The sweatshop artist

 I am working in a sweatshop - literally!  I have gone from the horrible, dry, off-the-desert, heat of Melbourne, to an exceptional bout of horrible, humid, no-respite-from-rain, heat of Brisbane. Both are my idea of hell.  Give me cold, ice, snow and cold wind any time.  Since I can't do anything too strenuous without losing my eyesight from all the sweat dribbling from my hair to my eyes, I have hunkered down with fan and air-conditioner going ( I know!  I am a sinner and contributing to the fate of the world.  I'l  try better tomorrow, I promise!) and have been sewing madly, while listening to recorded books.


I have made a lot of little artist booklets to sell on ebay.  I am really pleased with the way they have turned out.  Each is individual - I'd never be able to get the same pattern on the paper or the "bobble" again.  Each of the covers is eco-dyed with a  different ingredient and in some, the prints of strawberries, mulberries, apples, stems, leaves or onion skins is very clear. Each booklet has three sections to it made of eco-dyed paper, and then pages made from either Japanese paper or newsprint.  The  bobbles are made of found objects- bottle caps, wood, shells.   I am going to use my one for drawing in and making notes for new works, but I suppose they could be used as note books, shopping list books, diaries or just coffee table books since they are so interesting to look at.

 

        

I am also rather pleased with how a new experiment is working out.  I took a lot of watercolours I was not happy with, and ripped them into sections to glue together to form a new picture:

Then, I photocopied part of the picture onto some fabric using the method I described in an earlier blog.

 Next, I fused the picture onto some wadding.   I started to "paint" the picture using the sewing machine.

And when I had finished, I had what looked like a woven picture.













Now, I need to decide how to finish the piece off!


 I have been continuing with my sampler quilt at night.  Embroidering madly while we watch crappy tv.  I am deciding that I really like the way it is turning out, and wondering if I could bear to make a bigger one.











I haven't been able to get my dyes yet because Batik Oetero doesn't resume business until the end of the month, but I have taped up some water-colour paper, ready for a new project.  Unfortunately, I haven't yet got the image quite right in my mind.  Time I took the dogs for a meditative, if hot, walk for inspiration.

And, I have been inspired to cook again after Bob made me one of his spectacular breakfasts last weekend.  Poached eggs with anchovies.  Sounds weird, but trust me, the anchovies are on a par with bacon at its best.  After eating and looking at his creation, I am convinced that cooking is an art.

After watching Nigella on tv, and sending Bob into guffaws with my sexy rendition of her style, I made a version of her Mackerel with yellow sultanas, pine-nuts and marsala and spaghetti.  Very yummy in a sweet and salty way.

Inspired by a friend's attempt at okomogoyaki, we trundled out in the heat to our local Asian supermarket, specialising in Japanese and Korean food, "Good Morning Asian Grocery" in Gympie Rd, Chermside, to get our ingredients (love the name of the store).  Now this was a success!  I reckon it tasted better than the one we got in the market in Kyoto.  I'll do that again!


And now I am off for that inspirational walk!