Happy New Year 2013

Coles Little Big Man

Dear little big man who just harassed me at coles checkout cos i pointed out yr girlfriend had more than 12 items i'm curious why did you think its okay to yell at some one who can count to 12? I quietly but firmly pointed the 12 items sign to her you however came charging over like some demented chimp do you realise that now everyone near that check is wondering if you can read or count past 12? There was only one 12 items or less checkout open there were 3 checkouts open for more items think about that? it is not good manners or chivalry to defend sone one doing the wrong thing you were being macho not truly masculine

Kimonos In The Mall

If you missed it last saturday or didnt hv a camera with u heres some imagesinogleusercontent.com/-EU9FYRb_oq0/UNvQunhGw9I/AAAAAAAABXw/LhqkKLpFKQA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg width="144" height="320"/>g photos

Post Xmas Sales 2012

Underwear and other clothes 10 dollars and right next to mall entrance too!

The Shops are Open but

The Shops are Open but don't forget

and spare a thought for all those people who don't have holidays at Christmas or who have compulsory UNPAID leave?

So try to relax whatever you are doing. My recommendations is that if you to go shopping today just take a quick look at what's on offer and go back tomorrow or Saturday so things are quieter and calmer.

Now I have to log off to go to the shops but fortunately for Bread NOT Clothes.

If I see any EXCEPTIONAL specials I'll let you know later!

Xmas Greetings Three

Xmas Greetings Two

Yet Another Xmas Star

I made this one using Gimp instead of Inkscape using Gfig and a gradient fill.

If your kids are annoying you at Xmas get them to download open source free GIMP and Inkscape to keep them occupied. Hours of fun and no messy paint stains? Also after Xmas don't forget the Hornsby Odeon on the West side is generally cheaper than GU and also open on Boxing Day for the Hobbit!

Blog It And Bus Seats

Hello my first post from a mobile using blogit app and some more seruous news and therw may or may not be a pgoro showing how denolition work well the setup for it has blicked of a bus seat ita the one in the shade pensioners and others use while waiting for m60 and other buses yippee not m60 589 and 632 commuters now have no or limited shelter from weather at either hornsby stop spread the word and warn people readers

Xmas Greetings One

Don't let the shopping overwhelm you !

Morning Glory Always Returns

Morning glory has a perverse beauty. 

It always returns unless you pull it out by the roots and judging by its slow and steady regrowth near the station that massive pruning and weed removal effort earlier this year missed just a few roots.

Xmas 2012 e-card one

Red Rose and Rain drops

Copyright Julie Vaux 

Red Rose with Raindrops

If you've enjoyed my photography this year please check out my photographic prints and cards at 

Red Bubble

If you enjoyed the photos this year ?

If you enjoyed the photos I've shared this year please check out my Red bubble site  which has photo prints and calendars and cards featuring many images you've seen in this blog and other works as well.

My Red Bubble Gallery


Please support this blogger  by telling friends about my Red Bubble Gallery .

I have to pay off a new smart phone and you'll be getting pictures from that as soon as I figure out how to upload from the phone to this site!

When I do maybe I can go daily!?!

I also have a paypal link?

Hornsby TAFE Ceramics Sale

Hornsby TAFE Ceramics Sale

10 - 4 nov 26 to dec 2

bargain prices for beautiful things!

Macrocrystal glazes on bowls vases and plates.

A whole shelf of Shino items with wabi sabi textures and colors.

Beautiful plates.

More photos to come since we were only half way thru setting up when I had to leave on Friday.

Tafe 2012 Ceramics show more images

As promised more photos of the TAFE 2012 Ceramics show

Gorgeous  glazed sculptures 

Shino Plate simply beautiful and functional

More sculptures!

We're open 10-4 kblock lower ground floor Hornsby TAFE to dec2 !

TAFE 2012 Ceramics SALE

TAFE 2012 Ceramics Sale

Beautiful works Bargain prices

Nov 26 - Dec  2 Kblock 10-4

Here's a few images of what's available.

More will be going up later this week!

Yes the glaze and color are meant to be uneven on this hand formed vessel.
 If you hold this glaze up to the light there's opal like variations that don't photo well.

This ceramicist also have equally gorgeous platters and other items!

use them for candles?

Thoroughly functional and lovely!

They all so  are beautiful and you can own them!

More images in following blogs over the next few days!

2012 TAFE CERAMICS SHOW

The 2012 TAFE CERAMICS SHOW
Opens tonight and runs for a week.
NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2

10 AM - 4 PM K BLOCK

Here's some of the beautiful things you can see and buy!

Check out following blogs this week for more images.

Click on this for a larger view so you can see all the glorious detail carved into this vessel.

Half way through Setting up and two students contemplate the works.

The three images here are only a small selection of what's on view!

I'll be showing more images later this week !

The next blog shows you some of the things available in the sales room.

We have work on display all along the lower corridor in display cases and in what's normally the glazing room and the work studios.

do visit us!

Local Lorikeet Cards

Do you know you can buy cards and prints too with some of my photos on them from Red bubble

thats red bubble prints cards posters  calendars tees

www.redbubble.com/people/scholara/art

Copyright J. Vaux 2012

3 orange roses

With all the attention going to the jacarandas  perhaps we're forgetting that the summer roses are out too!?

Copyright Julie Vaux 2012

Don't forget to take a walk up to Hornsby Park to enjoy the roses some time soon!

CERAMICS SALE

Hornsby TAFE Ceramics is having its annual sale very soon.

Opening Night is MONDAY NOVEMBER 26 6:30 PM onwards!
with the sale continuing to December the 2nd

10 AM - 4PM daily.

Folks Professional ceramics at bargain prices!

Hey we would make the prices even lower if we didnt have to pay commission to TAFE!

Vases Plates Bowls Platters Teapots and Much more!

Functional Decorative Vessels

Pencil in those dates!

November 26 to December 2

Can't show you any photos until we set up next week but watch for them!

Oliver Brown and Chocolate

Oliver Brown 
Belgian chocolate cafe 
is NOW open in Hornsby

So have you tried it yet? I viisted and tried a DARK hot chocolate with marshmallows and crunchy balls. Oh and you can ask for Milk chocolate too!

HIGHLY recommended!

It's in the mall next to the Quality butchers across from the chemist and fish 'n' chips place.

They also sell chocolates to take away and you can sit in or take away drinks.

I'll be visiting again. Try it!

a scots immigrant

copyright julie vaux 2012

thistles are regarded as a weed perhaps a pity given how beautiful their flowers are?

Ah pollen!

copyright julie vaux 2012

i managed to get this shot despite not having a proper telephoto lens !

the local lorikeets really do love the bottlebrush

Lorikeet in bottlebrush

copyright J. Vaux 2012

Finally I managed to get a clear shot of the lorikeets feeding on the bottlebrush!

First summer rose

copyright j. vaux 2012

The first summer rose ... well that I've seen! Enjoy!

Support Hornsby Ceramics

One final set of images from the Ceramics open day!

Consider this. 

With mor and more people being forced to move into units by the cost of housing where are we going to practise arts. The cost of a house with a yard or spare room or  garage space large enuff to turn into  a studio is rising beyond the reach of  most artists.

Do you know how many room a turning wheel for throwing takes up?

Then there's the sinks! Or a large tabel for setting up to paint and decorating that sure to be lovley majolica pice in the middle image.

The top image shows iron oxide being applied to a plate. You need separate storage space for chemicals. They really shouldnt be in the bathroom or kitchen unless you live alone and dont have to worry about safety issues to pets and children.

Ceramicists need studios.

 Don't let ceramics and pottery be a luxury hobby for the rich!

Consider the humble weed

This plant is a feral pest officially but it does have lovely flowers!

This one was down near Waitara but there's another patch flowering on the path to the station near the traffic bridge.

Why not take a brief  moment to contemplate the beauty of humble things next time you're walking past them?

support Hornsby TAFE arts

Support Hornsby TAFE ARTS COURSES!

I told you last post why our Ceramics section is special.

consider this too! TAFEART Departments Support local Industries!

The product display here was provided for the TAFE open day by Black Wattle a lcoal NSW ceramics supplies firm.

Did you know we have some of the best clays in Australia in the Southern Highlands and out near Gulogong? Good enuff to export!

The famous Southern Ice porcelain!?

Oh and ART students buy tools from hardware and other art supply stores too!

Support TAFE Ceramics

Did you miss the TAFe open day? Here's some photos?

Barry's funding cuts will lead to course fee increases and maybe even the Ceramics and other Fine Arts courses being shut down!

Maybe you're thinging oh Community colleges can provide course too!
Well the nearest other classes are at Baulkham Hills or Castle Hill !

Limited public transport and much smaller!

Asquith High has an evening class but they have smaller kilns and only Ew clay.

Then there's Roseville KAC great teachers but limited parking and I would not recommend carrying delicate ceramics over the bumpy path from the station!

Here's one of our teachers Natalie opening a large gas kiln.

Many glazes and larger cermaic objects just cant be fired in the sort of small electric  kilns that can be used in a home studio.

Hornsby TAFE is the only art centre on the North Shore that can offer kilns clays technical assistance and studio space to students at all levels from beginner to advanced.

While KAC and WAC also have excellent kilns and studios they also have limited parking space and transport access compared to Hornsby.

Hornsby is on several bus and train routes.

Support TAFE and tell Bazza you don't want funding cuts anywhere in TAFE cos you can bet they wont stop at ceramics or printmaking or painting!

More photos next post!

Poor trees

Poor trees? What's happening to them?

Don't panic! Don't worry!

If you've seen this work going on ... no they're NOT getting ready to rip the trees up they're just pulling up some of the tiles and underlying concrete slabs and replacing it with a covering  that will better protect the tree roots !

The Hornsby Mall Xmas Tree is up !

Either wondered about how they get the big tree up in the mall?

Well I happened to be going past to get fish and chips last weekend when they were assembling the tree! The tree sections are stored in several boxes and one of those accordion lifting platforms is driven into the mall . Safety lines surrounded the work area and by the time I had picked up the fish and chips they had the bottom section up already!

So if you havnt been near the Mall lastly or you're been going straight from the shops to the carpark take a moment to check out our tree and watch out for the gift donations box to appear!

Or do it while you're waiting for fish and chips!

Hornsbys best fish and chips is just up the top of the laneway that leads to the library so if you dont want to check out the tree why not pop down and pick up some books while you're waiting for ... I recommend their grilled fish pack!

Coups Creek Wahroonga

Coups Creek Wahroonga is a hidden treasure.

Running between Normanhurst and Wahroonga is Coup's Creek along Fox Valley.

Bush regeneration is ongoing in the reserve it flows thru and you can access the walking tracks va mt pleasantview road or another entry point behind the Fox valley community Centre next to the SAN and there are probably many other entry points apart from the ones marked on maps.

I was exploring the rumor you can walk from Normanhurst station to the SAN.

Yes you can but only at daylight. There's no lighting on the pathways and you will need good shoes. There are rough uneven areas.

Enjoy!

Readers a question!

Readers of thathornsbyblog I have a question for you!

If I buy a smartphone with wifi and a camera will you FOLLOW ME if I post on a daily basis! As well as flower photos I'll post local shop specials and PR small businesses and local events.

At the moment my "reporters' kit" is an 10 year old 5megapixel camera and a laptop  and hopefully a sense of composition and framing.

As smart phones now have photo apps built in ...

Time to go pro?

The Advocate and Bush Telegraphy are weekly but I could post DAILY?

What do you think?

Wisteria

The local wisteria is blossoming now!

Here's two photos to enjoy!

One from Pretoria parade and another from that park down near Normanhurst station.

My Sophie's Fire Report

Photographs of the aftermath of the My Sophie's fire at Hornsby

copyright J. Vaux 2012 

copyright J. Vaux 2012 

I managed to take a couple of photos on the weekend before the hoardings went up!

A lot of the damage was smoke and water related and roofs!

It looks to me as if possibly the fire started in the old workshops around the back and spread along the rooftops and then maybe a gas canister or cooking oil exploded when the heat reached Sophies. I wonder if someone was storing chemicals in the old workshops around the back?

The smoke stains come down from the roofs!

What's gone!

Allof My Sophies!

Richardson and Wrench next door have a damaged roof over their back rooms.

The computer shop at the end of the row may be okay?

On the other side well we've lost the Guitar center and I hope all those instruments were insured! The windows of the cafe and the store were black but not broken but  judging from the roofline everythings gone inside.

Don't expect a fire damage sale folks. I doubt there will be much salvage.

On the positive side no lives were lost and the fire brigade got there in time so that it didnt spread further down the street.

Pie maddened Magpies

Pie maddened Magpies

Recently cos I've had to visit a sick relative at the San hospital I've been at Turramurra Railway Station a lot. Early thhis afternoon I got back to the station from the hospital and found I had time to buy a meat pie.

So I'm standing on the platform nibbling at the hot pie and suddenly an entire clan of magpies descends from the trees.

Clearly they are also fans of meat pies and VERY hungry!

It's the whole family staring at me mom dad last years gray almost black younglings and one grey speckled fledgling all studying me and my pie.

Now its school holidays and a long weekend so its understandable that there's no or less humans around willing to feed scraps and tidbits to magpies.

Magpies however seem to feel they have a right to be fed.

That we're paying them their rightful tribute for sharing their territory.

After all they were here even before the aborigines.

But hey guys flying up and trying to snatch my pie when I was willing to "drop" a few bits anyway is just too stroppy and cheeky.

And the whole time one of the adults was trying this on the rest of the family are carolling at each other probably making rude observations about humans.

How to deal with stroppy magpies?

Stare back at them Remind them who's bigger.

Talk at them. They will listen.

Sometimes they will understand words like

"If you lot don't stop fighting with the pigeons / swooping at me there'll be NO scraps at all"

This should be accompanied with appropriate foot hand gestures.

Everyone loves the pies at Turramurra including the Magpies!

However they really need to learn some grace and style!

The meat pie by the way was an excellent steak tomato and onion !

Be careful if you're at Turramurra and the magpeis are hungry but do try the pies!

Burra Watch is Back!

Copyright J. Vaux 2012

Burra Watch recently paid a visit to my balcony again!

New Nrma office in Hornsby

Remember Gainsford Electrical  Supplies. They've leased out part of their building to the NRMA.

If you're looking for the Hornsby office here's 2 image of the entrance.

This is the view if you are driving south. Watch out for  the signs and gate just after the petrol station!

Fetes Fairs and Shows in September

Three September events I nearly missed out on attending due to family illnesses!

Did you?

Here's some photos!

The Hornsby Girls High School Annual Multicultural Event
Great Food Craft Stalls A Second hand Books and Goods Room

Hornsby Girls High School students with the St George Dragon!

Students of  Indian origin dressed up for a dance event.

Barker had their spring fete last weekend. If you heard music it was coming form the back oval. You didnt have to be family of a student to attend. Cakes plants used goods and books and food was on sale.

Finally I apologize for NOT being able to PR this earlier!

Have you checked out the new art shows in the Wallarobba Centre?

Saturday September 22 is the last day for this Ceramics show!

Hopefully I'll be getting an new iphone 5 or a galaxy soon so I can update you more regularly! Donations via paypal would help since my Adsense income from this blog is so low ... well it would also help if you encourage friends to visit?