Outside my window ... not today exactly, but recently, the first blossoms of our new crabapple, Malus 'Mattom' (Tom Matthews).

I am thankful for ...

the many positive comments about

my Strawberry Fields quilt of my last post

. Your encouragement keeps me motivated! Yes, it is my own pattern which I am writing up at the moment. Can't wait to see what Belinda does with the quilting. Itching to get this quilt bound and finished :)

From the kitchen ... 

I am eating leftover

rhubarb & apple pudding

with my morning coffee. Ooooh yeah!

I am stitching ...

repairs to Miss 16's Year 10 formal dress. It is brand new, unworn, and needs fixing - hate that! Whether detachable straps of said dress will be worn on the big night is a matter still under negotiation! 

I am reading ... '

One Day

' by David Nicholls. A very readable book, about the exasperating relationship between two friends who just can't seem to get it together. I suspect it will end annoyingly unfulfilled. I am enjoying this book, but I just want to slap the characters around the head at the same time!

I am hoping ...

to spend some time reading '

A Field Guide to Fabric Design

' which arrived today. I have no intentions of designing fabric, I just love to learn :)

I am listening to ...

the new Coldplay album, Mylo Xyloto

. Youtube link enthusiastically provided by Miss 16 who is studying graffiti art at school right now, and thinks this is very cool.

I am learning ...

 about 

Banksy

 from Miss 16. Banksy is a controversial and anonymous British street artist whose works split the world into those who think his work is 'art' and those who dismiss it as graffiti. 

'Sweeping it under the carpet' in London 

(

source

)

The Melbourne City Council caused outrage when they inadvertently removed one of his works from its streets in 2010 -

this video link

is an excellent summary of what Banksy is all about. 

'Flower' 

(

source

)

His works are thoughtful, political, cynical and often funny. They are always painted in a location which will provoke reaction. You can see more of his works

here

.

'Flowerchucker' in Palestine 

(

source

)

Does Banksy's work constitute art? Does

a woman giving birth in a public gallery

constitute art? The day we can define 'art', we will perhaps be able to answer these questions! 

Here endeth the art lesson for today! Have a creative weekend. Bloom x