Monday 27 April 2015

The Crows Know


The crows know Spring has sprung
Driving toward the southern shore
One flew overhead
The biggest twig he could manage
Casually dangling from his beak.


The South shore trip was to support Chris and Sarah
at the hanging and opening of their show at the Rhubarb Cafe.
X's mark the spot....where paintings should hang!


First beach walk of the year
with Chris, Patricia and the lovely Belle
and just about everyone else on the West Dublin shore!


Just turn the camera slightly
you lose a lot of cars and people.


Back home at the tail end of the week
whilst Chris, Diane and I explored possibilities in the studio
Harold came round
and took down some precious but sick trees.


Now we have have one huge clearing up job
to keep us busy throughout the Spring.
So
The Was The Week That Was

(Does anybody else remember that David Frost show
from the early sixties?)


Monday 20 April 2015

Criss Cross Scratchings


I have always been drawn to 
the ancient symbol of the cross


Only once have I used the cross in a piece of work
and that was at a devastating time in my life.


Laid on it's side....love


I just went criss cross crazy


Wondering when


I might use the cruciform again
perhaps simply as a design form


Because it is very pleasing just as a simple shape
with no symbolism applied to it.
Fingers crossed that Winter is on it's way out!

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Unfinished and Homeless


Sometimes a piece of cloth speaks out loud
telling you what it wants


It was about five years ago..perhaps longer
that I was driven to work on this small piece.


But it has remained unfinished all these years.
It's not that I don't like it.
Wonder why it is hanging around patiently waiting!

Monday 13 April 2015

Birds of Summer Scratched


Harry the Heron has arrived at the pond
Summer must surely be on her way
for Spring is surely not coming at all!


The pond is slowly defrosting
and refreezing overnight


Then a pair of black ducks arrived on the pond
causing much excitement from the Rusty Pups.

Sunday 12 April 2015

He Greets Me Every Morning Now


Harry stands for ages in freezing cold water
where the lilly pads grow


All puffed up


Somehow his long, long neck is in there
being kept warm amidst the feathers.

I know, two days in a row on the same bird!
My apologies
but he is so gorgeous!


Saturday 11 April 2015

Harry, Our Summertime Bird


First morning ritual
is to look out at the pond and the woods
just to see what, or rather who, might be up.
To my surprise on Thursday
I spied Henry.


The first heron of summer
looking really cold
and desolate


So handsome is he
in his feathery scarf.
I hope he is finding fish and other delicacies.
Just a wee bit of the pond has defrosted.
Lovely to see him back.
People here are buying worms to feed the robins
because no worm is moving in our frozen ground.
The song birds or summer are coming back
and having a really tough time finding food too.

Tuesday 7 April 2015

A New Scroll Started For April, Not a New Season Though


Enough already!


It is April
That means scratching the beginnings of a new scroll
It is snowing
That means Winter still doesn't want to leave.


As I stitched the beginning of April
I was thinking Easter


Easter egg hunts


But today I am once again wondering if the snow plough has been
allowing me to get into town for Tai Chi.

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Scratching Month End


Scratching the end of a month
Scratching the end of a scroll.


I started the week wanting to scratch
the trees of winter.
For the ash tree I imagined how it would hold a snowball.


But then Diane, Grace and I
went on an excellent adventure
up to Halifax and St. Mary's University
to see Dorothy Caldwell's show
'Silent Ice/Deep Patience'
and to
attend a "Conversation" between
Dorothy and Sandra Brownlee.


There is something about darning
even if my mother and grandmother
would have a fit at this being called darning!


What a treat it was to walk among Dorothy's huge pieces again.
The lands she explores are huge...
the Canadian Arctic and the Australian Outback.
Her respect for those lands
and for the people and cultures that inhabit them
is humbling.


In honour of Dorothy I continued to end the month
with discharged scraps
and 


and bits and pieces of red


A colour that is beginning to creep into my psyche for some reason.


Using up scraps and bits and pieces.


Stitching loosey goosey
and changing to running along.


March has been a lion all month long
and for the three of us it certainly went out
with an inspirational bang!

Happy April Fool's Day