Hello everyone, I hope you are keeping well. Thank you for your kind comments and emails over the past few weeks. My family and I have now moved into our new home. It’s only been a few days and the whole experience has been so stressful and tiring - as any move can be. I am grateful indeed for help from others. Without the help of my sister, especially, I don’t think I could have made it to here.
Although we have only moved ‘down the road’, we are in a different neighbourhood with much to enjoy and discover. Our flat in an historical building offers great views. I have often wished to live in a place with history and character and now here we are! We are glad to be here, oh so glad. I am still in that slight unreality phase, getting used to the new creaking floorboards and the extra space…. One of the first things I noted was how green it is and how many birds there are here - there are very vocal blackbirds in nearby horse chestnut trees. Crows and pigeons enjoy the rooftops. I will enjoy sketching them all.
photo: my old book shelves waiting for books to be unboxed - now everything feels much more at home already with books - my only top tip for moving is: get your books out asap.
I would like to write more about this new home but will keep things general for now. You will understand a certain need for privacy - but I would like to share more - and if you are at all interested in seeing some interior scenes etc.. please follow me over at Phaedraspoon on Instagram.
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One of the first things I did, once the furniture had been carried up the winding stairs (not by me, I am grateful to say - the muscle of a removal company was essential for this place) - was to spend a few minutes with my sewing machine. Marjorie, as she is known to me, was just fine and happy to stitch. This had been an anxiety of mine - that somehow she would be sulky or indifferent to me. A little spooked by the move. But all seems to be (touching an old wooden beam) just fine. I made a small warm-up piece, which I will keep.
Then yesterday, feeling the urge to get back into some intense stitching already, I worked for three hours or more - just enjoying being able to work. I started on this piece which I hope will be in my Monday update.
Photo: A new stitch piece - embroidery artwork - my thumb is to give some idea of scale
I realise now how much being forced into not working creatively is anxiety-inducing. I am an intensely creative person, yes, I think I have proved that fairly well over time. But it’s more than that - I am not wholly ashamed to say I struggle with real life things, practical things like juggling packing and phone calls - and to be ‘allowed’ to simply get on with my work is a blessing indeed!
A sigh of happiness. We are here. I am looking forward to making lots of new work. The ideas are coming, in different ways. I know that there will be no sudden shift in perspective. Instead, there may be a gradual introduction of different ways of seeing - certainly our rooftop view here and the urban living mixed with so much history will lend me many stories.
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I am going to keep this new studio notes brief-ish - mainly as I am not on home broadband yet and am using mobile data.
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Shop News - yes, I plan to have new work in my shop this coming week.
It has been interesting and lively challenge to make a drawing a day - it helped me keep making through a very busy time. And I am so grateful to everyone who made a purchase.
During the next summer weeks I plan to add new work to my shop two or three times a week. This will be small collections of work at a time.
There are pros and cons to every way of working and offering updates, but I would like to see how this works.. There’s no right time of day, either. I recognise my customers/collectors are in different time zones and appreciate your interest very much.
So, for this week coming -
I hope to offer a small update: on MONDAY at 7pm and again on WEDNESDAY evening at 8pm UK time. This will be two or three (or more) new and special pieces. I will preview them at least a few hours ahead, if I possibly can.
I will then add a further selection of work to my shop SATURDAY at 12 noon.
Let’s see how this works out. I will of course post on Instagram - for a quick link please look at my stories.
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Thanks always for reading here - please do subscribe if you are not already signed up! I hope to share more stories and photos, more sketchbook pages and insights over the weeks ahead. Looking forward to it…. Thank you for bearing with me and for your support always.
So glad that you've landed in a good spot, Cathy. Congratulations and admiration for getting through! As one who would come unglued from such a shift, I can only imagine how unsettling and unnerving this move must have been. Looking forward to seeing how this new space inspires your work. Wishing you and your children calm and comfort, and for you- many peaceful deep hours of making.
So So lovely to see you are home at last Cathy.. and it looks a most Perfect home and place to have come to!! Birds.. beams.. views..close wonderful places to visit.. and Marjorie already very at home!
❤️❤️