Land Over the Rainbow...

I started this one on the last week of December 2012, a farewell work to the year. Measure about 15 x 10, machine applique, hand quilted with silk threads and cotton floss for the flowers. I got carried away with the flowers though ... or may be not ;)

Inspired by a friend of mine, she's a very talented visual artist pioneer in coffee ( yes coffee) paintings and, naive paintings.

Fabric Art

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This is the first wall art I made in South Africa, hoping to get a buyer soon; it is hand quilted with cotton and silk threads, using a mixture of new fabric and, some old ones from my scrap stash.

"Every home where love abides and freindship is a guest is surely home, and home sweet home: for there heart can rest." - Henry Van Dyke

The mane of a leader ....

This handsome creature is the Alpha at the Lion and Rhino Park at Mukeldrift ( I think that's the spelling )... he knows he is good looking.

Lincoln premiered in Africa

Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln

Attended the premier of Lincoln in Johannesburg a few nights ago, it was an interesting take on him during the last 4 months of his life. It did not focus on his eventual death, though he did; the movie was about his genius political manoeuvring for the assurance success of the 13th Amendment into the Constitution. 

We were finally introduced to Lydia Smith, the companon to Sen. Thaddeus Stevens at the very end of the movie. Lee Pace did a good job as the fiery Fernando Wood, former New York Mayor and, a Democrat Congressman. Hal Holbrook won an Emmy back in 1976 for his portrayal of Lincoln in a miniseries, did a wonderful job as the old and distinguished Statemen, Preston Blair. The abolitionist Congressman, John Mitchell Ashley came to life brilliantly; thanks to stage and charater actor, David Costabile. One funny thing to mention was the appeareance of James Spader (yes, that very one from 16 Candles), as a Lobbyist William Bilbo; he embodied that sleazy Washington lobbyist we all want to avoid at parties well. 

I can see Oscars for Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens from Pennsylvania, even Hal Holbrook as Preston Blair the founder of the republican party and, the director – Steven Spielberg. And, the amazing writing of Tony Kushner made the whole movie a cinematic experience, it will a travesty if he were denied the golden statuette. 

Ray of Sunshine

This is not my work, I wish to be able to work again creatively, posting this picture as an inpiration.

Friends in the Holy Land

After almost two years, I am back blogging. Facebook seem to be so easy for a lazy person like me. The last time I updated this blog we were living in South East Asia, along the typhoon corridor of the Philippines. It was quite an experience for us, as a family.

Since August last year, we have been in Pretoria, South Africa. A massive different from the norm in Asia. I got my wish, the house is on a quarter-an- acre land, not as big as our home in Pennsylvania but, ample space for me to do some gardening with help from our newly-employed gardener. Frankly, it's supervising on my part, since I have started working last December.

While we were getting settle in Africa, another good friends of ours were busy with their own move. Our old friends Yati and, Zul now are now happily settling down in Medina; where Zul now running the Aramas Hotel, click this link to check out the hotel: http://www.aramashotels.com/

Their eldest just graduated from college, specializing in hotel management, Aina and Sammy will be starting school very soon. So wonderful...

We hope to see them soon, either in Medina or somewhere in the Gulf. Yati has started blogging her experience in Medina, http://yatitweettweet.blogspot.com/ I love her writing; honest and sincere, two of the the many qualities that she poses. Taking a que from this, I hope to write, read, research about my experience in South Africa. See you soon :)