Taurus

We are well into the second sign of the zodiac and I want to dedicate this small post to my niece, Joanna, whose birthday is coming soon.

The above painting, done with oil glazes, is called WOMEN'S WORK and to me it represents the ability to undertake many tasks and to see them through. This quality is strong in people born under the sign of the bull. (I would prefer the bison as an icon but nobody asked me.)

This oil-glaze painting was done many years ago just after a disastrous year during which my husband underwent several abdominal surgeries and I was in a car accident and was sidelined by a shoulder separation. I hadn't set out to portray these events but obviously they came through anyway.

It's called A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE and I chose it for Taurus because it expresses the bull/bison's resolve to overcome difficulties. It's not a particularly pretty picture but a very strong one, I think. 



Aries

My computer has been to the hospital and had an injection of flash and java, whatever that means. These techies speak blythely about such things, not caring that some of us (me) have no idea about these terms...I don't even know what a 'cookie' is. Yet I like to blog away just for the thrill of seeing my stuff out there and connecting with the world. It's an ego thing I guess.

So let's see if it works:( I was having problems uploading images and even viewing them on other peoples' blogs.)

This post is dedicated to Aries, the first sign of the zodiac.

Aries, like the robin, is a sign of Spring.  It's a fire sign and is symbolized by the ram. I know a few Aries and they certainly fit the description. Fiery, passionate and spontaneous.

Aries are also impulsive and energetic. I would imagine that when combined with a water sign a lot of steam would be produced. So here's to all you Aries people and to new beginnings. And to my reconstituted computer.





Out of the Trunk

I'm trying this experiment and if it works you'll see my new blog post which has been a long time coming. I'm working from my husband's computer because my computer won't let me upload images and what's a blog without images?

Here's the first image ( I hope.)

So far so good.

The old trunk above (and behind Samantha) is full of odd bits of fabric and attempts to create art from them. They are wall hangings and they usually hang around for a while,then they end up in the trunk. So I'm taking them out today for an airing.

It's hanging crooked but illustrates my brief foray into faux-tapestry. Painted in acrylics on burlap it features mixed mythological figures prancing about beneath a William Morris inspired arbour. I gave it to my parents years ago thinking they would recognize themselves in it.

THE FLIGHT OF THE ANTS

In which I was trying to depict the impression of thousands of winged ants soaring into the evening sky one day in August, their glittering wings sparkling in the sun before many were devoured by skuas high above. Their little wings are coated with 'diamond dust' which is difficult to see here.

When my parents' 60th wedding anniversary came diamonds were in order. I asked family and friends to contribute a diamond-shaped  memories which I then sewed to a backing to make a 'quilt' hanging. These three pieces were done by my sister and celebrate early family road trips we enjoyed as kids. 

Here I am sitting by the completed oeuvre hanging on our fence on Vancouver Island where George & I lived during the nineties. It hung for a time in their dining room and now enjoys its retirement in the trunk. As will all the above creations because I still don't have the heart to get rid of them. Some day I will.

Blogging Problem

I would love to post a new blog but am having problems uploading images from my files. I've registered the problem with Blogger and still await a reply. Now I notice some other blogs I follow have no pictures to go with the text. This can't be an April fool's joke because it's been happening for three days now. Any of you have the same problem? What gives?