Christmas Poem

Some of you may know that on occasion I take to writing poetry.  I thought about making small art each day for Advent, or sharing wonderful images of something... but errr didn't excite so didn't happen. However, I have written this poem, and decided to share it with you all.

Twas the night before Christmas

And outside the house

The cat brought home a present

A sweet furry mouse

The fire embers were glowing

Beckoning the pair

Mouse settled on the hearth rug

Cat in comfy chair

Pink toes and fur quickly thawed

Soon they were snoring

Distant sleigh bells were tinkling

Sweet Dreams until morning

The quiet night time shattered

Hooves screeched - scraped - bells crashed

Santa and sleigh on the tiles

To chimney he dashed

His sack full and so heavy

Next time not a bike

Elves memo go make Lego

Don’t care what kids like

Fairy was shaking with laughter

He fell on the floor

Silly jolly red faced man

She’d opened the door

Leaving the sack by the tree

Presents for all it hides

Nice not naughty on this list

Santa glows inside

Milk in a glass oh goodness

Wish it was brandy

But I’m in charge of a Sleigh

Stated rather grandly

Rudolph was stamping his feet

Quick let’s get going

It’s hard to park on a roof

When cold and snowing

With a snort and a jingle

Santa’s sleigh took flight

Guided by Rudolph’s red nose

And stars shining bright

Mouse awoke and stretched his legs

Home time through the snow

From his whiskers fell a crumb

Secrets does he know

He reached the door turned to wave

Fairy gave a nod

Cat uncurled and swished his tail

Mouse gave the door a prod

Was it Santa whom they saw

Or dreaming every one

Happy Christmas my dear friends

To all have lots of fun

Beverley

Falls Off Chair - its a Blog Post

Once again its been a while since I’ve posted.

However I have been busy with art work.

Having agreed to go on the Working Party for the local Art Trail, I found myself occupied with tasks, from meetings to phone calls, to writing documents.

The Trail itself was very well received in the town.

Here’s my window....

Next came making sure work was ready for The MaterialGirls Exhibition at Craft Arena. The Exhibition was entitled “Patterns of Inspiration” - with design work inspired by the art collections of Anthony Denney.

The work will be on display again, in a further and fuller Exhibition at Rainham Hall, Essex in February 2020.

My books on right

The theme has already been set for the next body of work by The Material Girls, so its research time.

I have one more event for the Girls.... as I will be one of the Members giving a talk to a local Embroiderers’ Guild in December.

And lastly I was sent the opportunity to alter a page of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.  This I duly did and as I write all the pages are being photographed for a book.  All the work is going on Exhibition in January in Scarborough.  You can see details here.

On top of all of this I discovered that I am not well, the exhaustion I was suffering from was not merely because I lack sleep.  It should be corrected by meds, but it will be a few months before its better.

I decided not to be involved with any more art trail organising, as always with these things a lot gets left to few volunteers, and I ended up with more tasks than I was willing to do.

I do not find it easy dealing with councils who seems to conspire to make the simple extraordinarily difficult, some double standards, and unbelievably slow to decide anything and ignorant on basic info they should have at fingertips.

Plus next year, if it happens, it is also likely to have deadlines around a time when I don’t want any outside tasks.

Not feeling on top form either, its time to have a rethink.

So it might be five minutes before I check in - or five months, we will all get a surprise - including me!

Coming Up - 2

As you can see The Material Girls are working towards their next Exhibition in October at Craft Arena.  Lots of exciting and innovative ideas to be revealed.
And keep this in mind, as we will back at Rainham Hall in February 2020.
Meantime at Rainham Hall, the Denney Exhibition has opened, with The Material Girls making three floor cushions which can be seen in the reconstructed Library.

So you can see, between the last post and this, I've lots to keep me occupied.

Coming up - 1

Well, I'm busy making, and for my sins am helping by being on the Working Party of

Rochford Art Trail

Click to go to Facebook Page

Please Like and Share

12th-26th September

I have been a part of this since the Taster event.  This year we are coming back stronger than ever.  Events are planned - Workshops which can be booked through Eventbrite - also guided Tours of the town and art work.  There will be Free Art Friday - with work from artists which is yours to keep - if you find it!  We hope to have a plethora of Postcards - from the Artists and local schools, which are yours to buy for a suggested donation of £5.  Also a photography competition, with super prizes, and charity auction.

You will find Links as we gear up via the Facebook page, which you can click on above.

Please support - at very least please tell your friends and share the FB page as much as you can.  Thank you.

Oh, and me... well I'll have work in Oak Dental which is right in the Square (the bus stop is outside) Actually I used to work in this building when it was a Solicitors office.  I'm displaying book art.

Dear Diary

Oi - are you reading

cute Spike on basis animals grab attention

Wow, wow, wow - half a year has gone by and I've not posted here.

Truth is I've been feeling out of sorts for a long time, and so the blog was neglected.
In an effort to recharge - few weeks ago I revamped the blog, making it a much simpler layout and style.  I've removed lots of extras, gone right back to basics, with the hope that simplified means I can return to more of a diary of my art life, leaving all the extra and more formal info on my website, and snippets on my FB page.

Soooo what's happened then?

Well lots and nothing all at the same time.

I have become involved in the Working Party of the Rochford Art Trail, which to date is very interesting, and reveals what talented people there are around, aside from beautiful art work, all sorts of skills are needed to assist with organising such an event.
I continue to be a Member of The Material Girls, with Exhibitions around the corner, which require work, of course for group projects and individual art pieces.
The Embroiderers' Guild is still a very important element, with shared interests, guest speakers.  I've been a guest speaker myself at Suffolk East Branch.
And along the way visited excellent Exhibitions both locally and many miles away - oh and bought some artwork too.

Trying to juggle all of the above in my head is my main difficulty, especially not feeling so vibrant as I should.  One week I had two committee events - was asked to look over legal based paperwork for another, trying to do work for a third group and asked to deliver info to yet another group.

fallen asleep yet - Bandit

So let's hope the blog will put me more on track, in terms of noting what is to be done, and what I am doing.

I will be back with some nice info - a poster for an Exhibition, and news of another event.  But I think I'll save that until anyone wakes up to see. Meantime, highlighted links above take you to the various Facebook pages, where you can find more information.
See you soon....

enough cute cats

Its 2019 (with closure on 2018)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Firstly time for a catch up.
I've not posted in such a long time - mainly because not really feel well, not ill, just not well, I chose to have a defined course of action elsewhere, for me.
It is always so difficult to share things here, because a lot of what I make is for Exhibition, and its only right that first look goes to those events.  So it can very much look like I'm not doing anything, when there is something going on.

Following the Art Trail and Art Fair events, I didn't have anything else planned for me personally.  However, I did help the husband with his entries into the Essex Open, one of which sold on opening night.

At a friend's suggestion I have become a Member of S.E.W. 

I was somewhat hesitant, not sure if it was for me, but my friend persuaded me to give it a go, can only try and see.  I also expressed that I was really wanting to find a group I could join which involved BookArts.
So I sent off my application, following an open call out, and to my utter surprise it came back with... Yes we'd like you to join with your Books!!!  So that involved happy dancing.
Its a new venture, so will await developments, it could be that I/we/me are not a good fit, but we shall see.  Its nice to have the opportunity to investigate though.

I've got an event coming up - well if you call 2020 coming up.  New to me again, but decided to stop being a wimp and give it a go, so said Yes.

And a piece which was in my local Art Trail, sold independently in November.  So this has a new home.

detail of Strata

In the pipeline for 2019 is:

~plenty of work for The Material Girls exhibitions planned and pending

~joining in the Sketchbook Project  doing a Mini Sketchbook this time

~local Embroiderers' Guild Branch Competition - not done in many years

~signed up to Lifebook 2019 - new to me starts today

~possibly an Art Trail - may be the Art Sale Event

~possibly get around to the list I made out in January 2018!

Don't know when I will be back here - but hopefully will, with something I can share.

Have a happy creative, and funfiled 2019