Enamel Beads and John Dryden's Poetic Works

Today was the last day of the Victorian school year and the end of my teaching career, after thirty-six years. Two years off, when I had my son and daughter and two years away, when I went to University. I have worked full-time and part-time during those years.

 I have witnessed huge changes in Education and I believe I adapted and re-invented myself. I have been a general classroom teacher and have held a number of specialist positions, some simultaneously, in Primary schools. I have specialised as an Art teacher, a teacher-in-the-library and an ICT teacher. I have also taught in an Independent school both in the primary and secondary levels.

Today I have mixed emotions. I am so excited, that now I can concentrate and invest energy and time in my Art. However I feel guilty, that I am not working to bring in a regular salary. Now it is time to move forward, discovering another path and devoting time to find my inner core. Oh what an adventure.

My colleagues presented me with a beautiful bowl, which now sits proudly on our coffee table.

I love the deep blue pattern, a Moroccan influence. It will be a constant reminder of the friendships I have made.

I finally managed to use the Sherri Haab Etcher 3 which I purchased a while ago, from Roz at The Elcectic Studio. This is a brilliant little gadget, so easy to use and and enviro friendly, to boot.

This is my copper etched piece, which I will use for a piece, not exactly sure what that will be.

Yesterday, I went to George White in Clayton and bought copper tubing and this afternoon, I made some enamel beads using the tubing.

For my first attempt, I am quite happy with the results. However, I need to experiment more with the technique and the colour.

This is my latest literary $0.99 purchase. John Dryden's Poetical Works, published by Milner & Soweby, Halifax circa 1860.

The cover is in poor condition,

a faded, blue embossed hard cover.

But I love the idea that I am holding a piece of history.  Don't know how much of it I will read, as the print is tiny, tiny, tiny. How people ever read it by candlelight, amazes me.

The few illustrations are lovely and I am contemplating scanning them to use in my artwork.

Love the catalogue of cheap books at the end of the book - books for 9d!

No Snow Here!

Currently it is a sweltering 36° C in Melbourne, with a hot northerly wind and the state is on high fire alert. It is the hottest day since Black Saturday,7th Feb 2009, when 208 lives were lost, more than 500 lives injured and 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) were consumed by ferocious bushfires.

The closest thing to snow in my garden are my white flowers:

a dainty miniature gardenia, shaded by a conifer and the lacy hydarangea under the Michaelia Doltsopia;

my potted Chrstmas lillies;

(said lillies with Zulu)

Orange Jessamine Murraya, with its glorious perfume wafting through the bedroom and throughout the hallway and front rooms;

and the little seaside daisies, hiding under the Cecil brunner climbing rose.

The Coral Bush adds its glorious, vibrant red to remind us of Christmas cheer.

Here is Mango hiding behind the Christmas liliies

and looking in at breakfast time.

I have begun to work in my Junk Journal, creating two pages. 

The first has a quote of Danny Kaye's:

"To travel is to take a journey into yourself."

Neither page is completed but are works in progress.

Well my other work in progress is the cleaning out of the pantry. I'd better get back to it. Don't know why I decided to do that today, on such a hot day!

Soul Time

This time of year and everything seems to be a blur and a whirl. Down under, shops are well and truly in Sale mode and companies are abuzz getting ready for the annual shutdown, in some cases, lasting two weeks. Mums and dads are organising their chidren, who begin five weeks of school holidays next week; Christmas shopping and Christmas baking; booking holidays and travel; Christmas wrapping; visitors staying over.

Time moves quickly and there is little down time to take a breather. On a walk this week, I noticed many lovely retreats, where the inhabitants could sit for a while and enjoy a cuppa or a coffee, read a book or a newspaper or just meditate and ponder. Alas it was a working day and obviously to take the opportunity was not possible.

I contemplated how fortunate I was, to be able to walk with my husband and my Zulu, on a mid-week morning and enjoy time in the fresh air, without having to answer to an alarm clock to urge me to move faster and get where I was going quickly. A true luxury, to have time out. My wish for you all today, is that amid the hustle and bustle of your day, you find a little soul time, to recharge your batteries.

A Walk into Melbourne

I had received three Border's gift vouchers over the past twelve months. Last Friday, I thought it was a good opportunity to visit Borders (a Book shop) and have a walk around town. John and I walked into Melbourne - a lovely exercise for the day, the weather was pleasant and our stroll through the gardens was relaxing. 

We walked down Collins Street.

past Collin's Place and its beautiful, huge Christmas tree and hanging baubles,

past a quiet spot to rest

and on to Bourke Street Mall, with its overhead decorations.

We walked through the refurbished and altered  GPO (General Post Office) complex.

We walked through quiet lanes and found this old motorbike outside a cafe.

Borders is situated in Melbourne Central. Melbourne Central is a shopping complex which opened in 1991. The Centre is comprised of 160 shops, an underground train station and a historic Shot Tower. The site is a 55-storey steel and glass fabrication housing the 50 metre high (9 storeys) Shot Tower, which was built in 1889 - 1890. The Coop's Shot Tower, situated under the 84m high conical glass roof, produced six tonnes of lead weekly, until it stopped production in 1961.

Two other features are the hot air balloon which suspends from the dome and a huge fob watch which plays, on the hour, traditional Australian folk-songs.

To return home, we decided to walk through Chinatown, 

with its incongrous array of facades,

interesting entrances

and the combination of Western and oriental architectural features.

Shop windows provided interesting combinations of objects, to create still lifes.

Palettes of colour were there for the eye to feast: the food,

the buildings

the lane way graffitti.

and the street sculpture.

Our sojourn ended with a lovely cuppa when we arrived home.

Morning Visitor and Tag Swap

I wrote this post last night then edited it, so when Weaver read the post it was only the lower part that was online.

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has left comments on my blog over the past weeks. With report writing I had got behind in my replies. I had intentions of emailing everyone this week, but to be honest, I am not up to getting them done as I won't have the time. Just know that I really do appreciate your comments and support and that I marvel at the wonder of being able to make friends without that physical contact of meet and greet and face to face introductions.

I was involved in a car accident on the way home from school on Tuesday afternoon, fifteen minutes from home. Unfortunately the other driver didn't see me, I was hit and then ended up being close and personal with a light pole, on the footpath. I am alright, not injured, thank God, just in shock, badly shaken and a sore neck. I would prefer not to have any more excitement or unexpected incidences or news, this year, unless it is good news.

On a happier note, I can now reveal my tags, which I sent to Linda at Lin Lin's Playground, as part of LaWendula's Monthly Paper Swap.

 

This was the first time I had made tags and I was pleased with the results. Some of the stamps were ones I had carved myself. I am happy to write that Linda liked them too.

Peering through window

Leaf green, elegant, quiet

Morning visitor

Woven Letters Paper Swap

I woke up this morning and realised I had forgotten to add in yesterday's post, that the Tag Swap was organised by LaWendula, over at Woven Letters.  LaWendula organises a Paper Swap every month. One just has to leave a comment, stating that one is interested in participating.  LaWendula then partners participants, so that a direct swap occurs between the partners. I have met two lovely ladies through this swap. Marie at Studio Cinnamon and Linda at Lin Lin's Playground.

NEXT PAPER SWAP CARDS ON JANUARY-4-2010

If you feel so inclined, why don't you pop over to Woven Letters and leave mention of your interest in participating.

Tag Swap

Well who's a lucky lady? Me! I received a lovely swap today.  Linda from Lin Lin's Playground sent me an envelope with the most enticing tags and paper. Superb colours and textures, ribbon and lace.

Thank you so much Linda, my mind is ticking as to what I can accomplish with these.