“Creating a Life Worth Living”

Yesterday I received two things that should be helping me use my time more productively.The first was a book called “Creating a Life Worth Living” by Carol Lloyd and it was very kindly passed on to me by Jules from Adventures in Thread , the second was a link to a very funny article by Charlie Brooker. As a reaction to being bombarded with information by Google Instant, as well as the other distractions the internet provides, Brooker recommends the “Pomedoro Technique”.The fact that I then spent time reading related articles and then telling people about it on Facebook instead of DOING something kind of proved a point.

Well, today I have been busy messing up the kitchen with some screen printing and heat transfering on little t-shirts with the idea of selling them at the November Designers Marketplace. I’ve also been doodling in the sketchbook which I’m finding quite hard…the paper is very thin and it is also very small (20x13cm). The subject (“I’m Sorry I Forgot You”) was chosen from a list so don’t worry if you think some of the words are a bit odd, I’m not having some kind of relapse.

Tiny little bits of each page are pleasing me but overall I’m as negative as ever!Now, I think I can smell burning t-shirt, I’d better check the steamer! If any of you are at a loose end this weekend this looks like it might be fun…

Personally I’m not a big fan of London pigeons, or those in any city actually, but I’m sure Selvedge and the V&A can make them look lovely!

“Meet on the Ledge”…

The sun came out yesterday and taunted all those who had returned to work after the weekend. August Bank Holiday… cold,wet and windy;so much so that I was driven outside with a roll of gaffer tape to seal up air vents that were rattling wildly and making me crazy. Nevermind, yesterday was so beautiful it almost made up for it. The air was full of Lilies and Sweet-Peas, bees on the Lavender and those Swallows I waited for in April, now gathering on the wires ready to head South.

I’ve been making some sketchbook pages for no reason in particular; drawing,collageing and stitching. The Swallow looks a bit odd, but they just don’t stay still for long enough!

Recently Witchmountain has been living up to its name and talking about real mountains. These pictures were taken from the top of Blencathra in the Lake District where I was all of these things :- cold, wet,tired, terrified, angry, laughing hysterically,elated,emotional and dizzy. We crossed Sharp Edge which felt to me like a cartoon mountain top, all jagged triangles and swirling mist.Luckily it wasn’t until we got back that I realised just how many people had slipped and fallen from the very place I was sitting “a cheval”, like a fool in a pair of ancient green Doc Martens with rainbow laces.

Higher than a passing plane, both literally and metophoricaly, these mini adventures in the beautiful North are the best sort of medicine for a still fragile heart. Ok, enough soppy introspection! if anyone would like to give me a big parcel of money I would very much like to attend this…

I’ve mentioned Nick Bantock before, he lives and works on Vancouver Island and both Lindsey and I are big fans of the Griffin and Sabine trilogy.This exhibition is in Denver so maybe I won’t make it… but one day I will go to that island to meet some bears,do a collage workshop and exorcise some ghosts along the way.

I’m going outside now.

“Time may change me, but I can’t change time…”

Two posts in one day! Its amazing how being imprisoned on Witchmountain can force you ( after much toast and coffee) to find ways to amuse yourself. I came in from a long walk and ended up standing at the kitchen sink doodling with heat transfer paint and spilt coffee;”colouring in” an old pencil sketch I had started in March and making a background for this inquisitive bear.

Now I’m wondering…since the bear obsession won’t go away and it’s not really relevant to the North York Moors…what are the chances I could actually get to see real bears in the wild and do a bit of traveling this year? Anyone out there want to sponsor me to go to Canada or Russia?! I just wish I could be inspired by sheep but I think that market’s already been cornered…!

Well, I think I’d better do a bit more drawing while I’m in the mood. Don’t forget you still have time to leave a comment if you want to win the bear brooch or offer to buy me a plane ticket!

Happy  2010 by the way, I think I forget to say x

“Meek Bears”

I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself, just a little bit of a cold but what with all the rain and everything…everything seems to be soggy, including me! Last night I sat on my doorstep for ages listening to the eerie music made by rain dripping into various watering cans and buckets (maybe I’ve caught a Jane Austin style chill!?).Although it was midnight and I should have gone to bed,I ended up doodling in my sketchbook and then playing with the results in Photoshop.I’m going to print the design onto some fabric in a moment.

So, as I look out of the window, I’m loving the way the big Oak tree has finally burst into leaf, bright lime green and black against a leaden sky, the hills in the distance are Payne’s Grey- what a colour scheme.

Time to get printing and do a bit more to that jacket.meanwhile, here is a link to the website of a local glass artist ,Desiree Hope,whose gallery my children visited the other week.Beautiful things.

Books

Today I went looking for that Moomin book I said I was saving for a special occasion ; needing to escape a little from the here and now. So I went into town and bought books and Vogue Bambini ( for research) and embroidery thread. As I left the bookshop I heard this …a man, with a small boy of about 2 or 3 who wanted to go in to the bookshop, said ” you don’t want to go in there, it’s only full of books” ….my heart sank even further than it was already. Sometimes a good book is the only thing that saves me. I can’t imagine a childhood without books or stories…poor kid.

Well I posted some designs today so that means I can spend tonight doing something to put on Etsy, before starting another group of six. Today’s picture is a sketchbook page, I really must start using it more.

Time to light the fire now and snuggle down with my reading.

(Oh, don’t forget, if you’re in Newcastle this Saturday, Designers Marketplace is holding it’s latest event at the university there; actually, I might get the train up since the weekend is looking pretty empty so far!)

Horses

Annoyingly these horses looked much more lively and interesting from the wrong side of the embroidery. I like the way they look like quick sketches rather than the very neat finished design ( which I can’t show you for copyright reasons). I’ve just come in from the garden and my hands are stinging with cuts and scrapes and splinters, after getting carried away weeding the rhubarb patch and wrestling with the willow house.Its been such a beautiful day and the toads were back, making a lot of noise, as were the lapwings, wheeling about above the ploughed field behind the house. Who said the countryside was peaceful! It seems a shame to come indoors but I need to get some more work done because apparently it’s being sent to Japan in early April. Meanwhile a mysterious cable has been spotted on the moor…could this be the long awaited broadband slowly heading towards Witchmountain?!