It's here again - Whoop de doo

IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE

I could hear this droning wind, then a pitting sound on the chimney, could that be snow or sleet.

Opened the door and the noise was quite loud and there it was all our boots and shoes covered in thick icy snow, heading for the door.

We grabbed the camera and took these shots, it's always exciting when it falls. I don't wish for it to be day in and day out but little bursts of it are just delightful and more reason to eat chocolate.  

Our dog Tango has wrapped herself around the pot belly and is in total bliss I would imagine.

Sydney College of the Arts

Last weekend saw Bill and I  teaching at Sydney College of the Arts  print media department organized by the very capable artist Janet Parker Smith whom streamlines the working environment to be a pleasure to work in.

We had eight eager students, some students and some are part of the print media access. This enables artists to visit and use the print media studio for a yearly minimal charge. Which is a dream printmaking room overlooking the historical buildings and gardens at Rozelle.

Like the bookbinders Guild we once again taught the letterpress printmaking in the format of an ABC book with each student getting 3 letters and editions of 10.

Working in this way everyone goes home with a complete set of ABC prints which can be made into a book or individually framed.

The first day is just understanding the way to set type and getting a handle on the presses and tools, the second day they have had the night to ponder their letters, then they fly with ideas.

It was very successful and we met some really gorgeous people along the way. The workshop was two days, but by the second day everyone is in full swing and hooked on letterpress wishing for one more day.

The group were very inventive with their use of letters.....

Vogue Living

We were very fortunate and excited to have the delightful and talented New York base photographer Martyn Thompson photograph our home and art for Vogue Living, July /August issue which is out now.

Martyn and his assistant Evan were outstanding in their attention to detail and to observe their persistence to get just the right shot, was just a privilege to watch.

It was a real treat to have them here.

                                          To see more of Martyns' rich and broad range of
                               photography and books go to www.martynthompsonstudio.com

There's a garden in the kitchen

I was going through my photographs and came across these beautiful one's I took in my kitchen of the last flowers of Autumn.
 

Gardening is something that keeps me quite sane and there's nothing like a workout in the garden which I have done recently blitzing all the side path and eventually the whole garden as last summer it turned into a snake pit. It was a very romantic looking snakepit though, all the roses were abundant and had grown considerably. After seven years maturity, it now all needs pruning and sorting.
 

Gardening for me flows through my veins, I have known it since a little girl where my parents were in the garden most weekends, where ever I go a garden is created.

I just love these flowers in the old bucket that sits on our green kitchen table ready for my next painting.

Last summers rose's etched in ice - Oil on canvas