Friday, May 30, 2014

WINTER SNOW


Our snow bush, this week, as we hope to see some Winter (officially 1st June).
After a cold blast for a few days about a month ago, Autumn disappeared and Summer revisited.

I enjoy the fresh air in the cooler months, and I am dreaming of some real snow, and the wearing of warm caps, scarves and gloves:


Snow when we visited Ottawa in January, 2010...


This is the frozen Rideau canal, at the point where it joins the Ottawa River.
The Canadian Houses of Parliament are on the hill to the left.


Now, you can see why I want it to turn cold.
The lovely Val, of Valerie's Own Sewing Blog, sent me this fantastic vintage Vogue pattern for a cosy car coat - who remembers them?
I found a great faux fur leopard at Spotlight, and am about to embark on the Great Fur Coat Sewing Adventure.  
Wish me luck...

For those who are sewists, Val's blog is full of clever ideas and information, and recently I was the lucky winner of one of her regular giveaways:


 Thank you dear Val, and I am looking forward to more creative sewing with these two.

This week I bought the newly released Australian Notebooks, by Australia's much-loved Betty Churcher. 
This book is an absolute joy to read and cherish, and Betty's warm and lovely personality shines from every page.
Betty Churcher is a former director of the National Gallery of Australia, has written numerous books on various aspects of art, and presented several successful television art programs.
She grew up in Brisbane, became a painter, won a scholarship to Europe, was a graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, and a Master of Arts from the Courtauld Institute.

 Now in her twilight years, Betty says this is her last book.
In it, she revisits her favourite works in the major State galleries of Australia, beginning with our own Qld. Art Gallery, which she regularly visited as a small child.  

She loved Blandford Fletcher's 'Evicted' 1887, and always asked her parents to take her to see it.  She writes with great affection and insight about this, and several other popular works at the gallery, and for me, as a gallery guide, the book is a wonderful resource, full of information showing how to encourage a love of the visual arts in the audience.

When I'm not rabbiting on about art, I am off singing.
It being Friday, I have been to choir rehearsal ....

"How can I keep from Singing?"
I love that we sing this nearly every week, and I'll tell you a secret:
whenever I go under a general anaesthetic for surgery, I sing it in my head...
Have a very special weekend

 XXXX













Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , ,

29 comments:

  1. Jane and Lance HattattMay 30, 2014 at 12:48 AM

    Hello Patricia:

    We can really imagine you striding out into the snow in your faux leopard skin coat and really cutting a dash!!

    Betty Churcher sounds to be a wise and fascinating woman and one who has clearly lived an extraordinary and interesting life. We shall try to find out more about her.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 12:53 AM

    Hello Jane and Lance, wouldn't that be fun, my leopard in the snow! But first I have to make it...
    Betty Churcher is what we call a National Living Treasure in Australia, both gifted and really lovely too. I once took art lessons from her husband, also an artist. Happy weekend to you in Budapest!

    ReplyDelete
  3. greenthumbMay 30, 2014 at 1:09 AM

    No snow here either, just warm sunny days.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 1:54 AM

    :-) Ahh, but a girl can dream....

    ReplyDelete
  5. BarbMay 30, 2014 at 3:11 AM

    Hello Patricia, Your snow bush may be the closest we get to winter this year. Here's hoping the next few days give us some much needed rain and a bit of a drop in temps.
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 4:22 PM

      he he, yes our snow bush is our only snow! We had a heavy shower overnight and drizzle today - Yay for rain, our garden is very dry.

      Delete
  6. Rustic Vintage CountryMay 30, 2014 at 4:39 AM

    I'm dreaming of warm sunny days for us. It's turned decidedly cold for May. Brrr! Suzy x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 4:23 PM

      Sending the sun over to you for a bit, Suzy! xx

      Delete
  7. Amy at love made my homeMay 30, 2014 at 5:52 AM

    Gosh, I thought for a second when I saw that photo of the snow that some sort of freak snowstorm had struck you!! That really would have been a shock wouldn't it! What beautiful music that is on the clip that you shared, I can understand why you like it, but I hope that you don't ever have to sing it in your head that way ever again. xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 4:26 PM

      Yes, a freak snowstorm would be quite amazing, but with the world's weather going all crazy these days, anything could happen!
      Thank you re the music - it would be nice to have no more surgery ever again :)) xxx

      Delete
  8. DarlaMay 30, 2014 at 5:54 AM

    The Betty Churcher book sound interesting and as you said a good resource. I like the car coat pattern and can't wait to see your finished coat. Your plans for it sound great.

    Darla

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 4:27 PM

      Fingers crossed for the coat - I've never sewed fur before, real or fake.
      I have cut our the lining to test the pattern - a few tweaks and it should be good to go.

      Delete
  9. metteMay 30, 2014 at 11:20 AM

    Well, I for one would not miss the snow at all, ok -perhaps just a cm of powder snow.
    A car coat - first time I hear that name, but I agree- maybe a shorter model is more practical while driving.
    Waiting to see yours, won´t take a long time ; )
    Following your blog, I am always amazed by the amount of interesting things you manage to write down : )
    Wishing you too a happy weekend : )!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 4:29 PM

      I can understand you not missing the snow, Mette. It seems you see far too much of it, and I know how messy it can get after a few days in the streets. It is possible that I am a scatterbrain - too many things going on in my head at any one time! :) Happy weekend!

      Delete
  10. Jennifer HaysMay 30, 2014 at 11:42 AM

    I do hope you get that wintry weather soon. How nice to be making yourself a new coat! I look forward to seeing it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 4:29 PM

      Fingers crossed the coat works out; I love the leopard fabric. Then I will require a few cold days for the wearing of it.

      Delete
  11. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 4:25 PM

    Hello Val, I remembered the faux fur coat you made last year, and went back to find the post. Glad I did, as I am ready now for the vacuuming when cutting out fur!
    Cool here today, too :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. BerylMay 30, 2014 at 8:21 PM

    Is it ever cool enough in Brisbane for fur? (Fake or otherwise.) Betty Churcher sounds like such an interesting person. (At first I read it as Betty Crocker and was a little confused.) I always enjoy Val's blog - neat that your won those patterns.

    ReplyDelete
  13. PatriciaMay 30, 2014 at 9:41 PM

    The short answer to your question is: Not Very Often! It can however get down to freezing in the mornings for a few days/weeks, and a change of jackets is fun. Yes, Betty Crocker - he he -- I suppose she has been called that a few times.

    ReplyDelete
  14. RosemaryMay 31, 2014 at 6:52 AM

    Dear Patricia - I have the same faux leopard material in a zip up dressing gown which I love. It is so cosy and comfortable to relax in during the cold winter evenings.
    Newly fallen snow is gorgeous to look at, and I love to see it and photograph it, but after a few days I am always ready for it to go on its way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 31, 2014 at 5:32 PM

      Ah, Rosemary, love the sound of your dressing gown, chic + cosy!
      I know, the truth about snow doesn't always match up to its early beauty.... we enjoy it on very rare occasions.

      Delete
  15. Red Rose AlleyMay 31, 2014 at 7:45 PM

    Patricia,
    Oh Yes, I love those old car coats! And the leopard material you chose will look so charming. Be sure to show us when it's finished. (by the way, come and look at my dress that I designed and my mom sewed if you'd like). I can't believe you are dreaming of real snow. We are headed for summer here and getting warmer every day. Your snow bush is so pretty. I've never seen those before.

    Have a nice Sunday, Patricia.

    love,
    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaMay 31, 2014 at 8:01 PM

      Fingers crossed the car coat is a success, Sheri. I looked at your wedding dress you designed, and it is gorgeous! Our Winter is so short, we have to enjoy it quickly. Today we had a thick morning fog: exciting :) xx

      Delete
  16. PatriciaJune 2, 2014 at 9:36 AM

    Your Betty Churcher sounds a really good read Patricia, one that you can curl up on the sofa and indulge in during your winter evenings. I love the look of the car coat and what a lovely giveaway you won, congratulations. I'll pop over and take a look. Hope you're keeping well.
    Patricia x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaJune 4, 2014 at 2:14 PM

      Hi Patricia, looking forward to making the fur coat, and doing my best to keep on top of the medical issues :) xx

      Delete
  17. Jenny WoolfJune 4, 2014 at 11:00 AM

    I love the way "Evicted" is painted, so well composed and full of feeling. I love those Victorian genre paintings so much. If I ever get to Qld I too will go to the gallery and seek it out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PatriciaJune 4, 2014 at 2:16 PM

      It is a beautiful painting, Jenny, and one of the first purchased when the gallery was opened over 100 years ago. Always very popular, and people come looking for it. Maybe you will too!

      Delete
  18. KathyJune 4, 2014 at 2:18 PM

    Send your warmth across to me, Patricia, and you can have the chilly weather we're still "enjoying" at the beginning of June. :-) The seasons really don't seem to be able to sort themselves out. Your car coat will look so swish and yet cosy and I really hope it's cold enough for you to wear it.

    I'd never heard of Betty Churcher, but she sounds a most interesting and gifted woman and I must do some research on her life.

    ReplyDelete
  19. PatriciaJune 5, 2014 at 12:23 AM

    Well here we are, first week in June, and going about wearing tee shirts! I'll be lucky if that car coat gets at least one or two outings this year.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)