Thursday, 3 May 2007

What makes me happy


Easter holiday memories are fading fast..
This is the best time of the week for me. Lunchtime Thursday and the hard teaching is done with just some older students left until Monday morning bliss.
So I reflect on what makes me happy
1. Studio time, often time stolen from teaching but a practising artist makes for a better teacher.
2. Going to see my sister, I generally end up clearing up a chaotic flat but its somehow easier when the mess isn't yours and the recipient is so grateful.
3. Walking to the station, I gave my car up last Christmas it was a gas guzzling money pit now I get the train to work and the pleasure I get from watching the seasons change is immense, I now feel I unwind before going home to the demands of my three girls.
4. A clean and tidy house, totally unattainable but on the rare occasion everyone is out it can happen and I sleep better for it.
5. Pork pie and strawberries, I live with a Muslim so no pork in the house. A treat like this is lovely and now the strawberry season is here its delicious.
6. Making a necklace, I love beading, its the ultimate wind down and I get the bonus of a lovely necklace, that's if my mum or sister don't get there first.
7. A chilled glass of rose from the fridge and Japanese crackers, I cant wait.
8. A holiday to look forward to, Its what keeps me going as do the memories.
9. Tadpoles in my pond, I could watch them all day.
10. Spring, its the best time of year everything looks fresh and new.

Last but not least you cant beat the unexpected hug from your very own children its the best.

Wednesday, 2 May 2007

giving it up for Lent




Some stripes from yesterday work in progress..

I have spent most of the day loading pictures of my art work onto Flickr but I cannot work out how to create a link from this blog page to my flickr site ali.son62. any help would be appreciated. Yesterday was a milestone as I once again passed by a rack of magazines. I have been an addict for years on any subject from art, design, food, travel, interiors, photography, craft. you name it I bought it English, French, Dutch,Japanese, American. But pile after pile takes up room and costs money, the best a dutch publication called Bloom came in at an awesome £36!. So now I am down to 2 subscriptions Vogue and a wonderful independent publication Selvedge http://www.selvedge.org/.


Other addictions I have tried to give up for lent at least
1. Alcohol ...drank to much pop.
2. Bread....ate too much chocolate.
3. White flour...ate too much rice and chips.
4. caffeine....finally kicked the coke habit.
5. Jam and honey....ate too many hot cross buns.
6. Chocolate....agony, ate too much of everything sweet

I enjoy the challenge and admire those who have pledged to give up buying clothes for a year and recycle but its beyond my remit.
One of my impossibly unattainable job application forms has asked for a photo, not something I relish as someone who avoids her reflection I enjoy my photo taken even less.

Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Thankyou



3 collages using paper and acrylic on fabric.
Now I know this works I want to thank the following bloggers for their inspiration in getting me started and to share with others their amazing creativity.

Littlesomethings.blogspot.com

Littlecottonrabbits.co.uk.typepad

dawbis.blogspot.com

kerrismith.com/blog

twostraightlines.typepad.com


Im sure the list will grow.

Order from chaos




This blog is to help bring some order and structure to the chaos, Hopefully to share with some others creativity and a desire to create.
The photos are of my office space, no room to work but it harbours so much, to create I spill into the classroom and work with the students.

Today I must
1. Start blog
2. Send application forms for impossibly fabulous jobs
3. Paint some more stripes
4. Mark exam folders
5. Gym
6. Be a mother

Today I wish
1. Go shopping for clothes
2. Finish painting water colours
3. Paint lots of stripes
4. Put work on Flickr
5. Start pebble paintings
6. Hire a cook to feed impossibly fussy kids

Today I am looking forward to
1 .Chelsea Flower show
2. Royal Academy buyers day private view
3. Half term
4. Summer holiday5. Spending my budget on lots of lovely oil paints, new scanner, printer, and D.S.L.R