With apologies for any slurring, mumbling or hesitancy - it’s one go or nothing for I could ‘perfectionise’ it forever!
Hello, and how was your week?
Mine has been very pleasant, not a word I often use for it’s a word I might usually associate with describing something that is ‘fine’ or ‘adequate’. It has been a pretty unexceptional week, but has nevertheless been both agreeable and enjoyable (which is how Dictionary.com) defines the word. Since I last wrote I have spent a happy afternoon with my Mum in a shopping mall, probably not the shopping location of either of our dreams but it’s very functional and easy to get around by wheels if one has a bit of a wonky back. I bought a swimsuit and pair of trousers on impulse without trying them on and, quite incredibly, both items fit and please me! Practically unheard of.
The weekend was spent with family visitors pottering around Clevedon, a local town on the North Somerset coast/Bristol Channel, a little gardening and some rugby watching. On Sunday afternoon however I took myself off to a Creative Journalling workshop. Now I love a workshop (hence my hosting them in the past), the opportunity to learn something new amongst kindred spirits is something that rarely fails to lift my spirits, and this one was no different. I’m not a committed journaller, ‘nor have I ever managed to keep an art journal to record my endless ideas (despite more hours on YouTube seeking inspiration than I care to admit). However, Caitlin and Amy who facilitated the afternoon somehow made it all feel accessible to anyone, and I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the materials and using them to disguise some more vulnerable writing.
In The Garden
This week we took delivery of the bulk of the plants for the big empty border and I’m feeling the pressure to get them all in, but have first to wage a small battle with the re-emerging ground elder. I’m well aware this plant is going to be part of my life for ever more, but I’d like to try and give the new ones a fighting chance of establishing themselves before they have to muscle up to it too. The hydrangeas are clearly responding to my gentle cajoling for they are now very much less like dead twigs, but bearing green buds full of promise. I’m excited to watch this border develop.
The kitchen windowsill is now full of baby tomato seedlings, as ever I sew too many and more than I anticipate germinate. This leaves me with the somewhat murderous dilemma of having to choose the strongest and ‘best’ of my seed babies and either giving away or (I can hardly type it) pulling up and throwing away the others. I have cleverly delegated potato growing to Mike who has appropriated the other windowsill in the kitchen for chitting. He has in fact been head potato grower for a couple of years now and the joy of pulling fresh potatoes for supper is not to be sniffed at, their sweetness and flavour is incomparable to those we buy at the supermarket.
Mud, Fire & Smoke
I’m happy to report that last week’s glaze firing was successful and I had planned to spend a couple of days in the studio this week, but weeding has taken precedence over making. I will however be unloading the kiln once again to retrieve some pots I have bisque fired in preparation for Raku day at the pottery group I attend on Mondays. I have three pots on which I’d like to try out some different techniques, if I have time beforehand I will try creating a wax resist pattern/effect on one, a naked Raku glaze on another and a more classic look on the third. Keep your fingers crossed that the fire is kind to my creations!
The glaze I used on these pots below is one I’ve made, and I love the way it looks over the carved clay - what do you think? I really like the way the colour works so differently over the texture in comparison to the smooth sided cups.
Stitching Distractions
Sock knitting has not in truth progressed much, I still have just the one completed sock and a few stitches on needles awaiting my attention. However, inspired by my friends Jane (whose month spent working in Florence you can watch here) and Claire Chalcraft I have embraced the idea of decorative mending and am working on an old pair of Mike’s jeans. Whether or not he’ll approve when I’ve finished remains to be seen, but I’ve enjoyed stitching in the evening and when my foot needs a break, very much avoiding any striving for perfection but rather taking pleasure in the process.
Perhaps it’s the Spring Equinox just passing, less rain or the booking of our holiday in May, but I definitely feel more springy this week. I feel more accepting of the fact that there will never be time enough for me each day to squeeze in all the things I think I’d like to, but as far as I’m aware there’s no great rush for now. Anyhow, this morning I finally returned to the optician to choose some frames for my new glasses which I have been procrastinating for over 18 months now, indecision, as ever, my nemesis. However, between me, the assistant and another customer in the shop whose opinion I sought (and who gamely came and joined in) a decision was made and in a couple of weeks I will have new specs and be able to stop squinting at teeny tiny writing. Whether I’ll still like them by then is another matter!
Tomorrow we’re off to Birmingham to watch our younger daughter in her final drama school production, I can’t quite believe she’ll be graduating shortly and while we all know that acting is a tough profession to become established in I just somehow know that it will happen for her.
Wishing you a lovely weekend, as ever I love hearing from you so comment below or hit reply.
With love,
Vx
Oh my goodness, I LOVE that glaze over the carved clay. It's stunning.
I also loved this line: "Now I love a workshop (hence my hosting them in the past), the opportunity to learn something new amongst kindred spirits is something that rarely fails to lift my spirits, and this one was no different." --> I completely relate to this and wholeheartedly agree ❤️
Thanks for sharing this pleasantness 🥰
What a pleasant week indeed. I’m also getting new glasses. It’s so hard to find a frame that suits. I’ve reached bifocal age though I attempted varifocals which do a lot of things badly, so need to return. 🤓