Life is a Trip Hazard!!!

I had a lovely 'trip' to the Isle of Wight last weekend with Mr T. Whilst there I expressed the urge to visit  Fresh Water Bay to get a little wind in my hair.

The weather was wonderful, and this spot an archetypal seaside scene - although away from the beach not very picturesque, but rather functional. Near the  rather unattractive boat house we spotted this sign.

I should have photographed it at the time, but it seemed a rather unlikely subject, but it left us chuckling as I have been known to trip over my own shadow - or turn my ankle on a sixpence (a small coin that was around in the 'olden days'.

I thought it might be a good idea if all children were issued with a Trip Hazard warning card before they took their first steps.  It might stop a lot of unnecessary legislation.  In the meantime I have designed this rather fetching tee-shirt for fellow trippers.  It may  help companions be aware and make sure that ice-packs and and compress bandages are packed before that walk to the paper shop in the morning.

Significant 'trips'

Age 7 - head first down stone steps triggering life long fear of stairs

Age 27 -  during engagement to Mr T skipping along arm in arm for joy ( he didn't save me from falling - but readers, I married him)

Age 37 - jumping down the last couple of steps at the local shopping centre in anticipation of pay-day spending and ending up at A&E in an ambulance, worrying as I had only paid for an hour in the car park.

Age 57 - when I thought a bit of power walking would be good for me and turning my ankle on a piece of gravel - as I headed for the deck I was worrying about making a hole in my new trousers, but just managed to  head-butt the pavement and acquire magnificent facial bruises - but saved my trousers.

Oh and last year I managed to forget we had two steps at the turn at the bottom of the stairs - well you can guess.

Luckily no broken bones.

(Ages subject to poetic licence)

Attention grabbing

I've been away for an extra long weekend with family. Although I love the company I do miss my access to blog land and my journal 'stuff''. I did take my sketch book and a fat pencil case, but it is my camera that comes into it's own when I am away from home. I need to down load them and do some editing. I will have plenty of material to keep my flickr pages active.  But I am looking forward to getting down to some 'concrete' picture making. Meanwhile here are some echinacea which have had a bit of 'virtual' treatment. Thanks to all those who have commented on my blog so far, it's much appreciated.

therapy

I felt a bit grim yesterday with a sinus head, but when the sun came out in the afternoon took myself down to our local park for some fresh air and a stroll. I hadn't taken the camera out for a while so it was a good opportunity. The sun was beautiful and it was just the sort of afternoon that I gave up work to enjoy.  The flowerbed are just at the point of 'going over' and there were some gardeners discussing which beds they were going to clear first, but these rudbeckia and nepeta were so striking I had to get down on my hands and knees for some close-ups,  my back does not appreciate me bending down to home in on my subjects.  I should have done some sketches as the form of these flowers cry out for a bit of pen work - was tempted to pluck a couple to bring home, especially as they are soon to be dug up - but I don't approve of vandalism. We are very lucky in Luton to have a brilliant parks department. Although some parts of the town are pretty grim, we have some excellent parks and many roundabouts are beautifully planted out.

By  the time I got home my headache was nearly gone and I had a good crop of photos.

Splatter patterns

Since starting to keeping an art journal and making lots of collages on a regular basis my clothes, incuding all this year's tee shirts have aquired interesting spatter patterns mainly from opening bottles of gesso and acrylic paint that have got a bit gummed up - sooooo ....

+

I promised myself I would always wear an apron when doing my art work - so now my clothes have a more exclusive spatter pattern- ( Pics inspired by Cathy's - hope you don't mind)

Trying something new

I have finished my photography course and now have time to give rein to all my other art projects. I try to do something everyday, but I still feel as if I am indulging myself and should be carrying out a domestic task so I try to do something worthy round the house or garden before allowing myself an art session.

I have been fascinated by the collages, art journals, art cards and so on which abound on flickr and numerous blogs, so determined to have a go myself. This little picture is made in a cheap 6"x4" photography frame with the glass removed. I covered the whole thing, frame and backing with torn news print and layered it with gesso, acrylic colour washes and neocrayon. The collage consist of some leaves I have collected from the garden, magazine and paper bits. The little girl comes from the suzie que flickr free download pages. Flourishes were added with felt paints and a bit of stamping ink. I wasn't sure it worked until I photographed it, but looking at this it I am quite pleased. I pressed the leaves by ironing them between cartridge paper and them leaving them under a weight for a couple of days. Traditionally pressing flowers takes several weeks, but this seems to have worked - only time will tell if they last. I have a nice selection to use.

September

September is an emotive time of year especially for those involved with schools all their lives like me. It has always associated with new beginnings for me, even more than January. Seeing the school children making their way for the new term this morning made me think of new books and sharp pencils and new resolutions for the term ahead.
I conveniently forget the weeks of planning, sorting, ordering stock, relining pinboards for displays and staff-meetings and records, records, records to read and start to fill in.
In the 'old' days I also enjoyed starting the new class register with its red zig-zags and blue 'O' s. I always joked that I only wanted to be a teacher so I could keep a register. I used to make my own from my dad's spare football pool coupons - something else only fellow uk readers of my generation will know (Do they have them any more?). Now the register is computerised and far less romantic.
When I was a school-girl myself, I loved walking to school on September mornings when there was a morning dew.The cobwebs on the front garden shrubs would be magically transformed to diamond necklaces and the air would be scented with chrysanthemums and damp leaves. There was often a early morning chill with the promise of warm sunshine. The leaves would be starting to turn and the pavements were often slippery with berries and ripe fruits shed from overhanging trees. As I generally walked to school by myself I was able to keep in touch with my nature-loving self - not too cool for a young teenager if in the company of her classmates.
This is my second September since retiring - I was looking forward to a glorious Sepember last year, but it did nothing but rain and was gloomy most of the time, so may be this year will be glorious. The leaves seem to be turning early and the blustery weather is putting paid to the apples. They are being blown down before we can pick them and then they get bruised and won't keep.
I found the quote from Alexander Theroux on the internet, and although it does not quite match my sentiments voiced above - there is that whistful feel of summer's done.

Thanks sis

My sister sent me this shopper she has made using one of my favourite photographs I took whilst visiting her on the Isle of White. She is extremely talented with her sewing machine and I am sure she should sell things she has made. The trouble is she is not very into selling herself and you do have to have a certain mindset to market yourself. Still I thought this was well worth showing off, I hope you think so too. She has some fabric that you can put into your printer and print directly rather than make a transfer.

Here is the original photograph from my flickr page.