Thursday, March 29, 2012

En famille...

My mother's 80th birthday earlier this week was the raison ĂȘtre for a reunion of the clan.



And of the tribe, as we had about 100 or so of her friends to a champagne afternoon tea to celebrate, together with a smattering of their young who we were friends with as children.




This was indeed a challenge, and Dad did promise us fine weather, and obliged, fortunately, as otherwise we would have really run out of room under cover. But an absolute pleasure as well:- equipped with pacemakers and walkers and sticks the tribe came ready to party, so it always was going to be a huge success. They quaffed champagne (the tea things went unnoticed, but the blue themed cup cakes all vanished, as did the oysters, and most of the prawns and sangers) and because they rarely get together now except for funerals relished with gusto the opportunity to catch up with old friends. I'd told Terrific Trev not to worry about music as it would never be heard above the cacophony, so we had a few chords or very pretty opera right at the start and then he gave up. He hadn't time anyway - he was seen with glasses and bottles in all corners, stopping only to find old girls a chair and a drink when necessary. They came at 3 on the dot, and all went home at about 5.30 with their designated drivers, and we fell in a heap for about 48 hours. But SO, SO worth it. Never was there a more appreciative bunch of revellers, and the little mountain of thank-you letters, beautifully written on letterhead, is what it's all about in their view... you enjoy, and you express that properly.

So the tribe came and went (not far; they mainly live within a radius of perhaps 2 miles) and the clan has stayed on. My baby sister from London and her growing brood and handsome hubby, here for several weeks...my little brother, his wife and child, mixing in too. Mum and Dad as happy as pigs in mud. En famille...

I have no photos yet, but will throw in a few from long ago for now.



Have happy weeks!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

¡VIVA! [II]

Photo by Danielle Wood  (Manx Minx)
Opening night of the Viva la Frida exhibition was a scintillating success for the organisers - the Circle Gallery was packed to the rafters with floral hair-do's and sombrero-ed musos, which was not only gratifying for the 28 participating artists but also fiscally rewarding for fund-raising efforts benefitting the Women's Legal Service on the eve of the International Day of Women.

Win-win-win-win-win no less!


I'm heading back this morning for a quieter look after a family breakfast. The show continues for the rest of the week and is open daily, 10-4.

For me personally it was special to get a new portrait finished, framed and hung. I've struggled with painting for the last few years so inched my way back into this time by reverting to a childhood technique of oil crayon and water colour tin...an investment sans frame of about $15 in materials including the matt board surface from Reverse Garbage. The box of coloured derwents came out for finishing touches, and voila...!

Viva! (Stephanie Morris)
Love, love, love making do technically - love that it's possible to make art with whatever's to hand if the spirit takes you.

Looking forward to more art in the months to come after a long break, and more opportunities to find the overlap between art-making and crafting.

Have happy weeks!
More wimcee exhibits: mini monkey and cantina cushions.