apple & cinnamon

I like a nice cup of tea in the morning,
I like a nice cup of tea with my tea,
& when it's time for bed there's a lot to be said,
for a nice cup of tea.

Time to relax!

*thumbs up*

I done good....I think!

I'm not too sure when I'll find out exactly, but I'm just glad it's over. I promise not to post anymore pinhole images...for the next little while at least!!!

*wish me luck*

Today is Presentation Day, where I have to talk about how my work has evolved, where it's going, who & what has influenced my process. I've got it all written up to hand in, photos taken for documentation & I must admit how glad I am at this stage to have booked the space to work in as it has given me the clarity that I needed. I'll let you know how it goes. Did I mention this accounts for 25% of my degree?...aghh! Nervous?...Me?...Noooo! Well maybe just a little! OK, OK, I'm bricking it!

...& on...

Working in the space this week has been really positive for me in that it has enabled me to get out of the rut that I was in...a new perspective. I felt I had been re-hashing the same thing over & over, but I have finally made progress!
The pinhole technique I see as an alternative form of drawing. It ensures the image will remain, won't fade, as it penetrates it is embedded, the memory not forgotten. I have a long standing relationship with stitch. {Ta Ma!} I find hand sewing very therapeutic & really enjoy it once I get into it. I decided to incorporate it into my work at present so there was a connection between each pinhole image. I left the threads loose as I wanted it to appear like a flow, a train of thought even, although the threads don't correspond they are similar. The lingering thread trying to connect. People often experience the same event or moment in time, yet their memories of it are varied. The pinholes and thread are fragile, like memories, in that often they are easily forgotten. I am trying to link memories & moments in time. Same experience different connection. Moments in time...fragments of time, space & history.

...the process goes on...

::blue sky::

::stitch::

::reading::

::memories::

::wallpaper::

...it's all about the process...

::reading inspiration::

::vitamin c::

::work::

::contemplation::

::heat::

::the view::

::more tomorrow::

*the plan*

I made a trip to B&Q with my trusty shopping trolley to pick up some wallpaper lining, which I plan to work work this week. I have booked a small space in college which is available & encouraged for students to use to experiment with their work. I plan to experiment with some of the ideas which are milling around my head at the moment. I hope to do an installation of images on wallpaper, using old family photographs and pinholes to embed them into the paper. I was really searching for wood chip wallpaper but to my amazement I couldn't get any. I'm praying that the week ahead is going to give me the clarity that I so desperately need at the moment...8 days to my presentation...but I'm feeling hopeful! Over the next few days I'll post some pictures of how it is all going.

::Hibernation::

January is such a bizarre time of year, supposedly one of newness. We are bombarded with the notion of change & renewal, but the season is one of hibernation, where flowers are scarce, there are no leaves on the trees & animals stock up on food supplies & sleep & sleep. Sounds fantastic! I wouldn't mind a bit of that now, on days like it is today {it's wet, wet, wet, oh & grey, very grey!} the desire to remain tucked up in my cozy duvet feels all too luring. The thing is I feel like I am unable to fire on all cylinders, especially when it is bleak out and the day hardly appears to get bright. Did I mention how grey it is!?
I left my Group Crit the other day feeling slightly unsettled, as I felt like the only person in the room unsure of what direction I'm taking and why. My thoughts seem to be lagging behind....perhaps my creative juices are hibernating! In 2 weeks time I have a presentation of my work, I guess it would be helpful if it all made sense to me first before I attempt to explain my work to others....especially as this presentation counts as 25% of my Degree! I feel the need for some renewal in my work practice & ideas...I'll just have to continue to haul my lazy ass into college & make, doodle, read {research of course!} in the hopes that something good will come out of it. Clarity & inspiration is what I am looking for....and I'm gona hunt it down, hibernation or not!

Group Crit

Today in Uni, I'm having a Group Crit, with one of my tutors and a few other students in my year. It is a time for others to analyize, criticize & theorize your work. Oh joy!
Basically, it is a time that we all discuss each others work and give feed back. It can be quite beneficial to hear what others have to say about what you are working on, but it can also be a little daunting & I always go to them feeling unsure of myself & a little wary. There needs to be an honesty about it, without everyone just agreeing and saying....'oh that's beautiful', which is lovely to hear, but you don't learn anything from it or gain anything, other than a bit of confidence, perhaps! But on the other hand there needs to be tact in what is said & how it is said, the opposite being that someone tells you....'it's crap', you end up just feeling that way. In the end you take away the comments that you think are going to be of most use to you & benefit your practice. It is always interesting to hear what others think, whether their comments be positive or negative, as they can challenge you & stretch your process.

Back to school

The pencils have been sharpened & my school bag is packed & ready.
I've had quite a long break off {4 weeks to be exact} that is too long for me. It means that I have to get back into my studio in college & get back into a flow of something that was flowing before Christmas break but has since seized to be...due to the break, the flow is now broken! So I am heading in with bag fulls of inspiration...paper, glue, paint, scissors, wool, thread...{you get the idea} in the hopes that the flow will begin again. I need to begin the school year expectant, determined and full of hope...begin as I mean to continue.

*2008*

I'm not one for new years resolutions, deciding that I have to try & drink 8 glasses of water a day, eat only green vegetables on a Tuesday, never to pull out any grey hairs, go roller blading twice a week...you get the idea, right? It has never been a big thing for me, but I do kinda sit down and reflect over the year just passed & contemplate my expectations for the year ahead.

2007 was a year of adjusting and re-establishing, as we had just moved apartment, city, university, work & everything that comes with that. It was a tough year at times, but for the most part, looking back it was a good year in which I began to find my feet as a practicing artist & we moved to a city we both really enjoy.

R & I were chatting over dinner and we were discussing the ability to control your expectations. Often I forget that I am in control of those kinds of emotions & too often end up like a kid waiting for Santa or a Birthday party & let it all run away with me....outa control!
I often have very high expectations about a lot of things, which sounds quite upbeat & positive. The problem is I get disappointed easily when things don't turn out as hoped & I find myself in floods of tears, rocking back & forward, pulling my hair & wondering why? why? why? Perhaps this is why I enjoy the build up to Christmas more so than the day itself, also probably why I don't enjoy planning stuff in advance. This said, I have had to put some planning into place in the form of a study proposal for the remaining year in Uni to be handed in on Monday!

I have high expectations for 2008

*emotionally*physically*mentally*&*spiritually*
{I think I've mentioned all the ally's! }

It will be a year of endings as I finish my degree & of beginnings as I look to the next phase in where that will bring me and what the year will hold...still a big question in my own mind. Let's not go there just yet, I can feel the need to clear my head, relax & do some deep breathing exercises!
I hope whatever your expectations are for the year ahead that it will be a year where they are above & beyond anything you could imagine!
Happy 2008!

One I made earlier

A few places my ornament has appeared.

Bloesem
Tree Fall Design
Hand Made Detroit
little Miss Meshel
Little Flower Designs

Honoured to say the least!