I have just finished reading African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indiginous Design (a nice light read) by Ron Eglash- I thought it was interesteing, certainly the first few chapters on the appearance of fractals within African Architecture and I would recommend reading the first three chapters or so, but after that it seems to get a bit harder. If you like maths, or have a good unferstanding of higher level maths, then youi won't have a problem, however I dropped maths after AS Level and I was having issues. I loved looking at the structure of villages and how some of them spiralled into fractals. But I have to admit I skipped to the conclusion! A interesting book, worth borrowing from a local library and having a flick through. Next on my reading list it Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, a classic Gothic novel (next year in Eng Lit is Gothic- can't wait!).
Some of my work will be on sale this week in the Poulton, where the old Clark's shop used to be, opposite RBS. I am only selling prints of my work, as I need the originals to get my A Level (the examiners would not be impressed if I had sold all of my work). Please pop in if you are in the area, I will be there from 11.30 tomorrow and again on Friday from about 10 until 5 (I think) if you want to chat.
Thanks- hopefully see you soon!
These development pieces came from the idea of making a fabric skull and cushion- yet to come. I love the circle idea, circles of life etc- circles are always symbolic; eternity, unity, the universe (although I don't think it is a circle, just represented as one), heaven and hell, the seasons, the moon and sun and so on and so forth. Generally circles, in my opinion, represent things that have no end or beginning, as they themselves neither begin nor end. Anyway, that is pretty philosophical for a Saturday night, I then began to look at working over the foam with layers and pins and thread. The embroidery hoop, not yet finished, is going to be double sided and hang from the ceiling, so that the viewer can walk around and look up at them, just as you would with a bird. I also think that the birds need to be returned to the sky where they belong, so my work has come full circle itself. The hoops will twissel and turn in the breeze, adding movement to my pieces and bringing the birds back to life. 
It was still frozzy cold when we went out for our Boxing day wander but it's all melted now- that silly rain! Claire is sporting on of her Christmas presents, a fab knitted owl hat. I have a pair of donkey mittens in a similar style, but of course they were on to take the photos. Hope everyone has had a fab Christmas and enjoyed the weather- we have! If you can see, in the photos of the River Wyre it's actually frozen over! There's a tidal flow in this river yet it still frozen over, it's that cold. There were little icebergs and we were debating making a mini titanic to photograph on the river, but the warm weather has beaten me to it! Next year I will be far faster! Enjoy the holidays, not long now until 2011 (which I find terrifying, as I finish my A Levels and go to uni in 2011- SCARY).
