“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” this quotation from "Anne of Green Gables seemed like the perfect opening line as I sit here musing about Autumn and October for the 9th year of writing this blog. The week began with the most perfect Autumn days, the kind that leave you with that chilly, fresh, energised feeling that I've only experienced before after emerging from a perfect swim in cold water... or a certain kind of bubbling, chemical induced excitement which I'll pretend I've only read about. The air feels and smells different and it's quieter here now that the summer is over; it's a golden time before the winter begins. I've been taking stock, looking back at previous Octobers and thinking about the future.
The week was especially special because I had a pretty magical day out with my son. Normally whenever Jake visits me here in the Lakes it's raining but this time it was warm and fizzy with light and colour. We drove over to Ullswater and Aira Force which I'd never seen before; it was beautiful - beams of sunlight through amber ale coloured pools, diamond droplets caught on moss and shifting rainbows hovering above the falls. There were also lots of acorns which I find it hard to resist childishly stuffing my pockets with when I'm out walking, but Jake told me I had to leave them for the squirrels (who were sensibly hiding from the tourists).
Ae well as wandering about constantly marvelling at the wonder of this place I've found myself living in I've been busy preparing work for a couple of really lovely galleries and their winter exhibitions. A set of cyanotypes with embroidered details- including this owl- went of to Emporium Gallery in Lichfield last week and tomorrow I'm off to the big city of Lancaster to deliver work to Arteria for their Hygge exhibition. As my three month stint as guest artist at Cherrydidi in Keswick comes to an end I'm hoping to fill the gaps by really concentrating on my online shops which now include Artfinder for framed and mounted originals.
Now, the cat is beaming messages at me about something ( probably biscuits) and Rupert has suggested I meet him from his cycle ride at Crummock Water with the wetsuits so I'll reluctantly leave you for now (and next time I'll let you know whether swimming in a northern lake after sunset in October was a good idea... it doesn't feel tempting from my cozy velvet cushioned nest just now). x
Listening to : Actually I couldn't listen in case I got cross but I sent an e-mail which was read out on this radio programme about evictions. I also listened ( and danced about) live to the Carl Cox session from the closing event at Space which felt odd , alone in my house but connected by the magic of internet!
I'm back in my box room nest with a mug of freshly brewed coffee, while the autumn wind shakes the Sycamore tree outside the window. I've been in that edgy, change of seasons mood lately; not sleeping well, writing whole novels in my head in the small hours, only to forget that perfect opening sentence and the motivation to capture it, as soon as I'm properly awake. An owl has been calling in the branch right outside the bedroom and I imagine that it could look in through the arrow slit windows and see me, sleepless and lost in a world of memories, half baked plans and good intentions. I hear it screeching "terrrr-wit" and wait for the answering whispery "hoooo" that sounds as if it could be coming from right next to me, perched on the headboard like in Mr Magnolia by Quentin Blake.
The fells seemed to turn burnt umber overnight, the air is spicy with autumn scents and my favourite time of year in the Lake District has begun. The only thing I'm missing is the long days that meant there was time to swim after work; as it is we are wondering how long we will be brave enough to brave the cold water (or more importantly the cold wind on the shore as you try to struggle out of your wetsuit in a polite but speedy manner, stumbling about, bent double,often hobbled at the ankles by skin tight neoprene.) It's ok once you're in though and I've become a big fan of swimming in the rain when the water becomes spiky and textured like sparkling Artex and the raindrops momentarily stay on the surface like little pearls. I want to be able to paint it, or film it or capture it somehow so I can show you.
Back in the "studio" I've been busy getting things ready for a couple of exhibitions. Unsold work has been returned safely and sold work has been invoiced, allowing me to realise that I have made the basic error of royally ripping myself off by paying too much for framing and not charging enough to allow for gallery commission - which in some cases is over 50%. One piece which sold for £175 actually earned me £6 after all expenses! I am not a businesswoman obsessed with making a fortune but I'm learning the hard way and after discussing this over and over again with other artists and makers the conclusion is always the same... just because we can't afford the art/craft we love, it doesn't mean we should devalue our own. A good friend of mine makes beautiful mosaic birds...she cuts the wooden bird silhouette, uses hand picked and cut fragments (often rare glass with precious metals), grouts, seals and adds hanging hooks. Each bird is beautiful, unique and takes at least a day and a half to make... what is a fair price? We are so used to things being "affordable" by which we usually mean mass produced by low paid workers in other countries, that even in the gift shop where I work I regularly hear people muttering that something is too expensive when it is really a very fairly priced item, mass produced in England! We seem to have lost sight of "value" in anything other than monetary terms. I'm not sure what the answer is.
Well I do apologise for getting on my soap box as usual, I could tie myself in knots and, being over sensitive and ridiculously passionate I'm likely to slip on the soap and fall flat on my face. Better to keep stitching and muddling through.
Well, its almost time to go hunting in the kitchen for supper and in the hope that Rupert has decided to bake something fabulous to fatten us up for winter. The oven fused all the house electrics last week so we spent last night on the floor with our heads in the oven, fitting a new element and feeling pretty smug about being able to mend stuff. It took two people though, not like the instruction video on Youtube and I felt as though I was channeling Sylvia Plath at one point but honestly, how did people ever know how to do anything before the internet?
I've just found out about an exhibition inspired by Alan Garner's "the Owl Service" book and had just listed this cushion called "She wants to be flowers" in my Etsy shop. It is definitely one of my very favourite books, written in the year I was born, so I'll be making every effort to visit the exhibition as well as Blackden House. Thanks to Natalie for the information.Until next time, a belated happy autumn equinox to you all where ever you may be. x
I've locked myself into my little room again with a mug of coffee and a Mars bar. Its hard to be in the house at the moment because it's so dark and cool, shaded almost all day by the huge Sycamores that cut out anything but elusive patches of dappled sunlight and cover everything in sticky damp gloom; they are magnificent trees but I'm starting to look forward to leaf fall! The birds are singing very loudly and it feels as though Im in the tree with them. It seems as though it has been a wonderfully long summer - so many after work adventures that the days felt twice as long but still it's hard to "waste" a day indoors when I can see the patches of blue sky through the leaves and I know it's a perfect September day.
September brings with it memories of the last days of peace and security in my old life, of planting Autumn vegetables and planning for the next gardening year in my little cottage on the moors. I still wake in the middle of the night and wonder where I am; who I am even, not used to living under huge, noisy trees, just the big skies of the North York Moors. A couple of weeks ago I had another terrible shock when I found out that both the ponies we'd had to give away during the eviction were dead. Sadly the person who I'd trusted to give them a home, keeping them together, hadn't felt the need to tell me that she was having problems so that when Basil apparently "died in his sleep" she had Impy destroyed, claiming he was aggressive and dangerous. I think I will never know what really happened, she wouldn't give me more details and claimed she thought I wouldn't care. I'm sure she had her reasons but to me it was another slap in the face from the past, un-necessary and un-feeling. Impy was a part of our lives since he was a foal... a cheeky little bugger but never mean. I hate injustice, he was wrongly convicted and I find it so hard to accept (I'm fairly nervous about the Archers tonight too, I think I might need therapy if Helen Archer is found guilty!) Anyway, rest in peace little ponies; I'm trying to draw them but a childhood of drawing nothing but ponies is letting me down just now... I can't capture the essence of pony!
I've also been trying to capture the essence of Lake District Cottage but receiving some mixed reactions. This design is now a book, card, mug and a vase, available in my Etsy shop and I'd love to know what you think.
It was good to be able to re-open my shop at last; it had taken Etsy months to fix a glitch that repeatedly changed the spelling of Keswick to Koswick which may seem like a small issue but I have enough problems with spelling and punctuation without looking like I can't spell the name of the place I live! I'm really hoping to make a go of Etsy this time as however much I love my wonderful stockists, especially those that buy upfront and help promote my work, the nature and volume of handmade work means it's often vital for most artists to sell directly to the customer as well (especially if you happen to live half way up a mountain). Having worked in galleries and seen both sides I know that it is so important for artists and galleries to work together and have mutual respect... artists need real bricks and mortar shop fronts as well as virtual ones and galleries need to understand that artists aren't all dizzy, insecure divas which is why I love the #JustACard campaign as it attempts to support all parties and spread the word about the importance of keeping these small, often rural, businesses thriving. I'm really proud of the cards I design and sell... one of the main reasons for this is that I have chosen to have them printed by another small, rural business so every sale I make is also in a small way supporting another creative business in the area. Emma and her family have been so supportive and are as committed as I am to trying to keep things as eco-friendly as possible; if you haven't seen their website yet you are missing out, go right now and look...oh no, read to the end of the page first and then go (and look out for the card with me and my dad painting in the garden!)
Well, there is still time for me to take a quick wander up the valley before getting back to work so I will leave you with this image of Rupert half way up a rock face. He is away this weekend which is why I'm eating chocolate and writing instead of attempting to be brave whilst tied to a tree on an ant infested rock (not as kinky as it sounds). Last week we walked up fells with only deer and sheep for company, swam in inky smooth, sunset tinted lakes and climbed giant rocks where fear could be momentarily calmed by the sight of a perfect, delicate, fairy toadstool clinging to a mossy ledge (and I am still recovering from the midge bites that turned me hot, red and angry even before the Labour Party rejected my application to join... but thats another story) and it feels as though we live in the most special place despite everything. I keep thinking about the title of a book by artist Sabrina Ward Harrison- "Brave on the Rocks- if you don't go, you don't see" and just keeping going because turning around and trying to go back is often much, much harder.
READING: "The Outrun" by Amy Liptrot LISTENING TO: "Meet the Humans" Steve Mason