Thursday 21 April 2016

The Inner Voice

Everybody wants to be understood and have some form of recognition or validation. There are so many voices out there clamouring for attention that the world can seem a lonely place. But we all have an inner voice that we carry in our heads and this gave me the inspiration for the third embroidery in my 'Maps' series.

I am constantly having an internal dialogue; sometimes it's helpful and encouraging, at other times destructive and brutal. Your soul as companion is an idea used to great effect in Philip Pullman's novel 'Northern Lights' with Lyra's 'Daemon'. These daemon's are a physical manifestation of the inner self in animal form - a constant friend to guard against loneliness.

This is the beginning of the embroidery-

 The full title is:-

'Walking; I hear you Talking.
 In the back of my mind; You're always there'.
 
The image of the figure (one I kept as a cutting from a fashion magazine when I was at college), is a representation of me, as everything in my work is. The whole concept is to tell my story, plot my life, the things that touch me, influence me, inspire me, shape me The autobiographical is literally stitched into the fabric and the influences that I pick up and absorb along the way become integrated into who I am.
 
I'll be posting progress reports over the next couple of weeks.
 
Amanda xxx


 



Tuesday 5 April 2016

Tiny Urban Garden

Having my own little garden is so important to me and while thinking about the content of this blog it's become apparent that posts about it will be a regularity. I am working on my art projects but have realised that my garden is very much a part of this - my art work is about me and my personal story, it all feeds into me and who I am; and the garden is a part of that story and so I have named it 'The Tiny Urban Garden'.

Monty Don
 
I know it's time to get back out there when 'Gardeners World' is back on television presented by the wonderful and charming Monty Don; and this year he's accompanied not only by that canine star known as Nigel but a new young pup called Nellie. I love to watch Monty every Friday evening as he accompanies me through the gardening year, sharing advice and the delights of his own stunning garden.


As for my garden, I have made a start, digging over the border in the back which I then spread with mulch. My plan is to fill this border out this year with a few more shrubs and a good mix of perennials.


I went to the garden centre and got myself an Easter treat. A Garrya to go in the front garden, a Camellia and a selection of perennials for the back border. Having them all grouped together in their pots, it looks like I've got lots of goodies but I know that once they go in the ground they'll look a lot less significant.

 
 
So I planned where to put them all and then, as I knew they would, they just seemed to disappear into the ground. Looking forward to Summer to see how different it all looks then. I just hope they're all happy in my soil, and thrive, and don't fall victim to the Slugs!

Today I aerated the lawn and felt very happy as every time I put the fork in the ground at least 2 or 3 earthworms came wriggling out, and I know that they are very good for the garden.

Amanda xxx