The Red Thread

Tomorrow evening is the opening of my first solo show. I am exhausted and happy, having installed most of the works today. Here is the show description:

"Spots of blood, hairs tucked under stitches, stains and smudges. Old quilting folklore states that to protect the owner of a quilt, red thread must be used somewhere in the quilting process. Like veins pumping plasma, the red thread weaves its way through each piece in this exhibition, protecting, overseeing. Ruby Hoppen makes quilts that breathe, blush and bleed."

If any Melbournites feel like swinging past, the show is on at First Site Gallery, 344 Swanston Street, Storey Hall Basement, RMIT. The work will be up for the next two weeks, and I will be sitting the gallery some days like a real adult professional artist who has shows.

I think that's all I can manage for now, Goodnight.

29/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper: Sad that you lost your red beanie.

Playing along with Jodi. Also on my Tumblr.

28/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper: Tired after a busy day at the rally for refugee rights.

Joining in with Jodi. Also on my Tumblr.

27/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper and Mika: Sleep-talkers.

Linking up with Jodi. Also on my Tumblr.

I'll Be Pretty & I'll Be Rare

Today I slept in because I went to a wonderful gig last night and stayed up late. Casper has been so sweet, playing in the cherry blossoms and singing made up songs to himself. I came outside to check on him and he had a crusty snotty nose, his trademark messy hair with pink blossoms floating delicately on top.

Last week I bought a beautiful dollhouse.

Look at those rooms! Yellow doors on hinges! A hand rail on the stairs! Pink walls and perspex "glass" windows! Lino and carpet! Shiny red painted roof! I couldn't resist, I am so in love with it and I think Casper is too- I caught him trying to crawl inside it the other day.

I'm still thinking about what to do for tomorrow's portrait, maybe something to do with cherry blossoms and dollhouses and a certain snotty nosed, messy haired toddler.

Beachy Keen

We went up to Warrnambool to visit family a few weeks ago and Steve took some absolutely beautiful shots on the beach. The wild shipwreck coast is one of my favourite places in the world, I think I want to live near the ocean for my whole life. We found some lovely seaweed, climbed the rocks and tired ourselves out. Can't wait to go back.

The painting pictured above (of the beach at Warrnambool) is going to be in a show tomorrow night at Bruce Gallery in Footscray. It is a salon style, farewell show as the gallery is relocating. Should be a great night so if you're in the neighbourhood just drop in, it starts at 6!

26/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper: Splashing in puddles.

Joining in with Jodi. Also on my Tumblr.

Castlemania

Yesterday we drove up to see my Dad in Castlemaine, where he is in the planning stage of house building. We spent a beautiful hour on his block hanging out in the fresh cream painted caravan, checking out the newly wood panelled bus, running around and exploring, then we drove into town for dinner. On our drive, Casper was really sick so we ended up driving back to Melbourne last night, which was really disappointing as I was anticipating a day spent on the block. Then I remembered that we took some photos a few weeks ago when we went up and I hadn't blogged about them yet.

I am pretty rusty at this, I have even found it difficult lately to keep up with the 52 project, but I'm looking forward to catching up a bit over the winter break at least before next semester starts and I stop updating so much again!

Castlemaine glows pink. That's the colour of the dust and the sky and the houses and the cars. It makes me want to paint all day. The bus looks so great in her new home, she's going to get a little pot-bellied stove and some windows and then we will be able to go up and sleep there under the stars. Dad sanded back some of the silver paint to see what colours had been there before and he revealed some really amazing layered colour underneath. The little caravan from 1959 has had a new lick of paint and will be such a cozy place to stay soon. I am going to keep a tab on the block/bus/house/caravan here just so that I can look back when it's all finished and see how far we've come. 

I hope to have some tutorials, recipes and new posts up soon. Lots to show and tell!

25/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper: Last night you looked up at the Supermoon and said 'I wan go up dere mummy.'

Joining in with Jodi. Also on my Tumblr.

24/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper: Climbing rocks on the beach in Warrnambool. You love seaside adventures, so I drew you like an Enid Blyton character.

23/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper: Tears, tantrums and theatrics. You are most definitely MY son.

Playing catch up for the last two weeks as we have been busy- there are some very exciting things bubbling away over here.

22/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week in 2013."

Casper: A few weeks ago, you were eating a mandarin and began placing segments on my arm as I lay on the bed. I wanted to exist in that moment forever.

Linking up with Jodi. Also on my Tumblr.