Did you know that twirling a fan in the left hand was a warning as it ‘we are being watched’ whereas twirling it in the right meant ‘I am interested in someone else’. Yesterday I mentioned that how fans were held had a language. I thought I would expand a …
Contemporary textile artist Terese Agnew is in need of clothing labels for her latest project. Do you know her name? Is a textile project in which Terese Agnew plans to create a portrait. When finished will be 8 feet high and 9 feet wide. Images of the quilt will be …
Did you know that if two hot air balloons touch during a flight it’s called a “kiss”? I discovered this piece of balloon trivia after an early morning trip to the foreground of old parliament house. Like many Canberrans I was up early to watch the launching of dozens of balloons. …
Charlotte Jirousek of Cornell University have provided a textbook for Art Design and Visual Thinking a course on design. The site includes articles on the design elements, application of media and notes on the fine art movements, and the decorative arts. This site has a number of strengths as it …
Did you know that to obtain a pound of Cochineal red colorant extract you need to bash the hell out of a million cochineal beetles? This is why the Aztecs valued the red dye so much. I am not sure if it is the satisfaction in the bashing or the …
Today is the anniversary of the Canberra fires. All over Weston Creek people will be reflecting on that day as it has been a year since 4 people died and 491 houses were destroyed in the disaster. Already there has been a gathering at a neighbours house to mark the …
Often I have been asked mainly by non- quilters why I make crazy quilts. Some see them as over embellished ugly Victorian monstrosities. I never tire of looking at them. They were made to display expert skill in needlework. Embroidery stitches such as herringbone and feather stitching are often found …
