Thursday, December 31, 2009
A Pandanus miracle.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The South American Tree Grape.
Monday, December 14, 2009
The hazy days of Summer.
December days rolling along and the dear sweet lotus do their thing. The Ylang-ylang is covered in lime green octopusi and the sun heats up the perfume....divine!
We are giving books as gifts as usual, some homemade and some from Amazon and some from Jo's Buderim Books. They are not extravagant but will be a little message of love and blessing to the ones we miss here.
Looking around the cosmos, there are some bright signs and some very sad circumstances still in existence. My prayer is that people take more action to help and be aware.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Eumundi Market.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. - W B Yeats
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. - W B Yeats
A excerpt by Bertrand Russell
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair.
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy—ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness—that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though it might seem too good for human life, this is what—at last—I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which number holds sway above the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me.
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy—ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness—that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though it might seem too good for human life, this is what—at last—I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power by which number holds sway above the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
www.helpinghandscambodia.com
A compassionate photographer, Deborah Groves has used her instinctive energy and understanding to help people in 5 villages in Cambodia, located near Siem Reap. She has set up self help projects to build bridges, roads, toilets, schools and many health related projects. This has been a journey from the first encounter she had with a sick and dying man and his family to a fully fledged N.G.O. Deborah is an inspirational woman and her photos of Angkor are very beautiful.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Sunday morning early, I was vacumning when I suddenly had a thought...
It's so easy to go dreaming on the internet road. So many wonderful people and fascinating lives. I will have to restrain myself and get on with the cleaning....aah. Sometimes I feel as if I'm journeying around the world. It connects me here in my isolation. I've always been hooked on books for this reason but now...umm!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
We are here today
Time quickens for some as the year pulls on into it's final season. Birds dive and search for nesting material and mates. For some, time has ceased and friends and families gather to rever their passage on this planet. We meet up with friends not seen since we were young and gorgeous and marvel at the changes of a life's time. Funny songs go around in the brain and we try to remember others we danced to and loved.
Listening to the shakahachi and Ann Boyd;s lovely piece brings peace.
The beauty of the gardens drums to a different beat . Sail on!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
An old Friend dies.
Each time I mulch the garden, each crazy pound puppy I encounter, each deep throaty laugh will bring her close. But she is free and we will remain here to celebrate her life. Her legacy in her lovely sons, Jarrah, Sughi and Beau and Grandchildren. It's been lovely sharing time with you Toni!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
A great site!
A friend put me onto this very interesting blog.
http;//blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/09/05
Enjoy it!http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/09/05
http;//blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/09/05
Enjoy it!http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/09/05
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Cambodian Childrens Exhibition of Paintings.
Today paintings in oilpaint arrived for the Brisbane Exhibition for the Sihanoukville Childrens Painting Project. Have a look on www.michaelpughpottery.com.au
in the Childrens Paintings to see the terrific images they have created.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Childrens painting from Cambodia,
On the 3rd of September, the first exhibition will open in Adelaide at West Torrens Aud. Gallery at 6 p.m. It should be a great show with lots of energy. Next Melbourne at Brightspace Gallery, St Kilda on 15th September at 7 p.m. Sydney opens at Charles Hewitt Gallery on 24th Sept. at 7 p.m. Next Manly Youth Centre at 2 p.m. on 27th September.Byron Bay Entertainment Centre on 3rd October at 2 p.m..
Brisbane The Bleeding Heart at 6 p.m. on 10th October.
The paintings have been created by the children of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
www.letuscreate.org
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The time of Weddings and Exhibitions
As August comes to a finale in a burst of hot Spring weather, everyone is busy, busy with preparations for firings of Pots and firing of reunions.
The Potter fires into the night, the Moon continues to rise and plans and dreams are on the move also.
The Potter fires into the night, the Moon continues to rise and plans and dreams are on the move also.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Beautiful Thai Celedon Jar
This large celedon Jar has been winking at me for some time. It is a traditional object and so beautifully designed. I wonder if it was fired in a wood kiln.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Cambodian children paint up an Exhibition.
In October The Cambodian Children's Painting Project will be having their Exhiibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay and Brisbane. This is one of the lovely works to be sold with the profits going to help street children in Sihanoukville be educated, fed and have health care.Details are in the Art Almanac for each state. Thank you children and Felix, Joanna and Victoria for this lovely experience.
Sang-de-boeuf Sunday
Michael has been firing some lovely Jars for his show at The Sunshine Coast University in October, This is an ancient glaze recipe from the Ming Dynasty.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
New Gallery.
Sunday morning our friend Bophavy and daughter Selket arrived to have a wonderful rave about painting, sculpture, travel and life. Selket has just arrived to visit Mumma from Barcelona via Laos, where she has been kayaking. Wonderful to be young and adventurous. A very sweet person!
The Gallery Bophavy is taking shape and this week sees the final editions of hanging systems and plinths before the soft opening next week. It is so inspiring to see someone taking the plunge to help the work of local artists. Thank you!
Also welcome to Masaya, Akane's fiancee from Tokyo. He is in the illustrating game. We wish him an enjoyable time in Australia.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Dunk and Bedarra Islands.
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These two exquisite Islands are part of the Family Group, a little archipeligo off the coast of Mission Beach, North Queensland. They support a large range of birds and plants and tropical reef creatures. Incorporated into small bays are two resorts which are enviromentally planned.
Also two artists colonies exist on the edge of bays which were the homes of Noel Wood and Bruce Arthur, both no longer with us. My dream is that the old Hideaway Resort on Bedarra could become an Artists Camp and be made available for sojurns to painters and artists.
Another little dreamscape (escape) is divine little Timana Island where once two sisters painted and played before it became the home of Bert and Deanna Conti.
I am looking forward to once again shedding my trappings and wandering barefoot in these beautiful realms.
Pandanus sidetrack.
Just as I was going down the track this morning, I noticed the Pandanus near the pottery had lots of dead leaves on it, so I decided to clear them away and started pulling them into a heap under the tree. Simultaneously a horde of little red ant dropped out into my hair, down my shirt and crawled up and bit my arms. Now they are red wealts. I wonder if this is an ant or the Jamilya Bug which is devastating coastal pandanus trees. Also noted the turkeys or bandicoots have feasted on the Taro patch as its dried up after the rain. The joys of living in the rainforest.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Pan's Place
This painting is by Ian van Wieringen, who lives In Ubud, Bali.
The special white cranes of Ubud in a lovely painting and the little brothers beneath.
Art and mountains in July,
Today we went up to Maleny and Mount Mellum to visit Ken and once again be spellbound by all his amazing paintings.
It was windy but sunny and the Glasshouse Mountains were superb, seeming to be right there in one's grasp. The bare Eryrithrinas were covered in newly emerging red buds and flowers. So graceful.
The early works of the Boyd Family and John Perceval were unique. So close and real. No moulds, only fingers and love.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Textile adventure.
My clever eldest daughter lives in Bali where she designs and manufactures a range of childrens clothes. When the girls were young I loved to dress them in Liberty prints so I had a little look to see what is new in London. Below are some results.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Desert women painters
I am reading Suzanne O'Connell's write up on Nora Wompi and feel I must share it with you.
She talks of Nora as a treasure with her jewel colours and palette of ruby, citrine, amber and amethyst gems deep within a bed of snowhite spinifex. So evocative of a woman who has lived on the Canning Stock Route in the middle of the Australian desert. http:// suzanneoconnell.com
She talks of Nora as a treasure with her jewel colours and palette of ruby, citrine, amber and amethyst gems deep within a bed of snowhite spinifex. So evocative of a woman who has lived on the Canning Stock Route in the middle of the Australian desert. http:// suzanneoconnell.com
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Sun on Sunday
Still trying to get the hang of blogging and cutting and pasting. It is tricky and before you know it, there it is, in front of you.
Ron Mann is a designer whose work I have found most fascinating. He uses the natural assets of planet Earth to create enviroments that are green. Most of all they are unique spaces which reflect oceans, deserts, old driftwood tree sculptures and iron elements. His wife Louise also adds her great coloured textiles into the mix....together they produce an eccletic brew!
Ron Mann is a designer whose work I have found most fascinating. He uses the natural assets of planet Earth to create enviroments that are green. Most of all they are unique spaces which reflect oceans, deserts, old driftwood tree sculptures and iron elements. His wife Louise also adds her great coloured textiles into the mix....together they produce an eccletic brew!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A friend on a rainy winter day.
There is a lovely woman called Maureen who is a bundle of golden light. Today she called in with the most divine bunch of Tuberoses grown by her husband Michael. They have brought a gorgeous perfume into the house and really brightened up a grey day. I wanted to share an image online. Thank you for your kindness and sweetness.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Visiting with friends.
Visiting with painters on cyber space is a joy I have recently found through the gift of blogs and I am truly amazed to find abstract painting alive and well. Also there is a great interest in landscape and atmospheric paintings,
Living in a fairly isolated world, I find myself enjoying this brief glimpse into studios all around the world. One would have to say it is not the same as seeing the work in the flesh but it has given me much joy. Thank you to all the people who have enabled this to happen.
Living in a fairly isolated world, I find myself enjoying this brief glimpse into studios all around the world. One would have to say it is not the same as seeing the work in the flesh but it has given me much joy. Thank you to all the people who have enabled this to happen.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wompoos in the Ylang Ylang
Every time the Canangra Odoratums (ylang ylang) form their fleshy seed pods, fruit eating birds from the valley and forest congregate to feast on these delicious morsels. Flocks of figbirds compete with the wonderful Wompoo Pidgeon, who cannot resist seeing these bothersome hordes off the branches. There is so much fruit you wonder why he has to be so vigilant.
Rain is pouring down and tracks and gullies are running and tumbling with fresh clear water, down to fill the stoney creek. The power is off and it is dark. Somewhere I can hear a vehicle is bogged and men are shouting and revving engines trying to pull it out. Almost feels like a cyclone is coming.
Will soon get the fire going and bring life into the house.
Rain is pouring down and tracks and gullies are running and tumbling with fresh clear water, down to fill the stoney creek. The power is off and it is dark. Somewhere I can hear a vehicle is bogged and men are shouting and revving engines trying to pull it out. Almost feels like a cyclone is coming.
Will soon get the fire going and bring life into the house.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
June Noon
On a perfect Noon
I lie on the bamboo couch.
Eyes closed and excited by colours.
Wondering what paint could catch that translucense.
Thinking of Rothko painting his trancendental blurey visions
Thinking of pale tropical seas.
crossing to India in flaming pinks and reds
In the Central Desert of sunset screaming hills.
Into Mexican caverns of green opaque pools.
All colour is a miracle spilling liquid in the Earth's aura.
In Earth's flowers and fruits.
Gleaming in skin and hair
And shadow and light
Tempting me to try and find it.
Colour oh colour!
I lie on the bamboo couch.
Eyes closed and excited by colours.
Wondering what paint could catch that translucense.
Thinking of Rothko painting his trancendental blurey visions
Thinking of pale tropical seas.
crossing to India in flaming pinks and reds
In the Central Desert of sunset screaming hills.
Into Mexican caverns of green opaque pools.
All colour is a miracle spilling liquid in the Earth's aura.
In Earth's flowers and fruits.
Gleaming in skin and hair
And shadow and light
Tempting me to try and find it.
Colour oh colour!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The wonderful garden in Jo'Berg
This is the time of surprises in the garden, after a season of non-stop rain. The trees and bushes are green green green and are shooting up taller and taller. The Javanese Bamboo is becoming a hill of bamboo and is enjoyed by the Kingfisher as a place of rest and reconissence. My dream of building a studio on the little plateau is being pushed to one side.
I am still savouring the pleasure of watching Monty Don travelling around his 80 worldwide gardens and particularly the stoney hilltop house and garden of Wendy Vincent and Geoffrey Armstrong, a painter and a sculptor. It was so perfectly sited on the hill with stones and old wood and water. The jewelled serpent slid along his wall and the water gurgled through the stones. Also the vege and herb garden of the township school was fantastic. I have indulged in the purchase of the d.v.d. of the series. Still garden dreaming!
I am still savouring the pleasure of watching Monty Don travelling around his 80 worldwide gardens and particularly the stoney hilltop house and garden of Wendy Vincent and Geoffrey Armstrong, a painter and a sculptor. It was so perfectly sited on the hill with stones and old wood and water. The jewelled serpent slid along his wall and the water gurgled through the stones. Also the vege and herb garden of the township school was fantastic. I have indulged in the purchase of the d.v.d. of the series. Still garden dreaming!
Winter dreaming
Looking out my window this morning, while waiting for the kettle to boil, I am enchanted to see the flaming red heads of the Poinsettia amongst the green folliage of the side garden. I was cleaning out my bookcases recently and found D.H.Lawerence's Morning in Mexico and on rereading found a lovely section on the gay red beauty. It is interesting to see how plants have travelled the world in time and space. Someone has recently found an unknown patch of jungle in Mozambique by playing with Google Earth so now we have cyberspace explorers. Meanwhile we struggle to stop clearing and exploitation of great treasures like the Amazonian Forrest.
A documentary recently on Wild Cuba revealed how this land was once located in the Pacific Ocean and has been moving to many different locations before finally arriving in the site we know it today. What wildlife treasures still live in Cuba; the bee hummingbird and 3 or 4 species of Flamingos. One's heart and mind are filled with esctasy
and these are the joys one needs to cope with the many tradgedys happening worldwide.
A documentary recently on Wild Cuba revealed how this land was once located in the Pacific Ocean and has been moving to many different locations before finally arriving in the site we know it today. What wildlife treasures still live in Cuba; the bee hummingbird and 3 or 4 species of Flamingos. One's heart and mind are filled with esctasy
and these are the joys one needs to cope with the many tradgedys happening worldwide.
Monday, March 16, 2009
some dreams come true
Creating a garden is a great joy and a lot of work especially in difficult terrain but I am always thrilled to see how people of the world get into the earth and grow vegetables, flowers, fruit and nut trees and generally beautiful enviroments. I live on a volcanic mountain (extinct) about ten minutes from the sea by car. Since arriving in this country as a small child I have known this place, My first memory is of the gigantic trees and the banana and tropical fruit orchards that covered most of the flat land. There were some steep basalt dropoffs with large banyan figs and I imagined this was the ruins of a great civilisation, Mostly large old pythons lived there and wonderful birds, like Wompoos and Fruit Doves fed on the figs. The roads were red and very muddy when it rained, The population was small and the school was two rooms,
Friday, March 6, 2009
CHROMA is a gem of a book by Derek Jarman exploring the history of colour. It is a wonderful book to go to bed with. Short chapters with fascinating episodes from the worl Derek has encountered. Lots of good authors, philosophers and dreamers quoted.
This week sees the release of Murray Bail's new edition (revised) of IAN FAIRWEATHER,
Ian was an architype for many painters and artisans in Australia and worldwide. Scratch most artists and you will find Fairweather close to their hearts.
Of course his DRUNKEN BUDDHA remains a firm favourite and maybe it will be reprinted with better paper and plates.
This week sees the release of Murray Bail's new edition (revised) of IAN FAIRWEATHER,
Ian was an architype for many painters and artisans in Australia and worldwide. Scratch most artists and you will find Fairweather close to their hearts.
Of course his DRUNKEN BUDDHA remains a firm favourite and maybe it will be reprinted with better paper and plates.
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