one to knit, one to see, one to read, one to relish

 

The One to Knit is my new Jelly Bean cushion. It was inspired by a painting, a passage in a book and a picture in a magazine and will be my English Drawing Room cushion in gold with purples (hyacinth, lilac, plum) - a colour combination I adore.

The One to See is the David Hockney exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery.

   

I had a personal art-fest on Monday and visited the Velazquez and Cezanne exhibitions at The National Gallery, had a cup of tea in the posh new cafe there, and then went round the corner to see the Hockney portraits. I've been a little ambivalent about Hockney for years (I've seen plenty of his work at Salt's Mill - a wonderful place, worth visiting if ever you are in West Yorkshire) and went prepared to love, hate or be indifferent.

I was bowled over. 150 portraits in all kinds of media from the sparse, coloured pencil drawings, to highly coloured oils laden with cobalt blue and emerald green, from photo-collages to ultra-fast watercolours. As Bill Bryson wrote, 'that boy can draw'. I also discovered that he paints flowers quite beautifully.

   

Alliums David Hockney

I read it several weeks ago, but I still keep thinking about The Crafter's Companion, brainchild of Anna Torborg. There is plenty to praise in this One to Read: photos, patterns, projects. But what I enjoyed most was reading how all the contributors got started, where their inspiration comes from, where they work and what they enjoy about making things. They are a talented bunch with some great, individual stories and they give the book real resonance. Anyone who is interested in the hand-made and hand-making should read these personal explanations of what makes crafters tick.

And finally, One to Relish. I scan the birth announcements in The Times every day (and in The Daily Telegraph should I happen to find a copy abandoned somewhere - I know, I'm a bag-lady at heart), but there haven't been that many names worth relishing recently. But this week a Cosima Celery made her grand entrance. Wonderful.

Comments

[Gemma]

That picture of the alliums is fabulous. It's a great colour combination, one of my favs. For me it's the view from the terrace at home in Spain. Purple and magenta bourganvilla in front of the sea and sky.

[Monica]

oh great name. I do that too... my husband think I'm mad. I once spotted a 'Temple Savoy, with a double barred something or other. Poor child. And a Chenille Margaret... chenille? what?

Names are a funny thing.

I soooooo want to see the Hockney exhibition...

[Lara900]

I already love your cushion!

[Jan]

If you read the New York Social Diary website, you'd encounter socialite Wiggie Bitter!

[Brigitte]

You're also into names?! Me too and my family always thinks I'm sort of crazy. Since I can remember I use to marvel at names and relish their sound. If it would be possible I'd choose my friends because of their names.... :-) (Of course I don't!!)

[Jan]

I just ordered that Hockney book yesterday! I would love to see the show in person.
Cosima Celery...a worthy addition to your collection of baby names.
And your new Jelly Bean cushion may be my favorite yet!

[jackie]

can't wait to see the quilt that comes from THAT name--i am still reeling from ophelia plum! :)

[Amy Jo]

A wonderful cushion and inspiration! I love David Hockney - thanks for the gallery links. I'm getting my own inspiration, now.

[Kelly]

David Hockney does the best blues!

A belated thank you for your last post; I know I'll come back to read it again and again.

[Nonnie]

Oh that name is just fantastic! My family are very into looking out for funny names too and have often been known to make up odd names for odd people as well. I always thought we were a bit strange to be so amused by this so it's good to know someone else is too.
I love the Gallery at Saltaire. It's such an inspiring and peaceful place. I used to live in Leeds so would visit quite regularly as it wasn't far away. The smell of lillies always reminds me of the Gallery as they always had huge vases of them that filled the air with the scent. Somehow it added to the amazing atmosphere of the place. I will have to make a visit to the Portrait Gallery now.

[Mary]

Fantastic name. I had a hankering to give Sam the middle name of Dandelion, but it was vetoed by the husband.

[Dorothy B]

I must say that I envy you your museums and art exhibitions. I miss the city for those things.

[Mary K. in Rockport]

My personal favorite was Angus Goldstein. I've often wondered in the 35 years since how that poor boy turned out.

[Tracy]

I love finding unusual names, too. My mother found a great one in her many years of being a bookkeeper: Jerry Derryberry!

[Sharon]

Lovely cushion! The colors positively shimmer!

The Crafter's Companion is a wonderful book. I greatly enjoy reading about each artist's inspriation and seeing their work spaces.

Cosima Celery. Love it! In Texas there was a woman named Ima Hogg who did much for gardening and culture. And here in California there is/was a man named Peter Rabbitt who has a daughter named Bunny. And did you know that in the US, many babies were named Ikea after the stores began opening here?

[Paula]

I love the colors of your new Jelly Bean cushion!
I have always thought those colors belong together!
Oh, I look for the new names in the paper every week too! Once there was a baby's boys name years ago Cosmos Aries Wunderlust~
I can't wait to see your quilt idea that comes from Cosima Celery!
:)

[rebecca]

I love the baby names. A friend's aunt and uncle were Rose and Barry Busch. I'm afraid the little man due in a few months is getting a pretty normal name.

I love this new cushion too. :)

[Sara]

Oh my. The new cushion looks like a yummy, buttery thumbprint cookie filled with violet jam. I'll have to send you a small jar next spring.

[kathy merrick]

Cosima is quite the name alright.
My former neighbors very proudly told me that they were naming their firstborn (a girl)"Cassidy Skye without the 'E'".
I love that.
As if, if you don't say so, of course EVERYONE spells "Skye" with an E.
Their second daughter's called "Jasmine Raine".
With an "E".
I went to university with brothers called Doug and Phil Updegrave.
Their family business was undertaking.

[Suzanne]

Your cushiom is lovely! The colours you mix and the inspiration you get are wonderful too! I´m going to try my firt knitting project with mohair! Wish me luck!!!

[Kristin Nicholas]

I saw the Hockney Portrait show at the MFA in Boston last spring - I walked out of there just stunned with the man's talent and diversity of work. WOW! Glad you got to enjoy it too.

[ra]

SOUTH YORKSHIRE?????

Ahem, I think you'll find that Saltaire is in WEST Yorkshire.

I know that as a comer inner I shouldn't get too worked up about these things, but I was taught by my (Huddersfield born) ex that these things matter. He often told me that the only reason that North Yorkshire counted was so that folk from 'real' Yorkshire could go to the seaside without having to leave "God's own county"!!! Goodness know's what he'd have thought of West Yorkshire being confused with South Yorkshire!

[Cherry Menlove]

I am hoping to sneak in a trip to the Velazquez this weekend. Very much looking forward to it.

Cosima Celery! Such a treat of a name.

[Jo]

Cosima Celery....brilliant.

My Step sister went out with a 'would be' suitor, named Spencer Zifcak, and there is indeed a 'Mr Gotobed' who lives nearby at Great Snoring.

[Lorie]

What a lovely blog you have. I look forward to viewing it all the time! Very creative. My little ones had a play mate called Cleopatra..talk about saddling a child with a name! We also had a friend who was Candy Kane..hmm.