Month: July 2015

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Open House Melbourne

Opening Doors, Opening Minds

Since 2008, Open House Melbourne has been connecting people with good design and architecture in the city.

People are invited to explore outstanding houses, buildings, infrastructure and landscapes that illustrate our rich history, reflect how we live and work, and offer insights into our future city. This is done through our annual free weekend at the end of July and through a series of accessible, informative and entertaining talks, tours, workshops and events throughout the year.

The Weekend puts a spotlight on the unique spaces and places that form the foundation of Melbourne, providing an opportunity for you to consider what makes Melbourne unique. The Weekend showcases buildings of significance in a free and accessible format so everyone can experience the value of good design and architecture, and consider what makes a liveable city.

The dates for this year’s Open House Melbourne Weekend are 25 and 26 July 2015.  You will need to get in quick to book your favourite buildings as some are already booked out. Go to their website at www.openhousemelbourne.org

Open House 2

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The Hand Embroidery of Textile Artist Gilda Baron

Gilda Baron has a unique style of textile art, which bursts out of the frame with life and vitality.  The techniques she uses include fabric dyeing, batik, hand and machine embroidery, hand made felt and applied pieces.  It is wonderful the effects she creates. I found her work through a Talking Threads YouTube workshop .  More of her work can be found on her website – www.gildabaron.com

 

GBaron1

Country Garden 64 x53cm
Country Garden 64 x53cm

 

 

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Be Yourself

Simple post for today.  Be yourself and enjoy your life.  I have spent the day sorting paperwork for for my father to try to ensure a smooth and quick transfer from his current apartment into residential age care as he is now not able to be alone. Watching him deteriorate has made me realise that you really do need to seize the day! It has also made me very aware of how long Centrelink forms are and how complex.  If he was alone there is no way he could have jumped the bureaucratic hoops and put all the information together. A good reason to have children!! 🙂

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Knitting Meditation

Enjoying knitting meditation on this grey Canberra day.  I am finding it such a great way to relax whilst sitting with dad who now sleeps most of the time. The fingerless gloves are for my daughter who found this lovely cabled pattern )although I am adding ribbing both ends). If you would like the pattern visit http://cholak.net/delia/IrishHikingWW.pdf .

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Find your inner artist

Great quote, so many of us loose touch with our inner child as we age.   As children we love making some type of art – painting, singing, writing, dancing, playing music or making things. But for many of us  busy lives take over, people tell us we are or aren’t good enough and other activities take over our spare time.

Through our school years we hear that our picture of a our friends don’t look like them. You start to notice people get excited about your friends singing but not about yours. Creating got stressful, nerve wracking and created the fear of not being good enough.

So here’s what we must do if we want the joy of making art back. We must reclaim our artistic loves –

  • because creating is rewarding, fun and calming, all at the same time.
  • because it’s spiritual, healing, transformative
  • because it will help your physical health by reducing the effects of  stress
  • because it will make you a kinder, more generous person to be around.

And if there are kids in your life – let them see an adult, happily creating for the joy of it.