Thursday, April 24, 2008

HAPPINESS IS !

"To fill the hour and leave no crevice....that is happiness." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Aaahhhh, to get the weight off my feet for five minutes! I have been working like a trojan for the past three days and though I'm not finished yet I am beginning to feel bone weary. Nothing like sipping a mug of coffee on the step at the end of the day while contemplating my days achievements.


My yen for said cup of coffee came only a few minutes before a scheduled power outage, so off I went skidding into the kitchen to switch the kettle on. I beat the clock by the skin of my teeth and it was the best cup of coffee I've had in days!


We are having daily load shedding here in South Africa and it will probably continue until 2015....or so they say. Because there has been no maintenance for the past ten years, each time the power is switched on or off something blows (...like a power station....) which means the power is off for much longer than scheduled. Some areas in Durban have been out for five days.....so I shouldn't complain. Though we all feel like pulling our hair out it's something we have to get used to or end up going round the twist. In the mean time I celebrate making my cuppa in the nick of time!

Tomorrow I hope to put the finishing touches to my panels but it usually takes a few weeks of tinkering before I'm completely satisfied. By then there should be verdigris appearing on the brass fittings and a lot more rust on the bolts and arrowheads. My husband made them and presented them to me with a flourish...."See I can be useful when I apply myself!"

"Of the craftsmen it may be said that in the handiwork of their craft is their prayer". - Found inscribed over a doorway at Westminster Abbey.

9 comments:

  1. Robyn,

    Your carvings are so far from anything I've created I'm just in awe.

    I love the quote about prayer being in the craftsmen's handiwork, I think it's very true, creating can be that meditative and that spiritual for any of us.

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  2. Robyn your art is amazing! I absolutely love your unique style...wonderful piece!

    I hate it when the power is out here because our well is powered with electricity. Fortunately, it is not too often. Good thing you got your java in the nick of time!

    I enjoyed both the Emerson and Westminster quotes.

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  3. Just popped by on HHnB's recommendation and glad that I came. A fascinating blog.
    "Of the craftsmen it may be said that in the handiwork of their craft is their prayer". I liked that.
    Shall come by again.

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  4. P.S.
    Have added you to my links, if that is OK by you?

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  5. That panel is beautiful.
    I like the quote from W abbey. I think I will write in tiny letters above the door to my studio!

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  6. This piece is incredible! I would love to sit and watch you work someday. Beautiful!

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  7. Oh my! You do beautiful work!

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  8. WOW love his tools! You are lucky. Sorry I started at the top and going down now.

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