Thursday, February 05, 2009

Other Loves

I've been blog reading today instead of creating - that and designing my new house and tidying my "studio".
I'm taking Katherine's "thinking is work" to heart. I've a number of ideas going on in my mind and I'm trying to decide how to bring them to fruition.



This bamboo grows in the lower part of the compound at work. I am a keen gardener (job of my dreams would be to be a landscape gardener in the style of Diarmuid Gavin - the Brit readers of this may know him). And bamboo is one of my favourite plants, it is incredibly sculptural and can add structure while retaining an untameable quality. It grows like a weed (preferably plant it in a container sunk into the ground to contain its roots) - and comes in many shapes, colours and sizes. There are two different ones here that I have seen - one that is yellow and has green stripes on it that look like paint dribbles . And this one which grows to about 50ft high and was so fat that I could not encircle one stem with both hands!



Another love of mine is needlework. I have been sewing as long as I have been painting. I remember making dolls clothes when I was 6 using the scraps from a dress my mother made me. I also embroider and have long wanted to learn long and short embroidery. I started this iris on a scrap piece of fabric. Now of course I wish I had done it on something better! Still its good practice. You use several colours of 6 strand embroidery silk and start with 2 strands of one colour and then when you move to the next you use one strand of your first colour and one strand of your second. And then the next shade will be two strands of your second and so it goes until you have a very subtle change of colours like shading with paint.

11 comments:

Stacy said...

Anita, I enjoyed reading about your other loves. Interesting how they are both a different means of artistic expression. And your iris is lovely! Too bad about using a scrap piece of paper. How many times have we all started a drawing or painting on a scrap piece of paper only to wish we had used our "good" materials later? And by we I definitely mean me. :D

Lisa Lorenz said...

Hi Anita, Enjoyed reading about your other passions. I love bamboo too...I enjoy gardening, but its hard work. I love your needlework. What great yellows and shading. take care have a nice evening. xxox Lisa

Billie Crain said...

Anita, your needle work is beautiful! so delicate.

Bamboo...i love it too but it can get away from you so fast. it's as bad as mint in the garden. still...it's a fabulous plant to look at.

Teresa Mallen said...

Yes, thinking definitely qualifies as 'work'! :-) Love your needlework!!

Anonymous said...

Wow Anita, I love your needle work! It's fascinating to see. Thank you for sharing your other loves!

Anonymous said...

It is fun to see what other interests we all have. Beautiful needlework. I am going to find my pansy's and share with you. I have had far too many projects in the works. That is one similarity between Da Vinci and myself. I learn something and feel confident and I move on without finishing. Being creative sometimes is a curse. Though I much prefer it to gambling or video games.

Angie said...

You are one of those people I really envy - very good at lots of different things! Lovely needlework.

Anita said...

Stacy - I guess if you are creative in one field you most likely have another creative interest. I used to make wedding cakes for a living too making all the flowers out of icing and wiring them into bouquets to put on the cakes.

Lisa - gardening may be hardwork but just think of the calories you burn!

Billie - Mint is the same - totally wild if you let it be. Again plant in a pot and sink into the ground.

Teresa - I must do more thinking - preferably with a nice glass of something! :-)

Thank you Jeff!

Robin - I know you sew beautifully - all those ice-skating costumes!

Annie - a Jack of all trades but a master of none. *deep sigh*. Now if I could sketch like you.......

tlwest said...

I lkove Bamboo too - indestructable! I have some on the side of my old house that is for sale... it is a brand that does not grow very high though. That is a fabulaous idea- sinking a container or two - or three :) You have such good eyes - I used to emboyder as a child- never very good.. now I crochet but still not too often. That is a wonderful picture of you and it says a lot of your dedication HUgs!

tlwest said...

well now its complete I don't have a brain when I am sick- it must have been sucked right out of my head- see all the stupid spelling mistakes above!

Leo said...

This can't work in reality, that is exactly what I suppose.
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all artwork is copyright of Anita Murphy 2006/2007/2008/2009