{quilt} while you're ahead

*108** postcards from Palm Springs

Last day.

(as much as I need to see my boys - after a week there's a tugging inside me that wants to bring me back home - I know I haven't finished with this place... I have to come back)

Mr M went off for another run and I cycled to a midcentury church a few miles away.

love the simple altar

The church was designed by the architect William F Cody in 1968.  From an article by Robert Imber in Palm Springs Life:

 

Viewed from the street, its soaring pyramidal spire is an uplifting experience, beautiful in any given daylight towering in front of the daily drama of the distant western mountains.

Large, graceful sculptural forms are made of gunite, a sprayed concrete such as found in swimming pools and boats. The dramatic curved beams are Glulam – boards glued and laminated into a strong structural beam.

Inside, the encounter richly unfolds under a pagoda like structure embellished with Italian travertine forms, walnut pews, distinctive terrazzo, bronze fittings, remarkable lighting and an enriching sense of space that transcends the desert.

High, narrow clerestory windows draw the eye out to the mountain peaks, while along the floor below mirror-image windows “bring us back” to terra-firma placing the desert floor at our feet from within the building. I call them grounding windows, and am moved by the experience on every visit.

 

We then popped in the Palm Spring Art Museum, housed in a gorgeous building designed by E. Stewart Williams.

We saw a very interesting exhibition called 'Go West', a great look at the Weiner family collection of sculptures (how many 'Henry Moores' is too many 'Henry Moores'?) and had a fun mooch on the top floor amongst contemporary artists.

Brian Wills (Untitled, 2013)

Stanley Whitney (Blue meets yellow, 2011)

 

In the afternoon we visited Sunnyland, the house of Walter and Leonor Annenberg... incredible midcentury residence designed by E. Quincy Jones (surrounded by its own 9 hole golf course and the most amazing view I've ever seen).  The Annenberg were philanthropist and art collectors and hosted many presidents and ministers and Royals ... their list of guests was quite incredible!

You're not allowed to take photos inside the house... but let me tell you... it's rather spectacular... not many of us have a fountain in the middle of our home with a Rodin statue in it... just saying.

Don't look at me... look at the view behind!

 

*86** Sidival Fila

Tucked away in a tiny side road next to the Roman Forum in the centre of Rome there's a Franciscan convent.  High up, under the eaves with glorious views of Rome and the Colosseum there's an artist studio.

Sidival Fila is from Brazil.  He's a Franciscan.  But he's also an artist.

An amazing artist whose work is sold all over the world

He uses handwoven antique linen for his art.  He dyes his own thread.  His works are big but strangely intimate, they evoke emotions, tension and at the same time calm.

I was smitten.

I'm not good at talking about art... it's all about the emotional response for me and his work got me. 

 

(that, and his insane pile of antique linens... sigh)

 

 

*69** postcards from Canada

Day 9 - Whistler.

Another new activity... canoeing.  Another notch in our adventure belt.  Another big YES!

The weather was glorious... unexpectedly (don't you love it when the forecast is wrong this way round?)

My camera was safely tucked away in a dry bag so you'll have to be happy with that wonky picture and trust me when I say it was glorious.  

In the afternoon Mr M took No 3 zip-lining whilst me and the other two non-adrenaline junkies went looking for the famous Whistler train wreck.

(disused train line... I think)

This place is not on the official trail maps but everybody knows about it.  We struggled a bit to find it... but it was totally worth it.  Suddenly you stumble in 4 or 5 derailed train carriages in the middle of the forest that have been covered in cool graffiti and it's totally bonkers.

You can read about its story here.

I totally recommend it if you're in the area.

46-2015

When I went to school we didn't have a dedicated art room.  Everything was done at our desk (boring) and in fact more than 'art' we studied 'history of art' which I didn't really appreciate then and it's not much useful to me now a part from hopelessly trying impress my children.  

It's very hard to impress my children.  Very tough audience.

Anyway, back to art... ah yes, so, when the boys' art teacher asks for my help (she's quite an amazing and creative and inspiring lady) I always say yes because it's great fun and I'm a great believer that it's good for the kids seeing their parents get involved in their education (a part from the homework nagging, that is...).

Plus the art room is fab.

The latest project (last year we did felting with the little ones) involved a gaggle (there's no better word) of 11yr old girls, a bunch of white t-shirts, elastic bands and fabric paint.

A riot.

Some of them turned out absolutely fantastic!  

I know because I went back this morning and rinsed them all off,  it sounds like I'm such a teachers' pet... I actually did to satisfy my curiosity...  (I now have blue/purple fingers by the way.  Not pretty)

So if you want a really (messy) easy (messy) project (which can get quite messy) do it!  I fully intend to buy the gear and get the boys to Pollock some fabric for me.  Outside.  Aways from the house.

You can get the stuff from Amazon, we used this one.

(109)2014 - Crucible 2, Gloucester Cathedral -

It was Pablo Picasso that once said: "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls", and it's so so true.

This morning my friend E and I drove to Gloucester Cathedral to the 'Crucible 2' exhibition:

(Lynne Chadwick - Jubilee IV)

It was a gorgeous morning, the cathdral was still empty of people and filled only by organ music and sun light. Quite amazing.

(Daniel Chadwick - Constellation 2014)

There are sculptures... everywhere you look... in fact I don't think we managed to spot them all in the time we were there...

(David Mach - the thief)

(Ralph Brown - display no more in vain the lofty banner)

(top right corner, Damine Hirst - Fallen Angel, in the foreground Sue Freeborough - let there be spaces in our togetherness)

(William Pye - vesqua)

(Leonard McComb - tree form and circle in polished bronze)

(Anthony Abrahams - man with raised arm)

(Eduardo Paolozzi - Vulcan)

(Jordi Raga -Thames)

Yes, I feel I've dusted the cobwebs of the mind... 

(Kenneth Armitage - reach for the stars)

On to the pile of ironing pile then...

Sigh.

(71)2014

- It's not particularly early, but I'm alone in the kitchen drinking coffee.  

- No 1 is at a sleepover (although how much sleep will 3 13yrs old in a bedroom with an xbox is a matter of debate. AND the reason why he'll never have electronics in his own bedroom at home.)

- Mr M is still asleep.

- No 2 is still asleep.

- No 3 is destroying valuable brain cells watching inane television.

- Lilli the dog has gone back to sleep.

- Did you know that Marimekko has launched a limited range of clothes at Banana Republic? Gorgeous.

- Did you know that when you have boys sooner or later you'll find yourself going to the movies to watch 'Godzilla'?  And what's more, you'll enjoy it?

- I've entered another 'I'm-so-bored-with-food' period and so this weekend I've tried new recipes.  Three of them were from the book: Nigellissima.  We ate: 

Meatzza (terrible name, easy food that your children will love and won't complain about)

Macaroni and cheese all'Italiana (although the main ingredient was gruyere cheese, which is not exactly Italian... you go figure)

Pasta risotto with peas and pancetta (the high content of bacon made the boys forget about the 'peas' bit)

- And then last night, thanks to Pinterest, I made 'eggplant patties'; you can find the recipe here.  Mine did not look as pretty as those... BUT they were delicious.  So delicious that even No 2 ate one, and he "hates" auberginese/eggplants/melanzane... whatever.  But I got him there.  Mum 1 - child 0.

- Also trawling through Pinterest I stumbled upon this artist: Cayce Zavaglia.  It seems incredible to me that anyone can make beautiful things like this.  Was I in the toilette when they handed talent out?  Geesh...  Please do check her out.  There is also a very interesting short video here.

- sigh.

- gratuituous photos of red tulips on my kitchen table.  (Love them.  My wedding bouquet was made entirely of tiny white tulips, Mr M filled the hotel room with yellow tulips when we got engaged, and red tulips remind me of my grandmother and her garden.)

 

 

 

 

(68)2014 - folk art and indigo -

Ok, this is the third time I try writing up this post and then Typepad goes all funny and the posts disappear into nothing... I mean, seriously, typepad? get a grip! 

Because of this you're not going to get the nice story or much explanation blah blah blah... just pictures, ok? Like it or lump it.  

Mum and I visited 'Dyeworks' in near Stroud, Glos when she was here and Polly (the founder) gave us a quick talk and indigo dyemonstration... oh my how magical.  I've always loved the deep indigo blue colour, but now I NEED to try my hand at some dyeing....

Polly has been doing it for over twenty years, she sources her indigo in India and dyes everything... old vintage linen, silk scarves and pashminas, clothes... anything.  

A small scrap pack came home with me and asked to be made into a picture.

It needs a border.  I think.  I don't know.  I'm waiting to be asked for one.

You know how it is.

(65)2014 - hand -

Hi!

Remember me?

Still here... I've spent a lovely week with my mum who was over from Italy and time got away from me... but now I'm back and I have a few things to show you so stick around y'all, ok?

Randomly firstly to catch up a little...

- Mum and I shopped.  I like shopping with friends... but shopping with 'mum' is a different matter all together... don't you think?  And we're good at it.  Wink.

- Mum and I ate.  A lot.  Which is why I had soup for lunch. Sigh.  

- Incidentally it wasn't a brilliant soup; asparagus and peas, which I thought had potential, but it was watery and a little 'meh'.  Nice colour though.  Definitively a case of colour over substance.  AND they served it with rocket.  Geeesh people, what is this obsession with rocket?  Rocket over everything, under everything, to the side of everything.  Enough already.

- End of rocket rant.

- No 2 is away with school for a week.   IT IS QUIET around here!!  Oh my, oh my.  And I haven't raised my voice since Sunday morning... I love him to bits and wouldn't swap him for the world... but still... let's just say his absence is noticeable and leave it at that!  

- I miss him though.  He's the only one I can have a really good row with and two seconds later a really good laugh.  Sigh.

- No 3 has scored two winning goals in two tournament football games (soccer) this weekend and is still walking on air.  After the second one his friends ran into the pitch and piled on him. Sweet.  That would have made me cry if I'd been there.  Ridiculous, eh?

- My kitchen still smells bad... I think repainting the walls might be the only solution.  Depressing thought.

- I've signed up for a tennis course.  I know, shocking.  Last time I attempted this the coach kept telling me I looked like I was catching butterflies... not hitting a tennis ball.  It was off-putting to say the least.

- And lastly... because I need to walk the dog before picking up No 3 from school so I must be brief... I bought myself a birthday present:

It's one of Cleo Mussi's hands (well... not literally on of 'her' hands, that would be creepy...) and I've been wanting one of these 'for-like-ever'.  Mr M is not convinced and has asked me to hang it in my study... but I think it's beautiful... don't you think it's beautiful?

I'd like more.

Sigh.

 

C'mon Lilli.... walkies....

(58) 2014 - Banksy? -

It's kind of ironic that I've fallen in love with street art in New York... only to come back and find this painted on a wall about a mile from my house:

Word on the street is that it is by 'Banksy'...

Amazing.

Like all his work.

(5) 2014

 

 

3 weeks of holidays behind us.

48 hours left of holidays left.

And I got this:  "... Actually mum... I need to prepare a little presentation for school..."

Sigh.

I grabbed the car, keys, wallet, child and off we went to buy all the necessary.  There are times when getting angry just eats too much time.

Arrived home, charged the camera, set up everything in the kitchen.

Wax, bang, thank you mum.

A lot of pictures were taken and he's now on the computer putting it all together.

It wasn't so bad after all.

(But please don't tell him!!!)