Erin's Book, Ruth's Entry

Erin, your book got me thinking but there was so much to think about I got bogged. I know these pages need something more but I'm a bit stumped. I wish I had more materials. I have gone back to my 'making do' and yes, there may be lipstick on this piece.

I took from Erin a couple of things. Roughly the theme of my city, my life. And riffed off the repeated colours and shapes idea that were used, just in a different way. My little windows are in some cases as subtle as a sledgehammer. Yes, that IS a kangaroo. And others...too disconnected to explain (that's my stance and I'm sticking to it).

I am loving this city. Last night a friend and I cycled down to the river in town to grab something to eat and then cycled on to an outdoor concert in the Botanical Gardens: 'Arcade Fire'. Canadian. The city is alive with great things to do and the centre of town is less than 10 minutes along a bike track. It's a beautiful summer at last and I'm making the most of it.

Petr, you are next with this. Have a play with my pages to extend. This is where I miss not being able to stroll over to your lovely art space, inappropriate music playing, and get some advice. It is only a beginning of an idea. It needs a hell of a lot more. Just not sure what. I'm also reluctant to hang onto it longer given my late start.

Love to you all! Come visit!

RUTH'S BOOK / PETR'S ENTRY

All right, so it looks like I've gone a little nuts with how many spreads I dare to "take" but I figured that since we're only 5 in this rotation why not to fill in some, hope, Ruth, you won't mind ...

I dig your entry, Ruth, and immediately upon opening your book I knew that I'll work with the motif of clouds as I find them a fitting symbol of hope - hoping for happy accidents is your theme. As I was looking through my drawers for various materials to cut the clouds from I came upon this stencil like chocolate box I once found in a recycle bin and decided to use it as a stencil to spray paint over various images somewhat resonating with the theme of happiness - a child's smile, angel, wedding photo, hands in the process of making, intersecting paths, and a narval - especially for you, Ruth.

I gotta say I had so much fun working in your book! See my workspace and some details.

Hoping For Happy Accidents

I'm so pleased to get back to this. Just sorry it took so long for inspiration to strike. The theme of my book is 'Hoping for Happy Accidents'. Coming back to your own country, where supposedly you belong, inevitably forces you to take stock of things so far. Nothing very original, but nonetheless pretty powerful. I have decided that my life has been a serious of unplanned events, crazy diversions and random experiences. I wouldn't change it for the world but what do you do with that mode of living when you find yourself trying to 'settle down'. To be honest I don't even know what that looks like so I guess I can't fuck it up (can you swear on this blog?). Anyway, crazy year full of wonder that has been balanced by the sometimes not so great. It turns out that it is true that you learn a lot from the crap. The tiny text on my collage reads 'Grey is often misunderstood'.
I'm going to dedicate this to my pop who died this week (can you mention death on this blog?) He was 97. He was a sheep wheat farmer in the flat brown of the Australian wilderness. He had a hand like a baseball mitt.
xx  

Lindsey for Anne- Missing Praha

Around the holidays I get very nostalgic about my time spent in Prague. The Christmas markets and winter festivities are so amazingly done in Europe, that almost anything else feels like a let-down. I was shopping in Toronto and ran across a super cute stationary store on Bloor St. I love stationary! There were a few shelves in the back that had stickers and images from a few select cities around the world- like Hong Kong, Paris, London, etc...and then, there was Prague. I knew I had to buy them and do something with the images. Completing this entry was a lovely walk down memory lane. Tis my Ode to Praha.