Now, I publish this without her consent. I hope she won't mind... But below this post I'll put her URL, which is out there on FB anyway, so check her out! Not only does she draw wonderfully, but she is also a silver smith.
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Do you like romantic naive art with a pagan twist? I've got the artist for you!
During my travels on the Internet I once in a while stumble upon an artist who's work I really, really like. Hannah Willow is such an artist.
Hannah Willow's URL:
Beware the Christmas spirit!!
It's here! The countdown to those days of exhausted family spirit. I write 'exhausted', for as a teacher I WILL BE absolutely, totally, utterly washed-out by the time I have got the groceries in by December 24th.
Preparation is everything.
Every year I start out by enthusiastically going into the garden with my secateurs. We have plenty of evergreen trees, and in our climate there usually is no severe frost until January, so they are at their best.
I use a straw base for the wreath, and pins. Easy-peasy.
Besides, I don't like tidy wreaths. So there are always bits sticking out. (A bit like myself; always bits sticking out)
I used to bang a nail into our front door, but ever since we have forked out a huge amount of money for a new one I'm not allowed to do that any longer, so I hang it from the flag holder.
One year I was sad to find that someone had stolen my wreath. My inherent positive side urged me to consider that someone liked this untidy wreath so much that they wanted it for themselves.
The proof
Here you are. The Rays of Light Creative Process in progress.
Having a stylist in the family helps ;-)
My Mum is immensely creative, and even though I haven't inherited her ability to draw, paint or sculpt (and thank Heavens I haven't inherited her inability to carry a tune either!) I have got her sense of style. And so has my daughter. Which takes us to the local garden centre every year in the weeks before Christmas, to immerse ourselves in whatever is trendy that year.
This year, the trend is wood, nature and frosty.
Hence, we have bought some stuff (we always go there saying we will NOT buy anything), as usual. And had great fun decorating. This is only the beginning. We will 'do more'. Much more!
Which brings me to exhaustion. By the time it is december 24th, I will be dead on my feet. So:
Plan!
Plan. Do not leave it until the last moment. Yes, the food plan is already in my head. So is the guest list. And a merry time will be had by all (and if you doubt this, I will not invite you, so there)!
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| My home-made wreath. |
Every year I start out by enthusiastically going into the garden with my secateurs. We have plenty of evergreen trees, and in our climate there usually is no severe frost until January, so they are at their best.
I use a straw base for the wreath, and pins. Easy-peasy.
Besides, I don't like tidy wreaths. So there are always bits sticking out. (A bit like myself; always bits sticking out)
I used to bang a nail into our front door, but ever since we have forked out a huge amount of money for a new one I'm not allowed to do that any longer, so I hang it from the flag holder.
One year I was sad to find that someone had stolen my wreath. My inherent positive side urged me to consider that someone liked this untidy wreath so much that they wanted it for themselves.
The proof
Here you are. The Rays of Light Creative Process in progress.
 |
| Handy, those pins! |
My Mum is immensely creative, and even though I haven't inherited her ability to draw, paint or sculpt (and thank Heavens I haven't inherited her inability to carry a tune either!) I have got her sense of style. And so has my daughter. Which takes us to the local garden centre every year in the weeks before Christmas, to immerse ourselves in whatever is trendy that year.
This year, the trend is wood, nature and frosty.
Hence, we have bought some stuff (we always go there saying we will NOT buy anything), as usual. And had great fun decorating. This is only the beginning. We will 'do more'. Much more!
Which brings me to exhaustion. By the time it is december 24th, I will be dead on my feet. So:
Plan!
Plan. Do not leave it until the last moment. Yes, the food plan is already in my head. So is the guest list. And a merry time will be had by all (and if you doubt this, I will not invite you, so there)!
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| Table piece. |
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| Candelabra. |
Feed the birds? Of course you do!
Yay! It's Sunday. Some people go to church, others to football matches (and some people argue that this is one-and-the-same), and I blog.
Today I would like to tell you about our birds.
We are fortunate in that we live next to the municipal park, which borders on a copse. There is a large 8-shaped pond in this park. So we have both songbirds, birds of prey and waterfowl in the proximity of our back garden. (And many dog-walkers, but this is besides the point).
Both my husband and I are avid bird lovers. This love of birds has been nurtured since youth. (Do people today still do this, I wonder? Give their kids an inherent sense of love for a particular bit of nature? Most of my pupils can't tell a tit from a gull!)
You could say that 'our' birds have enough opportunity to find their own food in the copse. But then why do they visit our garden in such huge numbers? Because we lay their table. It's as simple as that.
We have watched them, read up on them, and spend a lot of time (hubby does; I blog) catering to their particular needs.
Today I would like to tell you about our birds.
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| The home-made bird feeder in the birch. |
Both my husband and I are avid bird lovers. This love of birds has been nurtured since youth. (Do people today still do this, I wonder? Give their kids an inherent sense of love for a particular bit of nature? Most of my pupils can't tell a tit from a gull!)
You could say that 'our' birds have enough opportunity to find their own food in the copse. But then why do they visit our garden in such huge numbers? Because we lay their table. It's as simple as that.
We have watched them, read up on them, and spend a lot of time (hubby does; I blog) catering to their particular needs.
He knows, for example, that blue tits and other tits like their nuts from a red mesh bag. Once in a while he experiments with a yellow mesh bag, and - no! They prefer the red one. But does he hang this bag in any old way in any old tree? Of course not! It is hung just so.
Yesterday he came home with a special insect-feeder for the robins. And we put out grain and seeds for the ground feeders. Our black tom watches this with great interest. But he leaves the birds alone most of the time. His speciality is moles and voles. He leaves them for me - a little something for you! aren't I clever? - in my bed.
But that's another story.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Can art emulate nature?
If this was a genuine question, I'd answer: "no, of course not". Especially now, with a severe storm raging around our house. Wind speeds up to 135 km/h, and flood warnings. There are always the flood warnings, where I live. With a full moon, it's a high spring tide tonight.
So I expect that those last leaves on my ghost birch will have been blown off tomorrow morning...
We've put the geraniums and herbs in the greenhouse, wouldn't want them blowing around the garden, now would we?
Sunday, 1 December 2013
Photography Buffs take note!
Once in a while I'll use this space to let you get acquainted with the first steps of my children into the exciting but treacherous world of art and design.
Shrimpers
Not so far from my hometown there is a fishing community called Stellendam. It is on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee, and its inhabitants have made a living from the seas around their island for generations. They lived on, by, and in awe of the sea.
In this day and age, fishing has largely lost its appeal and economic value. But there are still some hardy types hanging on in Stellendam, and its shrimp industry is famous throughout the Netherlands and beyond. Due to the sandy sea bottom, the shrimp are tiny but delicious. Restaurants value them.
Shrimping
Shrimping is extremely hard work, 24/7 for days on end. I'll publish three photographs by Wibe Koopman which show how tough it is to live and work on a Goeree shrimper. And I'll let those images speak for themselves. After all, one picture tells a thousand words.
Wibe Koopman Photography and Wibe at Wordpress
Shrimpers
Not so far from my hometown there is a fishing community called Stellendam. It is on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee, and its inhabitants have made a living from the seas around their island for generations. They lived on, by, and in awe of the sea.
In this day and age, fishing has largely lost its appeal and economic value. But there are still some hardy types hanging on in Stellendam, and its shrimp industry is famous throughout the Netherlands and beyond. Due to the sandy sea bottom, the shrimp are tiny but delicious. Restaurants value them.
Shrimping
Shrimping is extremely hard work, 24/7 for days on end. I'll publish three photographs by Wibe Koopman which show how tough it is to live and work on a Goeree shrimper. And I'll let those images speak for themselves. After all, one picture tells a thousand words.
Book by Gerard Korver almost in the shops...Guess who took the photographs?
Hi, extremely proud Mum here!
Gerard Korver
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| Wibe, by Wibe Koopman- 2013. |
In a short while there's a book coming to the shops. So what? you think. Well, this isn't just any book.
It's a book by psychologist/coach Gerard Korver, about how to keep your relationship/marriage successful. (Right! No need to seek further help, you've found the solution!)
It will initially be published in Dutch, but an English translation is being produced as I'm writing this, so you'll be able to read it as well. Now isn't this COOL?
No?
Ready? Wibe has done the photography.
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| This is the cover photo-in-progress. |
He has also taken the portrait of Gerard Korver. You'll have to visit my FB sister page of Rays of Light for the promo. When you do visit, you can see the cover photo and portrait and read the blurb on Gerard.
Proud!!!!!
Voor die paar Nederlanders die geen Engelse posts volgen...Ik schrijf deze voor jou! Nieuwsgierig?
Ja okay, ik post voornamelijk in het Engels. Dat komt omdat mijn schrijfsels door voornamelijk Engelstalige kennissen/vrienden gelezen worden. Maar het Engels van de meeste Nederlanders die geïnteresseerd zijn in 'mijn' dingetjes (nl. kunst, design, fotografie, muziek) is best wel goed, of in elk geval goed genoeg.
Dit is een van de lampen die ik dolgraag zou neerzetten in mijn slaapkamer. Hun website is www.zenza.nl
ZELF MAKEN?!
Vandaag kwam ik onderstaande foto tegen op één van de internetsites die ik met enige regelmaat bezoek. Ik moest er eerst om lachen, maar meteen daarna dacht ik aan Zenza en die dure prachtige lampen. Als je heel weinig geld hebt, en je wilt tóch zo'n gaatjeslamp, dan is dit natuurlijk een super oplossing, en nog met een knipoog ook. Leuk voor in de keuken!
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| Dit was in 1976.... (fotobewerking Wibe Koopman) |
Ik hoop dat je vaker langskomt.
ZENZA
In Rotterdam, op de Karel Doormanstraat, zit een prachtige winkel waar ik helemaal enthousiast over ben. Eerst dacht ik dat het een indy was, maar het blijkt toch een keten te zijn. Maar gelukkig wel een bescheiden keten, met maar een paar vestigingen.
Zenza verkoopt werkelijk sprookjesachtig mooie lampen, meubels, glaswerk, sieraden, en nog veel meer.
ZELF MAKEN?!
Vandaag kwam ik onderstaande foto tegen op één van de internetsites die ik met enige regelmaat bezoek. Ik moest er eerst om lachen, maar meteen daarna dacht ik aan Zenza en die dure prachtige lampen. Als je heel weinig geld hebt, en je wilt tóch zo'n gaatjeslamp, dan is dit natuurlijk een super oplossing, en nog met een knipoog ook. Leuk voor in de keuken!
Laat me weten wat je ervan vindt?
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