Back again

Eight months have past since I spoke here last. Words dried up as motherhood grew. I've been unable to get to that creative, clear headed space I need to form any sentences. But I feel a shifting in the haze. As I walk through crisp leaves and watch Queenie running before me, my heart longs to create collections of words, I speak internally, a procession of paragraphs, a pouring out of my heart.
I always struggle to maintain this space, or to keep up with my diary throughout the summer. My heart's outside. My creativity spent on the growing of food, in the garden digging, planting, reaping, learning. We're at the beach, in the sea. Mind free from thoughts, just experiencing. The camera roll on my phone is constantly full. Summer's beautiful and fun and fast.
And then each year, autumn falls. The darkness creeps in on both sides. We hibernate more and the burly sea winds rattle our windows and the rain is thick and vigorous. And with it, a need to create emerges.
A short walk with the children is vital -whatever the weather- but those endless days outside are few. I am looked at to form activities. Art projects. Baking for little fingers. And my hands are twitchy to knit, draw, quilt or paint.
This week Queenie began nursery. A new stage in our lives. More about that for another time, but as I look on at her growing independence, a little more headspace returns to me. 

Now, I will not make any promises. I won't even set goals. I shall let my heart guide my head and see what words befall me. When I can, the ink will soak paper, fingers tap keys, and if it feels right, here I will share. It's exciting but I am not putting too much weight on it. Life is full and I don't want this to become a burden as it has on the past, but as the pleasure it feels now. 

Hands

Liam took this top photo earlier this morning. By 9:30 they'd already worked with terracotta then with beetroot, these hands of mine. It's  great way to start a day, using my fingers to create things I love. Today, pots and beetroot burgers. Therapy.

I'm rather fascinated by hands. Not the perfectly manicured soft skin type, but the hands of makers. Tough calloused hands, that show the marks of their trade. Dents on fingers left from long days drawing, gardeners with dirt deep in the fingernails. The burns and food stains that a love of hands-on cooking brings, paint flecks on fingers. Clay imbedded deep into cracks and creases. I love it all. Old hands who've lived long lives, that show their age, their beautiful, beautiful age.
The more I write these words, my inspiration intensifies. This idea that was initially just going to be a post on Instagram feels like it's bubbling into a creative endeavour. We shall have to wait and see... 

Love of course

 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FRIENDS!

Here are a few cards I made for a friends pop up art fair a few weeks ago. We had a stall and made loads of crappy (and some good) cards to earn little pennies, and quench our thirst for ginger beer on tap! These folded valentines were inspired by that which John Keats gave Fanny Brawne in Bright Star (and possibly in real life, I just never delved deeper). I like them.

But the card is was fondest of I made last minute and was sold first so I didn't take a photograph. A curvy lady with the words LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE, I SURE DO.

Ladies, gentlemen, lets give a little more love this valentine, to lovers, family, friends, and to yourself! Put on your favourite dress, try a fancy hair do, make the most wonderful indulgent chocolate pudding, and do it to make yourself feel a little brighter*. Because you're bloody brilliant.



*maybe doing it because you want to spoil the one(s) you love is pretty swell too.

Jars

Yesterday we were inspired to make something special. I pulled out age old collections of stamps, sequins and unearthed the deepest layers of my flower press. Together we found some real treasures and made these jars. 2-dimensional wonders can be trapped between two layers of PVA.  The first two jars are mine but the others are Queenie's, and quite frankly hers are fantastic, a class above mine.

She's a true wonder that girl of ours.