Sea Angels.....

Hello Lynn, I can't read your Blog anymore...I wondered why I hadn't seen any new items from you, for a long time, and I thought perhaps you had left Blogger; I am getting a "permission denied" message?

Little Fragments of New Work For an Autumn Exhibition

Im working on quite a large project for an exhibition due to open in October, and will say more about that nearer the time. Up until then, just a few small fragments ( my "pet" name for the last 3 years work) will appear, as sadly I have learned now not to show too much untill it's actually on show...but its exciting and quite demanding, which is always good as then I stay focused :) Well.....that is the general idea!

Promise Boxes: Blessed Be The Ties That Bind

Alchemy 2 Exhibition, Slackspace,Colchester 2012

Here is a body of work I recently exhibited locally; it was a deviation from my ususal textile based work into paper...all vintage paper, and a very personal project. I really enjoyed working on something that was so different, but there were similarities of theme as this was all about family and the links between an Aunt, Mother, Father, Brother, Sister and me. I am going to try to copy and paste the written piece that went with it...to save myself going over it all again...but first some more images.

The Story of the Promise Boxes In 1973 I was given an old “Promise Box” by my mother, which had originally belonged to her sister Lottie in the 1920s, who died at quite a young age. It travelled to South Africa and back with me, and has been a small constant in an ever changing life by giving words of hope, inspiration or encouragement …always seemingly at the right time. “Promise Boxes” were very popular in the early part of the 20th century, when revival meetings saw many people coming to the Christian faith….Auntie Lottie and my mother were two such people, and I was to follow in their path, later on in my life. They were “chapel” rather than “church”, so I grew up hearing the old gospel hymns and the choruses so popular in the 40s and 50s, most of which were contained in the well-known Hymn Book of the time: “Sankey’s Sacred Songs and Solos”. The copy of our book was written in Tonic sol-fa, perfect for playing on the little old organ we had at home, although unlike my sister, I never learned to play. The hymn book had become redundant....but was a link to the past which could not be easily be disposed of, with such a history. Alchemy2 has provided me with the opportunity to recycle the Hymn Book by making it into a “Promise Box” by use of its pages which contain treasured memories of old songs, whilst it still remains the container of these…but now in a different way. Recycled boxes have been used to contain more of these pages, which all now have a hand written promise from scripture on a little scroll, whilst an old photograph album acts as a visual reminder of the original box, the history of its owners, and some of the old promises which have been shared and loved by us down through the ages.

My Broadband Problem!

Just when I was ready to come back and show you some new work, I lost my broadband connection. So far it has been 33 days and "they" still haven't got to the bottom of it. The Dongle I've been loaned has such poor coverage that I cannot upload images and pages are taking 5 minutes to load, so I can't "make a comeback" untill it is all sorted out....so frustrating.

Too busy to blog!

Yes...sadly too busy too blog at the moment with 4 projects and deadlines, and also talks to give.
Its like the "buses" story....you wait for one and then two...or four in this case come together.
I went through that scary "dry-desert" time for about 8 weeks before Christmas when real creativity seemed to have deserted me....all I could do was wait in faith knowing that eventually it would return, and it has.

Treasure Arrived...a new season...and musings.

Arrived today ... a lovely collection of broken faux pearl necklaces, bought for a new project; all damaged bar one which I imediately put around my neck....inspiration is starting to return after one of those desert-dry times.
I seem to have had lots of ideas whiring away in the background, but no motivation to carry them out...that made me question the ideas themselves, as I am usually passionate about what I do.
Realising that the passion was just not there for all, has helped me to focus on the one alone, that is firing my imagination and creativity at this time, and has also given me fresh perspective on my work for EAST which is not comming from my usual subject...
I still have some issues over the source, but shall hope to resolve them as I go along....I think it's because it is a slight deviation from what I call my "real work", but also I think I am into a new season where instead of just concentrating on one thing, I may need to have "several irons in the fire",
We have so much to learn as artists, dont we, and I think one of the things is to recognise the season we are in...I always see things in seasons.
I also get very intense and probably "think too much"...then I end up with a bout of depression and have to pray my way out of it before the mist lifts!

Japanese Inspiration for EAST

I've been a member of EAST ( East Anglian Stitched Textiles) for a whole year now, and am now working on some panels for the 2012 exhibitions.
At first I found it difficult to break away from my "Exquisite Poverty:Fragments work...which is ongoing and wont be shown again untill I have completed three new additions; however, I have revisited an old degree project which was inspired by Japan and am now working on a two and a half foot panel to fit into an antique red laquered frame I have had put away for years.
I shall be aiming to make two smaller panels to go with this one, but matching the frame will be nigh on impossible, but I shall "cross that bridge" when I come to it.
I am still using the repetitive straight stitching that is always a part of what I do...and was initially inspired by Sashiko, and also the antique mother of pearl bird brooches, but am now also utilising the fragile carved bone sticks from a broken vintage fan....it is all really an experiment, but we shall see where this journey goes....here are some fragments of the panel,so far: