A much needed update!

I've been so quiet on here of late, well.. for the past 6+ months and, to be honest, it always makes me a little nervous the idea of writing a blog. I know I intend to use it as a way of looking back on my little antics as I'm very forgetful and it's nice to reflect back on things from a year or so ago, but the idea of someone reading my thoughts is a little scary!

However, it's something I'll eventually get over... So here's what I've been up to!

In June after finishing University with a Degree in Fine Art (yay) I moved 200 miles south to live with my boyfriend and his lovely family in Stevenage, and since then I've acquired two little jobs which are slowly helping towards saving for a house. I've made some wonderful new friends since living here, and feel like I've settled in really well and I'm truly happy.

We had a lovely Christmas and New Year and are looking forward to my Graduation next week where I'll get to see some of my family whom I really miss.

I think from now on, I'm really going to make a conscious effort to keep up to date with this blog with a flow of book reviews, skincare and make up reviews, the odd contemplation, travel and life in general, and I might throw in a little knitting and crochet in there too ;)

I have a feeling 2014 will be a good one!

'Jute Orbis' Fine Art Degree Show 2013

I'm both nervous and excited all at once, we have the preview night on Friday 31st May from 6pm til 9pm and then the exhibition is open for the public from 1st June til 11th June 2013!

I've been constantly crocheting twine domes and now the work is installed, I'm looking at it and honestly dont't know what reaction it will receive because I've just been staring at the things for 3 months! Good or not so good, the work is up and I'm feeling proud.

I've not really kept updated on my blog regarding my artwork, so here's an overview: Each piece is hand crocheted using jute (natural twine) as my material, into domes of varying sizes. When the individual pieces are placed together it creates a large ambiguous landscape. The main focus for myself is the idea of a single unit multiplied and the visual fascination with circles. For me, the work is about process and the therapeutic qualities from the mass repetition, however, I've had feedback from people saying what they see in the work. For example; limpets, human body parts, lichen, bacteria, underwater sea floor and a dome kingdom. I find it very interesting hearing what people think about my work.

Crochet Crochet Crochet....

Once again I've taken a massive lul in my blog, I just get out of it and feel that my thoughts and activities aren't worth writing about or reading, but here's me trying to get back into it, I think it'll be good for me once I get my artist website up and running.. And confidence in myself and my work etc..

Anywho! CROCHET!
So my final project is all about the crochet. It's a therapeutic process which I thoroughly enjoy and have taken it up as a textile sculptural form. I crochet circle domes of varying sized and place them together to form a type of strange landscape across the wall. I use natural twine fibres as my material as I like its raw, earthy qualities.

At the moment it's production, production, production! But I'm also experimenting in the best way to attach them to the wall. I tried nails but they're too visible and there's less control over its placement, the other alternative which has worked the best is drawing pins, they stay hidden underneath the material and it's easier to place them together so each circle dome is touching.

Soon we'll be clearing the studios and turning it into our very own gallery space! Exciting!

Brontë Parsonage Museum

I live in Haworth and thought it'd be a nice idea to visit the museum with my mum and brother to get everyone out of the house and see the new exhibition of the costumes from the most recent Jane Eyre film starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender <3 I couldn't believe how small the costumes were! The intricate detail however, on miss Ingram's clothing was especially beautiful compared to the plain grey shades of Janes' dresses. I am very happy that I've seen them, it was just a shame I couldn't take photographs! So here's one of the Parsonage from the outside and the graveyard :)

Half way there...

I've been plodding away with making my cushion cover, it's the most challenging pattern I've done to date so I'm quite excited as to how it will turn out, but so far so good!!
Already my mum has asked me to make one for her, so it must be semi good for her to want one already without seeing the finished product! Hopefully other people will want one too!! Etsy.com here I come ;)

Dancing Backwards

I've just finished the book 'Dancing Backwards' by Salley Vickers. I picked it up in a charity shop just as a quick read but after about a year, I've only just got round to reading it.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a comfortable easy going read that had a steady pace, and a nice story with interesting characters. My only annoyance was with how timid and weak she seemed to be around her first husband, Bruno. I felt that the relationship only carried on because she was too scared to leave him. I also found the shaman theory of 'suggestion' quite interesting, it put a new spin on the situation.
What I liked the most was how Vickers changed the scenes from past to present by using coincidences and deja vu as triggers. It really made it appear that she was thinking about her past and suddenly brought back into the present.
I don't think this book will live in my bookshelf, as I doubt I'll ever read it again, however, I know afew people who would enjoy this book so I'll pass it on!

On my travels to Repton...

I went for a short walk to Repton on footpaths through fields and as I was by myself I was left to my own thoughts and decided I'd take some photographs, which I don't do often enough really! It was a great walk, the air was humid and the clouds were ominous and dramatic, I was surrounded by wildlife and in my own company. How peaceful.