Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Back at last

Well, it months since I've done any blogging - or painting. I have been distracted with gardening mainly, and I'm not sorry as we have had the best Spring for a decade and everything is looking marvellous. Recently I have been inspired to do some more upholstery. This 30's chair has been in a wretched state in our kitchen for the last 15 years but now she is in her glad rags and has announced herself to be Ruby. I had to learn  respringing and repadding techniques.
And below is Estelle. Yesterday, I went to drop off some garden waste at the recycling depot and popped in to the shed  'just to have a quick look.' Immediately, I heard Estelle calling, "Hey, over here - I'm Estelle - come and get me! Quick!" She'll have to wait for a new outfit because...

I have am now very busy getting my memory paintings into a book format to publish, initially at least, through Blurb. Above is the title part of the front cover. There are over 120 pictures with text, including quite a few new ones - I have about 8 pictures to finish, but hope to get a proof draft off in a few weeks. It's a very exciting project, watching the book structure appear, arranging all the pictures into a narrative of sorts, making my own 'handwriting' font, designing the cover - I think it's going to be pretty good. Watch this space!

7 comments:

annie said...

super, SUPER, S*U*P*E*R about the Memory Book, Alison. I do want to buy a copy when available. I think Blurb did a great job on Vivien Blackburn's book.

Ruby's upholstery is so lovely. Can't wait to see what Estelle will look like. You have acquired some wonderful techniques to do this work--maybe sore muscles? It looks like quite a job.

annie

Hashi said...

Nice job on Ruby! I like it! And that's fabulous about your book. I've used blurb and been very happy with the results. And I'm going to produce a cookbook (for family/friends gifts) next year using blurb or a similar service. What fun!!

Penny said...

LOVE RUBYS NEW 'DRESS'! I have thought about blurb but no money to spare or probably the brain to make a book. I would be interested in yours when it is done.

Margaret Cooter said...

Glad to see you back! Thanks for the "proverbs" link in you comment on my blog!

Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...

What a comfy looking chair! Never thought about a remake. Our chairs sometimes fall apart when someone heavy sits on them! I broke a chair in Fiji a couple of years ago. A lightweight touristy poolside chair - but in a house.
Good luck with the book project. Excellent to have persisted.
Wendy

Claudia said...

Absolutely gorgeous, your upholstery adventure! - And as well the idea of publishing your painted childhood memories!
I wish you a merry Christmas and a wonderful, bright, creative New Year!

Shirley said...

I totally missed your recent blog postings and I was delighted to see that you are making a book from your published memories. After the EDM Superblog "died" I lost touch with some of my favorite bloggers. So glad you visited me - now I have you in Google Reader, my favorite replacement for the superblog.