Off on another tangent now... for about 5 years in the 90's I took a monthly calligraphy class with the fabulous Olive Bull. Olive is now a fairly regular tutor at the McGregor Summer School here in Toowoomba.
They were wonderful Sundays, full of paper and ink and delicious discussions about gouache and gum arabic. I was at calligraphy the day Princess Diana died. It was a great time of my life.
I'm not practicing calligraphy at the moment because you need space, and quality stretches of time, to get the rhythm going, to make sure, true strokes. You need clean hands and a clear mind. This sort of time is simply not happening for me at the moment, but I know calligraphy is definitely a skill I want to re-invigorate at a later date.
This is one of the poems that I "calligraphied" a long time ago. Even my husband remembers it, and I love being reminded of it from time to time. My massive pile of folding at the moment, and the fact that I don't mind finding apples on and in the furniture is probably evidence that we are managing to keep our hands busy with the important things...
MY HANDS WERE BUSY
My hands were busy through the day.
I didn’t have much time to play.
The little games you asked to do,
I didn’t have much time for you.
I’d wash your clothes. I’d sew and cook.
You’d ask and I’d read from your book.
I’d tuck you in all safe at night,
And hear your prayers; turn out the light.
I didn’t have much time to play.
The little games you asked to do,
I didn’t have much time for you.
I’d wash your clothes. I’d sew and cook.
You’d ask and I’d read from your book.
I’d tuck you in all safe at night,
And hear your prayers; turn out the light.
Then tiptoe softly by your door,
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.
For life was short, the years rushed past,
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at my side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away.
There are no longer games to play.
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.
For life was short, the years rushed past,
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at my side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away.
There are no longer games to play.
No Teddy Bears or misplaced toys
No sleepovers with lots of boys.
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear.
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to do.
No sleepovers with lots of boys.
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear.
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to do.
Anonymous
PS. Go here to see how your website looks on the new ipad.
PPS. Go here to my son's website if you have kids of about 10 or so that might like to try a movie quotes quiz.
Hello there Tina here !! Hope you had a wonderful easter !! Just ordered one of your goooooooorgeous little Alice in Wonderland panels ! and Ive also made a little blogpost on my blog you can see it here
ReplyDeletehttp://scrappedbytina.blogspot.com/2010/04/alice.html
xxx Tina
Ooooh, that one is a goodie. And no matter how well the mothering is going (and how little washing is being folded) I always reckon its a good sort of thing for finding the big picture.
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