In a recent post about process I asked:
Am I just more of a verbal person than a visual one?
My career has dealt with the written word: translating, editing, writing, researching — things that were always encouraged, that came naturally without a lot of struggle. Certainly no one ever urged me to go to art school, nor did I think of it for myself.
My birth family placed great store on social activism, awareness of issues and politics. Although with a different perspective, so does Grandpa X, who was watching the news on TV when we first met.
My visual approach to life has made me look like a total airhead on a number of occasions.
When I was out with my father, I saw a line of clothes drying, stretched along a roof line between two chimneys. To me this was a very impressive image in itself, my father just said “How difficult it must be to raise children in those circumstances.”
Grandpa X and I were watching CNN one day and an interview with a turbaned Iraqi cleric came on. I immediately blurted out “I’ve already seen this the other day, I remember that wall!” (The wall in question was worn stucco with amazing weathering on it.)
But now I’m resolved not to feel inadequate because of this tendency. It’s just who I am, and really not to be taken as proof that I’m someone that doesn’t give a bleep.
Yes, it’s a town eat town world in the Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve
Just finished Mortal Engines and can’t wait to read Predator’s Gold and any others he may have written.
Although this is likely to be shelved in the Young Adult section of the library it’s a thought provoking book with plausible characters and some laugh out loud humour too.
Coincidentally Philip Reeve was born in my hometown of Brighton, apropos of absolutely nothing! And Brighton does not figure in Mortal Engines, although I think the Royal Pavilion would make a perfect town-topper! You just have to read the book to find out.
We’re used to art in public places, 
like this mosaic in the Lonsdale Quay Market in North Vancouver, which was made by young people in an arts apprenticeship program.
Poetry in public places is less familiar. So I wanted to share this by Victoria’s Poet Laureate Linda Rogers.
They are a custom made cover for the free-flloating stainless steel globe sculpture at Government and Fisgard Streets, coincidentally next to Satin Moon. In past winters, the globe was removed because of the damage of freezing; this is a much more elegant and eloquent solution!
Today’s feels more like an illustration. I used the ruling pen but tried not to get any large blotches where I didn’t want them. This was somewhat inspired by illustrations in a children’s book, Freight Train by Donald Crews published in 1978 by Greenwillow Books, but I will have to look at the illustrations to be more confident about showing more than just the smokestack! When the drawing was finished I realized it could be mistaken for a hat.
First off, I love what I do for a living! Would I sometimes like less deadlines and more money? Yes, but wouldn’t we all? I enjoy editing people’s work so that others will want to read it, and it makes sense and reflects well upon the speaker or writer. There’s plenty of variety, some drama, and the challenge of researching terms of art and acronyms.
Still, it’s satisfying to come to the end of this year’s deadline-driven assignments and know that everything is submitted and dealt with. Plus I’ve been juggling next year’s calendar with its meeting dates since October so it’s a relief to have one less large piece of cardboard to handle every day.
at long last the baby challenge quilt has been birthed and now that I can see it as a single piece as opposed to blocks laid out next to each other, I’m liking it better and feeling that hopefully the family that ultimately receives it will like it to, or at least not totally hate it.
Photos of the finished quilt will appear sometime next week. In the meantime (1) I have to play by the Quilt Guild rules and (2) it still has to be quilted and stitched closed.
So for now, the photo above shows what it does NOT look like! I realized in time that the black and white pebbly fabric is not a good background. There’s enough blocks with it in to make a doll’s quilt, which is probably what I’ll do with it, AFTER finishing the projects I committed to finish.
My slogan for this year was “Create and Complete,” and I need to keep it for 2010 too at this rate!
Decided that posting pix of stash is probably counter productive because in reveling in stash and my plans for it I fool my mind into believing I actually accomplished something. Something other than shopping, that is.
The stupiphany of the day hit me like a ton of bricks. A thought that came out of nowhere as I was taking a short walk enjoying fresh air and sunshine this morning.
I finally realized that it’s a good thing that I can’t sing.
Never in my whole life was I ever allowed to be in a choir or a chorus. In high school I was told to mouth the words for the Christmas concert so as not to ruin the performance of the other 599 girls! When my son was two he was already telling me not to sing. Apparently even my humming is off key, although it sounds perfect to me.
Today I realized that if I could sing this would be one more distraction in my life. I have enough trouble with the things I am blessed to be able to do. If I was always rushing off to practice with the Sweet Adelines I probably wouldn’t be as good at writing, art, or quilting. And given that Islamic worship takes a different (and to me less distracting) form, I might miss choral music.
Anyone who thinks this book is portraying them as a cow, a pig, or a donkey need not sue for defamation. Politicians, take note!
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