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23 March 2025 10:35 PM Blog

I was excited for this week's floral challenge.  At last week's floristry teacher's training session Debby showed us two designs using aloe vera as the base medium. Currently in floristry we are all looking toward sustainable practices, and cost-effective options for retail and event floral design. While there are products available to replace floral foam they either aren't very economical (and therefore not sustainable in my opinion,  even if they are more eco-friendly) or they just don't work like foam does.

As I said previously, I'm trying to be more environmentally responsible with this challenge, and experiment with different mediums so that I will feel confident enough to use them if the situation arises. A good florist should be able to think outside the square and find creative ways out of disaster situations. I'm storing experiences away for future reference.
This week I took up the aloe vera challenge, and quickly discovered that it would have been better with larger, thicker leaves. Not sure if I just need a bigger pot for it together bigger, not more numerous...
Anyway, here's what I managed. The week before I retired a blender whose best blending days were behind them (in favour of a Ninja that is the duck's guts), and opted to keep the glass jug to put succulents in. The succulents will have to wait for a bit longer. 
The Heliconia are extremely happy in my garden at the moment. What started as one small clump gifted to me when I went to collect some Cattleya orchids that I was buying off Marketplace has pretty much taken over the greenhouse and is extending beyond. I really need to get in there and thin it out a bit - I can't actually walk in there anymore, I just step and lunge. So, of course, I had to use Heliconia.  I went for the idea that I forgot to put the lid on the blender and now everything is spraying out. I managed to get some of the Heliconia flower pieces to stay under the water to unite the container with what's up the top, and once a couple of the frangipani flowers fell off I floated them on the surface too. I'll be interested to see how long the Heliconia last in the aloe. Last week's foliage only design looks exactly the same by the way. If you're looking for longevity tropical leaves are the go.

I don't have any new images to share from my Diploma assessments just yet, so here's some from last week of Bo. He's up on the bench because when I crouch to his level he always come close to me. Like, sit in my lap close to me. I think he may have learned this from my day care kids - whenever I sat down and made a lap a kid often sat on it. He was high enough that he wasn't tempted to try and jump off, although he did kind of want to, but no amount of, "Just relax and give me a smile" served to calm his frazzled nerves. I'm glad he didn't piddle on the bench!
I reached out and scratched his head and his tongue would dart out. Every. Time. One of those shots was what I chose to submit. The other two I have entitled "Indignant" and "I'm sorry. Can I get down now please?" 
What did I learn from this experience? I don't think pet portraiture is for me, or at least not where Bo is concerned.

It's been quite a party, ain't it.

Purple Fairy 

 
16 March 2025 9:17 PM Blog

Well, I waited as fast as I could (but not very patiently) for my Module 9 assessment results, and they finally came through today. Almost perfect. I'll take that! I received some very positive feedback from the assessor on my boxing images. Thanks to everyone who commented on those for the assessment.


As I get closer to the end of the course I'm trying to keep, and possibly build, the momentum. Three modules to go, and I spent quite a bit of time this weekend working on Module 10. You may have seen my post on socials asking for feedback on my advertising images. I'm enjoying this module on commercial photography.

I'm sharing an image from the shoot with Cassy a few weeks ago. It was about Seasons, so a shot to represent each season received a different colour treatment. In case it's not obvious in this blended shot (that I edited in four sections) here's the seasons separated with the colour for each.






I made some noise about doing a foliage only design this week, and I was feeling uninspired so I put it off until this afternoon. I had wanted to use the same kind of leaf in different ways, but I didn't end up doing that. I initially wanted to make something low, but I realised that my leaves didn't fit with any of my containers, so I went with this purple glass jug. 

It's difficult to see in this photo, but it's a grape kind of colour. That of course goes with the varieties of Tradescantia that I have (Wandering Jew, Purple Heart and Moses in the cradle) and the Black Diamond Crepe Myrtle. Suddenly, I felt more inspired. It ended up being a bit ratty, but it should stay green and kind of fresh-looking for a while, so it will be a nice addition to my sideboard.




It's been quite a party, ain't it.

Purple Fairy 

 
9 March 2025 11:20 PM Blog

With Cyclone Alfred causing havoc down south the Novice Titles were postponed, so we had a weekend at home.

That was good for a number of reasons, not least of which the opportunity for me to tick a couple more activities off the list in the Visual Diary for my current Module in my Diploma.
I spent a bit of time playing around with cinemagraphs and time lapse photography - lots of learning happening there, and a lot of thinking trying to come up with unique ideas (which haven't manifested themselves just yet).  My attempts are on socials.  They are mp4 files, so I can't put them in this blog like I can with images.
I took the opportunity this week to try something I have been considering as I look at the ridiculously long grass along the fence in my backyard. Weaving grass balls.
Let's just say that the success of such ventures tend to rely on the appropriateness of the material one attempts to use, and Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense) does not a decent grass ball make. So much for making use of a weed in an interesting way.
I didn't give up though.    

The original idea stemmed from different ways to use leaves in floral design. Tropical leaves in particular seem to lend themselves to more than you initially think. At home I have Cannas, Heliconia and some Strelitzia (they have not flowered as yet, so I don't feel right referring to them as Bird of Paradise). Canna leaves are too soft, and Strelitzia are possibly too stiff for weaving, so I gave the Heliconia a go. I managed two woven balls using slightly different techniques, but neither resulted in the much neater (less in danger of falling apart) version I had in my head. I might try again with palm fronds. I quite like the effect of rolled leaves. It changes the form and takes up a different amount of space. It also gives the impression that you have used different horticultural material when it is in fact the same. Contrast is good, and can be achieved without using too many different materials. Next week I think I might create a foliage only design and see how many different ways I can present the same leaf.

Last week I shared the Rhythm image, and the last one for that assessment was Balance. I set up a still life for this because I kept coming back to flowers and remembering the tableau I set up when photographing the designs I created during my Cert IV in Floristry study styled on Baroque, Renaissance and Dutch/Flemish eras. Visual balance is extremely important in Floristry. I'm not sure if I can see it because of my trained florist's eye or it was always something I noticed but it's often the balance (or imbalance as the case may be) that draws my attention when I frame or crop an image. It might be a chicken and egg thing.

Anyway, here's the photo I created to represent Balance.  

This is a still life composition where floral material was positioned to create informal balance.  The salvia in the vase is balanced vertically and horizontally by the sprig of salvia on the table.  The blue/purple is a striking tone in this image and draws attention.  Having some of that colour and texture up and down, as well as on either side of the middle third makes it easier to look at.  The quantities do not have to be the same for the image to be visually balanced, and these amounts make sense.  Perhaps one sprig was removed from the vase for a closer inspection so as to look the flower up in one of the reference books on the pile, and has been left on the table.  The muted blue tone of the roses on the vase is repeated on the spines of the bottom two books, and that unites those parts of the image.  Similarly, the top book has green tones which is repeated (although not exactly) in the green of the leaves.  The height of the vase is similar to the height of the stack of books, and the way they are positioned next to each other also provides some balance.

Next week I will have to try and get some feedback on social media for some images for the project I am currently working on.  I need to provide a screenshot of the feedback, so I'm hoping for something a bit interesting and detailed to include.  I'll be shooting those images tomorrow, so keep an eye out for them.

It's been quite a party, ain't it.

Purple Fairy


 
3 March 2025 8:21 PM Blog

How it is March already?!?

I spent a few hours in the shop this week, so I didn't feel the need to create anything extra from my challenge this weekend. The "challenge" in the shop was to create with whatever was in the cold room. Nothing already in mind, and no idea what I would find when I got there. Sometimes it's a challenge because there's only one flower of a particular colour left and I really want to use it so I have to find other flowers that go with it, whether it's the same colour tone, same type of flower or there may be a hint of another colour in the flower that ties others in and they just work. I only had to put together floor stock, so it wasn't a busy or stressful day and it ended up being a lovely way to start the week.



I spent most of the weekend working on photography projects for my Diploma. Thank you Cassy for being my talent and going along with my vision. Being able to change in the park whilst not drawing (too much) attention to oneself is a skill. I should double your fee.

I'm sharing the image I created to demonstrate Rhythm this week. It might not look like it, but this took me HOURS! Being the pedantic besom I am I "had" to make the columns the same. Not having access to the Lego Masters Brick Pit I didn't have enough of any one single colour bricks to create the columns and flooring from a single colour, so I went with a pattern. (Repeating a pattern adds rhythm too.) The product was like a bowl for fruit salad! Too much colour! I went with the 90's wedding photography vibe and chose selective colouring. After spending about 80% of the time mucking around with Lego (I had to make most of the people too - they were in bits!) I have to say that I did feel like I had spent some valuable self care time (I enjoy Lego) and remembered the unopened kit that I have waiting for an appropriate chunk of free time in which to make a start on it. I should timetable that. It's a treehouse, and it's extremely cool!

Anyway, back to the photo...

I chose repetition to create rhythm in this shot, and decided on the recurring pattern of Lego people in “windows”.  There is enough difference between the people to create interest and draw the viewer to look closer, and I think the eye moves through the image smoothly.  I am wondering now whether I should have created a better pattern throughout the levels with the bricks, or whether this almost haphazard array adds interest.  It has formal balance and a compound centre of interest, although the slight differences between the people hold the viewer’s attention. The shape created by the bricks frame each individual Lego person, but their similarities and close proximity unite them as a group.

The specific feedback from my Tutor said, "Works well."  I'll take that.  What do you think?

This Module is my favourite so far. Give "The Genius of Photography" a watch if you're into documentaries - it left me with plenty to mull over.

We're on cyclone watch this week to see whether the boxing tournament planned for the weekend will be affected. Alfred, you can just go on your merry way and leave South East Queensland alone thank you

It's been quite a party, ain't it.

Purple Fairy 

 
23 February 2025 8:04 PM Blog

This week I didn't use cut flowers and foliage for my challenge, and I have to admit that I purchased a couple of items to bring it together.

The cushions on the seat at my front door needed replacing, so I thought I should give the succulents out there a bit of attention while I was zhuzhing up the space.  
One of my gorgeous day care kids gave me a snail for that Jack and Jill seat - he said it was like Turbo from that movie about the fast snail. Turbo has to stay there because he has sentimental value, so what I add has to match.
When we look at the Principles of Design in Floristry we consider unity and harmony. That is, does the design all work together as an inclusive whole, and does it match it's surroundings? In this living design I knew that Turbo would be right next to the container that I used, so whatever I placed in the container needed to match him for it to make sense to my eye. I found these cute little snails at the Reject Shop and they were perfect. I chose two because Turbo is my third (florists like threes and fives), but I wanted a third "something" in the container to give me that triangle (that florists also like). I remembered this little flower with a ladybug that I already had, and the ladybug tied in because of the ladybug on the green and pink snail. The tropical colours of the new cushions unite the whole space. (The Bridgestone Gecko in the coffee cup kind of looks like an afterthought now, but I'm going to say that he was already there, and his container fills a gap. Besides, he's green, and the succulents in his pot are some of what's in the snail pot, so that works for me.)

I submitted Module 8 of my Diploma over the weekend, and have started work on Module 9 - Go me! This one has a lot of research. Some of that research includes watching the BBC 4 series called "The Genius of Photography". I'm enjoying it, so I'm not too daunted by the remaining four hours I still have to watch. The kicker is that I have to write about something from each episode and say how it may influence my own work. At this point everything is influencing my work and I'm looking for different photographic experiences from equine events.
I said I'd share Tone this week, and here it is. My long suffering "model", the newly minted Learner Driver himself. He had a birthday last week, and since he was away for boxing training last weekend he had some mates over yesterday. Always a challenge with the cake, and this year was no different. It was going to be red, but the first layer of fondant was too thin and tore, and then I ran out of red gel colour, so the fix was to make a green glove. I am very pleased (and a bit surprised) that no one said it looks like The Hulk's hand!


At the time I had difficulty choosing the image for Tone, but decided that this one was possibly more predominantly Line.  I'll share it here anyway, because I like it, and I used it elsewhere in the assessment.

Countdown to Novice Titles is on - 11 days to go!  It's too early to be getting nervous for him, isn't it?

It's been quite a party, ain't it.

Purple Fairy

 
17 February 2025 5:30 PM Blog

Okay, so not Valentine's themed, but I did one. I had an idea that I couldn't quite pull off with the materials I had on hand, so I'm filing it away for another time when I have something to make a frame out of. It will be cool - I promise.


This week I used materials from my garden (such that it is) because the Heliconia is blooming its head off. Heliconia is a perennial herb that is native to the Caribbean and South America. It is sometimes known as Parakeet Flower or Parrot's Beak. Mine is growing in (and now out of) a greenhouse, and also in a garden bed out the front. They are really quite hardy and need very little care (luckily for me).
I managed to find one sprig (I think that's the right word) of Frangipani flowers so I thought I'd see how long they last on the stem in water. Because I didn't have much variation in the actual flowers I used as many types of greenery as I could find. The stem of Croton will hopefully sprout some roots (along with the Mother-in-law's Tongue) and I can plant them as cuttings when this arrangement is spent. There's some Monsterio, Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise), Canna, Rubber Plant and String of something that isn't pearls because they aren't round in there too. Again, it's foam free. Arranged in the old coffee jar the sunflowers were in. With this many thick stems there wasn't a need to stabilise the jar with stones this time.
I've been working on the assessment pieces for my Diploma. I think I mentioned that the topic of this current module is Visual Communication and the focus is on the Elements and Principles of Design. In order to shoot the image that used Line as the dominant element I took a little excursion to the Emerald Railway Station after creating a miniature suitcase out of an eraser and a tiny piece of leather lacing. There was a near miss with a potentially disastrous super glue incident (note to self; do NOT attempt to take the top off with your teeth), but I did not avoid the ants on the platform. One of them took umbrage at being disturbed so late on a Saturday afternoon it bit me. Twice, I think, unless it rallied reinforcements. They are still red and itchy. Does that count as suffering for my art? I'm undecided. Let me know if this shot is art. Next week I'll show you Tone.

It's been quite a party, ain't it.

Purple Fairy

 
9 February 2025 4:29 PM Blog

Well, I managed two in a row!


As I said last week I have a Frangipani tree in my backyard. It's not big, but it has done remarkably well, especially lately. I grew it from a cutting that I took from my great grandmother's tree at home in Normanton. I spent many hours playing under that tree and the fragrance always reminds me of Nan and Pop's house. The old house is gone now, but the tree is still there and is quite big, despite not being carefully tended. I took some photos of it at Christmas time for an assessment.

My pink Frangipani tree out the back is smaller, but doing just as well. It came from a cutting I took from another tree in Normanton. I have some other Frangipanis that I'm pretty sure will be different colours, but they haven't flowered yet, and I'm thankful that they survived the massive hail storm we had at the end of last year.

Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) is sometimes referred to as the "tree of life" because of the way it continues to survive when not even in the ground. I can testify to its hardiness - I had cuttings sitting out the back for weeks before I remembered to do anything with them and they didn't seem bothered by the neglect. That's a definite tick in the plus side of the ledger!
Plumeria fragrance is so distinctive and exotic that it inspired a perfume created by an Italian, the Marquis Frangipani in the 16th century. The flower then became known by his surname. It is native to Central and Southern America and the Tropics, including Australia. For Buddhists it is a symbol of immortality and can be seen planted near graves.

As I said, I wanted to see what I could do with them, so I thought about the kinds of designs that lend themselves to wired flowers and kept coming back to florals that you wear. It's a variation on a corsage, and since I didn't have any suitably delicate fern in the greenhouse it is all flowers and ended up being less delicate than I anticipated due to the pink flowers being bigger than the white and yellow ones. I will definitely be making more of these so I can iron out the design flaws. For starters, I need a longer piece of decorative wire than the pre-cut one I found on the shelf and re-used. Secondly I need some foliage to give me a shape to work within more easily, and to cover the mechanics more effectively. I may also need to buy another orchid for the bathroom. I will be interested to see how long these wired blooms last, and I will be enjoying the fragrance while I do that.

       *****

Turns out they were cactus on the second night (out of the fridge the whole time). I trundled back out to the yard and picked what was left in bloom and decided to make something else. There wasn't many left, so I have to wait for the next flush to do another experimental wrist/arm design, but there was enough for Bo to have a flower collar, which we wasn't the biggest fan of. He looked lovely though, don't you think?

Next week is Valentine's week, and I'm back on the tools tomorrow at Blackwater, just for the day though because classes start at the Uni on Tuesday.

I'm already thinking of what I will create next week. Perhaps it will have a Valentine's theme. Stay tuned.

It's been quite a party, ain't it.

Purple Fairy

 
2 February 2025 5:30 PM Blog
Welcome 2025!
I know, I know, it's February now, but I read somewhere that January is a trial month.  I think I'll continue on with the adventure. 

This year looks a little different for me, with a new job (slight career change... again).  I'm missing my flower time, so I decided to set myself a weekly challenge of some kind just to keep my hand in.  After chatting with a colleague a week or so ago I have a few ideas, and I was also a bit inspired to get back into the blogging.  Hence, you're reading this.  We'll see how that goes...

Anyway, the first challenge I set myself was to make something with a single bunch of supermarket flowers.

All that was available at the time were sunflowers and chryssies (three of each in the bunch - see photo), which made the challenge a little easier than what I was expecting, which was a single stem of everything. 

I'm working on my Visual Diary for my Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging, and needed an image demonstrating unity, so a photo of a floral design made sense to me.  Two birds, one stone.

I'm using the opportunity to work foam-free where I can, so I'm investigating different ways to get stability within the designs.  I'm also looking at utilising what I have around, so there will be lots of repurposing, and I hope creative use of resources.

I knocked some frangipani flowers off the tree while I was mowing (it's a small tree), so I think next week's challenge will include frangipani.  I've not worked with them before, and I rarely see them used, so it will definitely be a learning experience. Stay tuned for that one.
The Module I'm currently working on for my Diploma is Visual Communication and it's mostly about the Elements and Principles of Design, which is of course, the essence of floral design.  There's a lot in the course and this particular module has quite a large Visual Diary component which requires lots of images.  It's giving me a lot of content that looks quite different from what is normally through my lens.  After I submit these assessments for marking I will have four modules remaining.  If I can apply myself a little better than I previously have been I will hopefully have it finished by the end of the year.  Maybe posting an image a week might keep me accountable.  Wish me luck!


It’s been quite a party, ain’t it

Purple Fairy


 
20 January 2024 9:54 PM Blog

Something we hear almost daily in the shop is variations on the following...

"How much is a bunch of flowers?"

"Is the $65 one on the website a decent size?"

"How much for a big bouquet?"

I have to admit that before I started my training, I didn't have much of an idea about how flower pricing worked, and I'm sure most people are the same. Here's a few things to note when thinking about what your floral budget will get you.


1. Be clear about what you're asking for. "A decent bunch" is not a physical size. "Big" is not even a size. Be specific. Do you want something tall? Something with lots of stems of flowers? Or are you looking for visual impact? Visual impact can be achieved in many ways, and a trained florist knows how to pull that off.

The tricky thing about our industry is that the components of our products vary so much in size and value that it's near impossible to market bouquets or arrangements as "Small", "Medium" or "Large" (like coffees are). A physically small design might utilise flowers that are $10-15 per stem and cost more than a physically larger design that utilises cheaper blooms. I think we're so used to online shopping where the options are physical sizes like the coffees (small, medium and large) that it's difficult to get our heads around anything else. More about website examples shortly.

2. Product availability impacts what we can produce and dictates the price. A bouquet that had a $65 price tag this week is unlikely to be the same price at another time of year, even if all of the flowers used are available.

Like all industries that utilise agricultural product we are at the mercy of the weather, and that impacts price and availability.

Seasonal availability effects some flowers, but not all in this day and age. We are able to import flowers year-round, which can give us access to blooms that are currently out of season in our part of the world, but this comes at a greater monetary cost.

For florists in regional areas "going to the flower market" is impossible, so we're ordering often sight unseen and having flowers and foliage freighted to us. At times what we're hoping will arrive is slightly different from what's actually packed into the box, whether it's colour, bloom size, or in some cases how well the product has survived the transit. Florists if nothing else are creative, and we can usually think of a solution, but it does make it impossible to replicate a website example, or even a design from last week if we simply don't have the exact same product (regardless of price).

It's for this exact reason that when you order online from the shop's website you aren't given a range of pictures to choose from. I understand that people like to see what they're getting for their money, so what follows might help.


3. Flowers and foliage are priced by the stem, but there's a bit more to it that taking one out of this bucket, two out of that bucket and one out of that one etc. to add up to the customer's price point.

Creating a product that is visually appealing utilises the elements and principles of design, and when selecting floral materials, a trained florist follows these guidelines. Usually, we use at least two or three of the same flower in a design, rather than one of these and one of those etc. I will say that some florists do, and do this well, however they use another of the elements of design to create unity, rhythm and harmony throughout the design, even though the form and shape of each flower might be different. For example, they choose blooms of exactly the same colour. This is not always possible in day-to-day floristry when we're working with whatever the wholesaler has sent us.

I wouldn't put one fire engine red sim carnation with a peach gerbera and a yellow rose because they wouldn't look as though they were part of the same design. Creating a design based on stem count and type of flower won't generate eye appeal. There's a lot more to floral design than that.


4. "If it grows together, it goes together."

What does that mean? Well, flowers that grow in the same conditions look as though they belong together and combining them in a design makes sense to the eye. Not only that, flowers that grow in the same conditions require similar treatment for longevity.

Some flowers have soft stems, some hard. Some require small amounts of water, and others are heavy drinkers.

A trained florist will know what works together in a design. You can trust them.

5. Even though it's a quite minimalist flower "throwing in some Baby's Breath" doesn't just add a subtle enhancement to a design. It brings with it at least an $11 price tag for one spindly stem. Bouquet budget blown!

It can be difficult to tell the value of floral material by their appearance alone. Gypsophila is not as cheap as it appears that it should be. If you really want Baby's Breath have at it, but maybe don't combine it with imported Columbian roses and expect to pay under $50 for a visually impactful arrangement.

As a guide here's a few flowers that we regularly have in the fridge (mostly) year-round with a rough estimate of what they're worth per stem (on average). (This is for the shop where I work. I can't say how much this would vary in other locations, or with other suppliers.)

Roses - these vary A LOT, but expect to pay $7-9 per stem, and at least $15 for larger headed imported roses. If you work on $10 per stem that should give you a better estimate year-round.

Gerberas - around $6 per stem

Oriental Lilies - $12 per stem

Carnations - Sims around $5 per stem   Sprays around $3 per stem

Banksias - around $20 per stem

Proteas - around $11 per stem

Leucadendrons - around $4 per stem

Snapdragons - around $6.50 per stem

Alstromeria - around $4 per stem

Irises - around $4 per stem

Chrysanthemums - around $7 per stem

Disbud Chrysanthemums - around $14 per stem

Sunflowers - around $7 per stem

Fill flowers, such as Emile, Golden Rod, Aster Lutea, Thryptomene, Geraldton Wax, Sweet William - around $4 per stem (sometimes a lot more)

Leather Fern - around $3 per stem

Monsterio Leaves - around $5 each

Gum - around $4 per stem, and these can vary in "fullness" too.

Also, "fill" (as in, greenery and fill flowers) has a price attached to it too. All products included in a design carry a cost. If you want a really "full" bouquet with lots of horticultural material that is factored into what you pay. A half dozen roses is not $60 (based on $10 per stem) because the design includes greenery, fill, paper and ribbon.

6. Choose a florist whose work you like and trust them. Just give them information to work with.

When ordering, if you can tell the florist what the occasion is, a little bit about the recipient and what you'd like the flowers to represent they will be able to put something together for you.

"Just something nice" doesn't really help because as a general rule professional florists aren't creating product that isn't nice.

We can work with variations on these...

"It's her birthday and she loves yellow. We want to show her that we appreciate her."

"Next week is our 20th wedding anniversary. She doesn't really like roses, but I want to send her some flowers that will last so she can appreciate them for a bit longer. She likes bright colours."

"It's Mum's birthday and I want something over the top. It doesn't matter what flowers you use as long as it's impactful and I don't mind spending over $200."

"Something in a cottage garden style in a pastel colour palette in a vase. She has a vintage vibe. I'm happy to spend $100, including delivery."

Many flowers have meanings, and in Victorian times they were used not so much to send messages but to convey intent. Sometimes using the "right" flower for the occasion and sentiment makes the gesture even more special.

Favourite flower, favourite colour, even things that you think have nothing to do with flowers ("she loves cats") can help us to create personally meaningful florals to convey just the feeling and message you would like delivered.


7. Order ahead if possible.

We need time to plan and create the magic.


Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.


(Reminder that Valentine's Day is three weeks away.)


As it’s been over 12 months since the last blog post (OMG – that’s quite a while!) here's a couple of follow-ups in case you were wondering…

P. S. The shower has been replaced. We only waited SEVEN months. The bath tub is now used solely as a laundry hamper and a receptacle for watering the indoor plants because I no longer find baths relaxing or indulgent.

P. P. S. I managed the 52 weeks of 52Frames and became a “Weekly Warrior”, then immediately stopped. My submissions are still on the Two Togs facebook page if you’re interested. It was worthwhile doing, as I achieved what I set out to do, and now I’m working on an actual photography qualification to learn even more.  So much for being done with study!

It’s been quite a party, ain’t it

Purple Fairy


 
29 October 2022 4:15 PM Blog
It's been a minute since the last blog post.  I've been like a one-armed fan dancer for the past few weeks.  It's been a LOT.   Hopefully things will start to settle back into a manageable routine very soon.

At the time of writing it is Day Six of not having a non-leaking shower.  Fortunately the shower isn't over the bath, so personal hygiene is not diminished.  As much as I enjoy a bath (for the indulgence and relaxation) it is wearing a little thin.  Especially since the shower isn't likely to be replaced until the new year.  My haircut was timely.  I may have to invest in one of the visor things I had at Nan's place when I was a kid.  If you Google "hat that stops water getting in your eyes" you'll see the updated versions, which now come with earmuffs attached.  Mine was a foam thing (probably from Avon) that didn't quite keep the water out of my eyes.  Cody has been complaining about needing to lie down to rinse his hair and having to stick his feet straight up in the air because he's so tall.  I would just like a tub deep enough for my knees and nipples to be under the water at the same time without having to flip over.  Emerald friends, I may be knocking on your door with towels and my toiletry bag on hair washing day in the near future.

I had thought that using the tub instead of the leaking shower would cut down on the need to replace the bathmat daily because it was saturated.  I was wrong.  This may be too much detail around my bathing habits, but hear me out.  I pull the plug out, stand up, and towel off before stepping out of the tub.  From the state of the bathroom it would appear that Cody employs a different method.  I haven't actually witnessed it, but I suspect that he uses his paddle-like feet to ladle several litres of water out of the tub as he steps out of a full bath.  Either that, or he's reliving his wave pool style of bathing from when he was little.


Leaks seem to have been a theme around here this week.  I discovered that the loo was also leaking, and being the independent woman that I am attempted to remedy this situation on my own.  After a bit of telephonic advice from Dad that I could replace the seal thingo myself, a quick You Tube video and a trip to the plumbing supplies store for a replacement flush cone (after the first trip resulted in my purchasing the wrong size) I made the first attempt.  The leak was smaller, but nonetheless still present.  Back to flushing with a bucket.  Another trip to the store for a seal and attempt number two.  Still no joy.  Welcome back, bucket.  Cue professional plumber.  He rocked up the next afternoon and you should have seen the look on his face when I told him that I had a go at fixing it myself.  The eye roll was almost audible.  I know though.  I felt the pain myself just saying the words.  He did say that I almost had it, and showed me how to correctly fit the flush cone.  I guess that means I'm approved to attempt this in the future.  After the first go I was less grossed out about the toilet water on my hands, but I went through a lot of antibacterial soap.  I'm not sure that I would be excited about having another go.  I might be contented just to know I could and leave it at that.  I won't be hanging my plumbing shingle any time soon.


Not only did I learn that I could possibly fix a leaking toilet this week I also discovered that enforced silence is excruciating.  I invigilated a senior exam at one of the schools this week, and was not prepared for the agony.  I'm perfectly fine with silence when it's of my own choosing, but it was agony having to be basically a fly on the wall and not say A SINGLE THING about ANYTHING for a few hours, just watch people writing and watch people watching people writing. (Invigilating isn't supervising, it's reporting on how things are conducted and supervised, so basically a silent dobber.  To clarify, there was nothing negative to report at all, so not technically dobbing).  It took me a few days to recover.  I talked to EVERYONE to restore balance.  If there was ever any doubt that I'm an extrovert we can confidently substantiate that this is indeed the correct classification of my personality.  My introvert friends all laughed at my pain.  


Somehow I managed to keep up with the 52Frames challenge, and am now at Week 43.  I can't believe it!  This week is "Details", and that should be right up my alley, because attention to detail is kind of my thing.  I'm yet to find inspiration though.

Week 37 was Portrait of a Stranger.  I found this week by far the most difficult!  On my travels I had no qualms about documenting moments with strangers, but this week it felt odd, and time was not on my side for a leisurely stroll through town pretending I was a tourist.  I didn't want to lose my streak, so I submitted a half-hearted entry that I took with my phone.  I haven't included it here because I'm not at all enraptured with it.

Week 38 was one of the weeks that I tried something new.    The topic was One Light Source, and I even managed the Extra Challenge of "Use a Cookie", and that's not the delicious baked good, it's a device for casting shadows.  It would have been much easier with a model (and no doubt, more in focus), but that cable release is paying for itself.  An open lace parasol propped against the wall, resting on a pot plant, a torch Blu-taked to the door jam, and all the hallway doors closed created this lighting effect.
I tried it in Black and White, but felt that the colour version has a more appealing mood/story.  I think I'll be trying this again some time.



After four big days covering an equine event (ATRA National Finals) I actually didn't really want to see my camera for a while, but as soon as I got home I set this up for the theme "Letters" so I wouldn't lose my streak.  My son tells me that using letter tiles, or writing the letter combinations down is cheating when playing Wordle or Quordle, but I'm not convinced... On a side note, I somehow lost my Wordle streak through no fault of my own.  My phone decided to reset or something, and it went back to one the next day. (*sad face).  About three days later I got a word wrong, so it restarted anyway.  I was relieved that the streak wasn't about to surpass my previous maximum of 81, but I won't be "trying other words to start" in the future because that's clearly asking for trouble.  I don't care if ADIEU does have the most vowels!


Such a broad topic for Week 40 "Rule of Odds"! Pressed for time (as usual) I looked around the house for inspiration.  I have a lot of old stuff, & things that look like they could be old (like this basin & ewer my brother bought me because he knew how much I loved the one at our great grandparents' house).
I actually shot this in sepia in-camera (because I have yucky pink blinds & I haven't played with those in-camera settings in a very long time), but on import to Lightroom all the colours came back.  I tweaked the sliders a bit to help the blue glass bottle and Billy Buttons pop.
I wish I had more time and more opportunity to do something really fantastic with this theme, but it had been hella crazy around here (and I'm actually stunned that I managed to hang in there for 40 weeks! Go me!)  



Immediately when I saw the topic for Week 41 "Shoot through something" I knew it was the perfect time to play with shaped bokeh.  I love stars, but when I thought about foreground interest I decided to use my guitar, and change the star to a music note.  I hung a string of fairy lights in a bunch in the corner of the room, then cut a music note shape out of black card and secured it around the lens with a heap of rubber bands.  Focusing was a challenge because of the card and rubber bands (and the low light) but I got it done (kind of).  



Last week was Black and White Minimalism.  I knew I had some of these feathers somewhere, but the challenge was first to find them, and then to choose one to use... I wish there had been a more curled one amongst them. Minimal set up this week (see what I did there lol), and I think I really enjoy this style of clean, uncluttered imagery. I experimented a little bit with placement, and would have preferred it to look as though the feather floated down on the breeze (not sure I achieved that).


I'm hoping inspiration strikes for "Details" by Sunday afternoon.  It may be another job for the bellows and something shot in macro.  Wish me luck.


It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 


 
16 September 2022 1:06 PM Blog
A solid weekend of working on assessments got me feeling like I might actually finish this certificate.  Go me!  I'll add a caveat that I applied for, and was granted a one month extension which takes the pressure off a little bit, especially since the marking turnaround is 21 days (but please allow up to six weeks - are you serious!?)

After two days of square eyes I thought I'd relax and treat myself to some time on the lounge in front of a movie with my boy.  The square eyed irony was not lost, but it was good not to have to concentrate quite so much.  Cody would disagree with this, as he can get a little annoyed with my questions about the plot and characters if I haven't been paying attention.  A little more irony here because he barely stopped prattling while we were watching The Bridge, and I was constantly winding it back to hear what I missed.  How fortunate that it wasn't on the free-to-air television of my youth where there was no opportunity to rewind unless you were recording it to watch later.  Is that even a thing now?  Do people still "tape" things off the TV?  How many times did people who were trying to be tricky and skip the ads forget to press record again after the ad break when the program restarted?  Happened to me a few times.  The best option was to set and forget, then use the fast forward button on the remote during playback.  Then, I'm sure we all wished we could do that to the ads while we were watching regular TV... unless you took the opportunity to go to the loo, or to the kitchen to grab a quick snack.

As a kid, television ads were a bit of a novelty for me until Normanton eventually got more channels than just the good old ABC.  We used to watch things that had been recorded for us by relatives who lived away, and we wore out the tapes watching movies and the same couple of episodes of shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and the over-dubbed carton Lucky Luke over and over again.  There was also this pearler...  (the subtle puns peppered throughout are quite witty and cleaver, although, I'm sure it didn't take off due to its cultural insensitivity.)

The shared experiences of these TV shows and movies became part of our family culture.  We seem to remember lines, and reciting them to each other is kind of our thing.  Out of context it makes no sense, but to us it represents shared understanding and in a way it bonds us.

When commercial television came to town we were taping shows and movies ourselves.  We had videos before that, and there was a local Video Shop from which to hire movies (and let's not forget, where we could also buy enough lollies to send us into a hypoglycaemic coma).

I don't know if it's because of the sheer volume of opportunities for audio visual entertainment now, or the fact that I have less free time than I did way back then, but I don't tend to re-watch movies the way I used to.
As a kid my favourite movie was a little Australian film that we had on video called Blue Fire Lady.  I watched that over and over.  In one of the scenes at the race track a punter asked, "Whadda ya reckon about Black Knight?", and when I saw a horse with that name was running in the 1984 Melbourne Cup that was my pick (I've been having a flutter on The Race that Stops a Nation for many years), so Mum put money on it for me.  It won.  I don't know what it paid, but I may have bragged about picking the winner at such a young age anyway.

There were a couple of other kids' movies that I loved as well.  Pete's Dragon and Black Beauty.  I was so pleased to discover that a live action version of the animated Black Beauty was made in 1994 that replicated the story exactly.  It's worth a watch, especially if you enjoyed Warhorse, Seabiscuit and Secretariat.  I don't have as high a praise for the Pete's Dragon remake unfortunately.

The movies we had videos of (some of them taped from the television) that we watched over and over (in no particular order) were: 
Young Guns
The Golden Child
Braveheart
Romancing the Stone

Silverado

Robbery Under Arms
Tombstone
Willow
Jumping Jack Flash
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 
and the John Wayne classics The Cowboys, True Grit, Rooster Cogburn and Big Jake, but our family favourite, that we watch together every Christmas is Lonesome Dove. Cult classics like The Neverending Story, The Princess Bride and Dirty Dancing didn't make the cut.

Most of these movies I haven't seen for ages, so when it came time to introduce my son to them it was interesting watching them through different eyes, especially since the special effects, cinematography, and even acting has improved exponentially over the years.  Cody's review of the fight scenes in North to Alaska was particularly scathing.  He was keen to watch it after realising that there was a movie about the Johnny Horton song we had been singing in the car (or vice versa, I'm not sure which came first).  I haven't been able to find Jumping Jack Flash on a service that I have access to, so I haven't had the opportunity to show him why "the key is the key".  My Dad had a thing for Lawless and Hell or High Water for a while, and has watched them several times.  Cody has now seen them, so I can imagine that they will converse in movie lines for at least some of the upcoming school holidays.  "Have you met Howard?"


Last week's 52 Frames topic was "Golden Hour", and I didn't make it to the dam for a sunset portrait session.  There was an impressive mackerel sky one afternoon, so I looked around my street for something interesting to put in front of it, but couldn't manage that.  I did notice the Jacaranda across the road had a different glow in the afternoon light when looked at from below.  

This week is "Portrait of a Stranger", and I'm trying to think of the least weird/creepy way to ask someone if I can take their photo... because photographing a stranger unbeknownst to them, from a distance, paparazzi style is definitely weird/creepy.  I wish it was next week, and then I could have used a photo of a Wildhorse Cutting competitor that I don't know.  As it is I have to think of something for "One Light Source" for next week.  I'm at Week 37 of 52, so I feel like I have to stick with it.  It's certainly forcing me to think outside the box.

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy


 
8 September 2022 10:08 PM Blog

I had every intention of being punctual with this blog post... and then life happened.  Never mind, I'm here now.


I spent most of the weekend photographing Working Dog Trials at Comet, so now I have another 2500 photos to sort, edit and upload.  I feel like I may never catch up.  (I'm exaggerating of course.  I will catch up.  Have no fear.  Your photos will be available on the website as soon as I can manage it.)

It was Father's Day on Sunday, so I gave The Gulf Grey a call, and he was heading out bush.  I'll get his present to him in a couple of weeks.  I'm getting him a new camp oven lid lifter from the awesome people at Cooking With Heavy Metal who were running a camp oven cooking competition at Comet on Saturday.  Dad isn't really into competitions, but he does do a bit of camp oven catering.  Dad won't know himself... no ash in the oven!  I suspect he might throw a bit in anyway for authenticity sake.  I bought him a Meater Bluetooth meat thermometer last Christmas, and now I might be all out of gift ideas.

Speaking of being out of gift ideas... it was Mum's birthday last month.  Lucky me, I have Mother's Day and Dad's birthday close together (occasionally on the same day) and Father's Day and Mum's birthday a couple of weeks apart - always trying to find two gifts!  I am now officially all out of gift ideas for Mum.  I put a facebook post up last Christmas asking for ideas. (The privacy was set so you can't see it, Mum, so you can stop wondering why you know nothing about it.)  140 comments and I managed to arrange something... and I'm hoping now that it's appropriate to replace outdoor furniture every 12 months.

We've had a few people in the shop this week searching for the 'perfect' gift for a friend or relative, and it got me thinking (panicking) about Christmas.  What on Earth am I going to do?!?  I'd love to buy my parents a new house, or at least renovate the bathroom, but that's currently waaaaaay out of my budget.  I could probably manage a bath mat and a new frilly curtain for the bathroom window...  Actually, there's probably several of those in the linen cupboard.

One of the gift suggestions was a cleaner to do the "yuck" jobs (all housework jobs are yuck jobs in my opinion, but anyway).  Knowing that no one would be allowed in the house to see the "yuck", much less actually clean it, that idea was out.  It dawned on me that I could possibly be the "cleaner" if I can manage enough days at home over the Christmas break.  Surely nothing says "I love you" quite like willingly doing jobs you distain.  I ruthlessly cleaned out the kitchen pantry on a visit home once, and found some of the things I had culled back in there the next day.  It would be more productive to clean/cull while no one else is at home.  I feel sure that the bathroom cupboard contains products that were put there when I was a baby.  Something will have to be done about that bathroom time capsule when we eventually get them a new vanity unit anyway.  What's the bet I find bottles of Mercurochrome and scented powders from gift packs that Mum has never opened, and the remnants of her days as an "Avon Lady"?  I'll be disappointed if there's not a bear shaped soap and an after shave bottle shaped like a chess piece in there somewhere.  If I do come across them there will be photos!

This week for 52Frames I have the topic "Golden Hour".  It's doubtful that I will photograph during the Golden Hour in the morning, so another afternoon shot it will have to be.  Now to find an interesting subject to shoot during Golden Hour.  A portrait is the obvious choice.  I wonder if I can coerce Cody into coming to the Dam and being a pensive figure looking over the water towards the setting sun?  Last time I got him out there was to play with fire.  I might have to pack the sparklers and steel wool as well.

He was helpful with last week's topic, which was "Edited by Someone Else".  What Jacqui and I were planning didn't come together in time, so I asked Cody to edit a photo for me on his phone.  I took the photo with the camera on a tripod and the cable release connected.  I chose myself as the subject because the Extra Challenge was "Self-Portrait", and that saved me having to think of a subject.

It's Formal Week in Blackwater, so we've been up to our eyeballs in corsages.  I can't wait to share some photos after the big night.  Here's a little something from last week, inspired by Game of Thrones.  If you squint you can see the Iron Throne (kind of).  Can you guess that I started watching House of the Dragon?

Also, I forgot to include this photo in last week's post of the wreaths I made for Vietnam Memorial Day, which incidentally is Mum's birthday (that's how Dad remembers the day). 







I have a big weekend of study and editing planned. If anyone needs me I may be found similar to this...

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 

 
30 August 2022 9:31 PM Blog

flower

noun

the specialized part of an angiospermous plant that occurs singly or in clusters, possesses whorls of often colourful petals or sepals, and bears the reproductive structures (such as stamens or pistils) involved in the development of seeds and fruit.


I had never really thought of ‘flower’ as a verb, other than in the context of a plant producing blooms, but I’m adopting it in the same way I use ‘photograph’.  It’s what I do for a job.


flower

verb

to produce flowers; blossom

to become more successful and completely developed; flourish

to provide or create floral decorations for; to decorate with flowers


I have flowered.  I am flowering.  I will flower.

So much better than 'floraling' or 'floristing', and 'floral designing' really doesn't seem on-brand for me.  Also, I do feel as though I'm flourishing, so it has a blooming lovely double meaning!


It has been such a great few weeks in the shop in Blackwater.  I just love going to work in the morning, opening the shop, renewing the floor stock, and taking and filling orders.  Last week I filled an order for an arrangement that had to be:

Tall

Yellow

Impressive enough to make her (the recipient) say, “Holy sh*t!”

This one stands over a metre tall (1.3 to be exact, and I am now officially limited to 1.25 because it was only special Tetris ninja skills that allowed it to be put into the car for delivery.  Oops!  I can imagine the colourful utterances that were coming from the two who loaded and delivered it).  I was up and down on the step ladder putting it together because that's an awkward height on the workbench.


I should have taken a video to get up closer to all the textures that were contrasting, yet united throughout the design...
Woody - pot, bamboo, Stirlingia
Fluffy - macrame cotton and the off-white Banksia
Bumpy - yellow Banksia and grosgrain ribbon
Smooth - Leucadenron and Geraldton Wax buds
Fuzzy - Kangaroo Paw, Acacia and Stirlingia

I sent photos to the customer when I had finished and he was really happy.  He even came into the store the next day to thank me again, in person.  That was so cool!  It made my day.  I loved creating it, and then I was humbled by having my work appreciated.  All the feels!  

I love that we can produce things that help augment an occasion.  We can provide that little bit of extra something to make it spectacular.  Flowers are for every occasion and in support of every emotion in all aspects of life.  They can represent a moment in time, a feeling, or an occasion.  Flowers are also a medium for creative expression, and sharing this beauty with others in personally meaningful ways nourishes my soul.  I truly love what I do.

The extra special part is creating personally meaningful floral designs.  Little details make the designs unique and help them fit to ocasion appropirately.  A couple of months ago flowers were ordered for a birthday, and because it was so far ahead of time and I was told a little bit about the recipient I was able to look around for what I needed to make it fit the occasion a little more than a shop floor stock product might.  I hope they were happy with what I created.  I was happy that I could use that little bit of extra detail that made it more personal.  I think that's what it's all about as a professional florist.  

Purple Fairy Flowers - professional bespoke florals that tell your story in creative ways.

(When you give me time to create the magic... and order direct from the shop, not online through an order gatherer that takes almost half of the flower value in fees.  End of today’s lecture.)

If you’re in Blackwater come and see me.  I will flower for you.






Last week’s 52Frames topic was ‘Peace”, and even though I’m having such a joyous time ‘flowering’ and all, I couldn’t muster enough peace to come up with a photo subject that represented it in the flower child, free love sense of the word, or even in the War and Peace context, or the zen mindset.  I went a different way.


“ Give peas a chance... please ”

I didn’t have much inspiration, but I did, however, have peas... and a pun… and a memory of a son who didn’t particularly enjoy eating peas.  I also had a dog who would lick all the gravy off the peas and leave them in her bowl.  They are the ruination of a perfectly good meat pie, so I guess I understand.


This week is “Edited by Someone Else”, and my mate Jacqui from Imagery Magic is going to do the honours for me.  I’m a bit excited about what we can create together.  (Mostly it will be her… I’m mainly the instigator, and will then bow out when it’s time to do the work.)  I just hope the weather clears so it’s bright enough for me to play around tomorrow after I have ‘flowered’.

It’s been quite a party, ain’t it

Purple Fairy


 
23 August 2022 10:09 PM Blog

There's a new reality show on Paramount +, and my brother is on it!  It's called "The Bridge".


Cody and I were super excited to sit down last Friday night and watch the first three episodes.  Now we have to wait until this Friday for the next episode, and the following Friday for the one after, and then the final episode will be the Friday after that.  Just spread out enough to make it impossible to watch the whole series during the seven day free trial before the season ends... unless you binge it all the day before the final.  I have a subscription, so it doesn't affect me that way.  It's the waiting that is less than ideal.

As is apparently the deal with reality television the winner of each season is kept secret until the final episode airs.  My brother has frustratingly kept stumm about this, so I have to wait like everyone else for another couple of weeks to find out if he will receive a portion of $250,000.  I say a portion, not because I'm assuming that he would share (he was a good sharer as a kid though), but (SPOILER ALERT) because $20,000 was taken from the kitty by two contestants.

The premise of the show is to gather a group of strangers, give them a manual task (build a bridge, of the pontoon variety), and watch how they interact.  What is still unclear is how only one of the 12 actually cross the bridge to open the crate of cash.  Do they vote, and the most popular one heads over (after promising to share), or does someone super sneaky go around and perform the sleeper hold on whoever is left (Spoiler Alert #2 - people elect to go home, or are "voted off") and duck off unchallenged across 300 metres of floating logs tied together with the rope they nearly ran out of?  It's obviously a tactical game, because you need the manpower to do the work, so you can't eliminate people too early.  It's probably more like corporate management than you first think, but with actual axes, rather than metaphorical ones.

We left Episode 3 with a decision to be made by two groups to each kick out one of the opposite group.  Anyone with delicate ears might choose to send my brother home (he uses a lot of colourful, no, fluorescent language), but, he would be an asset to keep... he can lift heavy things and can tie knots.

It seems that popular opinion (judging by facebook, so maybe not an accurate gauge) is backing Dean. He's a character. He comes across as real, which he is... yes, he is like that in real life. He's one of my favourite people.

When he and his wife were doing the working abroad thing a few years back I went over to Canada to visit.  People in the hostels would ask in astonishment, "Do you know him? Are you from the same town?"
Me: "Um, same gene pool.  He's my brother."
Everybody: "How did you get stuck on holiday with him?"
Me: "I came to see him... I like him."

Everybody: Stunned silence


Their families must be weird...

For the three weeks that Dean was filming in Tasmania and out of contact with the outside World I found myself wanting to tell him stuff with alarming regularity.  So annoying.

I feel like I got out of sync with my 52Frames submission sharing somehow.  Not sure what happened there.  Week 32 was Night Photography, and since I was at Mount Isa Rodeo I used a shot from the night performance.  It's Jason Craigie in the Open Bareback aboard Queen Bee.

Last week was "Water", and I was so uninspired.  I got Cody to throw water balloons at the brick wall and managed to catch one splash (only one though!), but the wall was too overpowering in the image.  If you really want to see it I posted it on the Two Togs facebook page.  (Honestly, don't bother - it was more about keeping my streak than having an image I am proud of.)

This week is "Peace", and I'm equally as uninspired at this point.  I might come up with something on the weekend.

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 

 
18 August 2022 8:48 PM Blog

Most people that you talk to will tell you that Mount Isa Rodeo lost some of its atmosphere and traditional vibe when it moved from Kalkadoon Park into town to Buchanan Park.  It was an opportunity to kind of rebrand and claim its rightful place as an iconic tourism event and cater not only for rodeo competitions and rural people, but also to showcase the region and attract spectators and festival goers from far reaching areas.  I don't remember ever going to the Rodeo at Kalkadoon Park, although I visited the venue many times, as the Mount Isa Gun Club was also there.  Personally, I love the Buchanan Park venue.  At certain times of day the light is sensational and produces epic photos, and the raised stands means that everyone can see the action clearly.  The only thing I don't like is that it's difficult to race around the arena to change positions between events as the programme rolls through so quickly and it's such a large area to cover.

Here's a phone snap of the road in to Mount Isa.  As a kid when we drove there we used to try and be the first to see the stack.  I think Dad would start shouting, "I can see Mount Isa!" just after we left Cloncurry.  I thought I'd share the Uncle Jack joke from my childhood that I reckon I heard every time we went to visit...  
What did the big chimney say to the little chimney?  (Appropriate because there are two chimneys, and one is bigger...)

You're too young to smoke!

(This windscreen WAS clean - I swear!)


This year the programme ran for over 12 hours on the second and third day, and 8 hours on the first and fourth day.  I've seen more sunrises in the last week than I have for the previous 12 months. So much of what makes what I do what it is depends on timing.  Not only timing the photo, but putting the photo out there.  It would be much easier for me to take all the photos, then sort and edit them at my leisure after the event.  If I did that there might not end up being much point in this instant, digital age, where we want the information in real time.  Therefore, during an event there's not a lot of opportunity for long, rejuvenating sleeps.  I think I may be tired for a month after this.

I began this blog entry whilst in Mount Isa, and had no chance to get back to it until I had been home for two days.  Thankfully the owner of the florist shop where I freelance swapped a day for me, and I was able to spend the first day back in front of the computer.  The more I do, the more I find still to do!  I can see that this coming weekend will be spent in the same manner as that first day back.  I discovered that it's possible for the arm connected to the hand that operates the mouse to fall asleep due to lack of movement from the wrist up.  I think I may have to look into a standing desk.  I sit on a gym ball instead of a chair, and this has been great for my posture, although I do catch myself getting distracted by testing out my balance when I should be focusing on something more productive.

Record entries at Isa Rodeo (almost 1000!) equates to just over 9000 photos to sort. Add that to the 5475 from Nebo and I have a lot to keep me busy for the next little while. I have to thank the Australian Junior Rodeo Association for having me at Mount Isa as their Official Photographer.

Week 31 of 52Frames was "Choose a Colour".  A random colour generator selected red for me, and as it happens I am brilliant at growing feral red fruits (strawberries, cherry tomatoes, rosellas, and occasionally a capsicum) or yellow flowers... most other things with markedly less success.  Anyway, I discovered a ripe strawberry. Rather than eat it, as I normally would at watering time I photographed... and then promptly ate it - no option to re-shoot!

Last week's 52Frames topic was "Night Photography", so I had appropriate subject matter without having to do anything especially for it. I submitted a photo from the Open Bareback section on Friday night.  I'll put it in the next blog... which will be in a couple of days, since I'm so late with this one.

This week the topic is "Water" and I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do. Hopefully inspiration will strike.

Overall it's been a good couple of weeks, even though my perm has fallen out and I lost my Wordle streak on Day One of the Rodeo. Hairdos and word games are not the end of the World.

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 

 
9 August 2022 9:22 PM Blog

What a weekend we've had!  I'm a tad late with this blog post because I spent the weekend buzzing around like a blue arsed fly... or like a one-armed fan dancer.  (I know a bloke with one arm, and to my knowledge he's not a dancer, although if he could be persuaded it would certainly be worth a look, with, or without a fan.)

Nebo Cutting Show ran 10 herds on Friday, 9 (and the Bareback Cutting) on Saturday and 8 on Sunday, and while they were smaller herds they were enough to keep me moving to (try to) stay on top of things.  Nominations were slightly down, but it was a fantastic weekend, and so good to be back on the sand.  Technically, I wasn't on the sand... I was on the concrete.  (I really like how the pen is set up at Nebo, with the fence right at the edge of the concrete steps, with the judges sitting on the outside.  It means that I don't have to watch multiple directions and be prepared to take evasive action should a frantic beast decide to run me over.  I've had a few near misses with cattle making for the gaps, including one that came underneath the judges' stand with me at Comet, having been undeterred by the potted palms that were also "out of the way" under there.  It's lucky that all the Skeet shooting has honed my reaction time.)

I got back to Emerald on Sunday night, tried to catch up on sleep, then had 2 days work at the florist in Blackwater around trying to sort out my photos and get all packed up and ready to head to Mount Isa.  I feel like this week is a bit of a whirlwind and I have so much to do that it’s exhausting just thinking about it.  On the plus side, they say that if you do something you love you never work a day in your life.  Well, obviously I'm really not working this fortnight at all… except for the driving.  Not loving the driving.  If I had a driver I could sort photos and edit on the passenger side while the driving was happening.  I don’t, so I had best just concentrate on the road and arrive safely.

I have recently downloaded an app onto my phone to record my voice notes as text, which I'm hoping will save some time and I can just do a bit of a brain dump and the app can do the typing.  I also have articles to write from this fortnight as well, and need to find the inspiration to write two different articles about the same thing.

I was a bit worried this morning that I wasn't going to get this blog post up before the next one was due but then I remembered that this is my own show.  I make my own rules, and no one's marking me on this or taking points off for being late or whatever.  I have to say that the talk-to-text app is fairly accurate, and seems to understand what I’m saying.  If I could only get it to upload directly to my website that would save even more time!  On second thought, I just read through what it recorded, and it’s probably best that it doesn’t!

Part of my preparation to leave was to drop Bo at the kennel. He was super excited to get in the car.  He rides with his face out the side looking forward.  I wonder if he thought we were going to Normanton?  He likes it there.  He was beside himself when we got to the kennel!  While he was excited to get to where the other dogs were he wasn’t stoked about me going in the other direction.  I resisted the urge to wave to him.  I did that when I left him at the Vet to have his tooth pulled out.  I couldn’t believe that I did it! 


Something else I couldn't believe I did was remember that my windscreen needed cleaning BEFORE I got in the ute and started driving away!  I even used glass cleaner - you could almost put your hand through it.  So impressed with myself.  I usually realise as I'm heading down the road, try and wipe the inside with my sleeve and content myself with whatever is in the washer bottle until I stop for fuel.  This time I even topped up the washer bottle and added Bars Bugs.  I'm still trying to work out what I forgot that allowed me to remember this...  

Another job was watering the garden.  I don’t think it will come to much harm while I’m away, but I will be disappointed to miss the first home grown Stock flower that’s beginning to bud. 

The surviving Geraldton Wax is beginning a stunning display (I hope I don’t miss it completely), but the Ozothamnus diosmifolius is pretending it’s just rice, and not flower, and showing no sign of ever doing so.  Each time I walk around with the hose I promise myself that I will make time to spend in the garden – it desperately needs a tidy!  The cherry tomatoes have engineered a coup and now control three sections of the yard… where I didn’t plant them.  Similar story with the rosellas that I didn’t get to do anything with before they were overrun by aphids.  I have proven under assessment conditions that I am capable of planning a garden, but in practice I seem unable to do so.  When the tomato seedlings appeared I couldn’t bear to pull them out.  I suspect that had I grown something intentionally it would require more care than I currently am lavishing on my garden.  Gardener guilt is real!

Week 30 of 52Frames was “Single Focal Point”, and I brought some poppies home from the shop and had a play.  I love the dynamic line of their stems, the fuzzy outer pod and the way they "pop" open and display papery textured crinkly petals.  So much whimsy!  This vibrant orange tone is quite eye catching against the black, so I feel it fits the topic well.

I raced around madly one afternoon to get something for Week 31, which was “Choose a Colour” before we headed to Nebo, and this week’s topic is “Night Photography”, so Thursday evening’s Indigenous Rodeo Championships will provide me with lots of opportunities to get the shot before I get run off my feet during the main event.

For the next few days I’ll be operating on coffee and sarcasm, but with a smile on my face.  After all, I’m heading North West, which you will remember is my favourite direction.

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 


 
31 July 2022 3:46 PM Blog

Well, here we are, one sleep away from August!  How did that happen?  The year is flying by, and for me, about to get really busy on the photography front.

2022 is passing quickly, but it somehow seems a hot minute since my last photography event (Blackwater Rodeo).  I'm going Cutting next weekend at Nebo (I LOVE covering this event - thanks for having me back again!), then head North West for the mighty Mount Isa Rodeo.  I haven't been to that event since 2018, so I'm super keen to get back there.

My first Isa Rodeo was in 2013 when I was selected to assist the then Official Photographer Ben MacRae. That was where I met Stephen Mowbray, who lent me a much better camera to try, and subsequently cost me a LOT of money in acquiring the kit that I now shoot with.  This image though, was taken with my 550D and 70-200mm f2.8 lens (I couldn't get back any further that this), at my first Isa Rodeo and it demonstrates how timing, position, and not a small amount of luck work together to freeze a moment in time.  
I really wish I had captured it with better gear so the image would have been less noisy. And, looking back on my editing from 2013 I always want to re-edit and do a better job (which I attempted with this image).  I guess that's the nature of the journey.


This year I'm covering the event for the Australian Junior Rodeo Association.  I have been working with them for a few years, and I'm excited to be providing more content for them during Isa Rodeo and the new addition this year, the Indigenous Championships.

September will see Wildhorse Cutting (my favourite venue, because it's outside where the light is wonderful) and the Australasian Team Roping Association National Finals at Capella, again, on consecutive weekends with no down time in between - no rest for the wicked!



So, when I'm not photographing and editing for the next couple of months I'll be a florist. This is the first time I've never had another job to supplement my "creative" pursuits, and I have to admit that I'm a little nervous about making that work financially.  My fingers and toes are crossed.  If you're considering purchasing any of my images I'd really appreciate it.

On another note, it's been a month of two minute noodle dreads, and I'm getting used to the daily taming of the frizz.  I happily had the opportunity to wear a hair pin (for want of a better term for this item) that I bought it at Mindil Beach Markets in Darwin.  It's crocodile skin, and previous attempts to wear it haven't worked.  It stayed in place in my now curly hair, but I underestimated the length of that wooden pin.  It's difficult to tell from the photo, but it's 24 centimetres long.  I kept getting caught in the foliage on the top shelf of the cold room, and I even had trouble getting into the car!  Ever seen a deer with antlers getting through a fence?  It was nowhere near as graceful as that!





Tomorrow I'm teaching a couple of Introduction to Floristry lessons on Zoom for my Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.  I'm a bit nervous, and hoping very strongly that the technology works for me.  At one point it felt like I might never get to the end of this course, but it now seems like it might come together before I run out of time.  Fingers are crossed for this too.


Last week's 52Frames topic was "Common Object". I wanted to show a common object in an uncommon way, and eventually decided on a paperclip.

I didn't have enough hands for this set-up, so I had to roll a cone out of cardboard to put the torch in (to funnel the light into a smaller spotlight), and then Blu-tak that to the wall above so I could hold the camera at the level I wanted.  I liked the idea of a personified paper clip, and I hope its little sad head in its hands convey an emotion.

This week is "Single Focal Point", and I'm leaning toward what seems to be my default subject matter for this challenge... botanical material.  We had some poppies in the shop, so I felt inspired.  I just love them! They "pop" open in their own time and position themselves wherever they want in a floral design, so they add movement, rhythm, and a touch of whimsy to go with the crinkly texture of their petals.  I just wish they lasted longer.

If you need me I'll be parked in front of a poppy in a vase, waiting for it to open.

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 

 
23 July 2022 1:39 PM Blog

So, I decided to move some furniture around.  I like to make a change every now and then.  Inspiration will strike, and I'll feel compelled to follow it with all the mania of a pianist's fingers taking on Liszt's "La campanella" (Google it - it's impressive).  The result was that I have marginally more space in the studio in which to work, but I will need to recalibrate my spatial awareness when walking around the end of the kitchen bench.  If only I could just push a couple of walls a bit further out.  


Occasionally in my frenzy I declutter a bit.  I'm a bit of a hoarder, because you never know when something might be useful, or there's a bit of emotion attached to a particular object that I'm not ready to part with.  I overwhelm myself with "stuff" and I just need to clear it out.  I can't get rid of everything because I like my things, but I do sometimes wish I had less of them.  I dread moving (whenever that will be).  Maybe I just need a big shed to store all my stuff in so I have enough room to live uncluttered.  I didn't actually manage to throw much away in this exercise, so I only feel partially cleansed.  I might need to go through the pantry and do a cull to feel better.  I'm sure the spices that are five years out of date aren't a necessity in anyone's book.  How do those little weevil things get in there anyway?

I do wonder now how I managed to fit all of my family day care stuff in this little unit.  It amazes me.  I was an educator in my own home for seven years, and over that time I accumulated quite a lot of bits and pieces, most of which I have since re-homed with my niece... luckily there's a shed at her place.

I toyed with the idea of opening back up because I miss my kids, and there's something special about the kind of relationships you build in family day care.  But, at the end of the day I was pleased to have my house back and fill it with floristry equipment in place of toys.  Cody was pleased not to have to share space as well, so that's that.  Seven years, 60 children and a lot of fond memories.  I was gifted a gorgeous book when I closed, made of reminiscences of my wonderful families and it makes me teary when I look through it.  It's one of the most special things I own.  I had a moment recently when I needed some reminding, so it was my go-to.  I cannot declutter that.  Any books it seems.  Marie Kondo made a pretty big call saying you should ideally keep fewer than 30 books.  I have more than 30 books' worth of joy to spark!  Perhaps that's my problem - I'm too joyous to be uncluttered!

This week's 52Frames topic is "Common Object", which of course, has unlimited possibilities. I wanted to present something ordinary in a different way (with a story, because, well, it's me, and I like that). Cody was not much help, since everything that I suggested was met with "That's not really a common object..." Lemons.  He said that about lemons!  Really?  Back to the drawing board.

Last week I knew I'd be pressed for time, so I took an image as a back-up submission, and was glad I did because my streak would have been broken otherwise. I wanted an image with a story, but I just didn't have time to pull it together, so this shot of the sunset down my street had to do.  Winter sunsets are the best though, and it's a shame to waste them.

I'm off to find a common object in a box of things that may or may not spark joy as I rearrange my newly relocated desk.


It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 

 
18 July 2022 6:56 PM Blog

Working Mums might know this feeling... when you have a day off during the week and you feel as though you will achieve so much during school hours.  Perception versus reality can be a bit unbalanced on these days.


Days off during the week used to be a regular occurrence for me.  Not so this year.  Cody suggested staying home to keep me company on Friday (nice try kid), but I agreed to drive him to school.  He looked at my dressing gown and ugg boots and noted that I shouldn't get out of the car if I was going like that.  I had no intention of any such thing - it's cold!

I managed to get some work done on my Cert IV assessments, and prepared for (another) drive.  I picked Cody up from school and we headed to Townsville.  My boy is a pretty keen clay target shooter these days, so I dug out my trap gun and we went to the Townsville Annual Shoot.  You know it's been a long time when you have to think hard about the combination that opens the gun case (I managed to get into it without too much difficulty).  I haven't shot much Down the Line in recent years.  I was getting a stock made before I was even pregnant with Cody, then work halted (because body shapes can change thanks to pregnancy), and it's still not finished.  The amount that I use the gun suggests that it's not at all urgent.   I managed a win with it six weeks after Cody was born, so we decided it could wait.  The egg that I now have on my right cheek would suggest otherwise, but that's more likely operator error and my own stupid fault for lifting my head. 



Thanks to Phil Russell of Townsville Gun Club for the photos from the facebook page.  
I managed a couple of prizes on Saturday (here I am receiving my "Skeet" bag - it says Big Rack Designs all over it, and I love it!) which added to the enjoyment of the weekend, but the best part was that the four of us (Mum, Dad, Cody and I) were all squadded together.

My early memories of Townsville Gun Club were during childhood, when we would camp on the grounds in a tent.  I don't think I remember going there before my brother was born, but I definitely remember having to keep an eye on him when he was little while Mum and Dad were shooting.  It's changed a bit since then, but it still feels the same, and we always have a good time there.


Cody's first visit was when he was three months old, and this was his first trip as a shooter.  We haven't gone full circle with the camping though.  That first trip was when Cody first met Uncle Teddy - thanks for the photo Uncle Teddy.  Here's a presentation photo from that same event.  Thanks to Carol Betteridge for that one. 


I was working on this post along the highway between Charters Towers and the Belyando Crossing.  We were parked there for over four hours waiting to get through after the road was closed due to an accident.  It makes you stop and reassess a few things.  I have no idea what happened (we were way back in the line up), but it was serious enough for the Rescue Chopper to arrive.

It was a bit fresh stopping for fuel at Clermont at stupid o'clock - no need to splash water on my face to stay awake!  We eventually arrived home just before 2am, and neither of us moved especially quickly this morning.  I made it home from work as far as the lounge this afternoon and I could possibly be in bed with the chooks this evening.


Luckily I had shot a "back-up" image to submit for this week's 52Frames challenge, so my streak remains in play.  (As does my Wordle streak, which is currently 56, and I hope saying it out loud doesn't jinx it in some Beetlejuice kind of way...)  This week is "A Common Object", which I will give some thought to after a few REM cycles.


Last week was "Negative Space", and I wanted to include something botanical in the subject matter and story.  This little girl has made an appearance in a couple of my floristry projects.  She has so much presence about her, and there's so much story around her.  What I had in my head was a tiny figure walking through a forest of tall trees with negative space above and beside her.
I created something close to that and positioned it in the greenhouse, then lay on the ground to photograph her.  I really need to tidy that greenhouse...  Add it to the list!

I might not have had as a productive a Friday as I had hoped, but we made it to Townsville without incident, had a great weekend (which included Mexican food and Zarraffa''s coffee) and after which made it home safely (several hours later than planned, but home and safe nonetheless).  Someone wasn't as fortunate.

I'll try again this week for a "productive" Friday.


It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 

 
9 July 2022 10:15 AM Blog

I'm not sure how the last 2 weeks went by so quickly! It was super quiet at home, and it seems that my boy had an absolute blast in Normanton over the school holidays.  I'm about to meet Mum part-way there to pick him up, so that means a bit of time in the car this weekend.


Usually car trips involve audiobooks and/or music.  I've been listening to a bit of The King since seeing the Elvis movie at the cinema last week.  I can't actually remember what I saw at the movies prior to Elvis - it's been a while!  Anyway, I got home and found a Spotify play list and have been listening on and off since.

I enjoy a variety of musical genres, and there doesn't seem to any particular rhyme or reason to my taste - I just like what I like.  Coming up with a Top Ten songs was super tough though.  It often depends on my mood, but I decided to list the first ten that I could think of that I will never skip.


1.  Biscuits - Kasey Musgraves


2.  Way Too Pretty for Prison - Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris


3.  You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive - Brad Paisley


4.  A Thing For You - Easton Corbin


5.  Out In The Parking Lot - Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson


6.  Takin' Pills - Pistol Annies


7.  Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton


8.  Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss


9.  Pretty Bitchin'- Miranda Lambert


10.  Have You Ever Seen the Rain? - John Fogarty



Now that I've put those down I can think of umpteen more!  My "boppy" play list on Spotify (Purple Fairy) is over twelve hours long and is compiled of songs I will never skip (unless Cody in the car and takes over).  It's kind of random in that House of Pain could be followed by Johnny Horton, and then Dr Hook, for example.  I initially started putting it together as an alternative to the play list the videographer/announcer was using at a Cutting Show that I was photographing, so "slower" songs didn't make it onto the list.  I could easily put together three times that amount of listening time if I were to compile all the songs I like, and possibly even miss some on the first run through and have to go back and add another 10 hours worth.  I just love music!

I have thought about what it would be like to have a soundtrack to your day, like in the movies.  A song to accompany your walk down the street, tempo dependant on the mood of the walk, location, and purpose.  A song to add interest to the monotony of boring every day tasks like grocery shopping.  A song to build to crescendo and enliven and amplify an experience, or give you a few moments of wallowing in despair and sadness before the melodic strains of something hopeful and rejuvenating brought you back to being in the present.  In that former life many moons ago when I entertained the notion of creating for the screen I was excited about producing a story, and not just telling it verbally, but also with accents to enhance it aurally.

I've always been in awe of songwriters.  I can tell you a story, or explain something, using verbose prose that might even inspire a mental picture, but songwriters do it in time to music and with the limitation and challenge of the number of syllables, and usually some kind of rhyming.  Genius!  

I wish I was musical.  I attempted to learn guitar, but apparently it is near impossible for each of my hands to do something different simultaneously, especially without looking at them! Car Karaoke will have to do.  I sang actual karaoke in a pub with a friend last week, and while it was lots of fun I have to wonder if my voice really does sound like that.  Apologies to the people in the pub.  Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to get up there on my own, without my security blanket (thanks for that Chloe!), but until then I shall practice in the car.

Last week's 52Frames theme was Pattern.  Aside from the stripes and spots of zebras and big cats, lines in seashells and leaves are possibly the most commonly first thought of patterns in nature.  Lacking a local zoo with such animals, and having already photographed patterned leaves in previous weeks I hunted through my shell collection for a striking pattern that would convert well to black and white.  Both photographers that I had looked at during the "Inspired by a Photographer" week (Imogen Cunningham and Harold Feinstein) had photographed seashells as well as botanical material, and this black background, black and white image is a mix of both of their styles.

This week is Negative Space.  I created a plantscape for that, and got the photo taken a couple of days ago because I knew I'd be pushed for time this weekend with all the driving (and singing in the car).

Coffee, road snacks and play list ready, and I'm off.  On the road again...

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy 

 
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