Craftspeople of another time

These words stilled and caught me up this morning while reading a beautiful book set in the late 1700s:

"Thomas Kellaway was a chairmaker - a profession which required patience, a steady hand and an eye for the shape the wood would best take."
(taken from Tracy Chevalier's Burning Bright, p185-86)

"Thomas Kellaway knew his elm and ash, his yew and chestnut and walnut.  He knew what would work and look best for the seat (always elm), the legs and spindles (he preferred yew if he could get it), the hoop for the back and arms (ash). He understood how much he could bend ash before it splintered; he could sense how hard he had to chop at an elm plank...to shape the seat.  He loved wood, for he had been using it all his life."
(taken from Tracy Chevalier's Burning Bright, p186)

I appreciate very much Chevalier's depiction of the way the craftsman knows his material, is connected to it, loves it and knows its capabilities - how far it can be bent, which type of wood is most flexible or strong.  Think of a sculpter drawing out from marble or stone that which is within, or a potter forming and shaping clay into objects of beauty and function.

I also love the sense of continuity and the passing down of knowledge through the generations of a craft, along with the timelessness this evokes.

At the end of last year, the ABC featured a BBC series, hosted by Monty Don (of Italian Gardens), which looked at a different traditional craft each week - chairmaking, thatching and the like.  Sadly, I only watched one episode and can't remember the name of the program.  However, I was struck by the reverence of and delight taken in the materials used, and the process of transforming or adapting them for the task at hand.  I was also slowed and inspired by the craftspeople and their patience and gentleness in relation to others, nature and life.  Does anyone remember the name of this show? I would love to watch it.

By candlelight

Picture this:

Husband out at a boys movie. Kids in bed. Classical music wafting through the darkened lounge room along with a subtle fragrance from the scented candle, the flame of which flickers and dances mesmerisingly. Ahh, finally ALONE. My eyelids are getting heavy. My lounge and cushions are my nest. All is right with the world.....mmmmmm.

"Mum, I can't sleep."

"Nor can I!" chimes in a higher pitched whisper.

Me speaking in my head (but could possibly have been an audible groan :-) ): "Noooooo...!"

Did you think it was all over?

I thought so too, but AMAZINGLY, Miss A and Miss T joined me on the lounge (love a generous sofa. Thanks Mom!), remained silent and still and the three of us drifted off into a blissful, dreamy state until Mr T returned home.

I felt so contented the next day and so thankful for a precious moment that I could never (ever) have engineered even if I'd tried.

Random and various

Had breakfast with my gorgeous husband T-man (this week off, his new job begins next Monday @ DHS) at Silo this morning - delicious. More delicious was the Vanilla Brûlée that we snacked on afterwards. Pastry - buttery, yuuummm. Thin toffee layer on top - crunch ("crinkle" says T-man). Custard - mmmmm, silky. So good to be together (sans offspring, of course), and the baguette that we bought in anticipation of lunch was divine. It's the small things....

Our front entrance has been SAD since we've been here. Boxy, concrete-y and square with NO rounded edges. We would like to soften and add some character, so our cheap and quick solution is a couple of pots plus Sasanqua Camelias. Went to Bunnings after breakfast today to further this endeavour. Again, it's the small things.....

Our lovely neighbour giving us quinces and figs from her luscious, established garden - priceless. Sooooooo goooood.

Ok, off to watch some "CHUCK" (Americana we are watching on our laptop, scabbed from a friend). LOVE IT!!!

My French Table

Dreaming of travelling to participate in any of these.

Sigh.

Contenting myself for now with the book. A beautiful present from Mum around Christmas time. Thanks Mum!

My eldest regularly asks "Mum, when are you and I going to Paris?". Perhaps instead we'll head to Chateau de Bousguet.

My heart wanders

...and mine is stirred by the inner and geographical journey Pia-Jane Bijkerk celebrates in this book: Sydney, Paris, Amsterdam, letting go, discovering new ways of living and loving, the significance of a good cup of tea, finding and creating a home on the other side of the world...

Beautiful images, poetry and musings - a fragrance, curtains billowing gently in the breeze, water lapping against a boat's hull, reflected light on the ceiling - combine to bring forth from the pages a sense of place and life.

My heart wanders was all over the blogs a couple of years ago, but I only recently delved in. My heart is so glad I did! Thinking I'd like a copy of my own.

A few lines in particular grabbed me today:

My mother was always questioning this habit of mine..."Why do you feel you have to explain everything to people?...[People] want to believe what they want to believe...Conserve your energy, my love (italics mine) - live your life and enjoy it, don't worry what other people think."

These words have got me thinking about enjoying my life (and keeping on enjoying it)...my day...this moment - not justifying or explaining decisions, needlessly using energy - and those around me who encourage me in this. Some do it with words, some just by being who they are. Thank you J & M, J, S, J and T. You all do that for me in your own way.

Do you have someone who has consistently reminded to really enjoy your life or inspires you by their ability to do this?

Kids bedrooms

Hallo and I am back to show you some kids bedrooms.

This bedroom is nice but it just doesn't have my colours. I really think that mirror is beautiful. That bedside table (chest of drawers) would be really good for lamps, candles, books etc. I like the flowers pattern on the cushions because it makes me feel light.

Even though I don't sleep in a cot, it would be a beautiful room to sleep in. I like the reflection in the mirror of the hanging light and the window.

Thanks,

Asher

Pretty things

Today I enjoyed finding these lovely items:

A snow dome that can be personalised by adding you own paper background - great kids present.

This striped rug and beautifully warm wooden lamp base.

Am very much in love with this artwork by Sonya Rothwell as featured in Home Beautiful earlier this year.

Yes, my first post for nearly 3/4 of a year; far too long since I did this.