A little bird told me it's Christmas any minute. For once I get to spend it with my husband who has left the hell on earth of driving TriMet buses for the lesser hell of driving school buses. Which means we get to see each other in the evening and weekends. AND every public holiday, AND every snow day, AND summer, Easter, and Christmas breaks. YES!
To celebrate this momentous occasion I had to make a Christmas bracelet. Which, I hasten to add, does not fit my delicate little wimpy wrist. It is made for grander ladies than I who can rock the colour and statement. If you would like this delicious confection you will have to speak nicely to Tina at the gallery.
|
|
I am not the only artist in our family. My cousin is married to a Maori chief's son, Te Rangitu Netana. We went to their quite fascinating wedding in New Zealand. And yes, the Maoris really do rub noses during the 3 day ceremony. Very shy making! Plus they rush at you with weapons and strange shouting before you are allowed on their grounds. Altogether a very interesting experience...
However, the point is not to talk about my cousin's husband but to talk about his art. He is a well regarded Ta Modo Maori tattoo artist. This means he adheres to certain cultural disciplines. I have not been to his studio but hope to do so next year. What I have seen is his gorgeous collaboration with Hermès the fashion house. Every year they bring out new silk scarf designs and finally, after several years of designing and negotiating with his tribe and others, they added this gorgeous scarf to their collection.
If you are seriously into having a real, meaningful Maori tattoo then this is the man to go to.
|
|
Last Saturday I took the plunge and did a demonstration of bead embroidery at That Perfect Piece gallery in Lake Oswego. So folks had something to play with I brought some Copper Embroidered Earrings kits and showed how to make these cute earrings. The kit has beads, foundation and backing pluspattern. If you've never done bead embroidery before you can follow the included instructions which have lots of helpful photos.
I actually rather enjoyed myself. My publicizing abilities are next to none so talking about my work to perfect strangers was a bit awkward but time went by quickly and before I knew it the day was over.
The picture above is of a couple of intrepid Portland Bead Society members who turned up to cheer me on - thank you my friends. And thank you to Tina Hospers who gave me the opportunity to harass perfect strangers with piles of beads.
PS. The number one question asked was - 'how can you see those tiny beads?" The answer - "very good spectacles".
|
|
There's something so interesting about an artist who is willing to create impermanent art. Andy Galsworthy is a well known example of this type of artist. The work is ephemeral - it lingers and then leaves. Goes back to it's base. Somewhere in time it made it's mark and now it's a digital image - no more in this world.
Justin Batemen is one of these land artists. He creates these wonderful portraits in pebbles. Thailand beaches are graced with these works for a short time and then they go back to the sea.
|
|
|
Once upon a time I wrote a blog post detailing several free beading Christmas patterns. Unfortunately nearly all of them were from Fusion Beads who have moved onto the Amazon platform and no longer carry bead patterns. However, there is one pattern available from Saylia which I rescued - say hello to your new Christmas ornament. Scroll through the blog post to the end and there you have it.
|
|
Recently I discovered Emma, who wrote a comic book called The Mental Load, A Feminist Comic. Made me do the famous LOL. Her strip 'You Should've Asked' just nails the constant chatter in the back of my head about the state of the house, world, marriage and everything else women think about.
And to give the men their due, she drew a cartoon about their mental load ...
|
|
|
I've been there, quizzically shifting stuff from one suitcase to another ...
|
|
Today I mailed a hand made Christmas card to my mother in England. It's so cute I wanted you all to have it too.
Happy Christmas!
Rose
|
|
|
|
