Sunday 28 July 2013

A summer hello

I feel like I've been missing in action, but here I am! I was thinking I hadn't done much recently so had nothing worth talking about on my blog but it seems I've been here & there. I sort of feel that if I haven't made a completed saleable item then I'm not allowed to write a post, that anything else isn't interesting. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't - I'll only be able to tell if I relax my own (a little too strict?) rules & find there are still people reading my day to day happenings. We'll see! I do know that I miss reading what everybody else is up to, so I need to work in some spare time for that, but in small amounts so that the pain from the little bit of arthritis in my neck doesn't flare up too much. A bit of a bore that, but I won't let it stop me. If Chris Beardshaw can leap over fences, metaphorical or otherwise, then so can I!


When my parents were up a few weeks ago my Dad brought up the journal I'd made for him for his 70th......14 years ago - he finally started recently to use it as a sketchbook. I'm delighted of course. The blue represents Space, the silver for the milkeyway all embellished with little silver open french knots & beads for stars. The motif is the design then of the Radfets my Dad makes....still, which are little dose meters that get sent into space on satelights to read the radiation they are getting. He's got some now floating about the Van Allen Belt.....I know, I'm so proud!


 These are (quite a few, just scroll thru!) pics from the end of year exhibition from the Printmaking course I did & lots from the Art & Design course that my arty buddy Janet did .


 Patchwork from Jenny of Skye Quilters top (sorry it's dark)


Janet's sketch (sorry it's too light!)


Janets beautiful leaves & my fish below (which I'm extactic to say sold, as did J's leaves!) & my long rusty fish piece on the back wall there.

 More of Janet's hills

 & the most amazing work from Kirsty in Janets A & D class. Wish I'd met her. See above in her  sketchbook is Gwen Hedley, her inspiration. A girl after my own heart!



 I must make the effort to get together for a chat one day, she's all the way up the north end of the island.



collagraphs, 2 different pulls from one plate.




more form Jenny, look at those beautiful color swatches





 & Janet's lillies


 my curlews


 I've made some more swallow cards & a few hearts for a small order samples above. But I really haven't made much else. Maybe I do need the discipline of a certain finished piece a week but then I'd surely burn out. Maybe something per month? I'm sure my mojo will return, I've got some ideas for small pieces to replace the 5 sold in June for the next show mid September. I'll just do them. They say a plumber, for example doesn't have the luxury of waiting for inspiration to strike. He can't say 'I don't feel like fixing that leaky pipe' he just gets his tools out & does it. So will I!


You can tell I'm still in to birds - The beautiful Heron my DH painted for my birthday a month ago


& the Rose Starling that everybody is getting excited about, right outside our house on the telephone wires. The Youngest spotted it, thought it was an Albino & the DH showed me, so exciting! Then we discovered it's very rare to be this far north & all the twitchers were having a field day. What a varied life we lead ;) I'll hopefully be back sooner than I have been!

11 comments:

Maggi said...

A visual feast. I really don't mind waiting when you come up with this. Congratulations on the sales too. I hadn't heard of a Rose starling, doesn't he just stand out in the crowd!

chocolatefrog said...

Well you did call it A Little Bit of Everything, so no need to worry about rules! Plenty of creativity here anyway, congrats on the exhib and sales. Those starlings are crying out to be in the next print...

Beverley said...

Absolutely write about anything and everything. I bet putting the various work together to write about has brought a whole load of personal enjoyment.

Anonymous said...

Some inspirational images here! You really have got me wanting to do some more rusted pieces. Lovely to see and hear what you've been up to. :o)

Anonymous said...

What amazing exhibits you shared, swoon over all that work. Rose Starling, have to check that out, never seen one before and look at those hanging out at your house. Weather is changing and patterns are changing all over. xox

Julie said...

A thoroughly enjoyable post and amazing work in your exhibition. Congratulations on your sales. I'm sure your mojo will return after the summer. It needs a break now and then.

Robin Mac said...

Welcome back, what a marvelous post, so much creativity there. How interesting that your father makes those radfets. I had never heard of them before. I am sure your mojo will be back soon, but you don't need to wait for a lot of finished stuff to talk to us. Cheers

Sue M said...

What a busy and colourful and inspiring summer. Love your Dh's bird!

Lesley Crawford, Gaia Art said...

Great variety of creations, keeps you fresh! Love your birds.

Cheers
Lesley

jackie said...

Thanks for your comment. Lots of interesting work to inspire. I bet you will miss the printing course.

Linda Vincent said...

What amazing pieces of work.....so much variety and inspiration.
And what a clever Dad you have; no wonder you're proud. X