i feel safest of all

IF Topic: "Cars"

15min collage using yellow pages street directory and white pencil.

City skyline based on photo of Shanghai City.

x Lux Valentine

rocknroll suicide

Numeracy & Literacy Test - Check
First Aid certificate - Check

Been so very busy. Haven't had time to think let alone do anything creative in the slightest. I lie, I did knit Seth a little scarf on Sunday night. I hope to get some photos of it tomorrow. Have found my old digital camera so as soon as i get that working i'm back in business!

Last week, i had a dream of spiral staircases. I was unable to climb them, everyone else - seemingly everyone i had ever met or knew, was capable of climbing them no worries. I was frozen to the spot and could only watch them leave. Miracle happened - i eventually got to the top, but what everyone else saw - that amazing view - i couldn't see. It really played on my mind so i've been drawing spirals for a while.



i've been a stalker of the illustration Friday website for some time now and i thought it may be interesting just to play along too. i missed last weeks subject which was signs but this is the rush job i had put together.

Weekly Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Dancer ::
Hold me closer tiny...

2. Intellectual ::
sexy

3. Direct ::
order

4. Tolerate ::
unbearable

5. Post ::
postcard

6. Instinctive::
natural

7. Brink ::
edge

8. Regain ::
revenge

9. Repulsed ::
smell

10. Distressed ::
sob

it makes it easy to bear..

i decided last week that i was going to start making little postcards to send to my Seth monster. Don't you remember being younger and getting excited to get mail? Well when he is older i hope that he can look back over all the silly little cards. i bought some gorgeous furry blue/brown wool to knit a miniature 2 year old size scarf to send to him in a few weeks.








Look at how shocking my writing is when i try to print! i'm so use to cursive that printing feels wrong.

Now a little story. In early high school i had to do some ridiculous group assignment for some ridiculous class. i had started sitting with a new group of girls (all girls catholic school - killer!) and one of the girls i was grouped with in the assignment sat with us too. Her name was Sarah. From then on Sarah and i were basically inseparable. We had the letter books, the endless gossips on the phone, the fights, the sleepovers, the boy talk, the secret language, shared each others clothes... The whole deal. At the end of year 10 Sarah moved back to WA... i cried till i was dizzy. We saw each other a couple of times a year until at the end of year 12 she moved back with me for a year and then in with her boyfriend Neel (who happened to be my other best friend.) Then... crying time again, Sarah AND Neel moved back to WA where they have been for the last few years.

Over these last few years our contact has gone from minimal to none. I miss her and think about her all the time and as this is the year of change (how cliche) I decided it was time to amend that.

So here is the little postcard made for Sarah. Attached is a rambling letter that i hope bridges the distance between us.








And finally, The first page of my visual diary. The quote is from "Voices of Violence" by Michael Bell. It basically sums it all up.

So many distractions to keep from thinking about my Literacy/Numeracy test on Wednesday. i know i should be fine. i know i WILL be fine. Just cant stop the little flutter inside.

In a weeks time i will start working at North Brighton Preschool, where my mum works. The special needs teacher there needs an aide to help her with one little boy in particular for a few mornings a week. It will be my job to shadow him, make sure he sits and eats his lunch, and help him with the little lessons and activities they do.

Here is this weeks Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Coastguard ::
Baywatch

2. Buddies ::
Sarah

3. Nap ::
Nanny

4. Groan ::
Morning

5. Sitcom ::
Waste

6. Reader ::
The Hotel New Hampshire

7. Heroes ::
Pete Steele

8. Amazing ::
Rome

9. Woman ::
Curves

10. Don’t! ::
forget

sets me on fire

Note to self: Must stop dreaming about Titus Pullo.

The summer my father bought the bear

So after i finished posting, i went to the mailbox and what was waiting for me but my rose of Jericho!

Isn't it Beautiful? i first found out about these interesting plants from a tattoo flash that shares the same name as them. The rose of Jericho tattoo is a rose whose inner petals take on the appearance of a labia and a clitoris.

i forgot about this old school design until i picked up John Irvings book - "until i find you". In this book the narrators mother is a tattooist who specialises in her own rose of Jericho design.


Back to the plant... they are commonly called Resurrection plants. At the moment it is all dried and looks dead. When my mother saw it she wondered why i had bought a dead plant. Place it in a bowl of water and in a few days this little beauty will be alive again.

The water is then said to have mystical qualities and can be sprinkled about the house to erase negative influences, bring peace, harmony and abundance. Exactly what i need right now.

i would love to get one of these original tattoo designs tattooed just above my pubic mound.

Forgotten Faces

Its hard to believe that this time last year I had started my countdown to my trip to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. What 3 magical countries they were, what an inspiration.
I'm still working on the scrap book of all the little bits and bobs I picked up whilst over there. Reciepts, Postcards, Pamphlets, Hotel Stationary, Ticket stubs. I am a collector of things, I'll have to take a photo of my wall to demonstrate.

Here is my first weeks Unconcious Mutterings:

1. Film ::
"Marie Antoinette"

2. Dragon ::
Darren's leg tattoo

3. Hunger ::
marbled cheesecake slice

4. Plucked ::
eyebrows

5. Dissolving ::
icebergs

6. Executive ::
suite

7. Ridiculous::
post office line

8. Mist ::
bathroom mirror

9. Minority ::
report

10. Map ::
graph

Knitting Update: 279 Squares!

Cert IV in Nursing

Well its been a while. i feel really slack but i haven't done a single thing to put on this thing. i am still knitting (235 squares) and sketching but the major disturbance in my life at the moment is my decision to finally start my nursing course.

So i'm all about enrollment at the moment and with that comes stressing with getting everything done in time for June 8th when it has to be in by.

To enroll successfully i need to undertake my first aid course (mine unfortunately has expired recently) and also take a literacy/numeracy exam.

i'm nervous.

x

Its all over now.. Baby Blue

The few remaining truths are graffiti, suicide notes, shopping lists.

A child is a little dimpled lunatic

My nephew Seth has me wrapped around his little finger. I'll eat mushy watermelon off his fork if he shoves it in my face. I'll let him throw water all over me if it makes him giggle. I'll suffer through 30 minutes of combing knots out of my hair after he plays with it. I'll sit through that damn wiggles DVD just to see him dance to big red car.

Yesterday my mum and I caught the train out to see my darling little monster and my sister-in-law, Nerida.


Teenage mutant ninja turtle... phone?


"sure Seth, you can eat my fries"


"Seth, Auntie Lizzy thinks its too cold to... Ok you can tip that water over me."

Just a sunny day running around the backyard with the most important little man in my life.



Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it

X

Eight Miles High

The days are passing so quickly..
Saw Daddy before he took off to Borneo for work. I'm so jealous, or i was until he showed me the run downs of the labs he has to audit over there. He is going to be one busy man.

After my post on Friday i got to playing with the paper pulp.

Lux Valentine's Paper Pulp Recipe:

1. Day before get a bucket and shred as much newspaper as you think you'll need into it. The smaller the pieces the easy and finer the paper pulp will be. Fill bucket to just above the paper. I suggest using warm/hot water as it will speed up the process.

2. Next day get stuck into it and using your hands start to manipulate the lovely gunky paper porridge until it is clumpy and as fine as you would like it to be. If you require an even smoother pulp, use a hand beater to get it to the consistence you would like it.

3. Squeeze the excess water out of the paper you need and place in another container. I only get out as much as i need and leave some of the water in the paper so its easier to mix with...

4. Add white glue. I use children's craft glue, just as strong as normal glue but less harmful when you get it all over you (and easier to wash out of clothes... maybe you aren't like me but im one messy lass)



Mmmmm Paper Pulpy Goodness

So here are some photos of my Buddha face that turned out looking like a Greek death mask:


Started with just a square. This was (mostly) level


Once everything was built up and curved. Buddha Greek Death Mask-isque?


Can't really see the features in these photos.


The mouth was the harder part. I'm not happy with the way it turned out but hope once the whole thing is painted it isn't as noticeable that it looks like he is pouting.


It's now Monday and he is still drying, I don't want to paint him until he is completely dry. I need to find him/make him a frame as well.

Whilst waiting for both him and Thor's hammer to dry I've been knitting like a demon. I've done just over 150 squares now and have introduce the following colours:



x

Some pages from my sketch book:


Thor's Hammer from yesterday


Buddha sketch for the paper mache wall hanging/mask i'm making this afternoon. He looks maori.


Seth's Dragon: Basic Details- Horns, Teeth, Eye


Seth's Dragon: Close up of scales


Seth's Dragon: Scales and Shading


Seth's Dragon: Done


The dragon wasn't planned, I just had the idea of making scales after playing with the bucket of paper pulp I started to make last night. I'm not sure if i want to make him as a sculpture or as a 3d wall hanging like Buddha is going to be.


Paper Mache time!

x

in the hall of the slain

i was going to use the clay i got for Easter for the necklace i've been designing for my aunt Susan... But Vikings are running rampant through my imagination and decided instead to make a clay wall hanging for one of my best mates Bjorn (Ben).

i sketched a few designs and threw caution to the wind... and this is the result.
(achtung : Camera is still on a bender so these photos are taken with the shitty phone camera)


Just adding details. Axe, Shield and Helmet.


Close up of Shield and Axe


Manly Beard


Odin's rune


More details


Drying



Once its dry, I'm going to paint it and add some more runes to the shield and a little hook to the back so it can be hung.

"They bid me to take my place amongst them in the halls of Valhalla, where the dead shall live on forever"

x

I know all about virtuosos, and trembalos, and arpeggios

LOL

The Bleeding Hearts Club

Easter Saturday was spent with family.
First train trip with my nephew Seth, All the family besides my father hoped on the train to Martin Place. From there we walked in the rain through the domain and met my Aunt Susan out the front of the NSW Art Gallery. My brothers went and saw the Tezuka: Art of Manga exhibition the rest of us had our yearly outing to the Archibald Prize.
This year, despite the portraits being well done, wasn't as stand out as the past couple of years. I have picked four of my favourites:


The Bleeding Hearts Club #1 (David Griggs)

Been a fan of David Griggs for some time and his entry this year was intimidating. Not eye level like the others it was hung above the entry into another room... Huge in size, it really did leave you in Awe.


Ben Guilty (Cherry Hood)

One of those portraits that have eyes you swear are staring into yours, The two reasons i loved this one so much was the minimalism yet detail of it, and also quite an interesting classical portrait compared to the portraits Ben Guilty himself has entered in past years.


Tim (Esther Erlich)

The portrait that best captured the subjects character in my opinion. Besides, I'm a sucker for red as red can be paint. This one was also one of Seth's favorites. He too has always loved red, when he was a few weeks old he was also hypnotised by my red hair.


Myself (Angus Nivison)

The one that appealed to me the most, Angus Nivison's work haunted my thoughts for the trip home. I put my vote in for this work for the peoples choice award.

I have always loved visiting art gallery's but to experience it with my 2 year old nephew in my arms and walking beside me, each painting took on a deeper meaning. Watching him search each canvas, pointing at colours and shapes that appealed to him... It tore at my heart. And many other patrons of the gallery to see the sweetest little blue eyed blond boy remind us all what art is... An overcrowding of the senses.

PS:
New colour for the Blankie:

Cherry Pie

four hundred and thirty two squares.

Yes thats right. Thats how many i have to knit to get my blankie the size i want it. 432.
I worked it out and was determined to spend the easter long weekend knitting my little heart but have only managed to knit 1 square.


Whats to blame?

Simon

and



and



Saw 300 last night at Fox Studios.. Lost for words. I had read so many reviews from the US about "racial prejudice" and "not true to the spartan story" but seriously, if you want a history lesson go to the library. I loved it and intend to see it at the imax very soon.

Guitar Hero? I am.

I love your chocolate.

Art stores make me feel like Augustus Gloop in the Chocolate room


Clay shall be my new bitch.

x

Rings and Balls

Simon and Lux's Facts that Belong On Juice Lids:

• its really hard to breathe when i push my boobies together
• great balls of fire would hurt
• as would a burning ring of fire
• inuit is another word for eskimo
• any fact with the word viscerial in it is a good fact
• the next generation of supertrains can travel at 223 miles per hour
• simon and laura never run out of facts
• When Eskimo babies have colds, their mothers suck the snot out of their noses
• australia says no
• People who are into Roman showers are aroused by vomit. It is said that some men of this type get their women drunk, then try to cause a gag reflex by sticking their penises down the women's throats

(simon says: hey baby want some tequila)

• simon doesnt get turned on by vomit
• laura thinks thats a lie

won't you be the new one burn to shine

Giving my aching hands a rest from the squares of pain!
The mixed pink yarn i was knitting with had a run in with my kitty Harry, leaving me to untangle a whole lot of yarn whilst hiding from her and her new cricket toy (which she was determined i should meet it seems).

Have finished my 25 mixed pink squares - next colour:


One of the knitters at the Purl Bee has inspired me to make a blanket for my Mum after i have finished this ratty raggy retro one. They call it a Manos del Uruguay Blanket:


it looks like a lot of fun and will let me play around with some stitches that i am aching to learn such as the daisy stitch:


So many projects, so little time.