How are you?? Is it really almost March already?? Whirlwind year so far, I'm already pretty worn out! I'm feeling exactly like my favourite T-shirt here:
Shredded and worn thin. We had a crazy day last Friday. I was enjoying a lovely morning with one of my best friends, the girl I met the fatelful night of that knarely car accident I wrote about last July. We are super best friends & hang out every week since. She lives on a beautiful rural property about 20kms from mine. We were having brekkie and went our separate ways, and then she rang me about an hour later to tell me she had been evacuated because there was an out of control grass fire she could see across the gully. It spread (like wildfire!) and took out about 12 houses and did some massive damage to our beautiful rural part of the world in a very short amount of time. I spent the whole afternoon listening to emergency broadcast radio waiting for the wind to change and for it to be our turn to pack it in and head towards the coast! I had only just made it home before all the roads were blocked. We have an amazing rural fire brigade and there was a huge response from interstate, so planes/helicopters flew to drop water and help put things out. It was intense but we were ok. My friend had everything BUT her house & shed burn down. Granny flat, cubby house, bee hives, chicken coop, small trees and garden, all gone. The fire had made it to just under her veranda and even a bit on the roof. I'm so thankful she's ok. I went to the nursery and bought her some new fruit trees to help get some green back into her landscape. The owners of the nursery gave me a few extra for her, cos that's how awesome Australians are. Here's a pic from above the area
Things are looking bleak still, but the community has really rallied together to help each other out. The fire started on a total fire-ban day when some hobby farmers were doing renos and running power tools (angle-grinder) that sparked the fire. The bloke came forward and was absolutely devastated at the accident. He made a big donation to the rural fire brigade. The important thing was no one got hurt!
For some good news now. I sold some artwork in my exhibition that opened late January! This piece, 'Chain Mail'
Went to a home in Sydney. It's always good to sell some work. Glass is a stupid expensive job & sometimes it's few and far between I sell something. I got some bobby pins photographed for an exhibition I have coming up next weekend. I made 100 for an installation.
I'm really happy with how they came out! Will let you know how the show goes, I'm exhibiting them with this other piece called 'Light Switch'
So some other good news! And completely out of the blue! I got a job offer that I took, teaching glassblowing at Sydney College of the Arts 2 days a week! I used to teach there when I lived up there, but probably about 12-14 years ago now. I'll be commuting up, it's about a 4-hour drive each way, but I can stay at my sister-in-laws and I'm seriously looking forward to teaching again! Plus I looooove Sydney so it's kind of a win-win. I'm kind of nervous. I start the 6th of March, so pretty soon. I'm going up this Monday to chat to the staff and get paperwork sorted.
I've been blowing glass a bit lately and still doing my shifts at the cafe. Busy busy! My health is going pretty ok, I started with a weekly trainer at the gym and he's literally kicking my ass. Poor guy, I actually told him to fuck-off the other day! But reminded him it was kind of a term of endearment for him. He laughed, he's like 'text me tomorrow to tell me how sore you are!' Hahaaha! It's been good to try and shape up tho, and it feels good to be working hard. I've also made it 9 months of no marijuana smoking! I'm so thankful for all of the love and support I've received from my beautiful Suicidegirls family. @mischief @arachnie @sunflower @frankndame @floydian & especially @jacinto2 ! I've also had the best visits and talks lately with my beautiful @verde & @bryceee222 to really lift my spirits❤ we really do have an amazing community @missy @rambo how lucky are we?? The good news about spending so much time in Sydney is, I can finally shoot again with the amazing @suilewie71
He's so great to work with, seriously look him up and check out his work! Amazing. Also in Sydney is the fabulous @coolicio & I can't wait to shoot with her super soon too. It's been far too long since I've shot a new set! Will keep you all posted on everything as it comes.
I've been getting right into knitting like a Nana at the moment too. I've finally learned how to read patterns and am gearing up on some warm things for winter, my favourite season! Can't wait. I've been getting some nice homegrown, handspun/hand dyed wool from my mate in Victoria
In progress...
it's been a welcome distraction from smoking! And very rewarding as well.
Other news, heading over to America in late June to visit family and friends, and crossing my fingers for a scholarship to Pilchuck Glass School, I'll be notified about next month. I'm also slowly making glass work for my solo exhibition in Sydney next May. It's all happening! Hope you are all having an amazing year so far, it's gonna be a busy one for me! But so far so good.
Lots of love xoxo Harvest
