New designs – currently on the carving table

Last year was a bit of a mix up year. I was involved in helping with helping care for my dear 95yr old Godmother over the last few years – she was a career nurse and in those days they weren’t allowed to be married, in fact she had been a Matron – second in charge at RPA Hospital in Sydney and in charge of Gloucester House for many years. So my brother and I were like her children and helped her cope with her difficult journey from independence to hostel care as best as we were able.

This is my favourite photo of us together that my son took – she passed away last September and was a dear heart, we used to have many laughs and much fun together. Aunty Lorna was one of the most elegant people I have ever met – always a ‘Lady’ and from an era and life where this was highly valued. She was always immaculately dressed and known for her beautiful scarves. She was kind and considerate but I would not have liked to have been a nurse under Matron Neems as she had a tough side that could make her point known quietly and with a withering glance and few words! As she would say, 95yrs is a ‘good innings’ and she was ready to go, but I do miss talking with her.

An annoying/frustrating/pain in the neck & shoulder – literally – meant I wasn’t able to do much carving. This has been an on-going problem that is now being diagnosed as bursitis – I am getting some different treatment – including clinical pilates (so helpful!) so I am hoping to be able manage it all better.

I did however get some designs drawn up and finalised ready to carve.

The first set are based around the format I used for the Tasmanian Christmas Bells design in 2010. I liked the ‘architectural quality of these wildflowers and so have based a set of new designs around what I call ‘Deco’ – the feeling of those tall elegant Art Deco patterns.

This series includes ‘Tea Tree‘, Crowea, Tasmanian Christmas Bells, Wattle 1, Correa, Pea, Wattle 2, Brisbane Lily, Bulbine Lily and Grevillea.

A second set on the carving table are a series of Square designs – a couple of which I managed to complete last year.

These include – Waterlily, Grevillea, Powderpuff Lilypily, Banksia 1, Waratah, Coastal Banksia, Eucalyptus, Bottlebrush and Flannel Flowers. SO far I have managed to finish carving the Powderpuff lilypily, Coastal Banksia and Flannel Flowers ready to print. However I am waiting on printing them until I get this shoulder a bit better under control to minimise further irritation.

Let me say it is all rather frustrating waiting to finish the carving and printing. I love carving the linocuts and miss it!

So for the next little while I am back drawing which I also love but there is nothing like seeing the final print inked up on paper and then handcoloured!