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

Monday 8 February 2016

winter days

 
thank you for bearing with me while I've been away from this space and my other online places
I've been taking a break from stuff online for a while because, as you may know, I was very ill
from August to December last year with an auto immune illness that made me feel terrible
 
I found it difficult to juggle online stuff, which didn't seem as important as trying to
keep up with things at home and I really needed to give myself time to rest and work things out
 
 
during my time away I read a lot about auto immune illness and my own rare one, in particular,
trying to discover why it should come along now and how I could learn to manage it without medication (after initial treatment with steroids) and other stress management techniques
 
I've had to re-educate my sleep patterns, change my diet completely, cut down on caffeine
and drink a lot more water.  These days I have to pace myself, take care in ultraviolet light and strong sunshine and generally re-think a lot of things.  I don't spend so much time on the computer now and certainly try to switch off much earlier in the evening
 
there is a stress in my life that I carry ... that I have to learn to come to terms with and live with ...
it's a hard thing to bear but I do my best each and every day and I am, essentially,
a very happy person seeing the good and looking for the beauty in life
 
 
recently I have been feeling ready to write in this space again
and share my projects and things I find beautiful and inspiring
 
as usual ... I weather watch from the window seat
always in awe of the power of the sea
 

 
I made a little video of huge waves crashing over the harbour wall
it's a little too large to share here but you can see it on my facebook page

wild waves

in December I visited Amanda Richardson's show at The Salthouse Gallery, St. Ives
 
Amanda Richardson is a Cornish textile artist
who hand dyes her own fabrics to create very detailed textile collages
of landscapes, seascapes, water, rocks and plants
 
 
there is no stitching on these textile collages except for when Amanda chooses to use stitches
to attach her finished pieces to a canvas, instead the pieces of fabric are intricately cut,
placed and applied to form the images
 
the details are amazing and very, very fine ... her work is inspiring
 
 
I also discovered Ben Hecht's beautiful encaustic mixed media paintings ...
 
Ben is a mixed media artist working with encaustic and wax, embedding geometry designs,
old maps, music boxes, antique clock pieces, gem stones and fossils into his art
 


 
if you are inspired by nature and the natural world I am sure you will enjoy watching
Ben's video series and want to find out more about his work
 

there is much to look forward to ... coming up this year
 
I've already begun work for a textile show at St. Ives Arts Club at the end of July
it will run for 2 weeks from 23 July to 5 August 2016
(it replaces the show I was due to do in November last year)
more on that as work progresses ...
 
before that ... I'm taking part in "Stitch St. Ives"
a supplies show at The Island Centre, St. Ives, Cornwall
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 March 2016
where I will have my own hand dyed fabrics, artisan beads, textile texture packs
inspiration packs and vintage collage packs
 
 I'm using the theme of St. Ives in a big way in 2016
inspired by my projects, sketchbooks and older work
 
these are my newest photos taken in January after my meeting at St. Ives Textiles
looking at old buildings and cottages and working at Porthmeor Studios
 
The Sloop Inn

 
 
 
St. Ives features again as the theme for
St. Ives Textiles Show during the St. Ives September Festival
to be held at Porthmeor Studios, St. Ives
 
I've been teaching textiles processes / sketchbooks
and the group have been creating wonderful journals full of samples
I will share more on that soon ...
 
meanwhile ... I'm gradually extending my working hours
and will be updating my etsy shop quite soon
 
shop
 
 
these winter days are for reflection, for contemplating new work
whilst aiming to keep a personal perspective
 
my life as an artist is a necessary and grounding thing
I love to create and move things around
exploring shape and colour, mark making and meaning
 
this process can't be rushed ...

13 comments:

Carol Rigby said...

Oh Carolyn. I am so pleased to see you back. I have missed your beautiful and inspiring posts. Your lovely photos have made me long to visit Cornwall again and St.Ives in particular. I send all my best wishes in coping with your current health issues and look forward with anticipation to your next post.

Anonymous said...

Your postings are such a gift, one I do not receive lightly, but with a grateful heart. Thank you for all which you give, a seed which blossoms within. So good to think of you well enough to return to creating and sharing, to your artistic life. I have and will always adore your work, and you as well.
Susan, nyc

chrissie said...

Always love your posts and your projects Carolyn. Great to see you back

Take care

Love Chrissie xx

Catharina Maria said...

Love it That you are back in Blogland
Big hug from Rini

Debbie Corke said...

Lovely to read your words, see your pictures and hear about your work. Delighted that after all you've been through, your surroundings and new lifestyle are supporting you and enabling you to carry on your wonderful art. We are all looking forward to sharing your journey. Stay well.

Anonymous said...

Glad you are feeling better you have been missed

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Such a joy to see a post from you pop up in my reader today. Very glad to hear that you are improving - albeit much more slowly I'm sure than you would wish to. Do take care of yourself first.

Tilly Rose said...

How lovely to see you back again :)
I am also a textile artist. I have had Fibromyalgia for over 20 years now and find it so debilitating in so many other ways.
I have had to learn to live with my siamese twin 'fibro' and like yourself had to learn to live a very different life to the one I had before my diagnosis...not easy.
But I have to say I now embrace the slower pace of life and my creativity keeps me positive which helps to deal with fibro on a daily basis.
Keep smiling my lovely

Looking forward to all your beautiful designs....
Best wishes
Tilly x

Irene Donovan said...

really glad you are back with your beautiful photos and inspirational work

TwinkleToes2day said...

Hey there Carolyn :D It's so lovely to see you here again and get to enjoy your inspiring words and images. Your March show sounds fantastic, and the shows later on, exciting too. I thoroughly enjoyed the stormy video; I love the sights and sounds of the sea.
Thank you for introducing me to Amanda Richardson; her works looks like oil painting - amazing talent; and Ben Hecht's work is incredible! I love encaustic work and think Ben has taken it to an amazing level with his embedded pieces. I shall enjoy following them both.
Looking forward to what comes up in your shop and seeing more blog posts from you to share what you are doing.
Love and huge hugs
Mo xxx

K J D said...

What a lovely start to my day, to see such a wonderful post from you my dear friend.

We have a beautiful blue sky today which is another bonus :)

Love Karen xxxx

Christine Harding said...

How nice to see you back again - glad you are feeling better. Just take things slowly, one day at a time.

Lynn Holland said...

Dear Carolyn
I've had your blog post sat in my email box waiting to be read. I wanted to give it my full attention and this morning I'm doing just that.
There's not a lot I can say that others haven't already but I am feeling the emotion in your writing and so I'm willing you to be kind to yourself and to have more good days than bad.
Creating as you do can only be good for healing and to see you so focused is wonderful.
Wishing you great success in everything.
Love Lynn X X X