RED

Hello.

The Red Cardinal Garden of Neglect is doing its tropical best to get into Christmas mode...

But fake berries and snow are still the go around here..

I like to stitch and sew, but I failed Craft 101..

Nevertheless, I have been hard at it with the glue and scissors, making a felt Tree Skirt (with thanks to Dear D, who gave me this awesome kit).

Have burnt my fingers on the glue gun...

Sequins have been falling off everywhere..

Did you know you could get stick-on red jewels which can substitute for felt holly berries?

They fall off too....

Behold the almost finished project!

Now if I can just figure out how to transport it to the other side of the world...

Thank you all for your kind birthday wishes on my last post.

My special friend M gave me a sweet antique silver sugar bowl and spoon -

Thank you, I love it so much.

Very special pink roses from Mr Cardinal

The Sewing Sisters met for Christmas lunch, at V's beautiful pad by the river...

Her hand crafted snowmen are beautiful, made from lots of found jewellery and other sparkles.

She does not burn her fingers when crafting....

We all love her Christmas quilt.

Furthermore, Miss V makes a fantastic Aperol Spritz...

And Happy December, with a look at the last page of Birds of Canada.

I see snow, and soon we will be there.

And so to packing...

Accessories: warm hats, scarves, and a red bag.

One dress.  Red wool.

Long sleeved tees...

Cashmere cardigan and sweater...

Jeans and stretch pants.

Three shirts.

And the wild card is? one is a leopard print.

Otherwise, very boring altogether but it should work for nearly a month.

I have a heavy snow jacket which lives in Canada, and will wear a navy wool coat in transit.

And do I put it all in a cabin bag like so many clever bloggers?

Of course not!  I have a big check-in suitcase, as well as a well-packed cabin bag which includes a beautiful travel rug I bought last year in Dublin.

A flight of about 14 hours requires some comforts.

I take so many other items, medical and precautionary, a little bag with small sewing projects, a kindle, camera, cords and chargers...

And of course, gifts for the family.

And the tree skirt.

and a quilt.

Happy Christmas prep to you all.

XXXXX

A BIT OF ENGLISH SENTIMENT

As Summer makes a break for it, attempting to overthrow Spring in all her prettiness,

I have been enjoying "Summer in February".

 Having heard of it in a recent post on Rosemary's blog, Where Five Valleys Meet I found it at our local library...

Set among the Edwardian era artistic community the Newlyn School in Cornwall, it is the tragic but true love story of a beautiful young artist, Florence, who had the misfortune to marry the wrong man, and another man who truly loved her. 

A film version of 'Summer in February' has been released in England, and I hope it arrives at a theatre near me some time soon....

Fletcher, Blandford, 'Evicted' 1887

The very first painting acquired by the new Qld Art Gallery in 1896, and to this day one of its most popular works: 'Evicted' by Blandford Fletcher, an artist who was also associated with the Newlyn School.

Fletcher travelled regularly to France where he came in contact with the painter Jules Bastien-Lepage, whose romanticised rural scenes had a strong influence on Fletcher.  He adapted this style to a British context.

Considered a fine example of Victorian social realism, 'Evicted' depicts a widow and her young daughter being forced from their home.

The painting has sentimental appeal, and relies on an emotional response in the viewer.  It is an overcast Autumn day, as shown  in the scattered brown leaves, and dull colours.  This heightens the sense of loss and sadness.  The sympathetic townsfolk look on but do not intervene.  Central to the painting is the child, whose innocent but injured eyes stare straight out to the viewer.  Behind her is a broken toy, which adds to the pathos.  By their door stands the bailiff in his top-hat, having done his duty and achieved the required result.

One of the consequences of the Industrial Revolution was the increase in poverty and hardship faced by families, and Fletcher and other Victorian artists attempted to represent and bring attention to the plight of the social underclasses.

The painting is quite large, 123 cm x 185 cm, and the figures almost life-size.

This adds to the realism, and involvement of the viewer.

'Evicted' was exhibited at the Royal Academy, where it was much admired by British Prime Minister Gladstone.

It is nearly always on display at QAG, Brisbane, and when it is taken down for any length of time,  enquiries are made as to its whereabouts.

And speaking of the gallery, the exhibition of Quilts from the V&A finished today, after a hugely successful run.  I have never seen so many women of a certain age in the gallery all at once, and all having the best time.

I have been studying toy catalogues:

because a certain Little Bebe is turning one pretty soon...

And who's a clever little boy???

Grandparenthood is wonderful...

Have a great week, wherever you are.

XXXX

THE ART IN STITCHERY

Hello there...

There is a very special exhibition currently showing at QAG,

complementing the Quilts: 1700-1945 show from the V&A which is nearing the end of its run.

 Ruth Stoneley: A Stitch in Time,

showcases the work of the late Ruth Stoneley, an inspirational figure in the Brisbane art and quilting communities, until her untimely passing in 2007.

Ruth's embroidery and quilting moved from the traditional patterns of quilting into another dimension, as she made abstract and expressive works which reflected her own feelings, emotions and ideas.

She was a much-loved teacher and generously shared her gifts and expertise with many lucky students.  

I was one of them for the last three years of Ruth's life, taking various classes in imaginative, free-form embroidery, her distinctive version of crazy patch quilting, and many other projects.

I treasure every item I made under Ruth's keen and artistic eye, and love to know she stitched a little bit here, a little bit there, on some of my pieces.

Ruth's life story is not mine to tell, but like all of us, she knew good times and bad, joy and heartache...

A series of black quilts - which I had never seen before, are shocking, powerful and emotionally charged...

A wedding dress ... it is not known if this was ever worn ...

An abstract take on traditional Log Cabin

Ruth Stoneley died of breast cancer in 2007..

Last piece:

I still meet and regularly stitch with a group of fellow students of Ruth..

Ruthie, we miss you...

Ruth Stoneley: A Stitch in Time continues at Qld Art Gallery until October 7.

Take care of yourselves and each other -

and have a great week!

xxxx



QUILTS

Mr C bought me red roses this week - and it's not even Valentine's Day!

Are you ready, all you quilters, embroiderers, patchworkers and sewists out there?

It opens tomorrow:  'Quilts 1700-1945'

Brisbane is the lucky sole Australian venue for this gorgeous exhibition featuring historic patchwork and quilting work from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Many pieces are 300 years old - amazingly, they have been preserved!

The catalogue is gorgeous, and the Pop-up Shop is not to be missed.

I'll be buying stuff every time I go past...

I can't show you any of those quilts,

so I'll show this Friendship Quilt block I am currently working on...

I find random creative embroidery very relaxing...

and one shelf of the Quilt Cupboard, located in my sewing room.

As you can see, I have had a go at many different quilting fads over the years ...

From my crinoline lady phase, and as the Red Cardinal, there's always a bird or birdhouse in there somewhere..

Sections of a silk and vintage lace crazy quilt I made under the guidance of the late, great, inspirational Ruth Stoneley..

To complement the V&A exhibition, the gallery will show an exhibition of Ruth's contemporary quilts in

'Ruth Stoneley - A Stitch in Time', commencing on 13th July.

It will be very special to lots of Brisbane ladies who knew and stitched with Ruth.

Didn't Kate look great?

An unexpected and playful Dalmatian print for her final pre-baby assignment...

Well done!

The sun is shining, and the temperatures are going down.

Here's to a lovely weekend in front of the fire..

Happy quilting!

XXXX