I heard about this guy through a colleague, and that he had made a video to the Radiohead song Nude using old computing technology as part of his Edinburgh degree show...
the result is quite astonishing and worth waiting for as it builds (takes a minute to get into)... what I love most is that he created something so amazing as a second use of what is otherwise redundant technology..
I've been having a bit of an 'unplanned' break away from blogging recently.
This is not through intention, but necessity. The last few weeks I went back to full-time art department work, which means for me, at the moment, an 8am-7pm kind of day.
By the weekend I feel a bit like this...
...just conking out on my back somewhere and staring at the horizon. But of course there is household stuff to catch up on... oh yes, and a post-graduate course! Any thoughts or time for nice things or any sense of Self, let alone blogging gets squeezed out - as anyone who works in the industry will tell you.
I don't want to keep going on about it, hence I haven't posted because it is rather all-consuming and I haven't done anything I've felt like sharing! I've a lot to be grateful for, with these kind of opportunities and some of my photos may be appearing on set - so as I was discussing with Suzanne earlier - it's like having 2 lives and having to switch from one to the other when and as you can.
Consequently I feel like spare time is used for some kind of self-maintainance and just catching up in preparation for the following week - let alone time for fun or crafting... It will only be for a few weeks, and I will get back into my creative swing after that... and after submitting my next 2 assignments mid May!
This was a sight on the bird table earlier in the week - a family of rooks have taken to visiting the garden, and I caught this one (they can sense you taking a photo, I'm sure!).
My...what a big beak you have! All the better to fly off with your fatballs with, m'dear!
I leave you with a funny thing I heard on BBC radio 4 this morning. In the 1970's Telly Savalas of Kojak fame narrated 3 short films on British towns - Birmingham, Portsmouth and Aberdeen. They were called Quota Quickies and were short British films funded to play alongside larger grossing US films. The Birmingham film is a hoot, and well worth watching for the over 40's dancers! Pure cheese. Who loves ya baby?
So goes the famous warcry of the Togs, a very British institution from the morning BBC radio 2 show hosted by Terry Wogan.
So if you are short of things to watch this weekend, I have been watching lots of short films for my course and had to select 3 of note... Jack-Jack Attack by Pixar (this is a naughty link on Youtube, but it can be purchased through Itunes and is on the dvd of 'the Incredibles), In God We Trust, which is again an abridged version of the original that I saw via Spiritual Cinema Circle, and The Furniture, which is part of an amazing PBS site offering all sorts of interesting independent documentaries - from people doing amazing things, to just beautiful cinematography.
this sweet little package arrived in the post from Jessicah in Australia.
a while ago I sent her some bits and pieces I'd hoarded for jewellery making, but would likely not get round to doing - and she made and sent me this lovely necklace. I really like it, thanks Jessicah! There are more for sale over at her Etsy shop - so please check it out if you'd like one. They are so unique and one-off!
I also heard from Alisa with whom I did the scrap-swap last year. She sent me a photo of a lovely bag she made from a fat-quarter of black and cream fabric that I had also sent in the scrap-swap package. I had 2 pieces, and the idea is that we would both make something and compare... I think I've got some catching up to do!
**ETSY FLASH! THERE WILL BE SOME NEW RECYCLED CARDPACKS IN THE SHOP - probably this weekend, once a customer has chosen which ones she would like.. so coming soon...
Last week got a bit dry, setting up things for my writing course - like doing all the online stuff (including joining Facebook, something I didn't really want to do, but decided to embrace - as it is a really good way of keeping in touch with those on the course... if you are anyway mildly interested in what I look like, it's now or never...) - also doing more spaceclearing in the 'writing space' so that it is organised and set up to manage my coursework.
...so you can imagine my joy when this unexpected parcel of things arrived about an hour ago from Victoria at dearmeagan.blogspot.com in...
!
...full of fabric bits and lovely magazine images, just the sort I would use to make cards, but am going to keep this lot, Victoria, thank you, for my own scrapbook!
I got a bit confused initially because I'd had an email from another dear blogger who said she was sending me a parcel, so I thought this must be it until I read the envelope and card! How wonderful.
Also included was this Irish linen teatowel which goes so well with this older post - I wonder if she knew? It's funny thinking these were made in Ireland, as the colours do seem from warmer sunnier climes!
On Saturday I visited Lomond Shores which is a favourite place of mine to go for a wander and have a coffee looking up the loch to Ben Lomond. It also houses the "gateway centre" to the National Park, so is a funny mix of outdoors and retail park. I like the architecture and think the whole scheme was very bold. Unfortunately the Drumkinnon Tower, which is an amazing circular building based on a Scottish broch has become a bit of a theme park where they keep otters (I'm not even getting into that debate) - I know it has 2 or 3 theatre/cinema screens inside and think it would make a great centre to show and host a variety of arts and media connected to Scotland (but then that's just my gig). Sadly too the outdoor clothing shop and bookshop have both closed, and it does feel as if it could do with some rethinking, as it has loads of potential.
...it was a bit cold for icecream...
On Sunday I attended the John Sayles masterclass as part of the Glasgow Film Festival. It was my first artist's date in ages. Sayles is a screenwriter, author, actor, director and film-maker. He talked about making his own films by investing his own money into the production through a series of working really hard writing for others, and reinvesting in his own projects. Although I'm not so familiar with his own films, I was really interested to hear him speak from a point of process ie. about actually being a writer and filmmaker and what makes him tick. I wasn't disappointed, he was eloquent, informative and amusing... you can see why he's had so much work yet even within Hollywood he has kept down to earth.
I'd been waiting to see the movie 'Black Gold' about the coffee industry for several months, and at last saw it the other night on dvd.
Beautifully shot, moving and human. The personal story through Tadesse's journey makes you realise there are other beings at the end of this chain who are feeling really disempowered and despite growing this valuable crop (now second to oil), are in poverty.
The film just prods your awareness, and also raises more questions about solutions - for instance, who makes sure at the growing end that farmers don't just create a non-biodiverse landscape in order to grow and reap the maximum profit for a cash crop? Hmm, it's all food, or should I say, liquid for thought.
The message of the film - think before you drink.
I know most of you will be aware and consider your purchases, because I can tell you are just that sort of folk, but if you'd like to get a rough idea of the figures - ie how much the growers receive from each cup bought, you can try this little calculator they made up at the Black Gold movie homepage
I suppose the best we can do is look for co-operative grown coffee on our bags of beans or grinds, or ask for the Fairtrade brew over the counter at Starbucks (I've found it's drip coffee, so you get it straight away and avoid the queue!).
...and just think, it's not just coffee... but nuts, oils, dried fruit, fruit, vegetables, grains, anything that comes from the land (and of course all food does!!). I was wondering about this and the nature of the internet and when this kind of technology eventually reaches these people (in the film they were still using electric typewriters in Tadesse's office) - in the future, will we be ordering directly from the growers' co-ops?
Some thoughts to brew over your brew.
I started this blog and the idea of the patchwork dress as an antidote to the lack of creative satisfaction I was getting through tv work - the idea being not to mention or moan about it here! However film & tv has been a great factor and influence in my life, so I can't really leave it out. It would be like cutting the sleeves off the patchwork dress!
We gave up watching television in mild disgust that there was little I could find I wanted to watch - or even work on in Scotland that I would watch and enjoy. I feel very priviledged to have worked and be working in this media, but day by day I just see any sort of urge to charm, inspire or hearten disappear from television programming and production. Of course there are the exceptions, but as I know from my colleagues and most of my tv watching friends, it's a sentiment shared by many.
So it was great last night to discover something that actually made me laugh out loud.
Flight of the Conchords are one of the most intelligent, funny and observant things I've seen/heard in a longtime. Normally I switch off musical comedy as it does nothing for me, but this is great! Unfortunately I haven't seen the current series on BBC4, but these entries on Youtube are well worth watching - I find the stand-up routines work better than the tv series excerpts. They are much tighter, well performed and the timing is excellent. These guys really do have talent!
I've been very interested to catch some of this since we first saw Jemaine Clement in Eagle Vs Shark a low budget movie from New Zealand. Stylised composition with retro sets, some great 'underacting' and plenty of time. It really grows and stays with you. If you haven't seen it, please do.
