Monday 31 December 2012

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS.

I have spent the last day of 2012 in the shed making enamel sketches.
Four pieces of steel covered in flux and white enamel.
Gold and silver leaf,
and my favourite transfers.
They could be straight out of my sketch book.
 
"Hope" is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops-at all-
 
And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm-
 
I've heard it in the chilliest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb-of Me.
 
Happy and creative New Year.
 
(for Carolyn)
 

Friday 21 December 2012

DECK THE HALLS

It's that time of year again when we do not question the dragging into the lounge a live tree.
Or question the taste of the things we adorn our houses with.

Up go the familiar decorations that connect us with our childhood Christmases, or
distance us from them in the determination to do something different and yes Rudolf does that for me.
                                      
                     I am still striving for the balance between vintage and contemporary, but I am comforted by the fact that if I do not get it right this year, I can have another stab at it next Yule Tide.
This year my annual fairy swap with the lovely Caroline McCatty is themed Frosty Fairy, her frosty fairy is on the right and I still think I get the better end of the swap!(http://carolinemccatty.blogspot.co.uk)
 
Thankyou to everyone who has stopped by to view my blog this year and thankyou for the encouraging comments. Happy Christmas one and all and here's to a creative New Year.

Thursday 13 December 2012

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

What gets me into the Christmas mood? Not the endless assault on the ears from Slade and Wizard, or the queueing at the tills to buy socks, hankies and other items where only the thought really counts. 
It's when nature wraps itself in a blanket of ice.
Tuesday and Wednesday covered the Cotswold's in a crust of frost that twinkled on the edge of things.
 And provided me with inspiration that I could not ignore.
So once again locked in my shed, ignoring the call of the sellotape and the pile of unwritten cards
I  indulged myself with some sketch book work.
These rook drawings are 9 x 9cms and may be ideas for enamels.
Inspired by the festive season (I am not a complete humbug) these drawings are 18 x 30 cms.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

INSPIRED BY FLIGHT

I am still hard at it in the shed, hiding from the Christmas preparations really.
I have just finished this carborundum print of 3 rooks, just fitting on an A1 piece of Somerset

Tuesday 11 December 2012

YULE TIDE ANTEDOTE

I thought I would take a break from the crowds, wrapping and card writing of Christmas and take myself off to the Butterfly farm in Stratford-On-Avon.
Not only was it a break from the festive frolicking, it was warm and an assault on the senses.
Once through the plastic curtain the air is alive with floating colour.
Butterflies full of colour and gracefully fluttering among the tropical foliage.
I witnessed life emerging before my very eyes.
The thing that stuck me was the number of beautiful creatures there were, no hunting  to find them among the leaves, the air was full.
 
Inspirational and energising, just the tonic I needed.