merry happy

hello there!

I just wanted to show a few (not great) photos of my house and the little bit of decorating I have done

I leave tomorrow for the US, so didn’t want to put too many things out, since I won’t actually see them

this is the scene outside my front window-

I live in a tiny little alleyway......so quite a few people walk by right outside the window

at night there are little crazy blinking blue lights

I spent most of the day at home - it has been raining all day.

so I made a litte fire in our "rustic” fireplace

it was a lot more glowy and sweet in real life

the opposite wall is one of my husband’s chilli plants drying

when we lived in Germany, and he was able to grow many, many chillies in the hot summer sun,

our ceiling beams would be covered in hanging chili plants!

here in England, in our sad little north-facing postage stamp-sized garden......this is all we managed

the fireplace mantle has a few birds and a garland on it -

very toned down compared to the last two years

and......the most exciting of all:

we finally got the shelf up in the kitchen!

was so exciting unpacking things I haven't seen in years!

still no place for the cookbooks tho

we have another single shelf, but didn’t measure it......

and it is too long to fit anywhere! oops

well, that’s about it

see you in the States!

I hope everyone has a lovely holiday.......

thanks to everyone who has come to my blog and commented on what I have been doing -

or to just have a look

I appreciate it so much

__a

finished

well, here it is!

yes, I know the photos are terrible

it doesn’t have quite the emotion I originally wanted; but think I like the way it turned out anyway

now, let's hope someone else does!

the show it is going into is to raise money for a local group:

http://www.patinalewes.com/#/login/4541086101

it is a very chilly and sunny day today - I am off to Brighton to see if there is anything that

I cannot live without - or would make a nice gift for someone...........

tomorrow; it’s on to my in-laws for the weekend,

so hope everyone has a lovely weekend of their own

thank you so much for stopping by

__a

red and white

I am almost done with my latest work

it will be in a show which is explained here:

http://www.patinalewes.com/#/login/4541086101

I ended up adding more red by needle felting it into the background,

which I think looks better; softer than my original stitches

I am thinking of maybe adding a piece of lace and a few more stitches,

but need to get going on that as it is to be delivered to the gallery this Friday morning.

I think the black background goes better...do you??

Thanks again goes to Marco Crivello who asked me to participate in this show.

I am then going up to Suffolk to visit with my in-laws since we

will be in the US for Christmas

I leave next week already! I do not really feel ready.......but then again......

doubt I would get much more done if I was home longer

my head is still sort of floating around and cannot quite land and focus

I am SO looking forward to the new year

this one has been so up and down; such extremes

am looking forward to coming back and getting back to my plans!

it is really cold here........altho no more snow

I hope everyone else is doing well and gearing up for

an exciting and beautiful holiday season

__a

snow!

well, the weatherman actually got it right!

we had a beautiful snowfall last night -

and now everything is covered in sparkly, heavy, wet snow -

perfect for snowmen and snowballs!

cafe next to my studio

some snowy ladies in the courtyard

actually, its normally used as a greenhouse

have been working on my new work........added the red slash

am now adding more hand stitching and still plan on white and perhaps red beads added too

I have to admit......this isn’t emitting the emotions I was wanting it to

but am not completely sure how to do that right now....

or whether I want to actually unleash all that

I think to do that; I would need

a) a bigger project......size-wise I mean

b) more time

so...will just keep at this and see where it takes me

hope everyone is keeping warm - keeping creative

and thank you so much to everyone who has commented here

such nice things......

__a

I am now back in the UK

actually, have been back for over a week now.........but didn’t really feel like writing;

have been trying to find my way out of this fog

this surreal world I find myself in now

my father passed away the 3rd of November; with the entire family around him

I still cannot quite believe it

I was so glad to have so many brothers and sisters (um, not a totally common feeling, I must admit)

I don't know how I could have done any of this without them all -

but it was also so heartbreaking to see each of them hurting so much

we all seemed to circle around each other for protection - to help each other

I stayed on, along with two sisters who live in the same city as my mother, to help out a little bit

we will be going back for Christmas (our original plans)

mother is flying back with us to spend New Years in Paris!

I cancelled three shows I was going to be in over the holidays, which in hindsight was a good idea as I haven’t been able to do much and would never have enough things ready to show

while in the US, I did get an email asking me to participate in a local show and have said yes to that

I am only doing one piece; which I am attempting to put together

not sure what is going on......but this is the beginning........am thinking white beads.........

shimmering on the pale background textures

oh; did I mention that my cameras are not behaving? not ANY of them??! how did this happen?

so........photos not so good

am also thinking red........a great swathe of bright red.......ripping through this

hm.......

suppose it is only natural right now

if this doesn’t work - then I can always fall back on another bird, I suppose!

I have been trying to keep up with you all.......maybe not commenting so much but at least looking

hope you will all come back to me too -

and help me get back onto track and find beautiful things again

feel comfortable again

thanks for stopping by

__a

change of plans

well, was all excited to add all sorts of pictures

of my little trip to Edinburgh.........as opposed to adding pictures of my new work!

(insert broken record here)

then........I got a call from the States

my Dad, who was pretty much given the ‘all clear’ not too many weeks ago,

is in the hospital; hooked up to oxygen

a new tumour pressing on his windpipe.....and possible cancer spots on his other lung

huh?!

after all the chemo and radiation he had been through already;

he didn't even get to feel ok for any amount of time

he can't do anymore radiation and cannot start more chemo until he can breathe on his own,

but can;t breathe on his own while the tumour is there

Catch 22

not good

I am going back there this Friday........for a couple of weeks - or so

have cancelled my Xmas shows I had committed to

have now entered surreal-world bubble

sorry to be..........serious, I guess

hope you'll hear from me soon with some good news

and maybe I'll show you Edinburgh another day...it is such a beautiful, inspiring yet spooky place

nope.........nothin

nope

didn’t get anything done again this week

well, in the fibre arts area, I guess I should say

so; re-group and start again!

am having a few days is Edinburgh........a sort of pre-anniversary trip

and hopefully a bit of a rest and alone-time with S

perfect timing for me to bruise my foot/toes so badly I can barely walk!

anyhoo...........

last weekend I went to Mayfield to see my work at the

Dark Horse Gallery

a lovely little gallery - was thrilled to be included into this show

two of my pieces were on the back wall.......slightly hidden - but think they look nice against that bright blue wall

all sorts of different animals in different media; look at these beautiful paintings by Karen Papworth

such striking eyes!

and these lovely and delicate bronze toads in the window by

Camilla Le May

beautiful goldy-greeny colours

hope everyone is having some good creative time -

thank you so much for dropping by - really appreciate it

now must go pack for rain and cold!! (can’t wait!)

hey! who took my week?!

my to-do list seems to be as pristine as when I first wrote it at the beginning of the week.........nothin crossed off

boo

once again - my focus and energy is so dispersed, nothing gets done

so.......to replace photos of things I have done this week;

here are some photos I took a few weekends ago when S and I took the ferry over to Dieppe

grey stormy skies on the way over - with the sun just breaking through,

lighting up the other side of the white cliffs

fantastic market every Saturday - the fruit and vegetables look so vibrant..........

should have taken more photos of them - the lettuces were amazing!

beautiful door next to the Moroccan grocer

drats; you can't see the wallpapers very clearly -

was wondering if the giant pink flowers are original (60s?) or more recent

the castle; which is now the most interesting museum I have ever been to - so much beautiful and

surprising art in such a smallish town -

they were having an Impressionism exhibit while we were there -

several famous artists went there to paint; the light is extraordinary

and their collection of carved ivory; carved by sailors throughout the centuries is amazing

views from the castle

the colour of the water was so beautiful

fishermen's chapel on the hill, overlooking the harbour

lovely harbour full of boats

the guy looks suspiciously Disney-like

rainy, windy Sunday surf

this weekend, I am hoping to get over to the gallery in Mayfield to see my work in the Dark Horse Gallery

next week, a friend of mine, Marco Crivello is having a show at the Air Gallery in London -

the opening reception is this Tuesday 6-8.30pm

do drop by to see his work, if you can - it is so beautiful

Chronochromie: The Colour of Time

19th - 23rd October

thanks for being patient with me and coming back.........

next week, (really!!) I'll show a bit more work..........er.......as soon as I start it!

have a lovely weekend

__a