tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156770742024-02-19T05:02:03.516+01:00Daydream BelieverLoving creativity and learning. Research, daubing, scribblingDaydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-27243820420310885782019-04-22T10:41:00.000+01:002020-04-10T14:31:57.041+01:00Tempietto del Bramante, Rome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the many treasures in Rome, this tiny building by Bramante is a classic example of Renaissance architecture, a history of architecture lesson in one. It is within a cloister of the church of S. Pietro in Montorio and is thought to be the site of the inverted crucifixion of S Peter, hence its classification as a <i>martyrium. </i>It seats 10.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bramante's rather larger dome of St Peter's can be seen from here.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where S Peter was crucified in centre of Tempietto floor</span></i></div>
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0Via di S. Pietro in Montorio, 00153 Roma RM, Italy41.8887454 12.46640999999999641.5106079 11.820962999999995 42.2668829 13.111856999999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-89795222427128216242017-01-06T16:18:00.000+01:002017-01-06T17:28:09.829+01:00Never too late<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After early aspirations, 50 years on, it is time to make up for time and paint, paint, paint. The joy of getting back to it after a break makes me wonder why it took so long. And some inspired teaching from <a href="http://www.carolinechappell.co.uk/" target="_blank">Caroline Chappell</a> has made all the difference.<br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-54186083833789272522014-05-12T15:18:00.000+01:002014-05-12T15:18:31.726+01:00The Backs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not much to say - I just liked this image taken in Cambridge on Saturday.</div>
<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-81437164639738987642014-05-10T20:41:00.003+01:002014-05-10T20:41:24.956+01:00This is a trial postIn an effort to help a friend, I am posting this with hope it can automatically post in my FB timeline.Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-83637187643390643532013-11-17T14:18:00.001+01:002013-11-17T14:18:58.505+01:00Bah humbug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At this time of year, coming up to Christmas, my spirits sink into a nasty soup of over reaction to the horrible commercialisation everywhere you look.<br />
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This year, I have decided, since I can't change the situation, I shall change my attitude to it. I am observing my physical reaction to that TV commercial, or the music in the supermarket, becoming aware and softening to the feeling of tension.<br />
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As my dear <span id="goog_1264474665"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Mindfulness teacher<span id="goog_1264474666"></span></a> says D.R.O.P.S.S. Don't resist and push, soften and smile.<br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-40486976917959605052013-07-17T19:46:00.001+01:002013-07-17T19:46:48.458+01:00Nature vs nurture<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spied over a garden wall in a Derbyshire village, glorious colour contrasts are perfect</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural wild flower meadow on a steep hillside in Bonsall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frothy garden on a hillside in Bonsall</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Our recent visit to Derbyshire was full of delights. It was Open Gardens in Bonsall while we were there, with some delightful, unpretentious gardens (not to mention, stunning cakes).<br />
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Also, the meadows were looking glorious. There are wild flower meadows on farmland everywhere, which is a joy to see, good for the environment and particularly the bees. <br />
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The tendency to have 'loose' natural gardens is a testament to the beauty of nature's way. And where one blends into the other, there is the best of all worlds.Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-52421847595723940722013-05-14T17:59:00.000+01:002013-05-14T17:59:44.022+01:00A task, duty, pleasure or chore? I wonder why some people feel the need to add structure ti their lives, to do one specific creative thing a day? Once during every 24 hours, there are painters who post their daily work on the internet to <a href="http://www.nigelfletcher.co.uk/cotswold-sketchbook/2013/03/19/a-walk-over-the-bridge/" target="_blank">sell</a> or <a href="http://shiftinglight.com/" target="_blank">auction</a>. If you Google 'painting a day', thousands of hits will come up,
including Duane Keiser in USA who seems to be one of the Daddies of the
movement. Then there are writers who write a <a href="http://www.writingourwayhome.com/?page_id=26" target="_blank">Small Stone</a> a day,and photographers who post an image a day via <a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/" target="_blank">Blipfoto</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a painting a day, just one of several in a few hours!</td></tr>
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I've tried the last two, which became somewhat forced and lacked spontaneity. My fault, I am sure. <a href="http://jbriverofstones2012.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Here</a> is my small stones blog and being me, I had to give it an image plus words. I like the simplicity of it and the freedom; looking back, I am pleased that I did it, but for now don't want the obligation, self-imposed, of adding this to the many other things that should be done every day.<br />
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Taking a photo every day is easy for me, as I nearly always have my camera with me. But it can become an unwanted intervention between the eye and the scene. Nonetheless, the compulsion to record everything, anything, is strong and gives me great joy. <br />
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The reason for the painting a day phenomenon is that it sells paintings, for relatively small amounts, almost guaranteeing a steady income. The quality of these paintings can be exceptional, probably because they are done quickly, intuitively and uninhibitedly. <br />
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What about NaPoWriMo? This hideously named, but well-intentioned movement that sets aside one month when poets sign up to '<a href="http://www.napowrimo.net/about/" target="_blank">National Poetry Writing Month</a>'. This idea came out of NaNoWriMo - yes, you guessed - '<a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month</a>'. It remains to be seen whether a best selling prize winner develops from these practices.<br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-17320538150167568622013-03-30T17:28:00.003+01:002013-04-01T14:01:52.699+01:00My 'white dog'Churchill talked of it. There is a <a href="http://blackdogtribe.com/" target="_blank">rather good website</a> devoted to it. It is an image which traditionally fits the feeling of depression lurking around. Black dogs and depression are inextricably linked. Which is a shame for black dogs and for my friends at <a href="http://www.blackdognewmedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Black Dog Media </a>who seem very cheerful and do a great job.<br />
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So, how about introducing a white dog to the black. Let's imagine them meeting - a large black labrador and my favourite small white dog, a Westie. Particularly this one, Lulu, who has been a house guest here and a very cheery one. (That's David Beckham under her paw, who is about to be decimated.)<br />
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From now on I shall try to introduce Lulu when my black dog is looming. In fairness to black dogs, my low moods will be clouds from now on, not dogs. Except, being greeted by Lulu first thing in the morning can stand for a cherished moment when I experienced pure joy, to be held mindfully in a safe place.Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-6255347907839937692013-03-18T18:47:00.003+01:002013-03-18T18:47:37.939+01:00Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83hVFkeDFL8QkvWWUrm1hN0BxFKNfl_ljcfntjkZ4tkKaCHBO-i_dixxLA8VWB38rGeYdSmv_MG2PIC9imDMMgAGJVY2BaEOKc3FlYBtgP3irtw3_JNLbHhEPS1E7GFtDzDqWUw/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83hVFkeDFL8QkvWWUrm1hN0BxFKNfl_ljcfntjkZ4tkKaCHBO-i_dixxLA8VWB38rGeYdSmv_MG2PIC9imDMMgAGJVY2BaEOKc3FlYBtgP3irtw3_JNLbHhEPS1E7GFtDzDqWUw/s320/IMG_0621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Imagine a lake, covered in ice with snow, deep, crisp and definitely even. This was at Walton Hall a couple of Christmases ago. The sun was brilliant and turned an already beautiful place into somewhere magical.<br />
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It was a good time and has been put into one of my special memory 'scent bottles'. This is where I capture the best bits of life and figuratively leave them on a shelf to be opened and sniffed when I feel the need. Painting from a photo also brings back good memories and is a satisfying way to become absorbed in the landscape once again.<br />
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I wonder if others do something similar?<br />
Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-43287584969603436432013-02-16T00:52:00.000+01:002013-02-16T00:52:03.414+01:00Recognition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyG34pU2X_eZY758CkuvKcmEu5bggxGr3xx30F73AqXbuTzX8-y9I05sbKNDM3pdYm69wlHVqHzzAkigoZfQbGkyjSrH1Fa7BnZO_lNx6XPFODwZFXwaWQbREZU742J3evF957A/s1600/Pa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyG34pU2X_eZY758CkuvKcmEu5bggxGr3xx30F73AqXbuTzX8-y9I05sbKNDM3pdYm69wlHVqHzzAkigoZfQbGkyjSrH1Fa7BnZO_lNx6XPFODwZFXwaWQbREZU742J3evF957A/s320/Pa.JPG" width="212" /></a>Yesterday I went to the funeral of my dear Aunty Betty. She was the wife of my father's brother, Peter, and a beautiful, warm and lovable person, who died aged 88. I never knew my father as he was killed in the war, on 13 May 1943. I was 9 months - 'do the math' as they say. <br />
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This is one of the very few photos I have of him, looking so young and smart casual. It was taken at Middleton, near Bognor, where my grandparents had a holiday house.<br />
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Apart from this picture, the only other one I had was a studio portrait of him and Mum with me aged 8 months taken just one month before he died. My grandmother had insisted they have this taken, and no doubt she paid for it. Sadly, she may have had a premonition.<br />
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Then, among Aunty Betty's things, my cousin Chris Geale found this photo of my father's squadron. Initially there seemd little chance of identifying someone I never knew.<br />
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Uncannily, within 2 minutes I spotted him, thanks to an old magnifying glass. He is sitting in the second row back and is sixth from the left. Immediately I knew it was him. The saddest thing is to think how very many of these young men died. Many of them were Canadians attached to the RAF. All of his crew, he was the pilot, were Canadian.<br />
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And now he is at rest in this beautiful civilian cemetery in Holland, at Amersfoort. We visited there a few years ago to meet the daughter of Kees, who had looked after the graves and set up a <a href="http://home.kpn.nl/olgaenron/index.html" target="_blank">website</a> in memory of all those buried here.<br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-14344100644791184262013-02-08T21:37:00.002+01:002013-02-08T21:37:34.490+01:00Finding a voice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Painting continues to be my favourite occupation and now I feel that my painting voice is coming through. This acrylic painting was from a rather dull photo I took of a grey, sowy lane, one of my favourite places in the village. I decided to use a palette consisting of some favourite colours and within a couple of hours, this had emerged.<br />
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Could this be my voice? <br />
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Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-37359103371478722102013-01-17T15:35:00.000+01:002013-01-17T15:35:09.031+01:00Drawing from the life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the first time in years, yesterday I did some life drawing. When I mentioned to someone later how exhausted I felt, he said what could be tiring about being with a naked body and a pencil. Life drawing demands absolute focus and concentration, to be relaxed and yet controlled, assessing, measuring and marking. This is mentally, and to an extent, physically wearing.<br />
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Our usually garrulous class fell into the silent, rapt attention, like a flock of rooks at roost. <br />
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Our model Dave, who had never posed before, was exceptional,
perhaps because he was new to it. 10 x 1 minute poses were followed by 2 x 50
minutes. He seemed staggered by the spontaneous round of applause we gave him and happily booked himself in for next week. <br />
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All of which took me back to my Foundation year at Brighton Poly, as was, where the majority of the life models were female. The one young male model we had kept his knickers on, which was puzzling. Evidently, they were concerned about arousal issues... Our Dave kept his pants on, too. Which was fine. Total nudity may have been a step too far for a group of, mostly, 60-80 year old ladies, but had he been totally nude I doubt that arousal would have been likely. <br />
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All of which tied in serendipitously with a good Sunday Times article a couple of Sundays ago, by AA Gill (not my favourite) who organised a life drawing session for himself and other notable artists. At the end Emma Sergeant, the notable figurative painter, said "Amazing, isn't it? The feeling, the silence a nude body gives to a room." Spot on.<br />
Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-84510868158109886042012-12-29T16:23:00.001+01:002012-12-29T16:23:08.190+01:00Memorial amaryllisThose who know me well are only too aware of the loss I have felt since my dear friend Maeve died in December 2011. Fortunately, she has left many legacies in my life, from a Slightly Foxed tea mug, tin of string, a Persephone notebook which she insisted should be my commonplace book, a little cardboard box from Venice with lovely pink marbling, to knowing the importance of warming tea cups before pouring and, above all, the value of courtesy and kindness.<br />
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She had a special friend and neighbour who was her rock during her last months, Pauline, a feisty, down to earth fellow nurse, whose humour and strength made such a difference to that difficult time. In fact, my last meeting with Maeve was with Pauline as well, and typically all I can remember is how much we laughed.<br />
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Maeve was no horticulturalist. So, when her amaryllis went over, Pauline took it on and grew it to flower the next year. This year she gave it to me. Flower it has, spectacularly, with the added joy of remembering Maeve every time I admire it.<br />
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I decided to paint it in my usual rather slapdash style, one which Maeve admired (but, then, she always admired everything with 'what a girl you are!'). So, here it is, to you, dear lady.<br />
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Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-70673814401167112242012-12-08T17:25:00.001+01:002012-12-08T18:16:03.570+01:00Birch bark and sticky buds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Trees of childhood.<br />
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Birch, particularly this one with its glorious apricot lined bark. Surely any children lucky enough to live in the country has peeled the bark and used it as paper? I've been told that it makes wonderful kindling for the fire.<br />
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Horse chestnut, picking a leaf and stripping it down to a fishy skeleton - small pleasures. Now, I love the way the sticky buds start to appear to soon after the leaves drop. So optimistic.<br />
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This morning on<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p7fgv" target="_blank"> Radio 4 </a>there was a delightful programme about the magic of trees. There is more than you think to hugging a tree.<br />
<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-28392664369891754592012-12-08T15:37:00.000+01:002012-12-08T17:27:59.200+01:00Ditchling - Ethel Mairet & Tadek Beutlich<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having remembered Ditchling in my last post, recollections of houses and people have bumped around my mind since then. So, I have decided to write short posts on some of the people and their houses, as I remember them, either in myth or reality. During the twentieth century, Ditchling became a remarkable centre for arts and crafts and many notable artists have lived and worked there over the years. There is still a lively crafts scene as well as the notable Ditchling Museum (closed until next Spring for refurbishment).<br />
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Firstly, two weavers.<br />
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Ethel Mairet (1872-1952) was a craft weaver who moved to Ditchling in 1916, to a house she had built in the Arts & Crafts style. It was called Gospels. Here she created a vibrant hub for the craft scene, welcoming other influential weavers as well as the potters Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada. Of course, the Guild of St Dominic and St Joseph, founded by Eric Gill and Hilary Pepler was the focal point, but Ethel Mairet was one of others working in the village at the time, not directly associated with the Guild.<br />
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A student weaver, Tadek Beutlich (1922-2011), visited Mairet at Gospels with his tutor from the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. In 1967 he bought Gospels. This was when I knew the family. Our sons, my James and his Matthew, were pals at the village school. Many of my friends worked with Tadek as assistants, making it very much a village industry as it had always been. I believe there was a covenant which
precluded anyone other than weavers from owning Gospels which was lifted after Tadek moved to Spain in 1974.<br />
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Tadek's work was created off the loom and this was the sort of wall hanging which I saw there. <i>Bird of Prey (1972). </i>They were magnificent and huge.<br />
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I remember Gospels as a lovely
house with high ceilings for the main workshop room: Ethel Mairet had large looms there but Tadek needed the height for these large wall hangings. The Lutyenesque details were superb, leather thongs for the wooden
latches, high quality hinges, brackets, windows,
doors, and yet with an overall modesty. Most impressive were the huge wall hangings being produced using hunks and loops of wools, and large woven baskets overflowing with glorious coloured skeins of hand dyed wool.<br />
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Next post? I'll decide later. Quite probably it will be lettering. <br />
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There is a plethora of information on the web - here are just a few links.<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/YN8Cfw" target="_blank">For more information and image - Ethel Mairet</a><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jun/24/tadek-beutlich-obituary" target="_blank">Obituary of Tadek Beutilich</a><br />
The University of Brighton has written about <a href="http://bit.ly/YNfFVr" target="_blank">Arts and Crafts in Ditchling</a><br />
<a href="http://archiveshub.ac.uk/features/ditchlingcraftcommunity/" target="_blank">Ditchling A Craft Community</a>Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-47077725104565068322012-11-27T12:58:00.000+01:002012-11-27T13:00:18.707+01:00Small kindnessesToday the rather lovely <a href="http://www.writingourwayhome.com/2012/11/what-small-kindness-do-you-remember.html" target="_blank">Writing Our Way Home </a>would like us to write about a small kindness we have received. Mine is in the distant past, probably about 35 years ago.<br />
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I ran a small estate agents' sub-office, in Ditchling. It was the middle, red brick and timber house in this picture and a lovely place to work. However, I was going through nightmare domestic issues. There is no need to go into details, but one problem was dire finances.<br />
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One Friday, the door opened and in came a friend who shall be nameless, but was a barrister colleague of my then husband and is now a judge. He was wearing his court suit and over it a baggy Barbour jacket. Out of one of the inner 'poacher' pockets he produced a large leg of lamb for us the weekend. He was worried we might be going hungry; which wasn't really the case as I was resourceful. Nonetheless I was grateful not just for the food but also particularly for their love and support.<br />
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<a href="http://www.writingourwayhome.com/2012/11/small-kindnesses.html" target="_blank"><i>Follow this link to get Fiona Roby's book 'Small Kindnesses' which is free today.</i> </a><br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-10217134526327320872012-11-16T22:26:00.002+01:002012-11-16T22:26:58.225+01:00Toys for ... girlsHaving dropped my elderly compact camera on a cobbled street in Lagrasse in France, resorting to using an iPad as camera which was brilliant but awkward, today my new camera arrived. I'm told it is a bridge camera which means it is more complicated and does more than the compact but is not quite as hard to learn as a DSLR. Eeeew, I hear you say, this girl's a geek. I'm not, but I do love photography ever since I had an OM1 thrust in my mitts, loaded with black and white film and was told to go out and use all of the film around Brighton. (I was a mature, 34 yr old, art student doing the Foundation Course at what was then the redoubtable Brighton Poly Art College.)<br />
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The zoom is 42x which is superb considering you don't have to change the lens. Here are a few trials. I didn't know the snail was in the second one, until I looked on my laptop screen. Tomorrow I hope to try some atmospheric landscapes while we have these amazing autumn colours, and also black and white for my trees project. Oh bliss...<br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-51152411220475717552012-10-19T14:36:00.000+01:002012-11-08T19:47:46.748+01:00Seedheads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is a particular beauty of seedheads which may be their promise of fecundity, continuity or is it just the aesthetics of form, colour, texture? I love the dessication, the wisps and crispy bits, the prickles and pods. The colours are subtle and soft, autumnal and gentle. The runner bean pod cocoons polished ebony beans with splashes of magenta; the chinese lanterns are the exception to the subtle rule, glowing as they do in fluorescent orange (mine are rather washed out); teazels are protectively spiky. All are delicately beautiful.<br />
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The art group I belong to with tutor, <a href="http://carolinechappell.co.uk/" target="_blank">Caroline Chappell</a>, had a glorious day last week mucking about with these lovely specimens. Inks, frottage, monoprint, glue, bleach, all enjoyed with a large helping of good company and excellent cakes.<br />
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Shall I split the sheet, or leave it as it is?<br />
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We have an exhibition coming up at the end of November, so will decide nearer the time.<br />
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Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-41561619125041492822012-09-29T19:24:00.001+01:002012-09-30T10:59:00.997+01:00Stop, think, be in the momentI've just seen the title of my last post, "Pinepple" which sounds like one of those phonetic interpretations of upper class pronunciation, such as Prince Charles's "hice" instead of "house". Never mind. It is not critical, but does serve to show the importance of being in the moment and concentrating on what is, instead of what may be coming or what has been.<br />
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<img alt="Mindfulness book" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc8S803_0I_k-r6UO4Ni5BFWZA8ipiKdGtfRrZZPD8mkqwiqBSP0Xs-5TRk-Y00QENyO_J8_8uwtuT01bSyJD79m30jeMjSFjSfZ3lsV9BCFQB23SUWE2G2rFCPz3OA7f8cBb1A/s1600/mindfulness.jpg" title="Mindfulness Finding Peace in a Frantic World" /></div>
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<a href="http://franticworld.com/" target="_blank">Mindfulness: finding peace in a frantic world</a> is one of the best books to help anyone who is interested in Mindfulness, particularly as a way of avoiding recurrent depression (that's me). Mark Williams is a Professor at Oxford and at the forefront of the scientific interest in the benefits of meditation and Danny Penman describes himself on Twitter (@DrDannyPenman) as: Award winning investigative journalist. <br />
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For anyone who is interested, this is a way of conducting the recommended 8 wk introduction to the practice. Personally, while I admire and refer to it constantly, nothing can replace the real world experience of a course. Fortunately for me, <a href="http://www.yogaunlimited.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hugh Poulton</a> who is local, runs these courses and I recommend him highly. <br />
After the 8 weeks he provides continuing refresher sessions, sometimes drop in by donation and other times booked whole days.<br />
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Now all that remains for me is to breathe deeply, focus on this moment and proof read what I have written.<br />
<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-3625713731256168182012-08-26T15:10:00.004+01:002012-08-26T15:10:52.290+01:00Pinepple poll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while. Painting, not writing, has been my priority. And surviving life's vicissitudes. So now, when I shop, I am thinking of my health and creativity. I buy objects to paint, then eat. Pineapples are one of the most gorgeous objects to paint, with their intricate patterns, subtle colours and particularly the blue green leaves. Pears are the same, with purple and yellow hints. </div>
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The strange object behind is an old, unwanted (yes, really) paperback with the cover removed and the pages folded to create this rather beautiful piece. The tanned pages and the text add to the texture.</div>
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They sit in an marked and stained antique French wooden bowl.</div>
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Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-74713306185158494852012-07-20T22:24:00.001+01:002012-07-20T22:24:10.305+01:00Potty about pots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5Ex88ZDtwq74_NF8_LWTFmX8GciTxtB2mb0fGh3JfoR_bk2zsw6A3DMKUh36SVZaj7CBQlkXodx4QLqdj4tJTV1uLZA84AYcBwkKbnj5j_qhknCvkGpklXm6mvz3w-0hkewySQ/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5Ex88ZDtwq74_NF8_LWTFmX8GciTxtB2mb0fGh3JfoR_bk2zsw6A3DMKUh36SVZaj7CBQlkXodx4QLqdj4tJTV1uLZA84AYcBwkKbnj5j_qhknCvkGpklXm6mvz3w-0hkewySQ/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5Ex88ZDtwq74_NF8_LWTFmX8GciTxtB2mb0fGh3JfoR_bk2zsw6A3DMKUh36SVZaj7CBQlkXodx4QLqdj4tJTV1uLZA84AYcBwkKbnj5j_qhknCvkGpklXm6mvz3w-0hkewySQ/s200/IMG_2427.JPG" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.saraflynnceramic.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Flynn</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o8LUbaOcU66GO1sVVGa9R6gt-ptgQNyYpT7Q7KmzkYGniXh-7hUQ-JtpicNjoU0SkfWYTD8G5LLpHBbLZxdxv6-tfmKVbAhDN4L0ONRgVyTZc_Wp6BNyyavv3JTU5nAjnxmDYA/s1600/IMG_2268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o8LUbaOcU66GO1sVVGa9R6gt-ptgQNyYpT7Q7KmzkYGniXh-7hUQ-JtpicNjoU0SkfWYTD8G5LLpHBbLZxdxv6-tfmKVbAhDN4L0ONRgVyTZc_Wp6BNyyavv3JTU5nAjnxmDYA/s200/IMG_2268.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sjs-ceramics.info/" target="_blank">Sarah-Jane Selwood</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMYGLKmKcbhCOSj8K0RkG65wd7NwLe0dtzBGgoFEWwqaw6aCrLQk__yRqzNsTgRGgPu4vU_Fh6ae0SNJAypNOoV-yB-NIF22W8FCrPri1hlxUpOSuH1fG2lvO1PEa0iBfMqYyOA/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMYGLKmKcbhCOSj8K0RkG65wd7NwLe0dtzBGgoFEWwqaw6aCrLQk__yRqzNsTgRGgPu4vU_Fh6ae0SNJAypNOoV-yB-NIF22W8FCrPri1hlxUpOSuH1fG2lvO1PEa0iBfMqYyOA/s200/IMG_2413.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fossil in Selwood bowl</td></tr>
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Lately, I have realised how important The Pot has become in my list of favourite things. The largest sketchbook I could find (A3) is now starting to fill with sketches, photos and notes about pots. All my sketchbooks, including the smallest include images of pots. Morandi made pots the focus of his illustrious painting career. Ben Nicholson slipped them into his paintings, and his father William's painting technique produced incredibly lifelike and beautiful images of pots. <br />
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Which took me to a more philosophical level. What is so satisfying? Aesthetically, I find all pots please me, whether as art objects or domestic. I reckon it is connected with their circular or continuous form, containing, nurturing, preserving. Empty they are begging to be filled. Full, they are fulfilling a purpose.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv9KRa5HIlYCD5XTMVKpVklm1ZzXaiOx6Yn25SY_ILUQ3uOvt0tEFPi-WMFabXAUWjibU-xcWHf9YqoD-Y730dyy-0uwLWiMBQkJ3BGMG5_8mI5xGp3fjyxiwcfC7ihLSj12lBA/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv9KRa5HIlYCD5XTMVKpVklm1ZzXaiOx6Yn25SY_ILUQ3uOvt0tEFPi-WMFabXAUWjibU-xcWHf9YqoD-Y730dyy-0uwLWiMBQkJ3BGMG5_8mI5xGp3fjyxiwcfC7ihLSj12lBA/s200/IMG_2198.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.williamplumptre.com/" target="_blank">William Plumptre</a></td></tr>
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This William Plumptre slab bottle, and the Jim Malone bowl were bought from the potters' studios. The presence of the maker is important.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jimmalonepottery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jim Malone</a></td></tr>
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Yesterday I met some exciting young potters who are dedicated and highly professional. They are graduates of De Montfort and work as a collective producing individual pieces reflecting their personalities, in a spirit of sharing and co-operation. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuwIvfSH1oSnTJu2-beGjFMJlCp8Lqck3FEso5Gf_diZGeCu5D5Au5oSsN7wj38neNK_hOCH2fKH7tSDsq1CIjfoQ37RI0Fo5yamHvXenrI1x1itLvTfuQOw0fxFJR0VhPkVhPQ/s1600/sonya+viney+ceramics+photo+Nige0+lEssex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuwIvfSH1oSnTJu2-beGjFMJlCp8Lqck3FEso5Gf_diZGeCu5D5Au5oSsN7wj38neNK_hOCH2fKH7tSDsq1CIjfoQ37RI0Fo5yamHvXenrI1x1itLvTfuQOw0fxFJR0VhPkVhPQ/s640/sonya+viney+ceramics+photo+Nige0+lEssex.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sonyaviney.com/page1.php" target="_blank">Sonya Viney</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX3UcKHicCRXMt0CBBT8M0oGLjn28rmydz-bXz2QptEoZ0MOmkCTG3MAwUtl1ZNV-u60hiFzBumdE7W_47nbt-1UlyW41kzlvyV2te6slQ3lXXy9FSklVRgSG0wOVhyHrptsUnA/s1600/Rebecca+Fraser+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX3UcKHicCRXMt0CBBT8M0oGLjn28rmydz-bXz2QptEoZ0MOmkCTG3MAwUtl1ZNV-u60hiFzBumdE7W_47nbt-1UlyW41kzlvyV2te6slQ3lXXy9FSklVRgSG0wOVhyHrptsUnA/s320/Rebecca+Fraser+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rebecca-fraser.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rebecca Fraser</a></td></tr>
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I loved their work, particularly that of Sonya and Rebecca. I believe we will be hearing more of them in the future. They were charming. chatty and plainly dedicated to their chosen craft.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75QvNrKzKfXZgKhMJ1XfKbVfTW670w59SBl3JedQ2nWGAu6mqCJJBCqYxls3fPspHbuLANQrCar-G1CMB7L6cQx3kqc76DRUQ4eqOl-h8RPjbzLBg4e0zBpF5BW9reJtXmXWZ3g/s1600/IMG_2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75QvNrKzKfXZgKhMJ1XfKbVfTW670w59SBl3JedQ2nWGAu6mqCJJBCqYxls3fPspHbuLANQrCar-G1CMB7L6cQx3kqc76DRUQ4eqOl-h8RPjbzLBg4e0zBpF5BW9reJtXmXWZ3g/s320/IMG_2591.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSAe9nFxzYqpwNx-vapmdPv8wYFMLbPpQZfdZEd-t2rRf9Lt_r0Gh80Xy-H2ekTjgA46LtmxES9mXZgmziIAbSFC-NcOK54BAACNvlAIyONJYpHic6JDXa0uxo9JUSNwn89vEZg/s1600/IMG_2420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSAe9nFxzYqpwNx-vapmdPv8wYFMLbPpQZfdZEd-t2rRf9Lt_r0Gh80Xy-H2ekTjgA46LtmxES9mXZgmziIAbSFC-NcOK54BAACNvlAIyONJYpHic6JDXa0uxo9JUSNwn89vEZg/s200/IMG_2420.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
On the other hand, these pots of mine have little value and were machine produced, but have special memories, of mother, friends and places.<br />
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So, pots rule here, for now. Until something else grabs me. Or maybe I should start making.<br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-25036287080107691092012-05-15T17:04:00.003+01:002012-05-17T10:26:00.818+01:00Chardin and Edmund de Waal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At first glance, there might seem to be little connection between these artists. Currently there is a small exhibition at <a href="http://www.waddesdon.org.uk/collection/exhibitions/taking-time-chardins-house-of-cards-and-other-paintings" target="_blank">Waddesdon</a> of some of Chardin's greatest works around their recent acquisition of one of the great House of Cards series. The quiet calm is palpable. They are restrained yet assured, concentrated expression combined with delicacy.<br />
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At the same time our great ceramicist, <a href="http://www.waddesdon.org.uk/collection/exhibitions/edmund-de-waal" target="_blank">Edmund de Waal</a> has created special installations for Waddesdon. His particular theme here is the vitrine or case, which relates to his book "The Hare with Amber Eyes", referring to the family collection of <i>netsuke</i>. The restraint and calm of his work is self-evident. The simplicity and purity of his porcelain, with small touches such as the hint of gilt on this piece, generate a Zen like calm. Their beauty is understated, but full of confidence.<br />
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De Waal is an amiable living presence (I have this on good authority from a Waddesdon guide who has met him several times and had a personal tour of his work there). Chardin left us his beautiful paintings to ease us through the stresses and strains of life.<br />
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Good on the Rothschild's artistic interests and patronage.Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-82030608897543855892012-04-24T19:05:00.000+01:002012-05-01T11:46:29.894+01:00Escapism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was talking to a man who had been a child in our village, and he was reminiscing about picking bunches of primroses on the railway banks, tying them onto a stick and bringing them home for their mothers. Now, I know everything in the past was <u>not</u> better, but it does make you think how wonderfully free children were and how much pleasure they got from simple things.<br />
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It also reminded me that primroses were considered to be in decline a few years ago, and you picked them at your peril, and theirs.<br />
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All over the country it seems that currently, happily, the primrose family is flourishing and populating entire banks, lanes, lawns - everywhere. So I didn't feel so guilty about sneaking a few from the bank by our house. When I first lived here, about twenty years ago, there were none there; now it is smothered in these mixtures of the primula family. And, naturally, that led me to get out the inks. These are Brusho crystals, which mix with water. I bought lots of cheap little plastic bottles, mixed all colours with water and labelled them. This was almost as much pleasure as using them.<br />
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I'm the one we drools over boxes of coloured pencils, or pastels, arranging them into the sensible order of colour gradation. Always have. As a child I adored the Derwent boxes and my aim was to own the biggest box of 72, was it? Now I have 24 Derwent watercolour crayons and they are a great joy to use, and, of course, arrange in the right order.<br />
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The small pleasures are the best ones. <br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-32999056184546953422012-04-15T13:15:00.000+01:002012-05-01T11:31:24.673+01:00Nostalgia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For me, the most nostalgic tree is the horse chestnut. Embedded in my memory is learning, at kindergarten school aptly called The Spinney, about the saddle and horseshoe marks, which probably appealed because I was pony mad.<br />
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The tree is a complete experience, from the optimism and promise of sticky buds, then these fresh, early umbrellas of leaves; the glory of candles of blossom; the curious game we would play stripping out the flesh of the leaves to make fish skeletons; glossy conkers and their prickly coated, softly lined shells; their early autumn browning and crisping of leaves and early spring, earlier each year when sticky buds re-appear.<br />
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Just one of the many joys of mindful observation.<br />
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15677074.post-42472983063884511172012-04-10T20:00:00.000+01:002012-05-01T11:47:14.936+01:00Two favourite things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0rTZblVzMBoib9D1fyCh7gwVumvXONH_isIAdSQNJPkW9cce4cnVXu6OyDGQQY-SVPPa8RQ10Efl7jll6PMpz-XMA9SszrImHWjQHfy3MW8Lpe7CcN-4bYeuyIeZMQVIC4B2jA/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0rTZblVzMBoib9D1fyCh7gwVumvXONH_isIAdSQNJPkW9cce4cnVXu6OyDGQQY-SVPPa8RQ10Efl7jll6PMpz-XMA9SszrImHWjQHfy3MW8Lpe7CcN-4bYeuyIeZMQVIC4B2jA/s320/IMG_1986.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
What are they? A stoneware teapot given by a good friend, which is a joy to use - yes, it works, that is, pours without drips. It was bought in Somerset and is celadon green, probably fired with wood ash. It has a traditional, Japanese feel and look. It pleases me endlessly, being both useful and beautiful. (Since first posting this, I have now concluded it is by Paul Dennis - am asking him to confirm.)<br />
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The book is my <a href="http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Persephone </a>notebook, which I use as a commonplace book and now that it is more than half full, there is enough written and drawn in there to make a true beside reader. I have a terrible weakness for good notebooks and am thrilled to have discovered an old Moleskin book, with the elastic gone, which is all graph paper with a super marbled endpaper.<br />
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Persephone books are perfect, to hold, feel and look at, not to mention great reads. This notebook has lovely plain cream paper and a Duncan Grant design endpaper. I make no apologies for having written before about this treasure. I hope one of my children will keep it and pass it on. I like to think it sums up my tastes and what amuses or touches me. Not least is the great satisfaction in writing with care, rather than bashing at a keyboard. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gl0h_fERCay58Hi_8u7fIGAS0JZWJqFFiEWgQUD9g-e5judy3qcJrQ0dmTvJpc6gJwERr7baUHNorEYZTbX8bNdHVh8P0PuNz91QoKWuYzcdIAMKB1gt5eoHq11FMLtiZs0XsQ/s1600/notebook_endpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gl0h_fERCay58Hi_8u7fIGAS0JZWJqFFiEWgQUD9g-e5judy3qcJrQ0dmTvJpc6gJwERr7baUHNorEYZTbX8bNdHVh8P0PuNz91QoKWuYzcdIAMKB1gt5eoHq11FMLtiZs0XsQ/s320/notebook_endpaper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The endpaper - Duncan Grant design</i></div>
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<br />Daydream Believerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560934289619119084noreply@blogger.com1