The new OKIDO Body Book (I have two poems in it - here's a bit of FEELINGS below...)
Out April 16th 2012
Amazon

FEELINGS p.2 by Gabby, illustrations by Alex

Check out Alex's blogspot for more info...

Today's song: Grateful Dead - Unbroken Chain

"Fogiveness is the key to every door"

Yayoi Kusama exhibition at TateModern

We went to this at the weekend with the middle and youngest. Youngest volunteered to be covered in stickers, a request enthusiastically fulfilled by middle one (although I have to confess to some shamefully conrolling stage-management ..) All very strange and strangely moving. It was art as self-medication, really, by someone obsessively driven to self-express via a whole range of OCD-friendly art forms. But I found it very interesting for all that, and some of it very beautiful indeed. The light installation at the end was mesmerising; sausage furniture not so. Large net paintings exquisite. Youngest really enjoyed it all; middle raced round and went in search of the cafe...Made me think that doing something methodical, repetitive and concentrated was indeed a good balm for the mind (cf tapestry enthusiasm).

Go to Tate  for details...

King Creosote and Jon Hopkins - BUBBLE...

 ...and a bumble. Because the colouring seemed right. And becasue so many people like them. Mid-week dipping..

Wildflowers from a London park in winter

No iron Pride
But soft Humility
& rich veined Hope
Cleft from a
sunny slope.


(from "A Bell" by Clinton Scollard)


This fragment of a poem was on a hand-printed Christmas card from some dear friends. It sits in our kitchen and is read from time to time as a gentle reminder. It seemed right to post it today.

LOVE tapestry

I've only done a little more on the tapestry - it's been half term. I also spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to "embed" music in the images on this site. I just CAN'T do it - my brain simply doesn't get it - can't process the jargon. I was listening to a programme on the radio this morning talking about the "beautiful symetry of equations" - and I DO get that. (I'd also like to add how wonderfully neat and perfect the 9 times table is.)

Thought for the Day: Never send the cakes in first...I believe we've all experienced this at some point in our lives.

Holocene by Bon Iver

HOLOCENE (from the Greek, meaning "entirely recent") by Bon Iver

PS I had forgotten to mention that I bought the Emily Peacock LOVE tapestry kit 4 years ago but I couldn't get my head around it all. Inspired by the utterly fabulous Grayson Perry exhibition at the British Museum, and the purchase of a small Alan Measles tapestry which I hoped would set me on my way (it did) and a firm New Years resolution, I've overcome my fear. And I'm now addicted. And btw, Emily Peacock has been brilliant at answering my emailed questions; her enthusiasm is infectious. 

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him...

Needlwork by Kate.
Words by Oscar Goldman (in character)
1974

Tune of the Day...
Postcards from Italy by Beirut

...and a bit more work on the tapestry.
Once this is finished I'll be designing my own one. Ha-haa!
Noticed that Gavin Turk is doing it..

Girl with a cat

Girl with a cat

This picture is a mystery. It had been dumped outside a semi-crackhouse on our street (about 5 years ago) and after walking past it a couple of times, I rescued it. There is something Scandanavian and '70s about it - I wish I had some idea of its provenance...an old art school study..?

Welcome...

LOVE this so much I'm posting it again...
design by EMILY PEACOCK

See it -

BOMBAY BEACH

It's a life-affirming, inspirational and beautiful film.
I'm adding to the earlier post as I don't think I made enough fuss of it before. If you can see it please do - it's magical and extraordinary.

"Back past the pub across the street,
the dog on wheels, the boy on feet"

llustration by Alex Barrow http://alexanderbarrow.blogspot.com/ from A Possum's Tail by Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow

"What place is best

For a bird to take rest?

A nest in a tree

Is the best place to be..."

(Fragment from HABITATS) 

Friday before half term

Snow outside, battle with oldest about going to school "It's snowing, do I have to go? Come on. Oh you're SO mean, I thought you were nice I can't believe it no one else is going eurgh.." etc etc
It's not even that cold, he admitted as he set off.
Middle one driving me nuts as I receive all the facetime messages from his friends - phone in almost continuous state of bonging. And it's generally from bobajob saying smilyface symbol so not even anything interesting.
Youngest is just heartbreakingly adorable - but she's young. Soon she'll hate me too, soon...

Long neglected

Back again after about 2 years.
1. inspired by awesome film called Bombay Beach.
2. Battling with new story
3. Still waiting for news on next job...