within America. My favourite story was about a woman who is on the boat to America with her 3 small children going to meet her husband who has been there for 2 years already. I loved that it used lines from real letters sent by the people the story was based on. I loved the structure, hearing her voice and then his, so many times mirroring each other. Each story is in the voice of one (or more) of the characters and really well done.

I read on the bus and in my lunch break and these stories were perfect for that,
to get a whole story in one sitting.

Not much happening artwise this week, here are photos of some felt birds in progress. The kids are back at school now, so next Friday I plan to get down to some painting!! Also planning to add a couple of items to my etsy shop this week.

A thing or two about Matisse

One of the books in my pile of half read ones - hopefully soon to be finished - is a biography of Matisse by Hilary Spurling. He's been one of my favourite artists since I was a teenager - but reading this book it seems I didn't know anything about him at all!!
- that he had no interest in art through childhood, just a vague rebellion against going into his fathers business.
- that he discovered art when he was 20 and in hospital, the man in the next bed was painting copies of prints to pass the time, and suggested that Matisse try try the same. Matisse said "Before I had no interest in anything. I felt a great indifference to everything they made me do. From the moment I held the box of colours in my hand, I knew this was my life."
- that he had the most amazing wife, Amelie Parayre!! When he was courting her he declared "Mademoiselle I love you dearly but I shall always love painting more." It seems that she embraced this idea and supported him completely, she pawned jewellery so Matisse could buy a Cezanne painting which inspired him through his life, she opened a hat shop to support the family, so that Matisse could just paint, and she adopted Matisse's illegitimate daughter Marguerite.

I'm barely halfway through the book so I may be back with more. (And I'm hoping the library has volume 2 when I finally finish this.)

Thankyou to all the people who visited my stall last Sunday, I had a lovely day. Here are some shots of my stall.

And here are some lovely prints my daughter made!

Craft fair tomorrow!!

Just a quick reminder for those in Darwin, that it's the Dragonfly craft fair tomorrow 10 til 3 down at the Museum grounds at Tactile Arts.

Here's a sneak peek at the happiness flags I've been making over the last month or so. I will try to remember my camera tomorrow and take some shots....

I hope you're having a great weekend wherever you are!

Using up the stash again

Yesterday I got out my folder of papers and my tray of foam prints and had a play!!

 Those folders of card making stuff are like the magic porridge pot!!! they never seem to be used up. I guess I'm always adding things like wrapping paper or japanese papers I can't resist, along with my new prints. All there, waiting to be put together in the right combination - it's lovely when a little piece that's been waiting for years finds its place on a card!

Here's my third piece for the çurrent' exhibition, which opened last week at Tactile arts. The members shows are always an interesting mix. There are some lovely sculptural pieces, and jewelry using electrical components!

Today I went on a gallery hop around Darwin (to catch up on a bunch of exhibitions where I've missed the openings). The one that blew me away was Wendy Sharpe at Muk Muk Gallery - she's a Sydney artist so we're pretty lucky to see her stuff. Just wonderful exuberant use of paint!!

I have also been doing a bit of blog hopping, I loved this thought at daisy yellow blog - to think that there are six months of the year ahead to achieve something!! (instead of worrying that half the year is over).
I hope you're having a great weekend!!