A spooky doll for (almost) Halloween

I'll start with this gal because - be honest - if you were a kid and given this doll it'd give you nightmares, wouldn't it? She's a scary-mary and no mistake. I spent a few hours yesterday in Leeds city centre, and nipped into the museum where she's housed. To be honest, it wasn't that appealing to me. The museum I mean, not the doll.

It's one of those places that're aimed firmly at the younger demographic. Which isn't a bad thing as kids need somewhere free to go and they have to be entertained when they're there. But all the 'open this drawer and what can you find?', 'try on this wig!', 'oooh! look over here!' stuff isn't for me.

I mooched around for a while, but my heart wasn't in it.

So I wandered over to the art gallery instead, and found some lovely stuff.

'Mount's Bay with St. Michael's Mount' by Alfred Wallis (1855 to 1942). This was a man born in the Victorian age, when the Crimean War was being fought, and he lived through the first world war and into the second. The upheaval he must've seen in his lifetime, the advances in technology, the changes in women's roles, population growth and urbanisation. It must've been fascinating but bewildering for him as an old man to look back on his life and a world that'd changed almost beyond recognition.

I loved these ceramics, especially the large bowl which is so beautifully made and decorated. From left to right: 'Leaping Salmon Vase' by Bernard Leech, 'Rose Bowl' by Michael Cardew, 'Jar' by Janet Leech.

I didn't note the name of this or the artist. I've a feeling it might be called 'Three Figures' but don't quote me on that.

On the left of the picture above you can see a pair of lightboxes, and I was really drawn to these artworks.

I think they're stunning. Frank Avray-Wilson 'Object for Meditation I & II', oil on perspex. He wanted them to be viewed as if lit from the back, so looking almost like stained glass.

I could quite happily live with this in my home. Though when it comes to coveting an artwork, this sculpture by Barbara Hepworth wins every time.

It's called 'Configuration' and how I wish we could touch these pieces. The smoothness of those curves under the palm of your hand, you'd stroke this like a cat, wouldn't you?

I'll finish up my photos of Leeds arty stuff with an owl. Because the city is very partial to owls, and they're everywhere!

There's also a very splendid clock in the background. Anyway, that's all for today. I've got a new paperback to crack open and I'm hoping it'll be a good read - 'The Lost Apothecary' by Sarah Penner. It was a New York Times bestseller, so that's got to be a reliable recommendation, don't you think?

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Sari scraps, PVA, a couple of books and a necklace

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