Small books

I have had fun making these little accordion books with covers. I have filled them with cut up scraps from my gelli plate experimental mono prints. I really love the way they have turned out. My circle book isnt quite right as I now realise I should have glued the end papers on differently so I will try and make another one. John is off fishing, I had a lovely walk on the beach this morning after going to the farmers market and buying kale and egg plant, I havent tried kale before. While I was walking on the beach I saw the tips of a ray breaking the surface of the water as he swam (flew?) over the reef in shallow water. I found that really exciting to see. Once years ago I virtually flew over the water to get to the boat as while snorkeling a huge, at least 6 foot across ray rose up out of the sand under me in relatively shallow water, a stingray sting can kill you. the fellows thought it was terribly funny but they hadnt seen the size of the thing. The one I saw today would only have been a small one.

From my sketchbook

Trees are shedding their leaves, we had hot hot days this summer, a lot of rain in spring and early summer, not a lot lately but some and a lot of wind. reflected in my tree in the above sketch. My little female blue wren was a bit faint so I hope you can see her, there are so many in my garden, the minute I weed or dig a hole they are there looking for small insects. I love them and their lovely blue males. Very cold today, I cant believe it, went over to see Tab and they had a fire! I almost wish for one here.

Back to a bit of painting

I had a vase of blue and purple flowers in the guest bedroom and before they died I wanted to make a small watercolor painiting, here it is, a few mistakes but on the whole as I havent really painted for months I was relatively pleased with it. We walked this morning, a glorious autumn morning, warming up a little but very pleasant.

Stretching

I havent managed to write in this blog for ages, part of the problem is how to upload photos or in this case paintings, I need to find a good editing program as picasa is being hopeless and not doing what it used to do. I havent had time to sit and go through how to fix the problem either, Any ideas would be welcome. Any way I felt the need to add some paint to paper and this is the result, in reality it is much brighter than this but I cant get it any better. We have friends staying from Western Australia today, havent seen them in an age so it is lovely to catch up. Feeding and thinking of food, I think I am going slightly dotty, once upon a time I did it all so easily, but I think I am getting better at it. So long as I stick to easy tried and true recipes, and dont drink too much which I dont normally do, that is when things fall in a heap! Better get this up and go and entertain, well be ready to after they have all had an afternoon ziz!

Playing with pencils

Feeling the need to be silly. Keeping up some sketching play a monster and feet and faces what else? Oh a leafy thing. Yesterday I cleaned out the old green house which threatened to fall on my face, very tiring and something bit me but at least the roof didnt fall in and I have managed to get rid of a lot of old pots and find a few plants that are saveable. I havent managed to get out there over the last couple of years so at least I managed that. To day I am recovering.