Pebbles & Dancing Birds
Last weekend Gbf and I popped into the Penrith Regional Gallery.
It's a favourite place because the cafe there has really delicious breakfasts in a setting overlooking the garden and of course seeing fabulous art is always a bonus. We didn't know what was showing in the gallery on this visit, so we were pleased to find the main exhibition was of beautiful Kare Sansui, or "dry landscape" in Japanese.
These waterless pebble gardens filled the rooms with a majestic calm .
As I walked around and admired the peaceful patterns they somehow felt familiar...
and then I thought of the quilt I've been working on recently.
Another room hosted a forest of Bonsai trees on pedestals.
WooHoo , Dancing birds!
Our trip to the art gallery wasn't all neutral colours. I spied this wonderful banana flower as I walked through the garden. Such a perfect flower for an art gallery garden!
Okay, It's time to make binding for the Dollop of Cream quilt. I'm going to a quilting retreat this weekend and finishing off this quilt is on my list of things to get done.
24 Comments
Ohhhh! Rachael! I am so excited to see this quilt! Fantastic inspiration and execution!
ReplyDeleteLoving your take on "low volume"! Looking forward to seeing the whole quilt in all it's natural glory!
ReplyDeleteoh I just love looking at these sand pictures, simple designs are just wonderful for so many quilts. I am loving circles lately on hand quilted quilts.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing
Kathie
Great fun! Love the pictures and oh my goodness that quilt just looks fabulous, doilies?! My favourite!! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely day you two had! Perhaps Dollop of Cream's subtitle should be Kare Sansui?
ReplyDeleteYou and the BBF take the greatest excursions! I loved the zen garden photos and was shocked at how large they were! Your quilt project has great zen and peacefulness too.
ReplyDeleteThe interactive elvis and birds is so fun!! I love collage.
thanks for the fun post
Wow I felt very peaceful just looking at it, I can't imagine how wonderful it was in person.
ReplyDeleteI never knew there was such a thing as a banana flower.
I didn't know about banana flowers either! You didn't know you had an educational blog did ya ! I am really excited to see the completed Dollop of Cream, (really). Have a fun weekend !
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love those moments where art and life and inspiration intersect? Just fabulous. And great for stirring up the creativity before your fun weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to the full reveal of your Dollop of Cream quilt. It's always amazed me how art and nature play off each other. Thanks for the virtual tour!
ReplyDeleteLove the little peaks at the quilt and thanks for the inspiration, all I can see is FMQ patterns now :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, calming post. Thank you for showing highlights from your excursion. I can't believe you're almost finished with your "dollop of cream" quilt! I'll look forward to seeing it after your retreat. Have a wonderful time!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures! So true that we can find connections to our quilting in almost anything we love or care about. Love the stitching in your quilt. Can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteI love this post!!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so lovely and calming...
ReplyDeleteWho would of thought just down the hill and away from all last weeks rain. The zen gardens are like rows and rows of stitshing. calming familiar. Have a wonderful retreat. Don't forget carrots for the donkey and enjoy the last bit of Clotted Cream.
ReplyDeleteI love those Japaense sculptures...I have one in my office that I play with while I'm on the phone.
ReplyDeleteI just love the neutral calming of those pictures too..
The exhibition looks so interesting, thank you for sharing it with us. I can't wait to see your quilt all finished, the glimpses of the hand quilting look fabulous.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a treat for you to visit this amazing art show. And, for us to see it through your lenses.
ReplyDeleteSo peaceful! Thank you for sharing.
I love that quilt you are working on. Just yummy!
I can't get over the banan flower, it's a bit amazing. So is your wonderful quily, I love all the stitches and the peaceful colours.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your trip, I'd have loved to sit and meditate a bit.
Sounds like you both had a great day out. I think your quilt would have been right at home in the gallery. Now there is something to think about... your own show...one day maybe...
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures! I have never saw a banana flower before! When we lived in Turkey we had a banana tree in our front yard and never had these blooms on it! looks like a upside down humingbird feeder lol !!!
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is lovely with the doilies on it!
I always wonder how they got the lines so neat in the rocks without any foot prints...hmmm
What a lovely exhibition Rachael....I'm loving those natural colours...Hope you had a fun weekend at retreat!
ReplyDeletePenrith Regional Gallery looks amazing! I love all of your pictures. I can't wait to see that quilt all finished up!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.