high up in the trees

the same but different project pt.5

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT - 17 objects selected and drawn by gracia & louise
A collection of small drawings of everyday items from around our home.

GH - Medium: pen & ink on 200gsm Velata Avorio, Magnani wove book paper
Dimensions: 14 X 18 cm
LJ - Medium: watercolour, pencil and pearl-ex pigment on 300gsm cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions: 10 X 15 cm
(with photo of the actual object)

Object Ten: I ♥ NY souvenir pencil, unused

Object Eleven: The Rosetta Stone as eraser, from the British Museum, also unused

Don't forget to head on over to Louise's elsewhere blog to see more of the same things... only different.

fish fry & cookie

Late Sunday, early Monday.
A busily pleasant weekend of pleasantly busy activity. Eating out with friends at Cookie and receiving our bill in a Peter Pan Little Golden Book... My own childhood collection of Little Golden Books had their golden spines rubbed off with affection. Ohh, the memories of idle childhood, hazy days, when you could spend the time drawing on coasters underneath the table of adults amidst the tangle of feet.

Took in a movie at the Nova with friends - Syriana (the official site, with a link to Oil Change - a campaign to reduce our dependence on oil via Participate). Many parts zoomed over my head, and not just because we were sitting in the absolute front row, off to the right hand side. Entire scenes were lost to distortion as faces blurred into a sea of obscurity. For a film that requires concentration - sit in a good spot! And a possie preferably far, far away from other patrons who choose to rummage through their bag and inspect the contents found underneath their own fingernails, all the while sharing an armrest with you. Right up there next to the person who likes to state the obvious and provide a running commentary or the loud chewing gobbler or mobile phone gabbler, is the perpetual fiddler... and I don't mean in an indecent way, rather the type of fiddling that entails repeated hair twirling, thigh twitching, elbow scratching, leg swaying, shirt tugging, lip smacking type of twitcher oblivious to all... or in my case, the type of cinematic patron who sees fit to dig for ear wax repeatedly and with such enthusiasm. Seeing George Clooney's blurry face on the far side of the screen through the fingers of the person to my left busily cleaning matter from their ears is not equal to cinematic pleasure (and, no, Louise was sitting to my right).

Further weekend highlights included a spot of goldfish bowl watching... not an ordinary or especially weekendy thing to do, but there was a reason for it - we believe one of our three goldfish to be in the family way. Having recently moved Miss Lemon and Hastings to a bigger bowl, leaving the poppy eyed Poirot to stretch his fins and work his little gray cells in privacy, we've noticed a small, gluey looking clear sack forming on one of the plants, prompting us to ask:"Are we soon to be blessed with a little school of baby fish? And, just who is the father?". Perhaps they will be black like Poirot or perhaps our little Miss Lemon is actually a Mr Lemon in cunning disguise... It's one big Christie-esque mystery to us, which has caused us to literally trawl the web for fabulous and not so fabulous fishy sites. We've been gathering information on feeding the fry courtesy of Glimmering Goldfish... and learning quite a few wee facts, such as "Goldfish are quite intelligent and will recognize the person who feeds them. They will show they know you by swimming rapidly back and forth when you are near the tank or splashing". And also that once the little tykes have hatched they require "copious amounts of live food. Feed them on a diet of infusorians, newly hatched brine shrimp, and sifted daphnia. Liquefy, boiled egg yolk fed through a stocking and after a week finely powdered dry food may also be fed". All in all, not too much work then!

Apparently the mops must be promptly removed and placed in another bowl where the eggs can hatch into tiny goldfish fry. So we've removed our mop and Mr Om-AHH-r is keeping an ever watchful eye on the soon to be little tackers. That being said, we're not sure we actually even have a mop on our hands... it may turn out to be a mere jelly sack of fungus that we've spent the entire weekend checking up on. Have we got a sack of isolated fish fungus in a bowl in our kitchen or will it one day turn into a school of fish who perhaps we can train to become scaly athletes...

In our search to find out the particulars of accidental goldfish breeding, aside from coming across a hideous array of graphics, we found a little e-book imaginatively titled Fish School Manual which equips you with the skills to "train your fish to perform cool tricks". Never before had you thought it possible to teach your fish to limbo or ever dabble in a spot of soccer... well now you can, and for a steal as well - $5.95, complete with a THEME SONG armed with amusing lyrics. Find out more at the National Geographic Kids site or check out the fish who started the craze - Mr Albert Einstein, the world's smartest three year-old calico fantail goldfish via his very own webcam - I kid you not.

Will keep you posted on the progress. Is Poirot the Pappa fish? Are they even fish eggs? So many questions that need answering and all from one short weekend time period. For our friends G&A... here's our local cat welcoming committee:

And for those who've admired the local felines who so frequently grace these pages, behold, MAX, the oldest resident on the block... sunning himself on a garden stool fashioned from an old tractor seat (Isn't he beautiful!).

the same but different project pt.4

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT - 17 objects selected and drawn by gracia & louise
A collection of small drawings of everyday items from around our home.

GH - Medium: pen & ink on 200gsm Velata Avorio, Magnani wove book paper
Dimensions: 14 X 18 cm
LJ - Medium: watercolour, pencil and pearl-ex pigment on 300gsm cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions: 10 X 15 cm
(with photo of the actual object)

Object Eight: H.R.H. Edward Prince of Wales badge, 1920 - a favourite badge

Object Nine: An unopened bottle of Parker black ink

we're insideout

Ahh Thursday, sweet Thursday - so good it gets two postings. With a peaceful start to the day... no little Mishi, our adopted stray cat and back garden lodger, howling at the window for an early (5am) breakkie... today began at a leisurely pace.

My favourite type of morning... watching the pigeons, silver eyes, family of blackbirds and tiny sparrows negotiate the swinging bird-feeder, listening to the woman several doors down rehearse her operatic scores, the neighbourhood cats climbing over the back fence for a visit complete with a rub around the whiskers, swilling my 2nd morning coffee in the dappled sunlight, hanging out singlets on the clothes line. A morning start second only to reading the weekend papers at a slow pace on a Sunday morning in bed. It feels like the opening moments of Hitchcock's Rear Window, when all the neighbourhood is awake and busy... and it's going to be a long, hot day. Except without the suspense, murder and plaster cast... actually without a lot of things, Grace Kelly's wardrobe, the apartment view and a guest appearance by a balding man better known in profile. Yes, it's a bit like that.

Moving right along, we're (hammer & daisy) in the latest copy of InsideOut (March/April)... a friend spotted our loot, courtesy of Iris & Hazel, on p.150, spilling forth beautiful Stila content. Ahh!

And now, as Louise always remarks: "We must have the hairiest stock there is", here is 'Olla-Bolla Bolshevik' adding some furry goodness to the next batch of journal covers:

And here's a finished pile of journals from today:

Here, too, are my hands after knotting:

And finally, one of the locals - seeking a spot of shade in the front garden. Cooling his armpits on the slate, with his little ginger body wrapped around the rubbish bin - meet Casanova from number 86:

More of the 'same' to follow soon.

the same but different project pt.3

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT - 17 objects selected and drawn by gracia & louise
A collection of small drawings of everyday items from around our home.

GH - Medium: pen & ink on 200gsm Velata Avorio, Magnani wove book paper
Dimensions: 14 X 18 cm
LJ - Medium: watercolour, pencil and pearl-ex pigment on 300gsm cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions: 10 X 15 cm
(with photo of the actual object)

Object Five: Exelpet All-Wormer Tablets for Cats

Object Six: Buddha card taken from the small box that sits on the shelf at yoga

Object Seven: 30th Birthday gift tag from a bottle of french champagne from M&D

the same but different project pt.2

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT - 17 objects selected and drawn by gracia & louise
A collection of small drawings of everyday items from around our home.

GH - Medium: pen & ink on 200gsm Velata Avorio, Magnani wove book paper
Dimensions: 14 X 18 cm
LJ - Medium: watercolour, pencil and pearl-ex pigment on 300gsm cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions: 10 X 15 cm
(with photo of the actual object)

Object Three: Much loved Iggy & Lou Lou necklace of a nibbling squirrel

Object Four: Astor Theatre ticket stub (possibly from the screening of White Zombie accompanied by the Blue Grassy Knoll... who knows?)

the same but different project

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT - 17 objects selected and drawn by gracia & louise
A collection of small drawings of everyday items from around our home.

Wanna see this project from the other side... head on over to Louise's elsewhere blog for the full inspection. Further collaborative endeavours and limited edition artists' books can also be dug up, as always, at gracialouise.com.

And now for the specifics:
GH - Medium: pen & ink on 200gsm Velata Avorio, Magnani wove book paper
Dimensions: 14 X 18 cm
LJ - Medium: watercolour, pencil and pearl-ex pigment on 300gsm cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions: 10 X 15 cm
(with photo of the actual object)

Object One: Nemar Sparkling Cachous (not so frequently called upon to decorate cupcakes and various birthday treats)

Object Two: A familiar packet of Wrigley's PK chewing gum

amateur sleuth

He's no Miocene, just a little mousey critter complete with the remnants of a bottle of recently swilled French Champagne and a Cheetah cat body.

Eagerly awaiting Sunday night... Agatha Christie: Poirot - The Mystery Of The Blue Train (8:30pm  Sunday, February 19... plus Agatha Christie: Poirot - After The Funeral, February 26 AND Agatha Christie: Poirot - Cards On The Table,  March 5). In the meantime why don't you hone your rusty detective skills and bone up on all things Agatha here at the official site. Or, steal a look at these First Edition beauties. Snap up the first edition of Death on the Nile for a song, a mere £ 13500.00 and it's all yours or get your mits on Cards on the Table for £ 1183.62 - you'd be a fool to let that pass through your fingers. Feast your peepers on these and many more covers here.

Well, that's all for today... it's been a long week trying to implement/decipher/abide by this (see below):

... the Buddha card I picked up after yoga on Monday (personally, I've have a gut full of "mental anguish"). I attempted a second dip into the box of gold cards and scored this: "If you are maligned by the world, do not harbour bad thoughts against it" Sammaparibbajaniya Sutta. Think I'll go back to the first one and head off to Aprilmay for a celebratory drink, after all who could pass up an invite sent in such a beautiful envelope littered with birds... there's no "greater happiness".

electricity pylons, harlequins & great auks

You've seen the Wednesday collages... NOW, PREPARE TO BE LOST FOR HOURS... there's something for everyone at the Museum of Online Museums. You'll find great links to various collections such as the International Collection of Old Phone Books, Gallery of International Electricity Pylons ( yes, such a gallery does indeed exist - so if you were thinking of starting up the First Gallery of Pylons, it's already been done), the World's Largest Collection of Smallest Things and Gallery of Early Harlequin Paperback Cover Art (find a few personal favourites below)...

The list goes on... Antique Mouse & Rat Trap Gallery, Manhole Covers of the Worlds (presumably both this world AND the others) and Icelandic Postcard Collection (here's a few highlights, Katla, póstlagt/posted 1921, Geysir in Ölfus, with thanks to Mr. Árni Gunnarsson and The last great auk, captured in Iceland in 1818)...

Still hankering for another Museum, and lets face it why on earth wouldn't you be, head to the Museum of Coathangers (which would surely be appalled at my wire coat hanger usage obtained via frequent trips to the drycleaners). Found via Things Magazine of course, where you'll find numerous handy links to eccentric collections of Ideal Human Powered Vehicles, the Cloud Appreciation Society and other delights - go there IMMEDIATELY.

Gotta go have some breakfast now... it's nearly 2pm, CS & RB would be appalled.

various odds & ends

Late Monday - early Tuesday: The gaps between postings has increased, as has the canyon between drawings and collages. Here, however, are two more. Again inspired by the pages of Prehistoric Mammals of Australia and New Guinea, One hundred million years of Evolution (Long, Archer, Flannery, Hard). This time around we have a Miocene bandicoot Yarala burchfieldi and a Miocene rat-kangaroo Hypsiprymnodon bartholomaii (reconstructed on p.150, in the beautifully titled chapter Kangaroos: hoppers, snippers and rippers).

Completely unrelated... ever wondered what you'd look like if you made a guest appearance on the Simpsons? Head to the Simpsomaker to whip up a little Simpson you and your loved ones, near and dear.

Why don't you also check out humus, watch or download previous issues found via camilla engman's blog (where you’ll find many beautiful things, including the photogenic Morran).

Or get your hands on a copy of Albertus Seba's Cabinet of Natural curiosities, The complete plates in colour, 1734 - 1765... a four volume catalogue detailing his entire collection - "from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, insects, butterflies and more, as well as fantastic beasts such as a seven-headed hydra" (Find Louise thumbing through the pages of her new copy on our new flickr album).

Well, it's been a big birthday weekend, so that's all for now... except because it's now VALENTINE'S DAY, why don't you steal a peek at some old postcards here... where you'll find beautiful ones like My Muse Forever 1, 1907... Or read about Bunny Grey & Rosie (The Very Special Valentine, Maggie Kneen).

from the mixing bowl

With Louise's 30th looming ever closer (the 11th), this morning entailed baking a Devil's Food Cake and some Heart Shaped Scones (in honour of Valentines Day) over at my parents place... for an "it's almost your birthday" afternoon surprise.

Just incase you wish to make your own Devil's Food Cake (Which can also be found listed under the imaginary chapter "Dentist's Little Helper - foods to rot your teeth"), here's how:

From The Essential Baking Cookbook, Murdoch Books

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Total cooking time: 35 minutes
Makes: 1 layered cake

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (280g/9oz) soft brown sugar
1/3 cup (40g/1 1/4oz) cocoa powder
1 cup (250ml/8fl oz) milk
90g (3oz) dark chocolate, chopped
125g (4oz) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups (185g/6oz) plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Chocolate Icing
50g (1 3/4oz) dark chocolate, chopped
30g (1oz) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon icing sugar

Filling
1 cup (250ml/8fl oz) cream
1 tablespoon icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1. Preheat the oven to warm 160˚C (315˚F/Gas 2-3). Lightly grease two deep 20 cm (8 inch) round cake tins and line the bases with baking paper. Combine a third of the brown sugar with the cocoa and milk in a small saucepan. Stir over a low heat until the sugar and cocoa have dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, stirring until it is melted. Cool.

2. Cream the remaining brown sugar with the butter in a small bowl with electric beaters until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and egg yolks and the cooled chocolate mixture. Transfer to a large bowl, and stir in the sifted flour and bicarbonate of soda.

3. Beat the egg whites in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Fold into the chocolate mixture. Divide the mixture evenly between the tins. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cakes comes clean. Leave in the tins for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.

4. For the icing, put the chocolate and butter in a heat proof bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure it does not touch the water, and stir until the mixture is melted and smooth. Gradually add the sifted icing sugar and stir until smooth.

5. For the filling, whip the cream, icing sugar and vanilla in a small bowl with electric beaters until soft peaks form. Spread over one of the cold cakes, top with the second cake and spread with icing, over the top or top and sides.

The end result:

And now for a trusty foundation scone recipe all the way from 1969:

Scones, Cookery - The Australian Way

Number of scones: 12
Oven temperature: 450˚
Cooking time: 7-10 minutes
Cooking utensils: greased oven tray

Ingredients:
1/2 lb s.r. flour (2cups)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
6 oz milk

1. Weigh and measure ingredients
2. Sift flour and salt
3. Rub in butter with finger tips.
4. Mix into a soft dough, using nearly all the milk.
5. Turn on to a lightly floured board, and knead to a smooth shape.
6. Roll out 1/2 inch thick, and cut into shapes using a cutter or knife.
7. Place on oven tray and glaze tops with milk.
8. Bake until golden brown. To test, sides of scones should be set.
9. Lift on to a cake cooler. Cover with clean tea-towel if desired.

Two dental appointments await us on the horizon but not before we hit the POST SUGAR BLUES... enjoy the weekend!

evolutionary tails & water woes

Disheartened to hear we are not the GREAT WATER SAVERS we thought we were, we are trying to pull our socks up so that our next phone call from City West Water does not commence with "Hello, do you have a swimming pool because you can't possibly be a 2 person household!?". We're completely dumbfounded over the matter... no dishwasher, no operating washing machine (it's merely a broken relic that takes up space near the bathroom), no excessive use of running water to clean our teeth... and a water wise garden to boot. Does this mean we are no longer entitled to carry our eco friendly "I'm a water saver" bag to the supermarket? So, starting now, we are going to try to bring our monthly water usage to a healthier figure... failing that we'll have to relocate.

Enough grumbling... here's two new drawings for you, inspired by a recent thumb through the pages of Prehistoric Mammals of Australia and New Guinea, One hundred million years of Evolution (Long, Archer, Flannery, Hard). A drawing based on "a reconstruction of an as yet unnamed wooly ringtail possum from Miocene sediments at Riversleigh" AND "a reconstruction of an unnamed pliocene dendromurine from Rackham's Roost, Riversleigh" found in the beautifully named chapter Rats & Mice: Nimble Gnawers from the North. It's fair to say you can expect to see a few more over the next little bit.

And finally, here's some recommended places to explore at your leisure... Farm animals and their human owners (found via Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things). I loved it so much I had to include four:

The BO2 Bench by Thoms & Nilsson (found via Charles & Marie: The Quintessential Lifestyle Navigator) which enables you to sit with company or all on your lonesome:

Almost Naked Animals for a laugh AND Ink Forest to flick through the pages of a collaborative Sketchbook Swap:

Plus the essential interactive game Kusama's World of Dots, find a link here at the Queensland Art Gallery. You'll find plenty more dots at her site here too.