I spy with my altered eye

Revelation

2009-11-21T21:02:00.002Z

Today I went to Harrogate for what I thought was a knitting show, only to be pierced through the heart with a visceral reaction to one woman's art: so strongly was I affected, I found myself sobbing in the artist's arms, rendered inarticulate by the complex emotions her works inspired

If you ever get a chance, please, please see the sinister, moving beauty of Rozanne Hawksley's work for yourself

A flicker of activity

2009-07-25T17:10:00.003+01:00

You never know, I could get going on this again, but how many times have I said that? Not as many times as I've thought it and done nothing about, but hmm, we'll see.

I continue to enjoy knitting and I have even wielded a rubber stamp in the last month - to make pretty labels for my homemade strawberry jam.

Anyhow, I've fallen in love - with Polyvore. I'm not sure of how legal some of the image grabbing is with this site, but the joy of fiddling with images is really stimulating for me at the moment. Given the lack of creativity in me (as has been the case for about the last 18 months at least), I'm riding the wave!

And so here's a sample of what I've been doing - what do you think?

Sixties vibe by Artygal on Polyvore.com

I'm going to follow a few other people and do some soul collage with this site - but I still love cutting out and pasting - there's definitely different feelings for these digital pics

Where I've been

2008-11-25T11:43:00.002Z

Sheepish hellos from me as it's so very very long since I've been here

So, what have I been doing? Well, I returned to work full time, being an accountant for a charity and it sucked all creativeness from me. Then, it put me through hell from April this year - talking about outsourcing and then finally making me redundant. I officially finish on the 10th December but am currently at home trying to find another job and getting cared about the whole thing.

So, how about you guys (if anyone still has a link to me that is)?

I hate feeling the way that I am doing at the moment - scared, anxious, worried, unable to look forward to Christmas, concerned about money (I don't put the heating on during the day - wrap myself in blankets and wear a hat indoors etc etc). I feel like I could be getting depressed or going slowly mad here because there's a big part of me inside that is screaming help help help and scrabbling around in fear at what is to come in the world. Everything I see on the TV, every bit of news I hear on the radio just makes me more anxious.

Is it just me?

I can't eat properly with these feelings inside me - I'm full of fear and can't get the food down. Great for my weight but it means I don't have clothes that fit so that's more expense!

Agony and frustration

2007-04-19T20:57:00.000+01:00

I've got a bad back / shoulder and it damn well hurts. I'm loving my new job but am exhausted before the end of the working day so I'm not able to give my all as I would wish. I've got loads of pics and things to share and I so want to get on with art but it's painful to sit, to be on the PC or do anything for long.

I hope that doesn't come across as a whinge too far - I just want to be back to my normal and get on with everything!

Waving

2007-04-17T11:47:00.000+01:00

I am here, honest! I've started a new job (which I love) but have picked up a shoulder / back injury that is severely limiting computer and art / craft time - not so good

I'll be back properly when I can

Sending love

Retrospectively Proud

2007-03-31T12:20:00.000+01:00

All of this digging keeps turning up work that I've done in the past. Like many, I've always been hypercritical of my own efforts, but given a bit of perspective, I'm really proud of some of the pieces I've seen. I'll try to get a few pics up next week - plus I'm going to have a textiley giveaway......

Altered art goodies Update

2007-03-31T10:59:00.000+01:00

Digging out goodies to send off is providing me with so much fun that I'm clearing out the spare bedroom storage at the same time. I'm determined that everyone who has asked for stuff will get some goodies, so please bear with me while I dig around.

Remainder of pages

2007-03-30T23:12:00.000+01:00

Here are the rest - I love the last one the most

Artist book exchange

2007-03-30T23:01:00.000+01:00

I took part in an artist book exchange earlier in the year. I ended up having to alter a small stapled book called something like Great British Eccentrics - I retitled it Odd Birds and had a great time interpreting that. Here and in the next post are the images of my pages.

All of the entries will be shown online and then there will be a swap about so I end up with someone else's art - how cool is that?!

Ridiculous 1

2007-03-30T09:40:00.000+01:00

Feeling superior when you go to add a fab link to delicious and realise that you spotted it months before it was featured on some other blog

Arty Meme ins and an out

2007-03-28T17:26:00.000+01:00

Remember when? That arty meme seems forever ago. I have received a couple of things from the ones I joined, with this beautiful hanging by Jill taking pride of place in my studio

I've also finally created something that I am pleased with to send to one lucky recipient - does anyone else have trouble judging whether what they have made is good enough to count? Obviously I can't share a pic yet

Anyone want it?

2007-03-23T18:16:00.000Z

I'm having a clear out of altering goodies - anyone want some? Just pay postage - it will be a mixed bag/box of stuff - we could agree a maximum post cost and I would fill to that.

Borders retreats from Britain to concentrate on US book chain | News | Guardian Unlimited Books

2007-03-23T14:33:00.000Z

Borders retreats from Britain to concentrate on US book chain | News | Guardian Unlimited Books

I am distraught at this news:

'Borders, the US book chain, said yesterday it planned to withdraw from Britain, underlining the dire state of book retailing on the high street.
The group said it had hired the investment bank Merrill Lynch to explore alternatives for its 71 stores in the UK. It also plans to get rid of its businesses in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The announcement follows HMV's decision last week to close 30 of its Waterstone's book chain.'

Here's hoping for a great MBO so that I can still divert to look at craft porn when I'm anywhere near Fosse Park

How pretty!

2007-03-22T21:01:00.000Z

Exploring more delights.....

Bibs

2007-03-22T12:41:00.000Z

The girly appliques went down really well with the mum of the recipients - very gratifying! The others will be handed over this weekend - hope they are so well received. I played around with appliqueing some bibs - I think I'm in love with the apple one.

So, do I take the plunge?......

Baby Applique

2007-03-09T10:56:00.000Z

I had such fun doing these simple appliques - some to match the bootees, some for fun and the pink top to please the delicious big sister of the baby who will be wearing the flowery bootees and matching body

I'd love people's comments on these - not sure if I should carry on experimenting with them and put them in my shop

Blessings on Freecycle

2007-03-07T13:50:00.000Z

It's funny how life works. Someone had something I needed on Freecycle. but even more exciting, when I went to collect it from a couple of villages away, she turned out to be arty crafty and possibly just my type of person. She's told me of a craft group in her village and plans for a weekend thing with a fab felt artist that I had unwittingly accosted before Christmas. I walked past the felt artist and her wonderful scarf while shopping - told her how amazing it was and was blown away that she had made it and also taught. Talk about serendipity!

Totally out of context

2007-02-27T21:01:00.000Z

Silly Americans, get on the clue bus.

This was a comment on a blog entry I was reading just now - it really made me laugh, but looking at it coldly, maybe it was because of the context it was in. Does it tickle anyone else?

Karate Kid

2007-02-23T21:48:00.000Z

I was tidying out a drawer and found my son's old T shirt that I had enhanced with applique and free machine embroidery, along with a few permanent pen marks. I think I found a book image that I traced then machined over before tearing it away.

I feel textiles calling me at the moment

Chunky update

2007-02-23T21:44:00.000Z

Well, there was I thinking that my rose page was awful - luckily the recipient didn't think so - what a relief!

Ooh I loved making these

2007-02-23T20:03:00.000Z

Two friends have recently and not so recently had a baby, so I have returned to an old love - bootee making. I need to get my groove on and make some matching body suits (just a bit of applique and maybe some FME to tart them up). What do you think
There's the larger pair for a wee boy and a dinky pair for a tiny baby girl

What do you think?

Do you agree

2007-02-23T20:01:00.000Z

Just saw this on a friend's blog http://maggiegracecreates.blogspot.com

'the difference in art and craft, is that art has a message to give someone'

Do you agree? How do you differentiate between art and craft - if you do? Off to have a think about my own question now

New Blogger

2007-02-18T16:13:00.000Z

OK - being the semi luddite that I am, I have resisted moving to new blogger but the system has forced me to do that now. So, any comments, thoughts etc on the new version? Anything I should know about, beware of, appreciate or add?

Chunky pages

2007-02-18T16:09:00.000Z

A couple of pages that I've done for a monthly chunky page swap..... shame about the glare on the fancy lady!

Goodies and Felting Fun « Craft Apple

2007-02-16T20:35:00.000Z

Goodies and Felting Fun « Craft Apple

Pears, pincushions and a damn fine blog!