Noise Makers

      

Years and years ago I was a slightly addicted to decorating magazines.  I particularly enjoyed one called Canadian House and Home.  In it there was an article about the editor's collection of  1950 and 1960 noise makers.  She would bring them out at Christmas and New Years, placed in a big bowl.  I thought that was a bit neat and thought I'd start my own little collection.  All those many years and the collection is only four.  As you can see below one is a clicker and the other three you swing around and  they make  a rat tat tat sound.  It's a small collection and it is lucky I only have small parties.

     

Glebe streetscape

 

       

The sketch group went to Glebe today.  The yellow car very conveniently matched the building behind it. A great day and the rain held off.

Marrickville Police Station

        

This is Marrickville police station, built in 1895.  I used to live around the corner from this place so it holds fond memories for me.  The police moved to a different location in the 1990's as it was a little small for them and lacked parking.

This building is similar to a well known mansion, also in Marrickville.  This was built for Thomas Holt in 1857 and overlooked the Cooks River.  It had 30 bedrooms, a dining room which sat fifty people, an art gallery, Turkish baths and many other special features.

     

Unfortunately, this wonderful building was torn down many years ago.

Luckily, we still have the police station which looks like it was inspired by Holt's mansion.

Marrickville Post Office cafe

  

        

It is a bit of an on and off rainy day today.  I did a sketch, this afternoon, in Marrickville at the old Post Office which is now a cafe.  This is the side view.  The sketch below is one I did last year inside this cafe.  There was a fire since then so it does look different now.

       

Vintage Cars

  

      

Sketch club went to the Rock and Roll fair at Sydney University on Sunday.  I only got as far as the car park due to all the fantastic vintage vehicles there.

I'm planning on having a calendar printed of the old service stations and I thought the cars would be a great addition to it. I got a couple done before people approached, commissioning me to sketch their vehicles.

         

                       

         

This was a commission which I took on without realising how intricate these machines are.  

        

This was another commission.  The owner was pretty happy with his truck.  Where I'm from originally this is a very common mode of transport.

        

On the way home from Sydney University I stopped to capture this Spanish Mission style service station on King st in Newtown.  The truck wasn't there, I transplanted it from the fair.

I am getting excited about the calendar project!

I'm sure you are sick of MORE petrol stations

         

This service station, in Earlwood is where I buy my petrol .  I came here on Saturday morning to capture it for this series.  The owner was very interested and very kindly even brought me a big umbrella to protect me from the sun.

   

             

This service station is also in my suburb of Earlwood. It is located on quite a funny corner.  A friend told 

me that in the 1970's  people lined up in their cars for miles to buy petrol as it was one of the few who had stock when the truck drivers went on strike.  

More about old Petrol Stations

   

                                   

The sketch group met at this favourite old petrol station of mine, in King St, Newtown, Sydney.  This is the third time I have sketched this place.  Although not included in the sketch is a chain link fence around it, making us worry it will be torn down.  Someone came around and said there used to be a glass elevator inside  which has now gone. She spoke about an amazing interior which is now in ruin.

This is a Spanish Mission style service station built in 1928.

         

This truck parked along side the garage but unfortunately it showed up after I had finished my sketch.  I drew it quickly before it disappeared again.

         

I bought these old Matchbox cars, made in England at a market recently.  These were sold at service stations (amongst other places, of course) and I thought they were a nice " go with".

Sydney Botanical Gardens

                             

The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney is the oldest botanic garden in the world, established in 1816  It is 30 hectares in size and sits along Sydney harbour next to the Opera House.  There are nearly 9000 species of plants here.

Urban Sketchers met here today and a full day was spent in the sunshine, sketching, eating and talking with friends.

Re the sketch above.  A lady was perched on this monument and I was very pleased to have a human in it.  She however very quickly moved away when she saw us sketching.  I asked one of the sketchers, John Michael, to model and he very kindly sat down to be drawn.

         

That is Sydney harbour bridge in the background.

Sketch to go with the service station series

   

                               

This unused petrol bowser sits along a busy suburban street in Sydney.  Parts of it are missing but mainly intact.  The street side of it seems to be held together with duct tape.  It is very close to the road so I chose to sketch it from the building side.  I sketched the bowser this weekend but did the building and bowser together earlier this year. See below.  Although not used it is great to see the bowser still in place.