recent sketchbook pages
I've just completed my weekly visit to the post office (thank you for all your orders always) and am in a large supermarket looking at the garden plants. There is always a chance something unusual, a little special, will be on offer. Often there are pots simply marked ‘rockery plant’ - and it’s up to you to know what it might be. I love this challenge, because after years of not quite being a gardener, I have a pretty good general knowledge. I can tell a violet from a crocus, for example, or I would like to think so.
This moment of leisure, of ‘not working’ but doing something for myself is something I must do for my sanity. I am struggling these days, with the dark short days. My mood is suffering, as it does just every winter. Try as I might, there are days that I struggle. There are things I do to take care of myself and I have learned to do things differently at this time of year. To pace myself and take breaks when I can.
But back to the plant shopping - spring bulbs are good for me! And at one pound a pot of four tiny daffodils - well, it makes sense to buy them. And it’s a business expense, I remind myself, if you paint them - then you can claim for them! Ha. But it’s true.
‘Oh dear me, these are so thirsty!’ The woman next to me inspects the potted bulbs and she is not wrong. I reply: ‘I am going to rescue them!’ and take another pot from the shelf. ‘Oh my gosh!’ She says, as if I have just declared something most extraordinary, bordering on the perilous. We smile at each other, as best we can (still wearing masks). I can see a little caution in her eyes, as if she has encountered someone who has greater plans than their capabilities.
I have watered the bulbs. They are tiny daffodils (simply labelled ‘tiny daffodils, so I don’t know the variety and I am fine with that - who knows if they will be this yellow or that?) And some alpine tulips (again who knows, oh the excitement!) They will be planted in a large pot with a deep maroon polyanthus and possibly ivy (I always have ivy on the go because I am a gothic gardener at heart).
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I’ve been shifting books about the place and this has involved a great deal of - dust and dusting. Up and down the stairs I went, nose streaming - not pleasant. But I am glad to have had a good sort through of my books and now have all fiction upstairs and my art, other non-fiction, poetry and antique books downstairs. I worried over alphabetizing and have done this in some areas. Really though, it’s my library and we don’t do the dewey decimal system. Which is a bit of a shame to me because for years as a child I longed to put stickers on the spines of my books, dewey decimal style. And of course I created my own little library cards and so on. I think I may have issued lending cards to several of my younger sister’s soft toys, without her permission.
I can tell you that a lot of time this year will be devoted to working on a book of my own. I am happy to say that I will be getting technical (editorial, layout etc) help from my daughter, who has studied design for many years and is keen to make this a project she will manage. The book will be devoted to sharing my sketchbooks - but as it is very, very early days I cannot say much more. These things, as I have been saying for years now, take time!
Sketchbook pages from July 2015 - so intriguing to see these abstracted ladies again - they make me smile.
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Time. With paperwork (the dreaded tax return) and etc.to deal with, I am a little behind schedule re: the launch of my paid subscriber studio notes. I want to get it right and to be prepared - so I am delaying until the beginning of March. The short month of February will give me that extra few hours to write and photograph, so that I feel ready to share. Thanks for your understanding. In the meantime, I will continue to be writing these Sunday notes.
In the meantime, you are welcome to buy me a coffee. Thanks for your support.
Thanks for reading and subscribing - and for all your comments, both here and via email.
Shop News: I am devoting February to the postcard. I love postcards (sending, receiving and of course creating) and will be exploring this format in various media throughout the month. Expect to see paintings, drawings and new textile works. And also artist books that make use of vintage postcards. There will also be several new sets of printed postcards featuring my artwork. It is my hope this will give anyone interested in purchasing my artwork a chance to start to collect or add to their collection - thank you!
I’ve been ‘wintering’. For me winter is a permission slip as the cold and icy weather outside means we can do nothing with the yard and very little with the horses. I’ve spent time painting, reading, and doing domestic things that I don’t have the energy to do in the heat of summer. I’m trying to honor the seasons of the year more, each in its time. I am so excited about the prospect of a book of your works. It will be a collector’s item!
J'achète toutes vos cartes postales et c'est un vrai bonheur de les mettre dans un cadre ou simplement sur le mur de ma cuisine et sur mon bureau également.