Tuesday 20 September 2016

Tag Tuesday- Cats and Dogs

On Tag Tuesday this week our theme is
Cats and Dogs

For my tag I used the embossed frame I made in
my mixed media group this week. We followed a
technique by Andy Skinner to create a rust effect.
I don't think mine worked well as rust, but I like the end
 result! This was achieved with a combination of black gesso,
ink and gold paint. I added some braids. The frame was
the perfect size for a cat portrait!

Friday 16 September 2016

Cake in Latvia

In my previous post I wrote about my visit to Riga in Latvia.
I remember one evening, just after a magnificent organ
concert in the cathedral, we went out for tea and cake.
The cakes tasted as good as they looked, and I thought
they were so prettily arranged on the blue and white china.
In the bottom picture you can see a glass of the famous
local liqueur, Balsam, which is drunk frequently. 

Chocolate cake
Shortcake, chocolate and blackcurrant cream
Apple and plum pie


Tuesday 13 September 2016

Latvia

During the summer break, my husband and I spent a long weekend
in Riga, Latvia with some friends. It is the first time I have been to a
Baltic country and I was very taken with it. We went to a couple of organ
concerts in the cathedral, which has amazing accoustics, spent a day
 at Jermala, on the Baltic coast, took a canal cruise, shopped at the
market, and ate wonderful food.


Beautiful old buildings
Traditional Latvian Menu
The Beach at Jermala
Datcha at Jermala
Riga Cathedral taken on a canal cruise
Riga Central Market
Dried fish
Market produce




Friday 9 September 2016

Tag Tuesday-Paper Dolls and Paper Doll's Clothes


I am back to Tag Tuesday after my summer break.
This week's theme is "Paper Dolls and Paper Doll's Clothes"


Here is my little Scottish boy paper doll.
I thought he was really sweet, maybe "bonnie"
is the best word for him. I found him on my
old favourite site The Graphics Fairy.
I had fun assembling him, and have mounted
him on a mixed paper background.
I wanted to finish it off with a piece of
tartan ribbon or some thistles, but don't have 
anything suitable in my stash!

Tuesday 6 September 2016

INSIDE Artists and Writers in Reading Prison

"INSIDE Artists and Writers in Reading Prison" is a newly opened exhibition featuring contemporary artists , writers and readers from all over the world.  Readers are to perform Oscar Wilde's work "De Profundis", written during his imprisonment here in 1897.
Reading Prison makes an amazing art space.
The list of artists taking part in this exhibiton is impressive :- Vija Celmins, Rita Donagh, Peter Dreher, Marlene Dumas, Robert Gober, Nan Goldin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Richard Hamilton, Roni Horn, Steve McQueen, Jean-Michel Pancin, Doris Salcedo and Wolfgang Tillmans.
Amongst the artwork woven through the prison, "Letters of Separation" is interspersed. Letters by nine contemporary writers to a loved one separated from them  echo Oscar Wilde's "De Profundis" which was composed as a letter to his lover Lord Alfred Douglas.
The writers are:- Ai Weiwei, Tahmima Anam, Anne Carson, Joe Dunthorpe, Deborah Levy, Danny Morrison, Gillian Slovo, Binyavanga Wainaina and Jeanette Winterson.


For details see the website:- 





Ai Weiwei's script
Silent Prayer by Doris Salcedo
Water by  Felix Gonzalez -Torres

Friday 2 September 2016

September and Back to Blogging

It is September again, and time to resume the blog. 
I had a lovely summer, with a short break in Riga,
Latvia and a longer holiday in Tuscany, Italy. There will 
be some photos for you to see in the following posts.