ELSEWHERE

As inclination directs, we are exploring "Paris by the sea"

This is a look at our newest artists' book, As Inclination Directs. Gracia and I had a lot of fun with this one, which hopefully you can see. It sees a return to hand-colouring an edition, just like the very first artists' books we made early 2000 and onwards. An edition of ten, you'll be familiar with it from various instagram peeks and G's post, Wend One's Way, too.

As Inclination Directs is set somewhere eerily similar to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage but slightly different. With its pencil and collage editions, I think you'd be in for a disappointing surprise if you were to use this as any sort of guidebook.

Inhabitants include:
Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus
Range: E. Australia
Habitat: dry forest

Horned frog, Ceratophrys cornuta
Range: N. and central South America
Habitat: litter on forest floor

Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne corroboree
Range: Australia: Victoria, New South Wales
Habitat: mountain forest, grassy marshland

Spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum
Range: S.E. Canada, E. U.S.a to Georgia and E. Texas
Habitat: hardwood forest, hillsides near pools

Wrestling halfbeak, Dermogenys pusillus
Range: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sundra Islands
Habitat: fresh water

Least weasel, Mustela nivalis
Range: Europe, N. Africa, Asia, N, America; introduced in New Zealand
Habitat: farmland, woodland

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Rupicola peruviana
Range: Andes, N. Venezuela to N. Bolivia
Habitat: forest along river gorges

And the large bird you can see perched upon the woman's shoulder is a male Cuckoo-roller, Leptosomus discolor. Each of the ten editions will sport a different bird here.

In other news, my artists' book For Martha is to be exhibited as part of this year's 2013 Libris Awards: Australian Artists' Book Prize, at Artspace Mackay, Queensland.

For those nearby, pop along and see, do:
2013 Libris Awards: Australian Artists' Book Prize
Friday 10th of May  – Sunday 30th of June
McAleese Gallery, Artspace Mackay, 61 Gordon Street, Mackay, Queensland

10 of 1000

Of the many things I can do, crochet is not one of them. I tried but came up short. Luckily for me, Janice can crochet and so with her generous offer to help out, ten doilies were recently completed and posted to Lisa S as part of her 1,000 doilies project. Thank-you Lisa S for extending an open invitation to those who might like to help. I enjoyed trying to figure out if I could do it. I enjoyed being part of a team of helpers as I awaited the arrival of materials. Thank-you Elaine for trying to help me to crochet and for taking crochet classes to see if you could crochet. And upon discovering that it was not for you, for asking everyone you knew if they could crochet. It was very sweet of you and thorough. I guess when you can knit like this, your skill set is pretty much full. Thank-you Janice for revisiting the art of fine crochet. Without your time, skill, attention to detail, and generosity I would not have been able to send ten beautiful rings back by post.

This post is to say thank-you. And to remind myself that it is good to try new things, even if they don't pan out as expected or hoped.

To those who can crochet, knit, sew, weave, and embroider, I am in awe of you.

Looking back

Ten years before I was born, my parents travelled to India late 1965, early 1966, and this is how it looked. When my mum emailed through these scans of their slides, I could not resist the desire to share them with you here. The colours in the photos, my parents in their youth, I just adore this quartet of memories.

In other news, G's post about [Gu:t] 굿, a work in progress and a ritual and a memory of grandmothers all in one, seen as part of Dance Massive 2013, is up on Fjord Review. You can also read it, and other published pieces here.

Woof!

Afghan hounds. Mastiffs. Spaniels. Mutts. Terriers. Basenjis. Basset Hounds. Beagles. Border Collies. Greyhounds. Chihuahuas. Jack Russells. German Shepherds. Labradors. Rhodesian Ridgbacks. All manner of herding dogs, scenthounds, sighthounds, cross breeds and lapdogs. This year, I have started working as a volunteer at the RSPCA in kennels. Something I have been meaning to do for an age, now, once a fortnight, I head out to the East Burwood shelter and walk, walk, walk the many hounds and clean, clean, clean the cages. I make an effort to arrive extra early for my shift so that I can swing by and give chin-rubs to the cats in the cattery nearby. Faced with so many adorable, inquisitive, noisy, intelligent, and friendly animals, the temptation to bring one or more home with me is high. Here, posted, are several of the happy dogs I have met and walked on my recent shift.

Adopt a Dog (RSPCA Burwood East)
Percy approves

(Photos of hopefuls borrowed from the RSPCA website)