"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Monday 4 May 2015

a colourful week

happy Monday ... hope it's going well for you all
 
I don't know about you ... but I really missed my weekly hour of Poldark last night
really ... that stunning Cornish scenery ... I shall miss it ;o) !!
 
 
thank you for all your healing thoughts and best wishes
my hand is on the mend but will be another week or two before I'm back to normal
 
I haven't been able to sew but have managed a bit of collage and painting
and made the most of the week by organising materials for our renovation
project at home, meeting up with friends and shopping
 
on Monday I met up with my friend Sally MacCabe
Sally has a show in St. Ives Arts Club at the moment
(open till Tuesday 5 May ... if you would still like to get there)
 
Sally has a lovely mix of book sculptures, jewellery and papier mache bowls
as well as her gorgeous mixed media paintings ... well worth a visit!
 
 
 
 

in St. Ives on Monday ... the harbour was looking very colourful
the little red boats are hire boats that appear from April until September
a sure sign that summer is not far away ...



I visited St. Ives Society of Artists to look at the members' current work
and I always buy a card to remind myself of my visit
 
this week I chose Carol Lander's colourful print "seaweed memories"

obviously drawn to the wonderful use of colour and shapes
(I see pebbles and mussels as well as seaweed forms)

Carol Lander


on Tuesday I met up with friends in Archie Browns Café in Penzance
and afterwards enjoyed buying art supplies in Penzance Art Shop
I also picked up Coast magazine because I was interested in the article
about Dom Bridges and the interesting things he creates with gathered seaweed
and Period Living because my friend Viv Sliwka (Hen's Teeth) is featured ... great article !


back in Mousehole ... I met up with long time blog friend Janice and her hubby
we had tea (I was naughty and had a cream tea) in the very lovely rock pool café
 
Janice and I exchanged gifts ... I gave her a little winter stitched seaside heart
and she gave me these beautiful fabrics and threads to add to my stash
thank you Janice and the lovely Mr. P x


talking of friends ... I'd love to share with you these gorgeous goodies
that my lovely friend Judy Scott sent me as a housewarming gift recently
 
Judy designs and screen prints the most beautiful and colourful retro designs
inspired by her native Scottish coastline, nature and her art studies
 
here Judy sent me a lavender sachet in her own printed fabric
and one of her tea towels which is far too nice to use ... but, of course, I will use it
because these days I don't save things for best anymore ...
they are to be enjoyed NOW ;o)


take a look at her wonderful website - Judy Scott Designs
 
Judy's beautiful, colourful, retro work and designs
adorable ... thank you Judy x
 

and may I also share this beautiful zine from lovely friend Cathy Cullis
I am a collector ... I love her work so much ...
her words are as beautiful as her paintings and fine embroideries

Cathy Cullis

 
yes ... I have enjoyed getting lost in Cathy's poetry ...
her  magical woven stories and imaginings
as always immaculately presented
 
so very fine ... thank you Cathy x
 

the rest of the week I was seriously running round Cornwall sourcing materials for our
current renovation projects ... Penzance, Hayle, Camborne, Redruth, Truro and St. Austell

my living room is under a cloud of dust ... the granite fireplace is coming out!
it's exhausting but great fun ... and will be worth all the mess and dust
to think that some huge projects will get done in the house this year
 
I managed a little work in the evenings ...
mainly small paintings and collages as I haven't been able to sew

 
"Penwith dark hills"
 
the moody landscape around Zennor ablaze with yellow gorse
 
acrylics - 18 x 10 cm

 
"Cape Cornwall"
 
inspired by the beautiful Poldark countryside
and the coast road between St. Ives and St. Just that I love so much
 
acrylics - 18 x 10 cm
 

and smaller ones ... playing with movement ... the motion of the sea and huge waves
six small paintings in all ... to be worked into further perhaps
on my worktop with a growing pile of seaside inspired textile art hearts
(for a future shop update)




this is a collage I began a while ago
using leftover papers that didn't make it into my current sketchbook ...


 mixed media - monoprints, gelli prints, collaged papers, oil pastels, acrylics
waxed text, beeswax, pastel wrapper, feather print and gilding flakes



so while I had my paints out I began to apply leftover paint from my palette




all that remains is to fill in with finer watercolour
and add some marks either with pen or stitch ... in black I think
 

it was quite hard to photograph the textures and gild ... but I like it very much
 
I may use it for inspiration for a  new "process" sketchbook that I'm about to begin next week
(or I may use a viewer on a Lar Cann painting instead ... decisions ... decisions ...)
 
I hope to be back sewing again very soon (seascapes landscapes and seaside hearts)
and in my next post here I will share another sketchbook idea inspired by "leftovers"
 
thank you for visiting and for all your very kind comments ♥
 

9 comments:

Magpie's Mumblings said...

So glad to hear that you're mending and will soon be back to normal. Sounds like you had a busy week and quite obviously managed to find more hours in each day than I ever seem to!!

Paper rainbow said...

So pleased you are on the mend. I am suffering from poldark withdrawal too! Cornwall certainly was shown to its best ;) You are surrounded by such wonderful inspiration

Carol Rigby said...

Oh yes I've missed Poldark too and the beautiful views of the Cornish coast. Lol!
You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

A bird in the hand said...

What a lovely treat you've given us.

Poldark is expected here in the near future, so I have something to look forward to.
xoxo

Indianna said...

Sorry to hear about your hand, hope it's mending. This might make you laugh Google Tony Goodman Poldark Proper version x

Julie said...

I'm missing Poldark too. I may have to get it on DVD (assuming it's available). You have been very busy with lovely days out with friends, well done :-) Your paintings are beautiful, very lively and evocative of the moods of the sea. I can imagine the upheaval with having the lounge done but it will be wonderful when it's finished. xx♥xx

Emma said...

So glad you are able to be creative even with an injury! Would love to have seen Sally's show. Keep on the mend!

TwinkleToes2day said...

Ahh, what a delightful post to enjoy whilst sipping a cup of tea. So many things to admire and thrill at.
I am delighted to hear your hand is on the mend, but inside every cloud and all that...........I have very much enjoyed seeing some different things from you - namely the paintings. LOVE them muchly and it seems as though you have taken time to meet with friends and visit the galleries and such. A little 'Carolyn time', chillin and enjoying doing and just being.
I am also looking forward to seeing your new stitchery works when your hand is alll better of course. Thinking of you with love {{Hugs}} xox

Shoshi said...

Lovely to revisit your blog again, Carolyn! I am very sorry to hear that you hurt your hand so badly but glad that it is getting better now. Lovely to see all the beautiful art from you and your friends, and I hope you will soon be sewing again.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your very kind words, which I so appreciate. I'm in the process of updating it with details of today's oncology appointment - I've got to have 6 months' fairly aggressive chemo which isn't going to be fun, but we'll get through it eventually!

Shoshi