Spring garden colour

Spring has sprung and the garden is a riot of flowers, at least as much as a garden can be that is on slowly-improving soil. Thankfully the builder here put a layer of earth over the clay ground many years ago when the place was built, but it has previously only hosted grass and needs a bit more compost to be really friable. 

 

Bars and colour

My new abode has so many bars on the back windows you'd think you were incarcerated. I will remove them when I have time since we have entered the age when it no longer pays to break into people's houses because anything worth stealing can be bought for less trouble in the $2 shop. While the bars remain, I am drawing the eye away with colour.

Teapot, Tomatoes, Snapdragon, Red Glass.

My sewing machine is running hot, sewing curtains for the remaining windows. Two down, two to go.

Sydney Opera House in colour

Sydney Opera House in colour(s)

Before the advent of the Vivid Festival in Sydney it was unusual to see the Sydney opera house clothed in colour, but once you see the festival's startlingly vivid colours on the opera house sails, they are not easily forgotten.

I have been manipulating some opera house etchings made in Dunedin and the photo app on my phone has kindly made a collage of them for me (above). They are not as vivid (some would say garish) as the festival lights but there is something nice about a coloured etching.

Colour and psychology

Why is it that colours have a different effect on different people? My predecessor in this house had a pretty two-tone blue bedroom and although I knew it didn't work for me I was surprised at the effect when I repainted it white. It was as if a physical burden had been lifted from me.  She had obviously not felt it that way so the effect of colours can't be universal.

Yellow 'patchwork' curtains
(with Stuart Skelton singing on the wall)

This experience resulted in me taking my colour instincts more seriously. Recently I bought dark brown cotton curtains to replace the 1970s yellow patchwork curtains in the east facing guest bedroom which gets very bright morning light.  But I found them very gloomy and today I have replaced them with some new bright yellow patchwork-type curtains.

I don't know exactly why, but I feel uplifted now when I pass the room and see the yellow light shining there again. Maybe the brown curtains will make a classy brown jacket?

Socks of colour

Who has time to knit socks any more?  Well someone in Tainui (below) does ... which is why it is a 'must visit' destination.