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)

 

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.

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.

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

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.

FLIGHT OF FANCY

I am exploring birds in flight, from drawing on paper.

These sheets are larger than A1.

Then translating the drawings into collagraph prints made of card, wood glue and carborundum. These birds are around life size, the plate just fitting on an A1 piece of Somerset etching paper.

This image is considerably smaller with its feet on the ground, silk aqua tint with tile cement.

 

There is something uncomfortable about a flying bird, it is such an alien image. We see birds in the sky every day, but perhaps it is easier to understand them moving than caught in frozen flight?

MOVEMBER

I expect we all know someone who is growing a moustache for Movember? Now I know I could raise a fortune if it was me, but as hard as I have tried I can only manage a goatee!

The lovely Rob has thrown his top lip into the ring to raise money for men's health and in 3 short weeks has developed a reasonable tache. Less Magnum and more Des Lynham, still not complaining.

I know lots of chaps are joining in, but those of you who have met lovely Rob know that this is quite a high profile gesture for him, especially as he works on building sites, can you imagine the leg pulling he is getting? Women are very open about their health issues, we like nothing better than to talk about our bits and bobs, chaps are a little more stoic and things get missed. Perhaps this out break of moustaches still covers up the fact that men do not face their health issues? But it is a start.

Show your support and pop over to the lovely Rob's mo site, http://uk.movember.com/mospace/4757145

and donate, I promise Rob will wax the ends of his tache when the ends get long enough.