Wednesday’s Woman
Yesterday was Beatrix Potter’s birthday, everyday I drink my tea at from a Peter Rabbit cup although I didn’t like her books too much; the cup previously owned by my daughter, is a delight at the end of a busy day! So I raise a cup and send belated celebrations to Beatrix Potter.
Images from item found in our Children’s Collection here at University of Reading, dated 1909 so a very early edition I think.
Weekly photo challenge … Close up
No profound thoughts about this week’s prompt, the flowers on these cacti in the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. They are so tiny and can only be seen close-up!
During my holiday …
One of the highlights of my time in Rio was ‘doing’ art with my daughter. She is also a printmaker and like me self taught. So we both enjoy any opportunity to learn even from each other!
She belongs to a printing community and I was able to take advantages of their facilities on a few occasions. Printing is practiced a lot in Rio but the techniques are traditional; the inks, tools and paper we find so easily in UK are almost unavailable and very expensive. So wood and metal are the most used with black and limited colours. With the most outstanding results; I was in awe and determined to hone my own traditional methods.
Nonetheless,we spent many happy hours drawing, painting and printing with our also limited collection of supplies from UK ; even if we were spied with gentle disquiet …
Silent Sunday
Saturday and going home …
Today I go home from Rio. It has been a most wonderful time we have not wasted a moment. My journals are filled with copious drawings, scribbles and facts. That I will share when the the soreness and the ache of today’s necessary goodbyes!
So meanwhile I will share a snapshot taken yesterday while out on a spin on my son-in-law ‘s motorbike.
A book on Friday
The first exhibition I saw when I came to Brazil was that of Lasar Segall; I enjoyed it very much, although I have collected a few books by other Brazilian artists I haven’t yet found one about Segall suitable in English. My daughter received one today and that prompted mt to look out for something when I return to England …
Alphabe Thursday J is for Junta … put together
Juntando tudo, o poeta
Seja de banca ou viola
Escreve a canta os estilos
No compasso e na bitola
São lições que nao se aprende
No curriculo de escola
The understanding of this verse comes with the knowledge that the poet of cordel, may recite the poem but sometimes he uses musical accompaniment so the metre or syllable requirement is different. So with different singing styles it is a complicated business and the lessons learned are beyond those we were are taught in school.
… mmm some good life lessons here!
Weekly photo challenge … Half and Half
Half and half, I am not sure how I can represent this prompt in a photograph. As a mother I/we are cut in half in our devotion to the care and subsequent separation from our children. We give them wings and roots, so they say, wings for which to fly and roots from which they draw energy and strength. While I am staying with my youngest in Brazil; half of me (maybe more) feels I have been successful and the other half whispers … why so far?
Yesterday we went …
Yesterday, we went to Santa Teresa to visit the printing press and shop of Gonçalo Ferreira da Silva who has written and printed many cordels and books about the literature, history and culture of cordel.
I was able to add to my little collection of these lovely little story books and enjoyed these bandeirinhas (little flags); we in UK call them bunting. I understand that these were result of a recent celebration of the work of Gonçalo Ferreira da Silva and Brazilian Literature in SESC Ramos where grown ups and children were able to learn the art of wood cut.
Silent Sunday
Coat Hanger Doll's House 