A day of remembrance

ANZAC Gallipoli Remembrance: 25th April 1915

ANZAC poppy wrap

I found this beautiful ANZAC day poppy wrap online.  It was made for someone traveling to Gallipoli for the remembrance day celebrations; absolutely stunning!

As history unfolds: Gallipoli 100 commemorations at Chunuk Bair.

New Zealand and Australians join together in remembrance.

The poppy signifies so much to so many people.  I have a bunch of poppies as part of my blog header for a reason; not just because it signifies the gathering up of flowers. As a teenager I learnt so much about the First World War from my English teacher at high school. These lessons have stayed with me for life. Learning about the battles and the appalling conditions experienced by soldiers during that campaign were expressed in First World War poetry.

This poem is iconic.

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, May 1915.

For me this is the poetry that I remember: 

The First World War poetry of Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Rupert Brooke is what resonates most for me. 

Anthem For Doomed Youth - Poem by Wilfred Owen

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? 

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. 

I began writing poetry as a teenager and even now I still write. I don't get to share my writing with others, but prefer to write for myself.  My desire to record using an art journal or visual diary certainly makes more sense now I think about it.  

Collect 2 Create

My Resurrected Blog - 2014

I have decided to start the New Year by beginning my blogging journey again.  This is a new start with a fresh perspective and ideas that others may be interested in (or not).  I have decided to write on a regular basis and have been using a journal for the last few months to document my style and inspirational ideas; some original, some borrowed from other creative souls.  
Therefore I have decided on the title of: 

Collect 2 Create

Some of my journaling ideas will end up on this blog, beginning with a cooperative of creative people who have some exciting and interesting handmade ideas.  This new enterprise can be found in the city closest to where I live in NZ and my favourite place of all time for op shopping and generally fossicking around; Napier.  Check out the The Department of Curiosities and Fine Things in Hastings Street, Napier and on facebook.

Handmade

I came across the Handmade website, which took place in Wellington earlier in June.  The programme was so interesting with some great workshops.  It made me wish that I lived closer and could participate in some of them; in particular the refashioned shirt workshop, the handstitched jewellery and the refashioned lace cardigan workshop.  I know there are tutorials on different blogs that document step-by-step instructions on some of these refashioning projects, but I can't help thinking that working as part of a face to face workshop would add to the whole experience.  


The Lace race; An upcycled cardigan:
The lace cardigan refashion is a project that I would be able to start sooner rather than later, because I have already got a few cardigans in my stash of future projects. 

Here at Tea Rose blog is a very nice example of a refashioned cardigan, with step-by-step embellishments.  I would probably use less embellishments and include some repurposed doilies.  

Embellished knit
Also, see this set of tutorials for embellished knits on Grosgrain.A have a tone-downed version of this cardigan in mind, with a grey woolen cardigan and some black lace from my stash.