Something Quirkier

106. Rosella

created by Betty Holdsworth

Float glass tile, coloured glass frit

Rosellas - one of nature’s small blessings. Crimson Rosellas frequent my surroundings. They flock our trees and serenade us with their melodious songs particularly in Spring. Their song fills the space, evoking an instant sense of tranquillity and serenity.

Teacher. Lake Tuggeranong College.

107. The Transit of Venus / Transit Veneris

Back in 2012 I had the ~~small~~ large blessing of photographing the Transit of Venus. Historically the Transit of Venus was important because of its use in helping to work out the distance between the Earth and the Sun. The Transits occur in pairs about every century or so. The next one will occur in 2117.

To photograph the Transit, I attached a camera to my telescope equipped with a special solar safety filter. Because the Sun is so bright, you would be blinded if your looked at it directly. It would also damage the camera and optics. The filter eliminates almost all light and lets in just enough for the camera to see.

The little movie tries to link this important astronomical event with feltmaking; in particular, the finger puppets made by Lynn Petersen. The film tells the story of a curious Puppet who travelled from Outer Space to see the Transit of Venus. Since Feltlings speak Latin, I included English translations.

To see the movie click here.

Matt James, October 2023

108. Words

Bron read the online stories about Small Blessings. She selected words that resonated and ‘sang’ - words that were included in many stories and that reflect what she values about experiencing a ‘small blessing’. The words were embroidered onto a patch for ‘Enveloped’. Calico and embroidery thread. Approx size: 28 x 28cm.

109. Five x Six word stories

Stories from Monica in response to the challenge sent out to write 6-word stories encapsulating a small blessing.

"Urambi Hills; bantam knolls until underfoot."

"Floriade abundant with hyacinths and hay-fever."

"Giddy fifty years riding Civic carousel."

"Belco owl guards with one eye. "

"Red light runs jewel Drakeford Drive."

Finger puppet made in response to the Florida story by Lynn using wet-felting techniques.

110. Clouds

My small blessing is to watch the clouds each day. Heaven-sent, they paint the sky with billowing blooms, frivolous flourishes, pompous puffs, stylish scribbles, sombre sheets, whimsical wisps, wide white washes. Ever-changing, they draw our gaze upwards, inviting us to dwell in the moment, for our joys are fleeting – but so, too, are our sorrows. Let us seize the day, watch the clouds, and count our blessings.

Story by Harriet Elvin.

Finger puppet made in response to this story by Lynn using wet-felting techniques.