Giveaway!

In the spirit of Decemberism, I'm having a little giveaway!

Actually, the visit to the market got me into the spirit so Morning Glory notebooks form the basis.

There are four notebooks, some fabric, little tiny chocolates from Haighs and a coupla carry bags (or dilly bags).

One of the bags is made from vintage children's decorator fabric and the other is a funny Buckingham Palace fabric. Both were purchased from a craft stall. Maybe a library bag or shoe bag? (Do people still use shoe bags?)

I chose some nice notebooks, not too twee and cutesy, I hope. They are small, a bit bigger than A5 and compact. Maybe a list book for Christmas or the holidays?

Anyhoo, if you'd like to win this little pack, leave me a comment by Sunday (6 Dec) and I'll randomly draw someone's name. Then I can post it off to you to arrive by Christmas and the Christmas rush.

(Do you get the double post delivery leading up to Christmas? I think it's very exciting!)

I think I've got this burst of energy because we are going to Melbourne on 22 December to spend Christmas with J's sister. (Melbourne twice in a year! Excitement plus!). Sometimes, I get bogged down in Christmas but we are both really, really, really looking forward to it. I'll be cooking for three!

Leave me a message and win (possibly!). Any old message will do.

Edited to add: International visitors welcome. I'll draw on Sunday evening.

Bubble Tea

On impulse, I swung past the Central Market. I had a Bubble Tea! My favourite.

I went to the Central Market specifically for Bubble Tea. I even accosted a woman drinking one and asked where she bought it.

So this is my iced chocolate with mini pearl. Probably a bit short on pearl though.

I love a milky drink with ice that's not creamy. I think it's my age.

And I bought some notebooks from Morning Glory (am I a teenage girl?).

Year's End

I made it. I finished all my work and have completed the first year of my course. It has been the best year. The Best!

It was actually one of the worst years in other ways with family stresses. However, the course and the people I have met have helped make it the best year.

We had our exhibition night yesterday. It took all day to set up and five minutes to take down. Always the way. Even in 43 degree heat, we were all enthused. We have lovely teachers and my class is so supportive towards each other and encouraging. It has been a fantastic introduction to painting, drawing and printmaking. (Ah, printmaking! My favourite!)

The painting above is my first acrylic painting based on a beautiful photograph by Jo. (Jo, you didn't know you had a red chair, did you?)

The second is a an exercise in layers and textures, based on the first painting. I took a small section of the first and made a new painting. Then took another tiny section from the second and made a third painting, above.

Ah round bald heads. An early line drawing exercise.

Then my first ever lino prints. The funny pale one is an embossed print, where the lino block is put through the press uninked.

I loved the printmaking process so much. My prints weren't always great but the doing and thinking and making was the thing.

I'm looking forward to next year so much. I have a different outlook on life, I think, because of this course, beginning to see in a different way. I'm just beginning the learning process and want to increase my technical knowledge and skill. And I want to loosen up and do more drawing and learn more.

An Observation

*Loren Allison Blake Wedding Dresses / Allison Blake Wedding Gowns,
by silvia3773

Last night J and I saw King Lear with John Gaden. Actually, not with John Gaden. He didn't sit with us or anything. He was King Lear. However, we do feel a personal connection because we saw him at a shopping centre last week. In his car. Lucky for him, otherwise he would have been cornered by J for a chat. A looooonnng one.

Anyway, the observation. At King Lear. We were walking through the foyer before the performance and saw a couple having a drink and they were dressed like they'd just got married. (*See above, though she wasn't standing on a small table.) I mentioned this to J. Isn't that lovely. Having a drink. Strolling the Fessie Centre. Just the two of them. Perhaps on their way to dinner to celebrate with friends.

In we went, sat down. The couple walked past and took their seats. Mmm, I muttered to J. Are they actors who will emerge from the audience during the performance. There isn't a wedding in this, is there?

It was the cause of great discussion with the ladies next to us. One offered me $100 to go and ask if they'd just got married. I was tempted. I suggested that maybe she was going to get every dollar's worth out of the dress and didn't care what anyone thought.

We also mused that maybe it was the woman's work uniform. (Cruel but funny. We all laughed and snorted a lot.)

I can't deny we were making judgements. Maybe they were just married and were celebrating by see Lear. I know, who am I to judge.

Oh, and I'm officially addicted to icy poles. Lemonade and/or raspberry. Thanks.

Sconed

I have just made scones.

The best scones I've ever made.

No, really. The best EVA!

I think I've tried every recipes.

I've tried lemonade, cream. Rubbed in, cut in. Mixed. Prodded. Rested. Etc.

This is the reason.

Laucke's CWA scone mix. Who knew!

Available in Foodland in South Australia.

Yes, one scone is missing from the photo. Now three missing.

They taste great: light and moist inside, crisp outside, just a little sweetness, and none of the funny cloying doughyness I always get.

Hopefully some will be left when J gets home.
Luckily there were two packs in the box!

Hello Melbourne, Helsinki Calling

from 1950s vintage Home Beautiful Magazine, originally uploaded by painter girl.

We are off to Melbourne today. So excited! We'll be back next Wednesday.

Unfort, we've missed the Dali exhibition. Nevermind. We are going to a couple of shows in the Fringe and Festival so pretty excited about that. And I'm sure we'll run across a trazillion exhibitions and stuff to see.

Also I'm super excited that the John Brack exhibition has opened in Adelaide. I'll go along when we get back.

See you next week!

Life as Fiction

Dear Internets, oh how I've missed you! *Sigh*

I'm reading lots of books, and saving money, because I have rediscovered the library!

And there are these great places like Goodreads and LibraryThing where I find books and get recommendations.

Then I search my local library's catalogue (online, from the comfort of my house *cough* bed *cough*!).

I've just read Everything I Knew by Peter Goldsworthy: fabulous story of adolescence that is far more complex than just a crush on the hot new schoolteacher.

I'm also reading Elsewhere and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. YA fiction rocks!

I'm lucky to have friends who are English teachers and Teacher-Librarians who know everything and make great recommendations.

So thank you Internets, bloggers and books, for keeping me sane.