We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
"Little Gidding"
T S Eliot

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Hit or MISS?

Now that heading should date me!  Anyone remember Juke Box Jury???

The next Craft Barn Q&L challenge words are STRONG and MISS.

A vague memory stirred of a poem by Walter de la Mare - Miss Loo.  I've included just the first verse on my page, which this time is on canvas, as I love the texture.

I wanted the texture to show, so I lightly brayered some ink, then stamped some bird cages. Punched out a whole flock of birds from tiny bits of left over Gelli prints; and I couldn't resist die-cutting the scaredy-cat!




Here is the whole poem -
When thin-strewn memory I look through,
I see most clearly poor Miss Loo,
Her tabby cat, her cage of birds,
Her nose, her hair -- her muffled words,
And how she'd open her green eyes,
As if in some immense surprise,
Whenever as we sat at tea,
She made some small remark to me.
It's always drowsy summer when
From out the past she comes again;
The westering sunshine in a pool
Floats in her parlour still and cool;
While the slim bird its lean wires shakes,
As into piercing song it breaks
Till Peter's pale-green eyes ajar
Dream, wake; wake, dream, in one brief bar;
And I am sitting , dull and shy
And she with gaze of vacancy,
And large hands folded on the tray,
Musing the afternoon away;
Her satin bosom heaving slow
With sighs that softly ebb and flow,
And her plain face in such dismay,
It seems unkind to look her way:
Until all cheerful back will come
Her cheerful gleaming spirit home:
And one would think that poor Miss Loo
Asked nothing else, if she had you.


12 comments:

  1. Love your canvas, it is so ordered and wonderful!!! Fantastic colours and images fit the poem so well. Stunning canvas :-) xxx

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  2. Those birdies look great in the cages - can't believe they are still there with that scarey cat!! Its a great canvas.

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  3. This is just beautiful! Each bird is different-just as they are in nature!

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  4. Really love all those little birdies :)

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  5. Charming representation. What a great way to use bits of leftover gelli prints. Those birds are spectacular and so are the cages. You did a fantastic job representing this challenge.

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  6. Great idea! Love the textured background and all the cages!

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  7. How cool, that's a great idea and a wonderful page.

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  8. Wonderful page and fabulous verse to choose, great stamping of the birdcages and gelli plate print birds.

    Sylv xx

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  9. Fantastic page! love all those little birds.

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  10. Such a sweet layout, love all those beautiful coloured birds - and I'm a sucker for a bird cage stamp! Thanks for including the poem it was not one I had come across before. MMx

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