23rd September 2014 - Of mounting Temperatures and Murials

Thought for the day: "You can't have everything, where would you put it?"

Well, last night we finally got the wood together and put the frame back for the picture that Susie has painted for little Scarlett over here in Crete. We had a lot of concern when we folded the canvas up and put it into the suitcase, but it turned out not to have creased, and there is no real sign of the paint chipping away.

We got it out as soon as we arrived and rolled the painting up so the creases could fall out a little, but until it was properly stretched over the new frame we could not be sure...

But as it happened - it worked well. Of course the other side of the coin was that this was a three meter wide mural and a meter and half high !!  Enough to take over most rooms of any size. We could not be 100% sure of its reception - particularly since Winnie the Pooh is not a child's regular story out here in Crete...  But, either they are being very polite - or they actually like it !!!

But it seems that it stretched out well and was soon in pride of place on the balcony - where it goes after that is still a matter of conjecture...

But it all started with a simple piece of canvas...

and some printouts of the subject matter - that is Winnie and friends...

I have previously mentioned the saga of trying to get an overhead projector that works...  (just search "overhead" on the blog or follow this link  but we managed it alright and it worked well...

Tracing around the images gave the outlines required...

and the image begins to take shape.....

The background is designed to look like a Welsh background full of the greens that represent that country.. The Hill in the center is based upon the hill in Pwll that can be seen from the bedroom.
The trees at this stage are still Disney style cartoon trees - that will change in due time...

Of course there are always helpful supporters in every task...

The artist at work......

And filling in the characters as they start to take more shape.....

And late into the summer evenings ...

Getting closer to the finish now - with the characters really beginning to have their own particular and unique personalities...  But the plants also need to represent the welsh Countryside....

Daffodils - the Welsh symbol (apart from the dragon and the leek)

Primroses.....    and scarlet pimpernel for Scarlett herself...

And so - the completed venture - I don't know why I was in the picture!!  I just made the tea...

For the full collection  - look at facebook Gallery Scarlett's Murial

Meanwhile int he USA today is the first day of FALL or Autumn in proper English. Google has celebrated this by putting a nice animation of the leaves falling off the trees to leave the word GOOGLE in branches - quite neat....

However - that should reflect a cooling off with the weather. In Crete today the temperature has risen to 40 degrees Celcius - which for those of us who still think in Old Money is 104 Fahrenheit..  We were going to repeat our swimming exploits from yesterday - but not sure that we can put our heads  out of the door !!  Barbeque later tonight when it gets cooler - but in the meantime - there is this nice bottle of Gin that is calling to me !!! Nice Cold Gin and Tonic - Don't mind if I do!!!
(have to think about drinking it - we have a reputation to preserve - and it turns out that we didn't drink the bottle we brought last time we were here!!!  Heaven Forfend !!!)

So Yamas ... Chin Chin... Cheerio and let's drink to the Murial ....

-o0o-

Place of the day