This is a common sight at my house on a cold winter's night - a DVD on, and the fire going, and both nieces on the couch under the tiger blanket. I looked down on them from above and two sleepy faces looked up. Cute huh?
Just felt I should make a log (as it were) of the beginnings of Inklings again - it seems I might be getting off the ground freelancing quicker than I expected. So, this is the START, (the 'before' picture) - from the corner of the kitchen, where I presently work, and hopefully there will be a progression as the months go by, eventually ending in a studio somewhere.
Meanwhile, it's a cosy corner, is it not? And not too bad even in winter with that wee heater blasting out behind me. Roll in the work!
I know - I can't stay away from this place. Megan came up from Christchurch for a few days, and I HAD to take her here too. We had, as you can see, lovely coffee, French toast and savoury scones, and later shared a wee homemade cake. Meg loved it too.
Just had a lovely holiday of a few days down in Te Awamutu in the frost and countryside enjoying a break from the hectic schedule of the last few months. The course is now over. This is the lovely entrance and cafe to Ngaroto Nurseries.
On Friday I spent the day in Hamilton reminiscing over our old family haunts, and wandering the banks of the Waikato River. Then I met dear Jeanettie Clarkin-Phillips for lunch at a splendid cafe just off the banks.
Back to the nursery and this is a part of the HUGE and glorious display garden behind the cafe and surrounding the back part of the nursery. It goes on and on for ages and one can get lost in it.
A frosty morning when I donned my hat and gloves and went out to take pictures from the house.
Peter showed me how to stick lard in string bags for the waxeyes, and then he went back out to put cut fruit in their wee house.
Something happened in the middle of my coat, I think I must have stuffed my gloves and hat, and maybe a few cardigans in there for safekeeping. Peter and I when I finally left. Does he look relieved?
Sunset through THAT tree again. Makes it look like it's on fire. What a great time.
Okay, finished the course on Friday and had drinkies with classmates before going to movies with Peter and the Duncans. Then on Sat morning went up to the Kauri Gumstore cafe to show Peter where it is, and we had a great time on a crisp sunny winter morning enjoying the ambience of this place.
Lovely Louise Cake and latte's and hot chocolate.
Then shopping at Pak n Save and lunch at Catherine Gardner's place with her sister, Anne, up from Oamaru. We sampled her new sandwich maker and enjoyed the excitement of eating to the sound of two smoke alarms simultaneously going off. Hee hee.
THen an evening dinner party at my home, which Peter was responsible for cooking for, and we all dressed as paupers, (except those who thought they were paupers dressing up!) and enjoyed French Onion soup, croutons, followed by beef and olive casserole and mashed potatoes and mashed parsnips and carrots, and then a huge steaming pudding with custard. YUM.
The fire was going, the candles all lit the place in a serene light, and the laughter barely stopped.
Oh dear, these photos are all a bit mixed around. The sisters all went out with Jen Vasiliades this afternoon before their meeting, and we shopped at an outlet store block and then off up to the Kauri Gumstore cafe for coffee. This is us THERE>
Two angles so that you can appreciate the lovely scarves that Jen, Lorna and Jenny are wearing, that Lorna's friend knitted.
ER, the photo that is out of place. It's a portion of the meeting this evening with ROger who came down from the North for the meeting, talking to Nick, and Lorna talking to niece Magda.
And back to the Kauri Gumstore for the sight of the food!
. . . and Jen V outside
. . . and the actual sisters' meeting with us all moving our legs in swift motion simultaneously. A feat we are rather proud of. Poor Nick.
Yep, it's finally happened! We had our exhibition of our dissertations at a gallery in St Paul's St last night, with wine (in polystyrene) and nibbles. Very nice event with a chance for fellow students and I to relax and read each other's work and to invite family and friends to see our work.
Here's my friend Catherine Gardner and I hovering over a disseration on Vodka!
And this was my entire contingent: Niece Magda, Catherine, Helen and niece Jem.
The gallery and the tables spread with our work.
LAST weekend, my sister-in-law (and Magda's Mum) was here and we celebrated with a meal she put on!! on Helen's place. That's Mum and Jem with Magda and Lizzie.
The family gathered around the table. Great food. Great company.
Friend in the class took photos of us all in black and white. I quite liked this one, so it'll be on my website. Watch out for www.inklings.co.nz which WILL happen one day soon. At the moment working on the class website, and being 'Webmaster' (read 'whipmaster') I am pretty pleased that I was able to upload SOMETHING to start with. See www.designershome.co.nz and keep an eye on the space. That's where all the class projects and profiles will happen soon.
We don't get these little blighters over here which is why it's so cute to see one again. Someone sent Dad an email about this little fella and how he was found at the base of a tree, and this lady hand reared him, and her dog took him under her wing. So sweet. I think I even forgive the squirrel (Madam Nutkin) who once bit me on the finger and caused me to have to have a rabies shot.
See, settling in to the pack just like the other puppies.
Aw. . .I want one!
And the day started at Mum's (Dad is in hospital of course) with a brunch consisting of corn fritters, donuts and cake, and celebrating Helen's birthday. That's her and her crowd of onlookers enjoying her new fake mink blankie and card. It was just the start of her 'treat me like a princess' day.
This is the princess blowing out the candle on her cake - be glad you don't get a closer view. Coffee sponge it was. And an old candle my mother unearthed.
Slightly out of order, this is the roast chicken dinner waiting for Magda and I at home, when we finally got there. Steve cooked it!! AND provided the wine. Lovely lad that.
This is where I spend my days - alone in this case - at the computer lab in the University. I have been asked to be webmaster for the class, so more long hours spent in here are ahead. Oh joy. That's a day in the life of Jenny 'Inklings' Jeffries. Hope it was worth it to you.
I just have to say I feel like I'm living, breathing, eating my dissertation and web design these days. Only a few more weeks to go and it's ALL GO. I am thrilled that both Steadman and Leunig (Australia) agreed to let me use their 'wild line' illustrations in my dissertation. Here's a favourite from Michael Leunig. You got to love him. He signed the book too, when he was out here a few years ago.
Here's the present state of my dissertation. In case you don't know, it's on the WILD LINE in contemporary New Zealand illustration. I've interviewed eight artists and pieced it all together and now I'm designing the book and facing getting it bound and printed. Has to be done in a week.
And THIS is the state of the side of my bedroom, filled with papers and bits and pieces which all mean something, but I'm not quite sure what at the moment. I scored my first A for the latest assignment on magazine, done in Quark, so feeling pretty pleased with myself. If you don't see another blog for a while, I hope this one explains why.
How I like these early crisp mornings, on a Sunday, when you can just come out at leisure and make your coffee and sit and view the sun rising through the network of branches on the front lawn.
This is my studio, next to the kitchen, in which I struggle through a variety of tasks. I'm heading in to AUT where the better computer is today though, AFTER a bit of a leisurely Sunday start.
This is the alternative view in the morning, and I did sit here, with coffee and crumpets and enjoy the neighbours back yard and the slightly frosty feel to things. Ah, well, I'd best get to planting those black Irises for Spring and readying myself for some work in at the Uni.
Oh, gulp, is that really me in my pyjamas, sitting hunched in front of my laptop, viewing the Harry Potter website with zeal and relish. Oops. All my work spread out on the bed behind me, and silly escapist thoughts filling my head. I blame all my work on Flash for web design today.
See, I've moved on and am now in gmail checking for a message from YOU! I'd best to bed I think. Good night
