No Posts
For various reasons and generally a bit busy, there will be no posts for a while.
Red Writer on 11.21.05 @ 10:43 AM gmt [link]
Monday, November 21st
Saturday, November 19th
Jewellery
Still inspired with jewellery and having looked at a fred aldous catalogue in class yesterday, I've just placed an order online for a few bits and pieces. I also went out and bought myself a ball hammer today, so I can carry on trying to do more at home. I swore I wasn't going to spend lots of money on my modules this year - it would seem that I'm a bit off course! 
Having got the times wrong for The Constant Gardner last night went to see Wallace and Gromit instead. I'm not a great fan of W&G but I did enjoy it. Although I kept thinking of how long each scene takes to make and the awful fire that destroyed all the props last month. Might try to catch the Constant Gardner again soon.
Red Writer on 11.19.05 @ 04:11 PM gmt [link]
Friday, November 18th
Inspiring Quotes
Nothing much to say. Have added a new "inspiring quotes" ticker to the bottom of the left banner.
Red Writer on 11.18.05 @ 08:40 PM gmt [link]
Thursday, November 17th
Do we know that what we see or hear is real?
Having felt obliged to delete a posting yesterday, I've been feeling a bit subdued by information in general. I was sent an email about a man flying from Seattle to San Fransisco which because we had recent complications on the flight front (SO missing a flight from Cardiff last night due to roadworks and only being able to fly to Prestwick - but having left his car at Edinburgh airport it caused a few logistical problems, not to mention a protracted journey), I thought I'd share it with you...
Red Writer on 11.17.05 @ 09:59 AM gmt [more..]
Tuesday, November 15th
Complaint
I've just had my first ever complaint about something I wrote here. However, it appears that what I wrote was on the basis of a misquote and it's upset some people. So I apologise 
I have removed offending post. However, I did hear a follow up on BBC Radio 2 tonight on my drive home from work and was going to write something nice but well, I don't want to upset any more people so I'll just keep my thoughts to myself. They were nice thoughts but I think I've just been censored.
Red Writer on 11.15.05 @ 08:31 PM gmt [link]
Monday, November 14th
Sunday, November 13th
Horoscope
"Wednesday’s full Moon marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new phase that’s pregnant with oodles of options. If you keep very still, life will come rushing in and collapse in ecstasy at your feet."
OMG I don't think I've ever had such a wonderful horoscope...............I can't wait!!
Red Writer on 11.13.05 @ 05:11 PM gmt [link]
Jewellery
Here's a couple of sample pieces for the jewellery. My idea was inspired by a combination of things; a piece of birch bark I found on the ground in the Botanics and a trip to Hadrians wall where I loved the layout of some of the remains of buildings, so the idea is a combination of a Roman theme and the birch. I think they work well together. Each piece is cut from copper, filed, drilled, enamelled then cut to reveal the copper underneath. It'll be a largish piece (at least 17 or 18 sections).
It'll be too big to be described as a necklace so it's probably more likely to be more of a breast plate which again fits in with the Roman theme (and no this is not inspired by the recent TV series, I had this idea before that was on!). At the moment I'm trying to work out the best combination of the pieces to make sure it hangs properly (thanks L for your helpful discussion). It involves a lot of drilling (holes for the jump rings to hold it all together) - the new drill works a treat. Although I really could do with a blow torch to help anneal so I can shape the copper - it would speed up the whole project if I could do that bit at home too.
I'm off for a walk now as it's beautifully sunny here but there is a trader who is selling semi-precious stones in town today so I'm going to have a look later to see if there are any stones I think I would like to work with. Worryingly, I suspect my credit card is about to get some exercise too 
Red Writer on 11.13.05 @ 10:47 AM gmt [link]
Saturday, November 12th
Excited
I'm very excited. 
Today I found a little shop that sells tools for making jewellery. I now have a saw, clamp, files, a drill (teeny wee thing) drill heads and yes I gave in and bought a piece of silver and some silver wire to play with. I also went to the art shop and bought some tools to carve plaster with so I can get on with my scultpure too. This afternoon I set up a termporary workstation at the kitchen table and managed to saw, file and drill the copper I'm currently working on. I'm in, child in a sweetie shop mode.
Red Writer on 11.12.05 @ 06:49 PM gmt [link]
Friday, November 11th
Nature v's the world
I was really sad to hear about Tony last week. Although I never met him, several people have mentioned his passing to me this week. I have passed his caravan several times. The last time was in the summer and I remember being enraged at the tourists peering into his caravan without any respect that this was someone's home. May his free spirit rest in peace.
Red Writer on 11.11.05 @ 10:52 PM gmt [link]
Armistace
Armistace Day. Get a digital poppy and remember the two minute silence.
Red Writer on 11.11.05 @ 10:12 AM gmt [link]
Thursday, November 10th
Uncertainty
When you live under a cloud of uncertainty and change for long enough, there comes a time to forget about all the stupid little things that could change or affect you and just go for the biggest, blow-out change imaginable.
Red Writer on 11.10.05 @ 12:26 PM gmt [link]
Pies, Politics and Pratts
Pies:Yesterday was the Scottish Pie Championship, held in Dunfermline, Fife. I couldn't find much on the web as the results won't be given until St Andrew's day on the 30th November - wonder if that's to work out if the judges survive? Not really being a pie person, I can't say I mind the wait but good to know the Scottish diet is still high on the agenda of some 
Politics: So, Tony has just had his first ever House of Commons defeat since being Prime Minister. What on earth was he thinking? The 90 law on terrorism was never going to go through. No-one in their right mind would be listening to the Police on that one. No-one in their right mind would be listening to the police anyway but when he couldn't even back-up his proposal with any evidence on where this would have made a difference he was onto a loser from the start. However, I see it not so much a defeat for Tony but a total lack of confidence in the British Police Force. If there was more faith that mistakes would not be made perhaps there may have been more support and Tony is wrong in thinking that the public would support him on this one. I don't know anyone who would.
Pratts: It's that sort of a morning. Car drivers - and yes I am one of them, but this morning it was pouring as I drove to work and that seems to be an excuse for everyone to behave like total morons. Cyclists, riding in the poor light with no lights - including teeny tiny children on their way to school. Idiots who block entrance/exits and hold up traffic for miles - including the entrance to my work. People carriers and huge Range Rovers - why do you need these? Get a decent car for the city. Pratts, everyone of them.
Gggrrrrrrrrrrrr, can you tell I'm not in the best of moods?
Red Writer on 11.10.05 @ 08:59 AM gmt [link]
Wednesday, November 9th
NaNoWriMo
I've read a lot about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) on various blogs I read but I haven't taken part in it this year. However, there is a nagging feeling at the back of my mind, or a twitch at the end of my fingers, that makes me think perhaps I should be doing this. I love writing and haven't done any since I stopped going to a writing class a few years ago.
So, next year, I really think I will give it a go. It's a fantastic idea and I've read lots of helpful hints on blogs - the best being, "don't think anyone else will want to read what you've written". Maybe that's what's put me off doing it this year. I have it in my mind that if I did write so much, I'd want a book deal, film and tv series out of it
Realistically speaking, I find myslef trying to find excuses not to study for the theory module I should be submitting in December and which I haven't started yet. Maybe, I need to concentrate on that first. Meanwhile, I'll practice the discipline of writing each day by posting an entry on the blog every day.
Red Writer on 11.09.05 @ 12:33 PM gmt [link]
Tuesday, November 8th
Monday, November 7th
Brilliant Disguise
What motivates people to do this? And please don't do this, when there are forests of trees to choose from. And please, please can somebody do something about this. It's Monday morning, the sun is shining and everything looks beautiful on the surface. What a brilliant disguise for a sick world. This was good news though and I think maybe this is too. I'm not a fan of AMS's writing but I think the books will translate well into a TV series.
Red Writer on 11.07.05 @ 08:48 AM gmt [link]
Sunday, November 6th
Ballet
Saw the wonderful Mark Morris Dance Group at the Festival Theatre last night. I really love the fact that all his work is done to live music. The group performed Somebody's Coming To See Me Tonight, All Fours, Grand Duo and the more comic From Old Seville which, much to the delight of the audience, featured MM himself. All the dancers were magnificent - faultless to my eye and it seemed to be a full house which generated a much warmer atmosphere than last night's theatre.
On a different note - The Times featured A J Christie's contemporary art blog as it's blog of the week this week. It's a great site and features lots of news on Scottish Arts. It reminded me about several things:
1) I really must look at the art links and scottish links I have as I've not updated them for years
2) The Fisher Gallery in Pittenweem
3)I must get through to Fife to visit the family!
Red Writer on 11.06.05 @ 11:52 AM gmt [link]
Saturday, November 5th
Shakespeare & Sculpture
Saw a really good production of Twelfth Night last night. Both acting and stage set were good, although a small audience made it seem very quiet. Today SO and I got up early to beat the rain and went for a lovely autumnal walk at Vogrie Country Park. Took a few photos (on flickr) of the chainsaw sculpture for inspiration and couldn't avoid walking past the 'big' chairs. Having spent many years taking SED and SYD there when they were little, it seems strange not to have them with us, posing for photos on the giants' chairs. It was time to reflect how wonderful it was to have the memories of those happy days. I've now bought myself some plaster mix so am about to experiment with a bit more carving.
Red Writer on 11.05.05 @ 03:11 PM gmt [link]
Wednesday, November 2nd
30,000
Hurrah the blog just hit the 30,000 visitor mark. So if it was you who popped in at 11:51 (GMT) from Sandwell in the UK, congratulations and thank you.
Red Writer on 11.02.05 @ 12:16 PM gmt [link]