Thursday 31 October 2013

from seed to scary creature. pumpkin odyssey

Today I brought the huge pumpkin in from the garden. I grew it from a seed, and here it was, a massive presence in the kitchen.
Not quite ripe, but still a good colour, and so round and beautiful.
Tonight, being Halloween, the pumpkin fulfilled its destiny.
And sat in the window, frightening away evil spirits and attracting trick or treaters.
I like the way the rather pretty Christmas cactus in the window has turned into an evil spider shape!
Happy Halloween!

Found Ampersand Number 4

I am beginning to think that ampersands appear wherever there are curly or bendy things to make them! This one appeared on the floor of the stable yard, when I dropped a piece of bailer twine, and I took the photo with my phone.
I have decided not to record the ampersands my curly hair continually forms as it falls out under the shower! And those made by elastic bands too.
 
SO much easier than my found alphabet project!

Sunday 27 October 2013

Caemawr Studio Exhibition Opening. Success!

Yesterday was the opening day of Caemawr Studio in Hay on Wye.
The studio looked fantastic, full of a wide range of great work.
And there were lots of people, who found their way down the track from Oxford Road at the top of the Offa's Dyke Path.
 That's Gay Funnell, the studio owner, in the lovely pink trousers.
I don't think I will ever get over the excitement of seeing people look at my work!
And I made some sales too. What a great day.
The Studio is open Thursdays and Saturdays up to 21st December.

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Silk Christmas Tree cards, ready for Caemawr Studio!

I always have the desire to sew, although I haven't made anything with fabric for a long time. As a treat to myself I have started making some pieced silk Christmas cards. 
I bought some beautiful textured silk remnants in bold colours.
And enjoyed making the template for the tree, and working out how to piece it, and adding a few beads to each tree.
I thought they might be good to take to Caemawr Studio for the exhibition that opens on Saturday.


Tuesday 22 October 2013

Found Ampersand Number 3.


Number 3 in my series of found ampersands was very close to home.


It's the lead from my camera. As I plugged it into the computer to download some photos, there the ampersand was, all curly and beautiful.

If only all beautiful things were so easy to find.
 

Monday 21 October 2013

Art Exhibition. Caemawr Studio. I'm in it!

I am very excited to be exhibiting in the opening of a new Studio in Hay on Wye. Caemawr Studio is off Oxford Road in Hay, at the top of the Offa's Dyke Path, and is a really beautiful space, overlooking fields and the mountains beyond. The Studio opens this Saturday, 26th October, at 11am.

There's Gaynor and Georgina Funnell, Sarah Putt, Tracey Thursfield, Cassie Pendle - and me!

I am presenting poetry in seed packets, poetry wall installations, and some literary finger puppets. Photos of the new Scrooge finger puppets cards to follow - at the moment the collages are in the book press.


Friday 18 October 2013

Kitchen Table Publishing. Printing in gold.

I have been printing gold letters on labels this morning. They are the titles for poems also printed on labels, and hung up with keys. Here's the beautiful ink ready for printing.
Here's the first label. The gold doesn't show up brilliantly in the photos, but it has a lovely grainy quality against the rough card.
Here are the four seasons - I am going to print over the gold with a different colour for each, and the poems are different to the other four seasons label poems,
plus the key to the door! This is the title label for a short poem about Home and good it is to be there,
and here is the satisfyingly full washing line!

Setting and printing the poetry tomorrow.

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Sitting and knitting. Helped by my cat.

A day at home today, knitting finger puppets. I knit in the sitting room, so here is the arm of my chair near the end of the day,
You can see some Scrooges in black, Ghosts of Christmas Present in green, and ghosts of Christmas Past in grey with white eyes. Two Jonathan Harkers are perched in the little box of wool.
I was helped today by my cat,
who seemed to think that standing on my shoulders was of use. It was very kind of him!

Tuesday 15 October 2013

October woodland - riding through the woods

Thomas and I went up through the woods today. He was rather lively, so I took a quick photo without really looking at it, not wanting to stop and fiddle about with the camera, or he might have unseated me! I quite like the resulting image though.
His hoofbeats on the path of leaves and acorns sounded wonderful.
Here's my poem, started in my head as I rode, and finished just now.

 october woodland
brittle sunlight, shade -
golden path of acorns, leaves,
heartbeat of autumn


Saturday 12 October 2013

love, loss and letterpress

My newly purchased wooden Caslon font arrived today. A full font of upper and lower case letters. 
It really is lovely.
I used some it immediately.
I am taking part in a project with The Print Shed in Madley, that requires an edition of 25 prints, 
20cm by 20cm, and with the deadline looming, today was my last chance to get something done.
It isn't what I had been planning, but the print is in memory of my late friend Dinah, and I wrote the poem yesterday while driving in the car, thinking of those who are left behind when someone passes on.  She was very elegant and beautiful, and it was good to make her name the first word printed with my elegant and beautiful new font.
Here's the poem;
 
time is still flowing, but
seasons are different now
never quite spring again

Friday 11 October 2013

robins, bluebirds and fingerprints

I have been making some fingerprint robin Christmas cards, to add to my stock of cards for fairs. Here are the Twelve Robins of Christmas.
Fingerprint robins are great.
I also made some Twelve Bluebirds of Happiness cards.
Bluebirds are equally satisfying.
The idea came from a fantastic book, brilliant design, printed on beautiful paper, one of the most high quality craft books ever.
 Also planned are the Twelve Snowmen of Winter, and something apocalyptic to do with blackbirds.

Monday 7 October 2013

haiku by the sea



a slow tide turning -
soft salt breeze tasting my tongue
cold air on warm skin


changed by water and time -
different, familiar shore,
everything returns


tall cliff standing guard -
holds back prying path above,
quiet beach below, safe

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Writing outdoors. Porthkerry Park.

I have been spending time with groups of children, walking in Porthkerry Park in Barry, and finding inspiration for writing stories. There's a magical woodland.
And a big pebble beach as well. The work the children produced was thoughtful and interesting, and they loved exploring the woods and the shore.
Often on a school outing, the journey on the bus turns out to be the most exciting and memorable thing for the youngsters. Well, for me a ride on the Ranger's quad vehicle was perhaps the best part of the experience!