I want some answers, please.

So I've been thinking.. and i've got an idea for a new zine. But, I'd like to ask you all a question:
When, in your life did you think that the grass was greener?
Or is it easier if i say: "what did you wish for?" that now, in hindsight you realise that in fact that thing, or place or job etc wasn't actually any better?
I would love to hear a few lines from you of when - you thought the grass was greener....
It doesn't have to be an essay - just a few lines on why you really thought you wanted it.. why was it going to be better? what was sooooo appealing about 'it'. What was it?

I would love you to leave a comment or email me Dudley.Redhead@gmail.com
I will choose 3 random entries to send a copy of my zine to when it's done.. I can perhaps post works in progress..
(so if you email i will be able to send you one - should you be chosen).
Please respond by Feb 26.

Inspiration

We were lucky enough to have some time to ourselves this weekend so ventured out to hang around a couple of galleries. Our first stop was the Cressida Campbell exhibition at the SH Erwin Gallery. WOW! If you are in Sydney - try and go along - it was amazing and has been extended to next week. I loved her muted palette, her observations/compositions. Having studied in Tokyo at the Yoshida Hanga academy - her technique is to carve a woodblock - paint it up with watercolour and then produce a monoprint. Both her prints and coloured woodblocks are on display. They have such a beautiful quality a softer 'transfer' look.
So before i went to pick up the kids from their nanas, i set up a still life and did a sketch..

A lot of her work did feature gorgeous compositions - so i deliberately selected something a little vintage..
then i placed my sketch in Adobe illustrator and 'blocked in' some colour.. then it was a 2 hour trip to pick up the kids.. I'm not sure how much Cressida has to juggle.. but here's what i managed so far.. next i'd like to add a wee bit of texture.. have a good week.. seek out the sweetness and light..

Sweetness and light

Hello, sorry i missed you last week.. first, before i ramble.. last week it was fairly hard to focus on anything other than the horrendous bush fires in Victoria, the floods in Queensland and the general doom and gloom of the world... all i can say is that crafting and creating is a small way to achieve a little sweetness and light in your life... i hope you can find some..

Last Sunday was spent doing my second felt course. This time it was all about techniques. We embedded, cut, and shaped. The house (above) is from my talented friend over here.. The house had 2 layers so the windows could be cut out. While i was keen to explore nuno felting - where silk or other fabric is 'hidden' underneath the top layer.. the other piece above is me playing around with prefelted shapes to achieve a more controlled design. It's funny that this was done in the last 20 minutes of the course (it was also 33 degrees), usually i'm quite precious about all my pieces - but here i found myself hacking into my colours - i must admit i did think i had come over a bit 'graphic designer' but hey, not a bad result.

ps. the dog is a new little charm thing i found myself stitching up from some scraps.. he does make me smile at his ridiculous existence, so i guess that's something.

a lovely day indeed..

So, I'm quite old now. But then i guess it's all relative isn't it?
But, you see for so long, I was one of the younger ones..
Hhhm, then there's the comparison: 'well i've got sooo much to be thankful for - wonderful family, lovely home, great friends, health and job! - imagine if i didn't have those' .. then there's the irrational: 'damn, i haven't written that book yet'.. then there's the hard to believe: 'where did those ten years go?' .. regretfully, there's: "i wish my dad was still here to share it too..' and finally acceptance: 'guess there's nothing to do but just go with this new era!' I had a great day - beautiful flowers, surprise perfume and handmade cards and Miss Redhead's yummy baked birthday treats.. all in all feeling pretty lucky..

a quick post

Hello, welcome back. Perhaps you have heard of Charley Harper and perhaps you have seen some of his amazing work, including his beautiful screen printed birds seen here. I love the simplified shapes, the color palette - so much about his work to be admired. I also just found a short interview with him here.
Anyway, as i sit in awe of his work - i recently decided to do a bird of my own. A 'new' friend who is visiting Australia was having a birthday - so i thought a painting of a Kookaburra (native Aussie bird) would be a good idea. While not using screen printing or for one moment professing to be in the same league as Mr Harper, I quite liked my result...