Lost Aussie on the loose

Sunshine and Rain

I woke up this morning to the sound of the most incredible thunderstorm and decided, along with the cats, to stay hunkered down under the covers until it had passed.  Can't say that it was a bad excuse to spend a few more hours in the horizontal position.  The last few days of house 'installation' have been a slog.  No other sweet way to put it. Many more boxes unpacked and the last two days have been spent overwriting the dusky pink paint in the dining room and faux peach hallway.  The gleaming whiter shade of pale that now adorns the walls may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it is the best way to create a good background for art, furniture and doodads and the decorative painting can come later.

The final work effort for the day has been directed towards the basement, which now houses my studio. The initial arrangement of tables, puters and furniture was not working and so the very patient DH helped me move the whole darned lot ONE more time...and I think we are just about there.  Just as well as I have stuff knocking on my door that needs to get done - not the least of which being Lost Aussie stamp orders and  samples for workshops for a retreat in Australia next year (more on that another day).

Closing daylight and the late afternoon was back to the past week's weather of spring and sunshine, though I think the weatherman says more rain is one the way....bah humbug as our poor old roof leaks and while a new one is under contract, it wont be here as quickly as I would like.  Still the rain will be good for the new plants on the deck and I am enjoying seeing what peeks up from the ground in my new garden with each passing day.

Playing Hookie!

I took the day off today from unpacking boxes and organising stuff - and took up a much awaited invitation to join a bus tour group to Washington DC to view a fabulous exhibit at The Phillips Collection.  The special collection was entitled "Dramatic perspectives on a cultural revolution" and featured works by Degas, Sickert and Toulouse-Lautrec as well as paintings by Bonnard, Tissot, Whistler and several other noted artists.  It was wonderful to peek into the process of "dynamic exchange" that heralded the birth of modernism as we know it today not to mention the opportunity to gaze on some of the great works of Degas - who is probably my all time favourite of that era.

As well as the featured exhibit, the museum also houses many great works of the masters.  The notable scene stealer of the day was the picture depicted above, by Renoir entitled "The Luncheon of the Boating Party".  While I have seen many of the paintings in the museum in different locations around the globe, this was the first time that I had the chance to view this masterpiece "up close and personal"!...and Wow...what a fabulous piece of work.  In creating this piece Renior apparently sought to woo the Parisienne "Salon" by veering away from his impressionistic style, incorporating the finer techniques of portraiture, landscape and still-life painting...and by all accounts (at least from my perspective) he succeeded admirably.

Several hours of art perusing were followed by a scrumptious Thai curry for lunch, off Constitution Avenue and the day was rounded out with a trip down the Mall to see the new World War II monument.  In and of itself a fine piece of art, that pays great tribute and echoes fine sentiment to those to whom it is dedicated.

My thanks go to Paula for her invitation to join this great group for a lovely day out and cudos to her and her friend Barbara for making the day so thoroughly enjoyable.

Room by Room

Yep, sounds like and HGTV episode, but that is what life is like right now...Unpacking bit by bit!
Today we had allsorts of repairs made to the well (trade in a pool for a septic and well -yeah really!)...at least now I can safely drink out of the tap or take a shower without my hair turning a burnished shade of earthly uck!...you know sometimes I do wonder at the stateof this nation?..Where I come from, collecting water to live off is common-place, even installing solar panels for collecting energy is 'de rigeur'...but a WELL??? when I am less than two hours from New York City??..gotta wonder!
The upside is that the trees are blooming.,,,I can't spit bubblegum far enough to reach a neighbour and all the houses that I can see are different shapes!..and what's more, sport different plants in their gardens..no more cookie cutter urban commandments.
(Shshsch..did I say that?)

I'm looking forward to tomorrow...off to visit with the folk at the International Women's Club.  It's a bit like deja vu, as I used to be the Editor of their montly magazine.  Lots of ladies who have """odd""" accents, just like me and many more who have even weirder ones.
The day after I have been invited to go up to Washington to view some interesting museum art exhibitions, amongst other things..................JOY!...to be out and about.

At "home"

Well, we are here.... a week after the packing started.  Dog, cats and sundry other elements are all safely ensconced in our new abode.  There is lots to do.  A 20 something year old house with rather naff wallpaper, faux painted walls, not to mention a dying insinkerator and a few other gems that escaped our prying eyes when we were viewing the place when it was up for sale...but my, oh my...the deck, the trees, an acre of bliss - all is good, or will be when the well is fixed, a new roof is installed and I have bought more gallons of paint at the hardware store than I care to think of rolling!!
We passed the day yesterday painting all of the closets and several of the walls in the basement which will end up being an ab' fab' studio space....needless to say I am "cream crackered" - which is nice speak for Knackered, pooped and totally tired out!
I have found quin gold, gel and paper but am trying hard to stay focused on the main game - which is to get the house straight!  Painting for a short while will be in home acryilics and nothing to do with Goldens :-)

And..thanks to all of you who have emailed comments on the blog or direct to paperartzi. The love and encouragement is much appreciated!!
xox

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......horizontal beckons!

Day 3

There is a very large container parked at the end of my driveway and into it some 28,000lbs of goods are slowly being stowed.  It's like a big jigsaw puzzle fitting over 300 boxes and 400 other items into the space to make a neat and tidy fit.  Behind the workers I am doing the Dyson and Scrubbing Bubbles thing so that later tonight we can just fall in a heap on our hotel bed and contemplate the drive north tomorrow.

My little men are on the move too.  Today is the start of their Easter Holidays and tomorrow they'll be flying from Perth to Bahrian to spend a week with their Dad.
....no, life does not stand still for this family at all!!

While sidestepping the movers and contemplaing "life" this morning, I realised that this house in Charlotte is probably one of the ones that I have spent the most time in - nearly 4 years.  That's a long time for me.  I think I've been on the go pretty much from the time I was born though as time goes by and the older I get, the more I yearn for some place a bit more permanent, where I dont have to clean cupboards, closets and memorabilia every so short often and I can actually decorate, plant and live in a place that I can see as being "home" in a longterm way.
We can all dream right?

So for grins, ...here's a list of the places I have lived (in sort of chronological order)
Wales, UK
England, UK
Perth Aus
Bunbury, Aus
Pemberton, Aus
Denmark, Aus
Albany, Aus
Perth, Aus
London, UK
Sierre, Switzerland
London, UK
Perth, Aus
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
London, UK
Perth, Aus
Houston, TX
Perth, Aus
Houston, TX
Wilmington, DE
Charlotte, NC
and now..Wilmington, DE again

I wonder if in my next life I will come back as a snail - with my house on my back?? :-)

Day 1

Well, "IT" is happening - the moving moment has finally arrived!

A kindly bunch of industrious creatures arrived bright and early and are busy wrapping, packing and tucking our stuff into a hawg darned big pile of boxes. I'm not particularly stressed (as I have done this so many times before) though I am starting to feel like a game piece in human lego land!

The artwork is from an archived scan of a past journal page.  Not really the moment or the means for new stuff today!

Illio Friday - Speed

This week the theme for Illustration Friday is Speed.

With all that is going on right now, the speed of life, which seems very much akin to the speed of light, seemed an appropriate interpretation and inspired the above piece.

A Little Faded

....that would be me. 
I'm off to bed.

International Collage Exchange

Well I am pretty excited.  For the first time I participated in the International Collage Exhibition & Exchange.  A global exchange of collages organised by Dale Copeland of NZ.  This is the 8th year the Exchange has been going and this year 158 artisits participated.

Each artist created 13 collages, each approximately 8" X 10".
 
The work from each artist shown in The Collection exhibition will be exhibited in Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram, Texas during May 2006, then becomes part of the collection of that Institution.

Another collage from each artist becomes part of the collection of the Turchin Center at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, USA.

The work from each artist shown in The Selling exhibition and offered for sale, is also being exhibited in the Real Tart gallery of New Plymouth, New Zealand during April.

A package of 10 mixed collages is sent back to each participating artist.

My day was made a short while ago when I discovered a bright red dot next to my collage (on the left) ....it's SOLD!!!  :-)))

Down The Wire

There are probably folk who would choke at the size of my monthly phone bill, but with a Mum, Dad, two sons, a sister and a large number of other highly callable people on the list, what can I say?  Needs talk, pick up the phone.  Surprisingly enough, for the most part, it is cheaper for me to call Australia than it is to call my friend in the US - go figure!  Though at this point I think I probably have a good share in my own satellite in both directions!
Tonight, I had what is pretty much a bi-annual triathalon call with my "mate" Mandy.  We've known each other for more than (errrr) 20years?? now.  She pointed me in the direction of my first broken hip to mend, was around when my children were born and is going to be the old lady that will sit with this old lady on the bench in the late afternoon sunshine (yeah, we have already had that planned for at least 15 years!!) We will happily diss' all the young'uns and discuss how it was done in "our day" - though at this point, I think we are fairly close to coming around to that already!!
I dont quite know what I would do if I couldn't natter with Mandy now and then.  We dont talk often, but when we do, it's a good few months worth.  Funny thing is, it's always like I saw her yesterday, the gap is non-existent and our conversations continue just as we last left off......... What price friendship?
((OH....and if you are reading this in Grosvenor Rd....she cut her finger while making the Pumpkin Soup!!!))
Beware :-)
xoxoxox