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inspiration....

Krishna frolics with the Gopi girls (detail), folio 2 from the Krishna Lila, Jodhpur, c. 1765; 63.5 x 136.5 cm. © Mehrangarh Museum Trust

During the week, Maggie and I took Grace up to London.Our destination was the British Museum to see the exhibition, 'Garden and Cosmos- The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur' .
Grace played sweet baby and fell asleep almost as soon as we entered the gallery which meant that not only could I take my time and actually look at the paintings- I was also able to do a little bit of sketching. The paintings were simply amazing- beautiful meticulous detail and vivid shimmering colour. I was especially inspired by the intricately rendered trees and plants.

Most of my sketches were an attempt to capture a little of the detail to that later I could attempt to recreate a little garden of my own.
I did buy the catalogue from the exhibition -however I find that sketching from the actual artworks helps me to appreciate and remember the details so much more than if I just work from an image.

Here is my first tree based on some of the sketches I made. No colour yet - just my favourite black super fine pigment liner.

chasing my tail...

it feels as though this is what I have been doing for the past six months. And not very successfully, I might add. There are still boxes to be sorted through and two rooms to be organised.

If I focus too much on the things I haven't managed to get done, I get quite frustrated and annoyed. So, possibly more useful to look at what I have achieved so far.

I started this last year, just before I began packing to move to the UK. All it needs now is to weave in the end( artfully hidden in the photo) and lightly block it.

 

A simple charcoal cowl....
I decided halfway through knitting it, that it would be perfect for a friend,so the fact that it is summer here and rather hot isn't really important.
It is my own pattern ( if you can call it that) using a Jo Sharp silk,alpaca and merino mix. I find that this type of knitting suits me perfectly - in the round, so no seams to sew and a few cables to make me feel a little bit clever without trying to hard.

This little girl is now sleeping from around 7.30 pm until 4.30 ( or 5.30 on a really good day) - which is quite something,considering she was waking every two hours and needing attention( mine!) back in January.
It certainly hasn't been quick or particularly easy but I held firm to my resolve to avoid the controlled crying regime and I think we are both the happier for it.
Now I have to work on going to bed a little earlier so that I can catch up on a little missed sleep.

My big girls are trundling along quite nicely as well - all good here.

If I can work out what is happening with my broadband connection ( painfully slow to the point that I can feel myself aging as I wait for pages to load), I aim to start posting a little more regularly. Once every month or so does not a good blog make. 

See, glass half full kind of stuff.

What I have done, rather than what I haven't. That would be me, Pollyanna all the way.

Tail is in sight. At least I think that's my tail.