IN THE MAIL

Yesterday was one of those days when a long anticipated package arrives. Oh the joy of receiving my giveaway from Patty S at Magpie's Nest!

Patty had embellished the envelope with HEAPs of stamps, and sealed the back with  holly tape.  I can see bits of this package turning up in a collage soon.

She wrapped the enclosed magazine with a strip of marbled paper closed with a parakeet sticker.  More fodder for the collage stash.

...and that wasn't all.  Inside was a handmade card which will remain a treasured part of my collection.

A big THANK YOU Patty!  I have already earmarked the instructions for a 'waterfall' book for a 2012 project.

You can see lots of Patty's wonderful work, and be treated to some great scenery of her part of the world HERE.

STUDIO VISITS

Yesterday was a day I'd promised myself to set aside for visiting some of my best creative friends. I've been called for jury duty for three weeks from Monday, so will be 'art-deprived' for a while.  I gathered two 'besties' into the car and set off to visit Fiona & Barry, Ken, and Kim, with a lunch in between, and about a 100km round trip to look forward to.

First stop was Rosebed St Gallery, to drop off some more paintings, and check out the changing 'Small Works' exhibition.

Next was Fiona & Barry.  Fiona had to go to the airport but Barry was busily working  when we arrived.

He very kindly stopped what he was doing and took us into the studio to explain many of the processes he uses to make his wonderful pieces. The studio is also Fiona's workplace so we could rummage around among all her lovely handmade books, and other exquisite creations.

Fiona's desk

We bought all sorts of yummy goodies and, so laden, headed off to Ken's.

Ken, explaining one of his impressive sculptures

Ken makes such substantial and fascinating pieces from recycled timber and handmade paper.  It was quite an experience to wander around his workshop.

We were exhausted after all this so stopped for lunch at Pomodora's, a lovely restaurant right on the edge of the Obi Obi Creek. Then on to Montville for coffee and a visit to Main Street Gallery.

Kim was next on the list as I had collected some rusty old bits for her to add to her stash.  Her garden is gorgeous, as partner Glen is a landscape gardener. Of course her sculptures add another dimension.

The rose bower

In my enthusiasm to browse around I forgot to photograph Kim, but did capture her 'self-portrait' among the rusty bits.

Laden with more treasures, and fresh zucchinis from the garden, we headed home, and I am artistically refreshed for the duration.

Thanks to all of them for taking time to explain their work, and tempting us with purchasable treasures.

Hope you follow my links to see the wonderful work of my 'mates'. It was hard to juggle camera, and browse for treasures to buy.

Mucking Around With Mixed Media

Am at last back in the studio and, as the post title says, mucking around woth mixed media.



Rain Over Red Hill

Along The Garden Path

Night Falls

Of course you'd never know that I'm very fond of colour would you?

AWOL In Surfers Paradise

This is why the place is so named

Some stalwart followers might have noticed my absence for the past week.  R & I escaped briefly for a little R & R. Artistic pursuits on the backburner, I was still armed with camera and ready for anything.

O/S bloggers have treated me to assorted travelogues of their various countries sooooo...here's the famous Sufers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.

The most famous thing about 'Surfers' (as we call it) is the beach... seemingly endless, sand like talc, and often with few people... or dogs.

Over the years developers have cluttered the beachfront with high-rise buildings that cast shadows on the beach in the afternoon. This has been cause for much concern from locals who hate to lose their sun.

The view from our apartment

Still, the buildings go up and they get more interesting as design has improved over the years.

Mind you, there are still some 'daggy' ('scuse the Oz slang) places around... old beach shacks that have resisted the advancement of design, albeit with pretentious names.

Our apartment tho' was average, older, but perfectly placed for endless views.....


R in front of our block where X marks the apartment. The whole front of that floor is ours, from side to side, but we closed the curtains for a while in the morning to keep the sun out.

Street art abounds on the Gold Coast... some realist...

... some not.

I loved many of the signs.... definitely a subject for another blog sometime, but here's a sample.

We ate...

..swam..

... and generally recovered from a hectic year,

until it was time to come home.

Will be back in the studio very shortly... stay tuned.

MORE SMALLS

Because the exhibition at Rosebed St Gallery is a 'takeaway' show, the purchased works have to be replaced.  As a result I am still working on small paintings so that i have a 'stash' from which to choose.




UPWARDLY MOBILE - acrylics, collage

SKIN DEEP - acrylics, collage, snakeskin

SOLAR FLARE - acrylics

No doubt I'll keep on going, while I'm on a roll.