Looking Forward - Dodo Stack

Seems the title "Looking Forward" was too fortuitous not to use as my last post of 2011.

This little stack seems like it should fall over at

any minute, but somehow eludes gravity and holds on

(unlike the unfortunate Dodo, who could not hold on any longer)

and so it seems 2011, which is teetering on the edge about to fall off,

never to return!

Hope you have wonderful things to look forward to in 2012.

Sketchbook Project - "How to Spell and Other Things to Learn" - a beginning

Herewith the beginnings of my little contribution for the latest 

"The Sketchbook Project"

with the Brooklyn Art Library.

The blank sketchbook arrived in the mail whilst

I was away and has been sitting patiently waiting for me

to do something with it.

Unfortunately, I neglected to take a photo of it

"pre-embellishment",

with it's plain card cover.

The title given me is "How to Spell and Other Things to Learn".

As I was working away on an altered book last night,

shellacking and scalloping small circles of book text

I decided I would do the same to the sketchbook

(which is about 180x130 mm in size).

Needs a bit of tidying up, but it's a good start I suppose.

Submissions are due in April,

so I will work away at it as time and commitments allow.

RD Book Loop

Simple, yet effective!

I often find myself striving to achieve the simplest outcome,

not for ease of manufacture or expeditious outcome,

but because the simplest is often the most beautiful, I think.

Back to Business- Coglock

Back to the business of altering books after

a long spell of travel, rest and holiday season.

Not long now until my

exhibition opens (January 22nd),

so will have to ensure

everything is in order a couple of weeks

before that to make the installation go smoothly.

Also gearing up for Redland Art Awards 2012!

And participating in a couple of communal book projects.

It's going to be a busy start to the year!!!

Back to the Real World

Back from our trip abroad.

We had a wonderful time but are so weary.

Everywhere you look in Japan there is something eye catching.

I would have to rate Kyoto as my favourite place to see beauty and history.

Could spend ages there finding new and interesting things.

Back to our real world now,

with commitments, deadlines, responsibilities.

Very grateful for our lot in life and opportunities presented to us.

Toei Kyoto Studio Park & Koryu-ji Temple

Very cold in Kyoto today.

Very lucky today to be escorted to Toei Kyoto Studio Park and

Koryu-ji Temple by our Japanese friends Mr. Kazuhiko and the two Miss Harukas.

We had a lovely day being guided through these very interesting places.

Toei Studio Park is a Japanese tv/movie theme park with

lots of interactive Ninja/Samurai/Geisha theatre shows and characters.

Koryu-ji Temple has beautiful gardens and is a short walk from the theme park.

 The Treasure Hall here is home to a famous wooden statue of

"Miroku-Bosatsu"  dating from the Asuka Period (552-645),

which was the first designated national treasure of Japan.

There is supposed to be a total eclipse of the moon tonight

in Japan, although it is fairly cloudy so it might not be too visible.

Apparently in Australia tonight the moon will be visibly red.

Life is full of wonders!

Gion

Another huge day of walking around Kyoto.

Started off at Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavillion)

with it's beautiful gardens.

Then wandered back along the Philosopher's Path,

through various neighbourhoods,

temples and shrines before we

arrived in Gion and explored the

streets and alleys leading to

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

with it's wonderful view over Kyoto.

Nara

Spent today walking around Nara.

It was wet and cold, so didn't walk as much as

we would have on a sunny day, but got to

see a lot of new and interesting sights.

Nara is famous for the wild (but tame) deer that roam

freely around the parks and temples

(they are considered divine messengers).

It is also famous for the Todaiji Temple which houses

the Daibutsu (Great Buddha)

which is made from bronze and is about 15m in height

(you will understand the scale from the

picture above when you realise there are monks

sitting at the foot of Buddha).

There are many other famous landmarks in

Nara, but the rain and the cold and the short winter days got the better of us.

Spending time walking around Kyoto

Began my day walking the Philosopher's Path then

walked from Ginkakuji into the Nishiki Food Markets

and the surrounding shopping district.

Then through Gion to the Yasaka Jinja Shrine

before catching a bus back to Ginkakuji

for dinner at Omen, a lovely traditional Udon Restaurant

not far from the Philosopher's Path.

Beautiful clear day,

not too hot, not too cold.

My little legs are just about worn out,

but my tummy is full of yummy noodles!

Osaka - so many things to see...

So many things to see in Osaka and all so different.

Endless shopping malls, oceans of people, interesting history,

beautiful architecture, skyscrapers, food glorious food,

what more could you ask for?
(possibly wi-fi access!)

Time Flies!

Wow, December already - 

what I am busying myself with right now

is completely different to

what I was busying myself with 12 months ago,

which is completely different to

what I was busying myself with

12 months before that........