Movie Dates and A long Awaited Return to Femininity

Oh it has been too long since I last wrote already! I am really enjoying all your lovely comments and interest in my wee part of the world and I LOVE, LOVE the fact that I am meeting so many creative, lovely and talented wonders in this apparently small internet world - through the blogs I read and the names I recognise so many of us are connected by our interests, obsessions and loves.

So the last few days have been a kind of a wonderful blur. Sunday we went to see 'Blood Diamond' and oh my gosh - it is one of the most devastating, amazing films I have seen for such a long time. It is well known to my friends and family that I am not really a huge fan of 'girly', 'fluffy' films - I would always choose Gladiator over Bridget Jones, anything epic, challenging, 'boy's film's' really. In truth I love most kind of movies, but this was really incredible.

I sobbed all the way through it (and was still crying when I got home - gosh I am always crying!) but for me it is really important to see films that affect me in this way - when I am complaining about the trivial, when I feel morose and forget what a wonderful life I have, when I forget how to be happy, this brings me down to earth with a bump. For me if a film can affect me in this way, it can completely change my outlook on my life and the world. It is hard as I spent the first half of the film feeling like I hate the world we live in, that these things go on, but ultimately it also makes me appreciate so much the good that is there.

Sorry if I am harping on, and I hope I don't sound like I am preaching but there it is. Oh and in my opinion both lead actors completely deserve the oscars they have been nominated for.

Okay onto lighter fair and tonight I went to see Miss Potter! Wonderful and lovely and a treat - the look of it is beautiful, the scenery spectacular, and I drooled over the costumes. I love the way she just emmersed herself in her her creative world - that is something to aspire to I think!

I came to a horrible realisation today that I am losing my femininity! Seriously, up until recently I was the 'skirt girl' - not only skirts, but petticoats, boots, bloomers, earrings, all day every day till I got home and then straight into my 'pie-jiminies'. I owned one pair of jeans, a pair of converse old style trainers and they only came out for working on film sets. Today I realised that I wear jeans (and I can't believe I am admitting this...) more days that I care to mention. And it has crept up on me without me even realising. Now I know in the grand scheme of things it shouldn't really be an issue, but HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!!!

Well basically I have become too comfortable and I want my dress sense to go back to the way it was! the thing is, I either work from home (when I may never leave the house) or I work in my studio (which is above a furniture workshop and hence the dustiest filthiest studio in the world). I become a dust mite within seconds of entering that place - so I have been dressing down, down, down. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with jeans, but I look like a dumpling in them and I just realised how much I miss my former victorian-esque, World War II evacuee, Railway Children kind of style (okay maybe it wasn't quite as good as that - but that is how I imagined I looked). So from tomorrow, out come the petticoats, the patterned tights, the beads and I will be back to my usual self, I shall even get out the red lipstick. Okay so I am only going to the dusty old studio, but I will look like I am going to the theatre!

I finally managed to finish my effort for the Etsy Creative Challenge from about 3 weeks ago. It is a belt which I designed and created and was influenced by the wonderful singer/songwriter Kate Bush, who I am so in love with. Here is my description of the idea behind it - based on the song 'A coral room' -

This belt is for me more a piece of art as it represents so many different things (see details below). The belt is made from varying different silk fabrics which were bleached to give a faded effect, and then dyed with a coral fabric dye. The effect is a purposefully aged, worn, vintage look.

The lyrics of the song (written below) inspired me to make this belt. The song brings images to my mind of lovers waiting for their men who are at war, not knowing if they will return. As the song reminds me of images of fighter pilots of the first and second World Wars I wanted to give an aged and worn look to the fabrics – as if it had been lying in a trunk for generations only to be found moth-eaten and faded, but inherently beautiful. A vintage piece with memories worn into the fabric.

The belt is for sale in my http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=46051&order=§ion_id=&page=2

(PS I am having real trouble figuring out the best and most effective way of photographing garments on a mannequin. My photographs for small items is gradually improving since making a sort of light box, but if you have any hints and tips for photographing clothes and accessories on a mannequin, they will be gratefully received!)

Have a wonderful day.

A CORAL ROOM

There's a city, draped in net
Fisherman net
And in the half light, in the half light
It looks like every lover
Is covered in webs
Moving and glistening and rocking
It's babies in rhythm
As the spider of time is climbing
Over the ruins

There were hundreds of peole living here
Sails at the windows
And the planes came crashing down
And many a pilot drowned
And the speed boats flying above
Put your hand over the edge of the boat
What do you feel?

My mother and her little brown jug
It held her milk
And now it holds her memories
I can hear her singing
"Little brown jug don't I love thee"
"Little brown jug don't I love thee"
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee

I hear her laughing
She is standing in the kitchen
As we come in the back door
See it fall
See it fall
Oh little spider climbing out of a broken jug
And the pieces will lay there a while
In a house draped in net
In a room filled with coral
Sails at the window
Forests of masts
Put your hand over the side of the boat
Put your hand over the side of the boat
What do you feel?

by Kate Bush

Wardrobes and Everlasting Love

Gosh I have been neglecting my blog this week. I have missed it and the contact with the world, also the way in which it helps focus my thoughts and motivates me to get on with things. And of course most of all I miss the thought that somewhere, this holds some interest for those who may be reading this.

Mmm well it has been a bit of an up and down week...the down's include strange petty arguments over nothing on Saturday..... there are only 2 things that get me and Mark niggling at each other (not very often it has to be said) one of which is the old money worries, the second is the ugliness and insecurity that comes from me being over tired and in pain from my back. I become a little monster! Two days sitting on really uncomfortable seating and then a whole day standing on Friday had just proved a little too much for me and my old decrepit spine. So that was Saturday....but it was okay, because he knows me better than I know myself and after half an hour of silliness, and me feeling so empty I just wanted to hide away, I just sat in his arms and cried..... and the pettiness was over.

Sorry, this is turning into a morose tale...it gets better I promise! This week is our 2 year anniversary and we had planned to go to London Tuesday/Wednesday - the place where we met and fell in love. But money is tight and so we decided instead to spend half the money we would have spent on 2 days away...... on a wardrobe! Well I cannot tell you how much in love with this wardrobe I am..okay it is from IKEA, Ok it is not the vintage style loveliness I would normally have wanted to go for, OK it is completely and boringly practical, but we can fit enough in there to fill 2 wardrobes (it is tall enough for a rail above and below and we have so little space in our wee flat) and we don't have to fight to get our clothes of a rail that falls down every five minutes, and it is just .....lovely! Okay enough with the wardrobe.



So instead of going away, we have had 2 lovely days on our own together, just doing our thing. Tuesday we went to our favourite deli for our all time favourite organic cooked breakfast (you wouldn't believe how good this tastes) then just wandering around town, chatting and freezing our butts off. Yesterday we drove out to the Derbyshire Peak District (the place where we dream of living). Stupidly I forgot to take my camera, but it is all green hills and woods, old stone villages and craft shops, mills, the stuff of Jane Eyre and old Sherlock Holmes movies. We ate Bakewell Tart in Bakewell, proper rustic soup and bread and more cake (coffee and walnut) near Matlock and it was just a dream date for our anniversary. It is so important to us to never let the day to day stuff of life take over, and we love our days out in the country - who cares if it makes us seem old before our time - if we are still doing the same stuff when we are 85 then I will be thankful for the wonderful life we will have had together.

I think I shall finish there for today as I have to get back to work. No new artwork to post today, only a new cuff (which are gaining a wee following I think!). I am finishing up a few bits and pieces so shall hopefully be able to display them here over the next couple of days.

So a not particularly art inspired post, but just a little more of the tales of my life. Take care my sweets!

Man on the Moon and the Possibilities of Burlesque

OOhh this has to be a quickie tonight as I should have been in bed about 2 and a half hours ago - I have been watching Man in the Moon with Jim Carrey (such a great film!) and now I have to go to bed where my love is sleeping and I feel a little sad but shouldn't really wake him for a hug.............no I really better not.

Tomorrow I have to get my act together to put in an application for an exhibition on Burlesque. I have had email contact with the artist and photographer who is curating the exhibiton and it seems they are really interested in me being part of it, now I just have to figure out some ideas! It is really exciting (if more than a little nervewracking) as it will really be the first gallery exhibition I will (hopefully) take part in. It shows in March and I would really like to' display a corset and a corset based costume - possibly with a headress/mask of some sort. Also some framed artwork/illustrations - gosh!! There is already a corset designer taking part so I need to make sure my work is very different so I will definitely go for a more  'costume' based design rather than commercial I think, making use of the handpainting and textile work that I love doing. I am so nervous! But it will be a real challenge and I am anxious to get my teeth into a project such as this as it feels like a great opportunity to get my work seen. It will really motivate me to concentrate on my artwork too and come up with some good ideas.

Ok off to sleep now. The above knitted neck warmer has just been listed in my etsy shop  today - I hope I am getting a fraction closer to making the kind of work that I can call 'my own' in my shop. Crocheted corsages were fine to start but I want to make it so much more about my original work - a long way to go yet but I shall get there, I am sure of it.

Lots to do tomorrow - but I am really hoping I can get some ACEO's and mixed media done - I feel that is a good sign - maybe I really am getting the 'bug' back!

Hot Cross Buns and The Colour Purple

I am not usually a person for having pet hates - but sometimes you know when you wish something just wasn't... you know....part of life. But then because it is in your own thoughts, you can bend the rules a little....? Well, maybe I should explain.

Christmas - well that starts in September - cards and decorations and Christmas songs in retail stores. It is just overpowering - then Christmas day happens and all of a sudden there are red hearts everywhere (OK so that is not so much a bad thing - I am not opposed to romance at all!) and then easter eggs all over the shelves in January! Well all that spoils the holidays for me - I love the event, I just hate the months of build up to it all . And here is where I get to make up the rules for myself as to what is my pet hate and where the line is drawn.....especially when it comes to hot cross buns. Toasted, butter covered, mixed spice flavoured hot cross buns....in January....love it! And Mark says I can be contrary - where does he get that from!

I have had such wonderful comments on the art cards and miniatures that I had been fretting over. The part I am 90 % managing to ignore, says it is undeserved, the truth is that as much as I would love all my confidence to come from the inside, I still bashfully and gratefully feel so happy when other people understand and somehow appreciate what I do. And what do you know, but didn't I go and sell 2 of my art cards yesterday on etsy!! I am still in shock and over the moon! My first art to sell in my etsy store and my first sales of the year. Wonderful.

I am working from home mostly at the moment, mostly due to a flair up in a long standing back injury (a trip to the emergency room just before Christmas, when up in Scotland staying with my family - not much fun) but it kind of means I am a bit hesitant to chase up film and theatre work at the moment. Instead I am focusing on art and my design work. I am currently working in my sketch books coming up with ideas for bags and accessories, corsets etc hoping to focus more on craft fairs and commission this year. Also I am hoping to be involved in 2 exhibitions in the next few months (more on that later) which for me would give the chance to really get back to working on my own costume designs which I am so excited about.

I really appreciate all who read this and take the time to comment. It makes the creative and stay at home world much easier! Have a great weekend.

I am also going to be making a big effort with my etsy store and to begin that I have listed 3 items today (a record for me!). I am particularly pleased with these Elegant Gloves . They have a detachable bracelet accessory with crocheted flowers and they are for sale in my etsy store and I do love them - there will be more on the way in varying colours. I sometimes worry there is too much going on in my shop - with artwork and accessories mixed together - but perhaps I do gravitate to a particular style overall - at least I hope so.

More Insomnia and Finding My Niche

Soo many things buzzing around my frantic little brain at the moment - most of it do with indecision about my work, my style.... my life. I have been staying up so late as I cannot sleep and having to take a notebook with me to bed as I keep waking up with so many ideas that I just cannot settle and relax.

As it has really been soo long since I have been truly productively and consistantly creative ,I am finding that I have forgotten how. The usual and 'hard to live with' consequence of that is that I am being drawn to view the work of people who greatly inspire me and the consequence of THAT is that I am so conscious of how I measure up - and the conclusion is, not very well. I see the things I love about other people's work and I forget the things I am good at (or forget how to be good at those things) and I end up feeling......lost.

The fact is that all the ideas and thoughts swimming round in my thoughts - well I cannot possibly do it all. I want to paint, I want to sew, I want to knit, I want to make costumes, I want to do collaged art, I want to illustrate, I want to make art jewellery, I want to do leatherwork......where will it end! Of course I want to do it all in my own style and to express the things I love about creating, but I do need to refine my ideas a little and settle to one or 2 things - otherwise I will achieve nothing! Oh and I want to write poetry and a childrens book too.... oh and make a puppet .... oh gosh.

So in order to try and settle down to only a few achievable but nonetheless very exciting things, I have today emailed a gallery about creating work for an exhibition and also am going to get together a proposal in for another. The first is a burlesque exhibtion which is being set up by an artist and photographer and I would love to make a themed corset based costume for this and also some hanging art work. The second exhibition which I need to get together a proposal for is a gallery looking for artists to submit work based on fairytales and myths. Again I would love to make a costume and work on some artwork for this - so just a couple of wee things as you can see! But I think they would be great for getting me focussed and refining my ideas - also for redeveloping my style again. At least that is the plan! I really hope they would like me to be involved as they could be great opportunities for getting my work seen and I really think they would challenge me to come up with the work which I know I can do, given the chance and with a wee bit of confidence.





So there you have it - my mini (but to me all consuming) creative crisis. Here are a couple of wee pieces I have produced over the last couple of days. The one above is The Broken Hearted Muse . The image on the left is The Solitary Vision and both are available to buy in my etsy store.

So I am off to see my web designer about the latest developments to my site (the front page is up and running - just needs a couple of tweaks then I should be ready for the big reveal!!) and then back to finish up a couple of accessory projects I have been working on and then hopefully time to start this weeks etsy creative challenge. I am so excited by this and cannot wait to get started. The challenge is to make a piece influenced by a singer and I have decided to choose....well should I say.... Oh go on then, it has to of course be Kate Bush. But Ssssh - don't tell anyone.......