What a difference sunshine makes to my mood. Are you like that, too? Yesterday was a glorious spring day here, with radiant sunshine and today has started the same way. The flowering trees are doing their blossoming thing (although many have more leaves than flowers) and many of our neighbours are mowing their lawns for the first time since the water has drained from the ground. Let’s just ignore all the puddles and muddy areas, shall we?
Have you heard the term “refilling the creative well”? It means that we sometimes need to replenish our creative energy through different activities. It can be as simple as taking a walk or taking in new experiences.
This past week, I attended two activities; one a quilt workshop and the other a writers’ festival. Both have inspired me.
Victorian quilter, Irene Blanck, travelled to our local quilt group to present a workshop about her quilt-making techniques. I’ve long admired her designs and was keen to learn her way of hand appliqué. There are many different methods for appliqué and, if you learn a few of them, you can choose what works best for you.
I picked up a few tricks that appeal to me and I’m making a sample block to see whether I can incorporate them into my current methods. Already Irene’s workshop has me thinking differently.
The Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival was back after two years of cancellations due to Covid. I attended the Monumental Women session yesterday, where we heard about the launch of The Charlotte Project. You can read about that here but, in summary, it is a public fundraising appeal to erect a bronze statue of Charlotte Atkinson (1796 – 1867) in Berrima Park. Charlotte Atkinson was Australia’s first children’s book author and a pioneer for women’s rights in NSW.
A few months ago, I asked whether you knew Australia has more statues of animals than of women. In fact, fewer than 4% of Australia’s statues represent historical female figures. The Charlotte Project is a step to redress that in our local area.
Charlotte’s story was researched and written by her great-great-great-great-granddaughters Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell. In their book Searching for Charlotte, Kate and Belinda investigate family history, writing, motherhood, what changes and what stays the same. It’s a fascinating story.
Check out my recent posts: I’ve written about a baby quilt I made with squares, bluebells and why they are important to me, and how to grow tulips. I added a review of Only Murders in the Building, and book reviews of Jane Harper’s Exiles and Robert Galbraith’s The Ink Black Heart.
Have a lovely week.
