Mid-Year; Mid-life

It's July? Already? Do you remember the childhood Summers that stretched on forever?

Recent reads

As well as being incredibly busy at work, doing artwork, and settling a new little cat into my home, I've also been doing some reading. A recent book was 'Before the Fall' by Noah Hawley, a superbly constructed tale which follows the aftermath of a plane crash from which a man and a young boy are the only survivors. The back stories of all the characters that didn't make it are gradually revealed alongside the ongoing investigation. The man who survives, Scott Burroughs, is a struggling artist of a certain age and this sentence describing his stage in life resonated with me:-

"The rootlessness of youth was replaced by middle-aged self-involvement."

I've also been dipping into Miranda Sawyer's new book 'Out of Time', an exploration of what it is to be middle-aged and realise what you have become, and what you haven't become. I had worried that I was becoming too self-involved, but if so, then I'm certainly not alone.

It's quite natural in your mid-forties to take stock, think about what still needs doing, and then go into complete meltdown when you realise that you're running out of time. I still have dreams and ambitions; the danger is to believe that there is some cut-off point, but as long as the mind and body are willing then why impose limits. One of my favourite artists, Louise Bourgeois, was still working into her 90's - more than working; she was a creative dynamic force. And so, I'm facing up to the things I still want to achieve -  I want to exhibit my work; I want to have a book of my work published; and I want to visit more galleries and museums around the world. I have changed as I've grown older, and I hope I'm a little wiser, but my passion for art remains constant.

Poppy - in my Tiny Urban Garden

This poppy was short lived, but I managed to capture it here in full bloom.

Amanda xxx

Tiny Urban Garden - Aquilegia A-plenty

June already... I thought I would take the opportunity of having a free sun-filled afternoon for a quick catch up post. The sky is a clear and glorious blue, my kitchen door and window are both wide open to the warm air, the week's washing is drying nicely in the sun, and I am enjoying being barefoot.

Although I have, as ever, lots of work to be done, it's good on days like this to enjoy some relaxation and feel the sun on your face.

My Aquilegia's have opened up with a vibrant mix of colours so I made sure to grab some pictures while I had the chance:-

June is looking like a very busy month but I'm hoping I'll have some progress to report on my art project.

Amanda xxx

Progress Report

So this embroidery is now well under way; past the point of those first tentative stitches, wondering how it's going to look, and if I can even bring myself to start. Facing a blank piece of fabric is just as nerve wracking as when I face the blank piece of paper for my initial sketch; and if I have a face to do as part of my image, this really puts the pressure on. Because a human face is such a focal point it's important that I get it right, so it's always the first part of the embroidery I stitch - I don't want to have the worry of this affecting my work on the rest of the piece, so best to tackle it head-on.

I hand stitch my work which does require time and patience and although my sketch provides me with a template, I decide on colour and the type of stitch as I go along. I don't have a fixed idea of how a piece will end up looking, relying more on instinct and experimentation. This does mean that progress can be slow if I have to unpick something I'm not happy with, but that's all part of seeing what works and what doesn't.

When I first begin a piece of work I usually have a massive crises of confidence and start to question why I am even doing this, but as it starts to take shape and I see my creativity manifesting itself on the fabric, something seems to click into place. It's a vital piece of me and who I am. I love the assuredness of this figure and I love that I brought her into being.

Amanda xxx

Tiny Urban Garden - Bursting Into Life

With the combination of gloriously sunny weather and a few well-timed downpours we have had over the past week or so, my garden is really coming to life. Shrubs that looked like bundles of sticks a short while ago are becoming leafier by the day and the border down the side of my house has erupted into a delightful display of Bluebells complemented with the unmistakeable scent of Lavender.

The job that was top of my list to get done this year was a new fence in my front garden. There's never been a proper one, just some border edging that had fallen apart, and the garden was lacking definition. So the fence was put up last week and it looks fab, just need to put some protection on now. I have a little Willow tree here which is erupting with leaves - I think it's happier now the fence is up. I certainly am.

The Heuchera's are wearing purple with a hint of lime this season...

the flowers on the Aquilegia's are poised to open up...

and the Hydrangea is sending out lots of fresh green leaves...

Spring is just the best. Oh and I haven't forgotten about the embroidery update. That will be in my next post.

Amanda xxx

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


 





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

Re-Focusing

Well, I had the flu; almost made it to the end of Winter and then it just snuck up on me. I had several days in bed, a complete loss of appetite, it lingered for weeks, and I found myself lost in a fog of melancholia.

Just before all this I got out for a walk on a lovely mild, calm day and took some pictures which I hoped to share. As my focus has started to come back and I've caught up with the laundry, cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed the house, read through a pile of books, I've now reached the part of my never-ending checklist that says 'post blog'.

These are the hills across from where I live - I just go to the bottom of the road, walk up the hill, and then I'm lucky enough to be rewarded with this amazing view. I'm on the edge of a town with access to nature at her finest.

I passionately believe we should plant more trees. There are all the obvious benefits but on a more primal level I am completely in awe of trees and the power they have to transform the landscape. David Hockney's paintings of trees are some of my favourites and I'm sure I'm not the only one who hoped to find my own Magic Faraway Tree as a child; and who can resist the charms of a tree house?

So the trees are now starting to bud, gardens coming back to life and I've spent some time in my own garden tidying the borders. More about this next time.

Amanda xxx