Thursday 14 January 2016

A Theme for the Year

or

From the Mouths of Babes


I was recently discussing New Years Resolutions with my niece Katie. She's 9 and what my grandmother would call "an old soul". Frankly, the kids awesome, not being biased, there's none of my DNA in her, but she's got most things pegged.

Me: So, it's the New Year K, I know some people make New Years Resolutions but I thought maybe we should have a word as a resolution, like a theme for the year, such as "kindness" or "thankfulness"......something we should work towards, what do you think?

K: Oh I've already made my resolution, I'm going to try harder in class, I don't like having rows for not concentrating, so that's my resolution.

M: So, that still works, your "theme" is concentration, now........what about your dad? What do....

And she replied before I could say anything

K: Oh that's easy Dads is SCROOGE!




As I said, she has everyone pegged.



Tuesday 5 January 2016

Fauxidermy, Textile Taxidermy, and the inspiration behind each - Marie clare.

Fauxidermy Beasties and how I name them!


I love locking myself in the Craftorium, late at night, with re-runs of some obscure comedy on the goggle box and a big vat of coffee. Sometimes the odd alcoholic drink, and some biscuits. These late night events in the Craftorium usually result in me trying to make a piece of Fauxidermy, or textile taxidermy as it's sometimes called. With a BSc Hons in Zoology, and parents who both have PhD's in biological sciences, and for that matter a husband with zoology BSc Hons too I suppose you could say I come from a natural world background. My interest in the natural world and my love of animals manifest in the Craftorium in the creation of my beasties!

I'm afraid I anthropomorthise animals, and it's the same when I make one in the Craftorium. I give each one a certain look, a character and also a name and date of creation.

Marie Clare the Fox
Marie Clare was one such beastie. I named her after a friend I met through the antiques trade, a well known Vintage dealer, with long legs, sparkly smile and a glamorous look. When I made the model with the turn in the head, and long eyelashes she spoke of delicate femininity, but she was still a fox, she'd nip if you didn't treat her properly........much like my friend MC. You see Marie Clare is the kind of woman you want your daughter or niece to learn from, a strong woman, a character trait to be admired. Even in todays society women at times still need to fight their corner, so weak and feeble just wouldn't do.

Well, Marie Clare the fox wasn't with me long before she was snapped up by another strong woman, a lady who runs Herbs on the Hill, Frome. Kate who bought Marie Clare the Fox, is frankly equally as strong! A successful business woman, who's known for business acumen and lovely products, she was attracted to my Fauxidermy beasties because they speak to the free thinkers, the people who stand out and aren't afraid to be different. The people who don't want to be run of the mill.

As Kate walked away after purchasing, laden down with her model Fox running for the train, I couldn't help but wonder, "do strong women, attract strong women?" or in this case "do model foxes named after strong women attract strong women?" I'll be honest I haven't got a clue, but what I do know  is I hope, when needed, we can all be called strong women, who raise strong children. After all, I wont be rushing to name a model fox after anyone weak and feeble now will I?

Friday 1 January 2016

Hello 2016 - Good bye Resolutions

Hello 2016
Good bye Resolutions
So, the last firework went bang and the clock chimed midnight as I sat in front of the open fire looking at the dog.

She looked back at me, gnawing her favourite toy and I couldn't help but think, she's got it good.
I thought because it was New Years Eve I would have a list of resolutions. A list of things that I'd like to alter about myself but looking at the dog I realised there wasn't much point.

You see the best thing about being her is that she lives in that moment. She didn't care about what was going on around her, she was in the moment, the chew toy and fire meant as far as she was concerned, life was pretty good. So why cant I be more like the dog? I'm not concerned with resolutions to alter myself because if I'm in this very moment, as long as there's a bed, a roof and some food in the cupboard, I too have it pretty good!

So here is the only resolution I'm making, and I urge you to make the same, my resolution is I have no resolutions. I'm ok as I am. I intend to achieve this by not worrying, by being more like the dog, a little more "in the moment" and a little less "what if....". I will just be, the things that I stumbled over, I'll leap over in 2016, because worry wont weigh me down.

I will make a semi resolution though, nothing cast in stone but an attempted nod towards the tradition of resolutions if you like....I resolve to try and blog regularly.