A Crochet Notebook

Yesterday I was handed a lovely gift by a very thoughtful lady. She had been given it, the author having passed away, and wanted someone who would appreciate it to have it, for it to go to a good home. I have spent lots of time admiring it already, looking through the pages and reading the hand-written notes. This was, essentially, somebody's notebook on crochet, with all of the samples carefully attached and each stage meticulously annotated. It starts with the basics, and works it's way along to full patterns. 

I wouldn't be able to guess at the age of it, and despite the loose pages and dog-eared corners, it is a precious thing. 

Louise Bourgeois

During my visit to Tate Modern on Monday, I popped into the Louise Bourgeois "Works on Paper" galleries. I was lucky enough to see the Retrospective of her work in 2007/2008 at Tate Modern, and was of course struck by the scale of her work, but also the sheer volume of notes, sketches and small pieces that she had made. I am fairly obsessive in my note making, and try to keep a sketchbook continuously, so I always find it interesting to see the processes and 'behind the scenes' work. 

These were some of my favourite pieces in the "Works on Paper" exhibition - 
"Scissors" 1994
One of the "Ode a Ma Mere" collection 1995
"My Inner Life" 2008
Close up section of "Look Up" 2009
"What is the Shape of this Problem?" 1999
"Ode a la Bievre" 2007
"Spiral Woman" 1999
"Be Calm" 2005
"Hours of the Day" 2006