Artfest Preparation

  • embroider and embellish gallery piece
    • bought the thread I needed
    • make 'pebbles' (supplies packed)
    • find beads (packed)
    • make more leaves (supplies packed)
    • stitch everything!
    • add hanging sleeve or something to gallery piece
      • found a great stick
      • needs wire and beads (packed)
      • stitch on
      • make and attach hangtag
  • trades: cut card for more Gocco postcards (40)
    • card has arrived!
    • round corners of Gocco postcards (40)
    • print fronts of same (20)
    • print backs of same
  • trades: assemble 8 more mushroom charms (Sat 3pm)
    • assemble 10 forest folk charms (supplies packed)
    • assemble 12ish acorn charms (supplies packed)
    • trades: embellish 28 hedgehogs (supplies packed)
    • create contact tags for trades done! gone with faux moo stylie & they're packed
      • attach to charms
      • attach to hedgehogs
  • pack class supplies
    • Thursday (3pm)
    • Friday (nearly done: still need to pack watercolours, awl and exacto knife)
    • prepare images and papers for collage
    • Saturday
      • cut 10" paper squares(12) and 13" tissue squares(5)
      • pack metallic leaf, paint shapers, cutting mat, water pot/bottle, plastic knife, stamps, stencils, tin of tiny objects and spray bottle
  • cover 'Hearts on a Night Bus' for a sale
    • stitch
    • cover
    • illustrate
  • scan 'Peep Boudoir' illustrations
    • final scene
    • covers
    • end paper & ribbon
    • side panels
    • assemble

YAARRGH! (I have now started organising the finishing off into baskets, so I have everything in one place to finish a job. I have been kind of all over the place, so this should help - 3pm)

update at midnight - I've crossed out a few things, but not enough. Having the list detailed to this level is really helping clarify my thinking and allowing me to put one foot in front of the other and carry on! Thank you so much for 'listening'...

       
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Happy, happy, happy!

Yesterday was such a perfect day! The weather here has been wet and grey. I've been preparing for Artfest and artist book fairs. Everything has been slow and uphill. I haven't even posted for a week because I haven't even had my thoughts together, nevermind my words or photos. I have really appreciated all the comments for my last post, I feel supported and encouraged and that is no small thing in this world.

Yesterday I gave myself a gift. I've been wanting to go to the Henry Moore Exhibition at Kew Gardens since October, and it closes on Sunday. I made the time to go, even though heavy showers were forecast, because I knew I would always regret missing it. The universe rewarded me with beautiful spring weather. Time stood still as I explored trees and sculpture. A single huge pine cone from a Bhutan pine waited for me on the grass. My photos are here. I even explored my camera, and took all of these in manual.

I finished the day by spending a couple of hours at the Stitch and Craft show. I was disappointed in the range of paper available, but I bought more merino for felting hedgehogs and my gallery piece; some pliers to make charm production easier; and a lovely fern stencil.

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New Ventures

You may have seen some changes on this site over the past couple of days (including me locking you out, I know, I'm sorry!). The past year has been a real journey of acceptance for me. I have accepted myself as an artist of sorts (okay, clearly not fully accepting!). I have played in many creative sandboxes and found some that suit me best. I have met some amazing, inspiring, creative, wise women who have changed how I look at so many things. I have become more myself through being able to express myself in new ways. And I have had some amazing opportunities.

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I am not good at talking about the things I care about, as though if I speak them aloud they will dissolve like dandelion seed heads, blown to the winds. I am the most secretive etsy seller ever - I'll put stuff in there, but I won't let anyone know where the shop is! I've had scrapbook pages published for a few years now, a few even on commission, and I've only just shared that with you. I dread you all muttering "who does she think she is?"

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What have I been keeping closest to my heart? Artist books. They have been present in my life for a year now, in increasingly serendipitous ways. I met a group of book artists at Artfest last year and every single one of them influenced me in some way. I got my hands on a limited edition artist book by Carla Sonheim created to fund and commemorate her trip to India. In September I started a class with a wonderful teacher, Ciara Healy, and started creating my own books. My wonderful friend, Zenia, shouted a list at me, of books I had made, mainly scrapbook style minibooks. I discovered artist book fairs and started building my own collection. And I have received so much encouragement and support from within that community.

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So to celebrate two amazing opportunities that have come my way in the past week, I am stepping up. Hence the new website. This blog will continue rambling along as always. My etsy shop is no longer secret. And introducing... a website for my artist books, as I begin a more professional phase, with some of my books on show in exhibitions and fairs in April, May and June. (insert unrestrained wild yippee-ing here)

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