world of interiors Link Love

I am in the middle of bit by bit, painting the shelves at the top of the stairs.  And so the other day I cleared off a shelf full of World of Interiors magazines.  I might sell them on ebay if I can. But then, suffering from a sore throat and feeling ill, I had a hot bath and went to be very early, and spent a few hours flicking through them.  And reading articles.  What I like about the magazineis that, it is not just posh sleek homes, but a real range of extraordinary spaces, some ultra modern, some seriously antique, some sleek and posh, and some really bizarre ones, like a perfectly preserved old gold diggers ghost town in a mountain somewhere near the west coast of America.  Or a man who lives in a squat above a stable.  A Mississippi boat house, all bright creole colours, or a chap who makes little stone bird houses.  Its amazing. And so are the tapestry hung castles, or the baroque 1930's over dressed New York appartments, all marble and lilac frills.  And this has sent me on a Interiors images and blogs wander.  I have the time.  I am in the gallery for another 5 hours and so far no one has come in,  they must be all watching the Royal Wedding.  I missed it.  Never mind, highlights later! 

Anyway.  I have found some great things I though I would share with you, in case you too like to look at interiors like I do. 

http://europeanchicdesign.blogspot.com/
http://ninasapartment.blogspot.com/
http://www.ruemag.com/ an actual magazine you can read online! its FAB! and its all linked to blogs and bloggers or etsy shops and so on.  Fabulous
and of course Pinterest   I love pinterest.
http://designheaven.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/house-tour-swedish-cottage/

http://abigailahern.wordpress.com/

Am loving it.  Am just dreaming away and having a fabulous time looking at pictures.  My favourite thing to do!

the day before the royal wedding

I have been paying so little attention to it all, I keep forgetting that tomorrow is a bank holiday.  Not for me though, off to the Blue Dog Gallery for the duration.  I am intruiged to see the dress, of course, who isn't? Well my husband isn't. But then he is a Scottish, republican, anti English, anti monarchist!! But he is still going to go to a couple of street parties, dammit.

I am kind of ambivalent to the whole Kate and Wills thing, though I do admire the Queen and Prince Charles (apart from his stance on architecture which is not always right by my book) and as my friend pointed out, the Queen could, if she chose to, be a better patron of the Arts.  I think that the people who thought of the Kate n Wills sick bag hit on a genius idea.  But I am glad that some folk out there are being sweet about the soon to be weds.  I mean, regardless of the rest of it, they seem to love each other and its really kind of nice that she gets to be a real life princess isn't it.

Me and Bub went to the fun fair today.  Its cheap (ha ha) Thursday where all rides are 99p.  Actually all rides are £1 as no one even bothered to offer me change once!  Bub had a blast, mainly on bouncy castles of various kinds, and rather dullish kiddie sized fun fair rides.  He did stand transfixed for about 10 minutes outside the ghost ride.  He bottled from going on it twice.  "I do want to go on it" (up we go to pay) Bub runs back down the slope, "I don't want to go on it" And we stood while he grasped my hand really tight as we watched the cars go in, and come out again.  While we stood there, two previously brave wee boys came out in tears and two pre teens came out declaring it to be RUBBISH! We didn't go on it.

Tonight as he was drifting off to sleep, he announced, " Mummy, when I am a growed up, I am going to be a Explorer".  I had plinky proud mummy tears going on.  Its the first time he has ever told me what he wants to be when he is grown up.  And I LOVE that its an explorer!

How about you? Are you going  to a street party? Do you love it or loathe it? Or have you taken full advantage of the many many bank holidays and headed off on holidays.  (though I have heard that Tenerife, Ibiza, South of France and Turkey are cold and rainy - boo)

By the way we bought the car.  All OK but marred slightly by the car not having air con as blatantly described in the ebay ad.  Am slightly gutted to find out that as it was a classified AD, there is nothing that I can do about it in terms of feedback on ebay.  I have written to them about it.  I did of course call, but the salesman, who seemed nice (don't they all) said that my husband had asked and been told about it.  Er no, mister salesman he says he hadn't.  And I would have thought, given the description, he should have pointed it out....Am a tad cross about that. 

2006 '55 FIAT Panda 1.2 Dynamic, 5 Doors, ONLY 36000 ML
AIR CON .. GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY CALL NOW ..

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                     on the UPSIDE I have a double portrait commission - hurrah.    

Poetry and my true art... beginnings

I cancelled playgroup today because I am ill. and so is S who does it with me.  We could have both struggled in, but I don't often cancel, and when I heard she was not well, it made me assess and.  I didn't feel like it at all.  I have a very bad sore throat.  Hub had it and I though I had gotten away with only having the same thing mildly.  But its kind of bad, and my glands are all swollen.  Am taking the morning off to lie in bed.

And wander around the internet.  I have been thinking (inspired by a section in the experimental art course I did with Amelia) about themes.  And Poetry which is a word I chose for this year.  And the metaphysical poets whom I read at University.  And of the words Awe Beauty Horror Joy.  Which I wrote a long time ago when I was feeling very raw and utterly connected with life and death.  Its all kind of deep stuff. And not all pretty and whimsical.  I don't think my art is necessarily going to be pretty and whimsical, whereas a lot of my craft stuff is.  If I am being utterly honest and heartfelt about my art.  I am more interested in ideas of the sublime, and paradox and life and death.  Its darker and weirder.  I got into the idea of Night and Day.  And of curating an exhibition based on that.  I need images for all of this.  But for now.  Am just starting to get the words out.

And something I have always loved, in the way of poetry anyway, is this line

Dull sublunary lovers love, whose soul is sense, cannot admit absense because it doth remove those things which elemented it

and the words starshine and quintessence.  And feathers.

paint news, suffolk news

I spoke to my mum yesterday, briefly, about returning to live with them in Suffolk (note, in a flat, in the vast old, rambling, falling down house they have).  It seems that they have plans, well under way, to sell off most of it.  Which is fair enough, as it is there house.  We are going to talk more to find out the details of their plans and where in it we could live if we lived there while and after the changes happen.  And what the changes are going to be.  Though, I have to say that from what I can gather the whole SPACE thing might be mute now, and hmm, I am not sure how I would like to live there without the massive garden and sheds and in a flat without a garden of its own..... There is still the idea of moving to Suffolk (for being close to them reasons and perhaps more space than we have here..), and this development and plans for selling all may not happen immediately.  But it changes the tone of things.  There is a lot of money locked up in that house and my parents would like to use it while they are still alive and I don't blame them.  Watch this space. 

And check out this picture.  I just bought a job lot of paint from someone on ebay.  We have been communicating quite a lot about it and she is an artist too.  This is my booty.  And a few extras.  Not massively cheap, but at about the same price as I would be paying via all the great websites and paint recommendations, and for better quality paint too.  Plus I like the idea of helping someone else declutter.  I believe in buying not new!!

suffolk or brighton

I am musing much at the moment about the various merits of moving to Suffolk (to live with my folks, not with with, in the same house, but with a separate flat sort of set up.  The reasons for are;

I often really want to go and live there as its so fab.  There is lots of space so there is a possibility I could create a studio there quite easily.  I have fantasies about setting up creative retreats there, I feel I could help my folks stay living there longer (if that is what they want, which I think it is). There is a great school for Bub to go to. We could rent our place out and make some money on it and also help my folks with paying them some rent (they have lodgers but feel too old to get any new ones as its too stressful).  We could help out with the holiday let. Hub loves being in the countryside, he loves to run in the garden, he would love to help out in the garden, and we could grow vegetables, lots of them.  He has friends who live nearby. I would have to make new friends, but there are a couple of nice ladies in the village I get on with, and  I am still better friends with my London pals, or my best mate who lives in Cambridgeshire now would be nearish. And it seems like all the people I really get on with very well are leaving or have left Brighton.  A sum total so far of 7.  I do know other people, but these are the folk I already knew or really wanted to keep knowing and got on with best. Hub no longer has to commute, which was one reason we didn't do Suffolk in the first place.  It would be lovely for Bub to know his grandparents and lovely for them to see him growing up.

On the down side, it has an edge of "going back to live with my mum" which means,  as lovely as she is, she is my mum and she can be annoying, in that, it can send my back to feeling like a teenager!  Not just that, but it would be sending Bub to the same school I went to.... which at primary, its not the same school really, its very different, but I don't know if I could do that to him older.  And the whole ferrying children about thing will be massive there.  There is no way it is safe to send kids out on bicycles in the same way that we did as kids, there are so many more cars on the road.  Not just saying that to sound like an old person! The house is gorgeous in the summer, but can be brutally freezing in the winter.  You have to have a car to do the tiniest bit of shopping.  Nearest nice pub is 3 miles away.  Hub was getting on with her really well last time we went up, but if he gets in a bad mood he could get riled by her, and he could be nasty to her, and I don't want to end up in a tug of war between them (been there before thanks, love em both, wish they loved each other more)

We would miss the friends we do have here, and the whole walking around the hood and being able to chat to folk we know.  Pubs on every corner, shops handy and near by for everything we need.  Take aways for Hub (he will say this doesn't matter, but he does like to nip out for chips and stuff)

And though it would be good to help them, it would probably mean, as the years go by, that I would become primary carer for my folks.  Perhaps I would want to move there and do that anyway.  I don't know.  But moving back would somehow implicity be acknowledging this fact of my parents aging and while I will have to face this anyway.... tis never the less something I pretend is not really happening.

It is all musing at the moment as we haven't really mentioned it to my parents!! But Hub brought it up the other day.  And it has often been in my thoughts.

experimental art

Just a quickie to remind you that the Spring Experimental Art course is starting on Monday. Run by Amelia who writes my favourite creative blog 101 bird tales.  Its a fabulous course and I  highly recommend it for so many reasons - mainly its fun, and you will discover new ways of  being creative that you hadn't thought about, it can unlock your creativity and get you going!!.  Sweet Myrtle is doing it again and has written a beautiful post about why it is so good.... check it out!

when I get around to organising my creative retreat.  Amelia will be top of the list to do a workshop I can tell you.

OH now it seems to be fixed!!! typical

I just thought all was lost and then there it was again.  What was that all about??  Hmm.  Now I can't even remember what it was I was writing about in those posts I lost.  And I even started thinking that a new blog would be a very good idea.  But hey ho!  I would no doubt take ages and ages getting around to it.  So I am sticking here for the mean time.

Its hot - very hot. I am even hotter in the gallery due to the lighting in here.  But no, am not complaining.  Looking forward to drinking a beer and eating in the pub later.  What else to do with a hot Saturday evening? 

I have been shopping on ebay for paints.  And I think i have a great deal for some good quality acrylic paints.  And I am helping someone else declutter at the same time. 

I have a feeling that life will soon transition again.  That was what I wrote about!  I feel on the cusp of a new chapter in my life!  I am utterly looking forward to the creative retreat Do What You Love. I have a space in a Brighton Artists Open Houses to put cards and portrait works in.  I will soon start my Yoga Teacher training.  And we are contemplating moving up to Suffolk  - again.  Its partly a great idea but not without *issues*. 

for some reason my blog seems to be broken. I can only write the titles. I can't seem to fix it. I will probably start a new blog shortly and let you all know. Sorry about this. Most perplexing.

can I write here yet? just checking.  if I can I will!

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending - Maria Robinson (author)

no it is not working. I am lost.

am trying again after having signed out and in again

can you tell me if you can see any posts from me? I write but they don't appear. apart from the title. bothersome indeed

My posts keep dissappearing!!!!! why???

transition

going back to child hood

a few things

Bub is ill.  I think it may be something to do with his immunisation jabs.  I don't know.  He is kind of OK but then runs out of energy completely and just hangs on me like a baby sloth or something.  He fell asleep again at 6ish.  Way early for the wee man.  He's restless too.  Its only 11pm and he has already woken up twice bawling for me, all sticky and flushed and wet with tears and sweat.  He was like this last night but seemed much better this morning.  Got worse again throughout the day and is like this again tonight.  I hope he gets better soon, poor wee mite.  I guess its better than getting real measles. 

We are off to Suffolk tomorrow for a jaunt to see my folks in the countryside.  We have a car that has been leant to us, by the garage that is selling us our car, because they haven't fixed the digital clock yet.  Kind of weird, but can't complain I guess.  Its a Renault Megane and I really don't like it.  No key, just an on off button and a smart card set up.  And no hand brake either. I guess I am old school but it kind of freaks me a little.  Getting used to it though.  Went up to Devil's Dyke with Bub and M (his pal, who I look after occasionally)  It was pretty spectacular up there I must say.  I took photos.  Must upload them.  Really ought to get back to bed before Bub wakes up again.  I just got the munchies and had to have something to eat.  Luckily there are no Weetabix around otherwise I would already have eating 10.  My new snack is to make a kind of Bircher.  Which I do by getting a mug, pouring in some muesli and a bit of apple juice and hot water and microwaving it till it goes porridgey.  Then I pour a bit of soya milk on it, and chop up a bit of apple and stir that through.  I eat it with a teaspoon and its pretty satisfying.  And I think it must be better than 10 Weetabix (am addicted to Weetabix and sugar and can seriously plough through them, one is NEVER enough)

a get stuff done post

• I need to go to the bank of scotland and get my isa transferred there asap
• get hub an isa there as well
• buy my paint, after careful study of my paint options and get the rest of the kit list.  my mum has some paint to look at.  probably some brushes et al as well.  try and keep the cost down
• get a folder and print out all my yoga notes I have so far, and file the ones I have already
• schedule in a yoga class this week
• get car insured (when we get the car - check on monday and phone up diamond - take quote ref with me)
• car road tax sorted
• make something to sell / give away at the DWYL retreat.   - a perfectly framed portrait - some hearts - some cards -
• get some facepainting cards done

Muchos calmer about PAINT!

Ah, I did have a bit of a flip out about paint yesterday!  It was like this enormous unknown.  And it seemed a very very expensive unknown too.  But I asked the questions of my fellow painters on Flora's course and I got answers.  I now know quite a bit more than I did (I started from zero so....) and I have been pointed in the direction of a decent quality MUCH cheaper paint with the suggestion that I buy a few colours in a better quality to mix up, and a colourwheel to show what colours to mix to make up my own colours.  Its all fascinating stuff.  I am going to get mainly System 3 paint which is more like £3.50 per pot/tube rather than the £15 that some can cost.  Still it is some expense, but nothing sooo scary.  And I am very exited about my colour wheel and this adventure into COLOUR I am going on.

Links later..... promise!

freaking out about paint

My kit list for the Do What You Love Retreat is very long.  And it includes A LOT of paint.  I have no idea about paint.  And its none of it cheap.  I so far seem to have made a list of just the paints I need and its amounting to about £400.  And then there is brushes and various stuff on top of that.  Its listed in ounces and just says acrylic.  But there are so many kinds of acrylic!  Fluid, in pots, in tubes.  And it says 3 different reds.  And 4 other colours you really love.  Which sounds find until you see just how many colours there are and you just don't really know the names of them.  I guess it perhaps doesn't matter, but when its going to cost £400 (at least!) it feels like it DOES matter.  I want to be as cheap as possible, without going so far as to spend a load of money on cheap paint and for it not to be worth doing in cheap paint.  If you see what I mean.  Hmm.  This painting mallarky is certainly outside of my comfort zone.  And a half.  And how am I going to order £400 worth of paint and bring it into our tiny house without it causing a ruckus.  Am freaking out.  FREAKIN. 

holidays ahoy

Oh my.  I have so many holidays I want to go on.  WE are all booked in for a family visit to the Santes in the French Alps.  And then my friend CVP has invited us to stay in her parents beautiful old watermill near (ish) to Rodez.  And I am invited to Ibiza again.  And the flights are currently SO CHEAP its just sooooo tempting.  And I have bought tickets to Port Elliot, but I am not at all sure we can actually go due to my teacher training and, well, time really.  I started this year with the one aim of going to the Do What You Love Retreat.  Which IS happening.  And though, yet it is not cheap and it is JUST ME.  I do feel I deserve it for the effort I have put into this year's earning so far.  Ho HUM!! 

Project Nim

I just went to the UK premiere of James Marsh's new film, Project Nim.  I worked on it very briefly.  Like 2 days of pick up archive shots.  None of which were used in the final film as it happens.  But still rather delightedly I got a credit!  I am so deeply chuffed.  To be fair they kind of have to being as I am member of Focal and that is part of the deal if I work on anything.  But never the less.  I got a feature film credit.  Most chuffed!

As for the film, it really is am incredible and moving story.  About a chimp reared to believe it was human.  Amazing archive footage of him playing with the family, and later, hanging out with the hippy keepers.  Its very 70's in so many respects.  And really very sad in places though am glad to say, not ultimately as tragic as it could have been.

just booked the flights to France!

Familie Sante last year

All a quiver, just booked flights to Lyon.  For the WHOLE FAMILY.  WE are going to visit some friends who live in the Alps.  I went there last January for my friend's 40th Birthday Party.  This time we are all going.  Yes, even HUB!!  She is booking us into a wee holiday flat for a super bargainous off season price and we are flying easy jet.  Never the less it is not cheap flying as a 3 and hiring a car too.  Holidays are pricey.  But still, at least we are all going together as a family.  I am so excited!  I hope that we all have a good time.  It will be slightly odd going to the Alps in the summer!  Mostly I am looking forward to Bub meeting up with V's little boy who is exactly the same age.    OH and not just that, we are buying a car.  AS of Tuesday.  WE will have a CAR.  We are SO splashing the cash this week!! Fingers crossed we had better keep earning the money for the rest of the year.  Because, quite frankly, I want to go to Port Elliot Festival, go to France again to stay with my friend, her son, her new fiance and her parents in their fabulous water mill in the middle of nowhere (her parents are fab! Its all about the eating and the drinking there!) Oh and I want to go to Ibiza again.  And um.  Oh yes my Yoga Teacher Training......  breathe........

Famile Sante at their front door in La Thuile

counting my blessing

I just wrote this on a comment.  I guess it made me think a little.  And here it is.

I wished for another one, but I guess at one point I didn't think I would get any, so to have one child at all is a blessing.  I have one beautiful healthy boy.  He is called Theodore, which means "Gift of God" and he is my blessing.  He is also so named for another reason. When he was inside and we did not know he was a boy.  We nick named him, "Little Bear".  On the plane to my brother's wedding when I was pregnant we watched "Night at the Museum" too many times (17 hours of flight - and its not a film I love! at all). And my husband, when thinking of a name was prone to listing lists of names and had gotten to lists of American Presidents.  When he got to Theodore Rooseveldt, I recalled the film and Robin Williams being Theodore Rooseveldt in it.  Theodore Rooseveldt was quite a guy.  He was brave, and fair and most importantly (to me!) he once famously saved the life of a Little Bear and as such, Teddy Bears were named after him and became popular toys.  Our son (Bub) is called Ted, after the Little Bear after Theodore Rooseveldt. 

I love naming stories.  I do still have names in my head, just in case we are blessed with another child.  But I must always remember how blessed I am to have our own, Little Bear, Gift of God.

not a good day (or two)

Oh, bums. And it was all going so well.  Actually its probably ALL hormonal as in I got my period sometime around 4am this morning.  Yesterday I had M (Bub's wee pal I look after sometimes) all day yesterday and found it really really hard.  I woke up tired and the whole day was a struggle!  M is very different to Bub and he just wonders off, and seems to forget his potty training around me which is actually quite unpleasant to have to deal with. Sorry I know I should be more, erm, I dunno, kind or patient etc. I do really love wee M he is a delightful wee boy, very funny, very creative etc.  But he does whine a lot, and wet himself, and wonder off.  The 3 'W's.  And I found it hard to retain composure.  And the day ended with Bub hitting me.  I was so tired I actually whapped him back, which I then felt really bad about.  Not like really hard or anything, but as a reflex to someone slapping me, I slapped back.  I felt really crap. And a crap parent to boot.  I was quite relieved to realise why I was so tense yesterday.  Though I am now also sad that I am not pregnant.  I logically know that being pregnant would be pretty hard and probably fraught with fear that it was all going to be OK.  But it seems I can't help but yearn for another baby. It really isn't going to happen.   I wish I could be OK with that.

BUT you know, it is hormonal, most of it.  And all will be OK in a day or two.  It would be nice if Bub gave up on this idea that it is funny to hit me.  It would be nice if I would shut up moaning and whining and get on with my lfe too! I have had 2 glasses of red wine and 2 huge bowls of cornflakes with brown sugar.  I am off to have a nice hot bath and go to sleep now. 

two results, oh three actually!

I may have mentioned it somewhere before.... but I got beautiful bracelet for mothers day.  I actually got it on the Saturday, as I was working in the Blue Dog Gallery and Hub and Bub came to visit me, and Hub asked if perhaps I might like to choose something from the jewelry section as a Mother's day gift.... er, YES PLEASE! I chose a bracelet and then he bought it with my staff discount.  I love it.  I am not sure who it is made by, but all the jewelry is handmade by designer makers.  So here it is.. ........
Not only that, but you may notice my red nails.  I am a bit of a nail varnish fan and today I finally found a red nail varnish I have been on the look out for.  Its a kind of bricky red, and I spotted it years ago in a magazine on a model.  I cut out the picture, and its in one of my pre Pinterest scrapbooks with a note, "brick red nails, short nails".  I didn't know what nail varnish it was, so I have bought many reds thinking I had got it right.  Today I had a morning off (ish) and had a bit of a gander about town.  Amazingly there was very little I wanted to buy.  I was kind of please, my capsule wardrobe must be working.  I kept thinking things like, I could get another pair of skinny jeans, but I have a pair.  Oh.  etc.  I vaguely liked a top in Zara.  But not enough to really want it.  And I did lust after a Mac Air and the iphone 4.  But that was it.  Pretty cool.  Until I was in Debenhams and saw Red Fatal by Chanel.  Oh yes.  I am very happy!! 

i spent the very warm and sunny afternoon at home with Bub.  Hub has gone to look at a car we are probably going to buy.  We have been a year without one, and though this does work, Hub really misses not having one, and I must say that the whole idea does now feel like a really enjoyable luxury.  I think we will really make the most of it this summer.  Here is a picture of our (soon to be) new car. Very blue.  At least we will be able to see it in the carpark! Actually I rather like it. 

yoga teacher training

Just been to my first meeting of the Vajrasati Yoga Teacher Training.  I am slightly um, scared!  Its like standing in front of Mount Everest as a novice climber and being aware that this is the mountain I am going to climb.  It is requiring a BIG commitment of time.  I am going to really have to work at scheduling it into my life.  I am only 'allowed' to miss 2 sessions per term.  I am already missing the first session due to the Do What You Love retreat!  And hmm, I have so many holidays already planned in my head....I have explained that I will try and juggle everything so that this term looks OK and that I will get better as I have fewer plans set for Autumn and Winter.  There is a buddy system and we are expected to meet up regularly and there is 2.5 hours homework a week and 3 hours actual tutoring and then we are kind of expected to be doing 8 hours of practice a week too.  Though at the same time we are not to stress about this.... HA.  Its kind of huge.  There are only 5 of us doing the course.  And so far everyone seems really really cool.  I think we are going to get on really well.  I hope I can manage to carve out the time for myself on this one.  Its a biggy!!

Spring Experimental Art Course: Enrolment now open

Just a quickie to let you know that the spring Experimental Art Course is starting on April 25th.  Its a cool cool course that will get you being creative outside of your boxes!!  Stretch your creative wings and give your inspiration a boost....   click here to check out the details.  http://www.ameliacritchlow.co.uk/section354449.html 






Hum and as for me these last few days have been taken up delightfully with a visit from my parents.  We had a yummy and massive Sunday lunch at the Walmer Castle, followed by a jaunt into town, followed by a meal at ours.  Then they went off to their hotel and I went out to the Walmer Castle AGAIN! My Mummy friends had organised a nite out for the Mothers amongst us to celebrate ourselves (it was Mothers Day here in the UK)! Go us.  We were 14 in number and I think we frightened the bar staff!  HA HA!  Had an excellent time and did not get hungover.  Go me!  Then today I wandered around the nice bits of Brighton with my folks, drinking coffees here and there, visiting the Blue Dog Gallery and talking shop there (my folk are involved in the Arts and Crafts 'scene' in Suffolk) and then this afternoon, taking full advantage of the weather and the fact that they have a car, we drove out to Spring Barn Farm and fed the lambs, went on tractor rides and had a splendid time.