In Reverse.

Despite piles and piles of proofreading to do, I decided to take a day off, and attended a workshop on reverse painting by artist Paul Birchall. What fun I had! And much cheaper than therapy.

First we practised on pieces of shiny plastic.

In the second one I accidentally started painting on the wrong side (the shiny side), so that the matt side ended up being on top, but it still looks pretty cool. Unfortunately I can't claim the man with the fish as my own design; I used a painting by Jan Vermeiren as inspiration.

In the afternoon we worked on a bigger piece on perspex. I added texture by using a comb to scrape through the paint, and using a paper towel on the dress. You can't really see it on my photograph though.

Woman with Bird (acrylic and permanent marker on perspex).

PS Any advice for sore and watery eyes? I average about 8-9 hours of proofreading a day. This obviously does not include the breaks I take to make tea, rest my eyes, etc. The pages are extremely dense, and some are printed in what looks like 8 or 9 point text. I hope I haven't permanently damaged my eyes! Still a few hundred pages to go ...

Contemplating the moon.

We spent four days at Toontjiesrivier last week. Snous came along, of course.

Pepper Tree Cottage

We walked ....

... and visited some friends ...

We ate ...

 ... not forgetting dessert (fresh figs)

We observed the wonders of nature ...

 ... meditated on the meaning of life ...

... and contemplated the moon.

Easy.

I made this easy gift for a friend - ribbon sewn up at the sides, two buttons and a bit of string or leather to close.

You have to put something inside, obviously - I added some incense sticks, but you could use pencils, pens or knitting needles. Anything long and thin, really.

Easy peasy.

Experiments.

I have lots of failed experiments lying around, and it bothers me to see these sad objects collecting dust. I must use them or throw them out. So I sewed a notebook cover with my Picasso Three Boys experiment. It fits exactly to cover the back and front (boy 1 and 2) and boy 3 makes a nice pocket on the inside for bits and pieces.

I used another piece for decoration on a new moleskine.

Imperfections, indeed ...

Changed.

I changed this lappie to a picture on canvas by using watercolour pencils and acrylic matt medium.

The wrinkles are part of life, I'm afraid ...

Learn: Philosophy.

I first read Alain de Botton about 15 years ago - Lessons in Love - and since then I have been a fan. How Proust can Change your Life, The Art of Travel, The Architecture of Happiness ... I love them all.

I have just finished The Consolations of Philosophy, as well as his latest Religion for Atheists. His gently humorous and self-effacing philosophizing about issues that affect our everyday lives is immensely appealing to me.

(PS On the back flap of Religion for Atheists I see that he has also founded The School of Life. Classes include How to Find a Job you Love, How to Live in a Wired World and How to be Cool.
O boy, how I wish I lived in London ... )

The leash.

On the leash (and sniffing the flowers ...) - freehand machine stitching on vintage serviette.
One more to go! Any ideas? (The flowers/ blossoms/berries have to be incorporated in the image - and please consider my limited drawing skills.) The others are here, here, here and here.