Majura Pines

We found a new spot to ride our bikes at the weekend - Majura Pines is to the east of the city and has well defined easy tracks as well as a range of more complex challenging tracks and jumps.

There didn't seem to be any barbecue facilities there which was a bit of a shame, but otherwise we had loads of fun. Eli came a cropper at one point and got a big scar on his elbow (but in truth I think he was happy that he could show it off to his mates when he went back to school).

A well earned drink

A Workshop that really resin-ates

Mikaela pipettes some colour!

Ever since I attained grade C in my art O'Level at the age of 15 (for my memorable still life sketch of a school vacuum cleaner) I've considered myself something of an undiscovered artisan.

Nowadays, apart from helping the kids with the occasional colouring book, I must admit that in truth the only thing I usually ever draw is the curtains (geddit?).

It was excellent therefore (if only to flex my artistic prowess) to get a chance to take part in a resin bowl workshop at the Makers' Hub in Canberra.

The wonderful Mikaela Danvers runs the Makers' Hub, established a couple of years ago in Canberra's north to allow local artists and crafty folk to turn their hand to countless hours of folding, moulding, painting and sticking opportunities. There's big scale arty stuff there too - from a kiln to a 3D printer and a printing press.

I must admit I didn't quite know what to expect when I went along to the workshop. I'd done a glass blowing course a couple of years ago at Canberra's (excellent) glassworks, and had also tinkered with a potters wheel for a couple of terms when I was at school - where I produced a few wonky looking vases (to exhibit alongside my vacuum cleaner sketch). Making stuff out of resin though was definitely uncharted territory.

Mikaela encouraged us all to introduce ourselves, and then acquainted us with a table full of strangely alluring(!) pink latex moulds which would allow us to create an infinite number of bowls, bangles or rings.

I opted to make a small bowl rather than jewelry - (figuring that I usually have a trouser-pocketful of coins or a stray cufflink which needs a home). We then discussed the assorted methods of mixing the resin with colours to create a matt or gloss effect and learnt how to introduce a swirl or pattern into your piece of artwork.

There were eight of us in the class and the conversation excitedly switched to our ambitious projects.

It's possible to hire the Makers' Hub venue, either for kids' parties (which I would imagine would be loads of fun) and also for grown-up sessions which would be great too. It's a bright airy studio and it's casually (but beautifully) laid out with bunting flags at the window and interesting/motivating signs on the wall. There's even a little (cute) crafty fox there!

Mikaela told us that venue hire works really well with small groups and it's a really flexible place as tables can be moved out to accommodate loads of different ideas.

I commenced pouring my first bowl with zeal. I followed our main instruction - 'mix fast, pour slow'.

I had high hopes for my output - it was going to be a trendy, simplistic, little matt number in light green - 'less is more' I figured. I was already day-dreaming about the gasps from my friends as I pulled my stylish, zen-like bowl out of my bag the next morning - people coo-coo-ing as to which gallery I had bought it from and then being able to brag to them that it was entirely fashioned through my own indomitable artistic talents.

The resin poured easily into the pink mould and then half way through went gloopy and then set hard.

Just.
Like.
That.

I must admit I'd never worked with a material quite like it. Liquid one minute, solid as a rock the next. I was desperate.

My Donatello-esque inspired bowl!.....my Rodin-esque artwork!....(sorry I can't think of any more sculptors) suddenly became completely junk. Half a bowl with a big gloop of hard resin sticking out of the bottom. It would have been difficult even to pass it off as modern art. I don't think anyone would have bought my story about it being an "abstract interpretive piece" and it certainly wouldn't have been any use for loose change. Bugger it.

Fortunately a couple of other people had mucked up their bowls too. Others in the group had of course produced stunning bowls, rings and bangles first time (don't you just hate those people) :)

As it was I cleaned out my pink mould and was soon back to the 'mix fast pour slow' thing. I hid my rubbish first effort under some paper towels.

This time I was successful. I'd resorted to an old gold and black bowl (naturally) and second time around it came out beautifully. I WAS an artist after all!

I'd recommend the workshop to anyone, whether artistically inclined or not. It was great fun and Mikaela was a fabulous teacher and was both amusing and interesting to listen to. You also obviously get the benefit of taking home something you have made. If you live in, or are visiting Canberra and would like to do something a bit unique, then get in touch with the Makers Hub here

* People did like my bowl the next day. It was a bit rough at the edges and I'm sure when I make bowl number three it will be better still.

I guess though on reflection I'm unlikely to get commissioned for my "resin bowl-work exhibition" any time soon, but it was such a fun way to spend a (rare) child-free evening and I created a family heirloom which might show up in a gallery someday (albeit only if dug up out of the ground in about a thousand years time). Thank you Mikaela and Makers' Hub!

pink moulds with glitter!

Love the plastic apron

My bowl in the mould

Crafty like a fox!

objet d'art!

(I got to do the workshop for free. sorry you'll have to cough up and pay - but it's still great value!)

Eli wins Kids Glass Design Competition

Last year it was his sister who took the accolades, but Eli made sure that the Canberra Glassworks Design Competition stayed in the family by winning the 2015 competition (in the 3-8 age category).

Unfortunately we were in New Zealand at the time of the presentation, but like Audrey he'll get to keep the glass work that was based on his design. It was made by talented glass artist Annette Blair

The candle was to celebrate the Kingston Powerhouse building which houses the glassworks and which is 100 years old this year. There is a tall chimney as part of the structure which formed the idea behind Eli's candle. Here's some pics of our clever boy and his sculpture.

Multi Cultural Festival

This weekend marked Canberra's Multi-cultural festival. It's a big event in Canberra's calendar and runs from Friday evening until Sunday. We've never been in the evening, but apparently the atmosphere gets fairly electric as there are several stages as well as roving entertainment and unplanned events (like a couple who had set themselves up this year in one of the main walkways with a big sign offering people free hugs!)

New School Term

The new term began at the start of February. I was so grateful for the help given by friends during the school holidays. The logistical planning of juggling six weeks holidays while working full time was fairly overwhelming at times.

We did the annual school photo (camera balanced on the wheely bin).... in fact I still maintain that the wheely bin is probably the best photographer in the family. I told the kids that even though they hated posing for it, when the time comes they'll do the same with their kids if/when they had any. They asked me why and I answered; 'You just will'. A range of images of me and my brothers stood next to a blackboard with the date on it bears testimony to my answer.

As well as a lot of other things, times like this are hard as I can't help thinking that Amy is missing out on things like this. She'd have loved seeing how 'grown up' the kids are now and she'd approved that I shelled out on Clarks shoes this time around (rather than the Aldi ones I made them wear last term).

I like to think Amy's still watching out for us.

Another afternoon of indoor rock climbing!

New Zealand

Just before Christmas a friend of ours pointed out that Virgin Australia were running a sale on flights to New Zealand and so I booked a short break for the three of us to visit our friends Pene and Mike as well as take a look at one of Australia's near neighbours.

I've always thought of New Zealand as being on the 'other side of the world' but from Sydney(!) it's only a short three hour flight making it much closer than other parts of our own country. It was the first time I'd travelled abroad on my Australian passport - and given 'Australian' as my own nationality. Fortunately I wasn't asked my cricket allegiance at customs.

Pene and Mike were fabulous hosts. They had a lovely house and the kids loved Missy - their placid labrador who adored the attention they gave her.

We were treated to a trip to Pallister Light House and a lovely pub lunch as well as a trip to the excellently appointed playground (which the kids loved) in Masterton not far from Pene and Mike's house.

After finding our feet I hired a car and drove north to Tapau (a vast inland volcanic lake) and then after we'd had a night there, further on to Rotarua. We completed a circular route by driving back through Napier.

We had an afternoon of white water rafting south of Tapau - which had so many thrills and spills and then the next day Audrey got to enjoy an afternoon pony trekking on a lovely mare (Cisco).

Rotarua was stunning - I've never really been anywhere like it before - it was full of geo-thermal activity and geysers spurted near to bubbling mud-pools. The kids were less keen on the sulphur smell which pervaded the whole area, but you did get (kind of) used to it after a while.

We drove back through the seaside town of Napier and visited the small but nicely presented aquarium where we saw our first kiwi bird!

It was a lovely break. It would be easy to spend weeks (rather than a week) in and around New Zealand. I really felt like we only scratched the surface of things and I left with the feeling that there were multitudes of galleries, museums and beautiful vistas just waiting to be 'discovered'. I'm sure we'll be back for more.

[A quick funny story was that while waiting in Sydney airport on the way out a "Mr Husair" was paged and the kids rolled around saying "Mr Husair?" and when I asked them why they (both) answered "Knock, knock...'Husair'" - who said travelling with children was dull!)]

Here's a few pictures (I took many more!)

Pene and the kids in Masterton

Cape Pallister Lighthouse

up close and personal with one of the many seals in Cape Pallister

Audrey on Cisco

Eli on the luge

Wairakei thermal springs

Sunset in Tapau (we stayed just over the road)

 

the kids enjoying(?) the smell of one of the mud pools

White water rafting on the Tongariro River

white water!

me and my little crew - I think their smiles tell the story