grump alert.

I'm no good at new year round ups... I get too nostalgic and sad, it gives me a very slight feeling of panic, like I've forgotten something and I can't think what... In fact I think it would be right to say I don't really like New Years Eve at all...

A whole year. Another one gone. Like I said yesterday, time makes no sense to me. I have a sneaking suspicion its not real at all...

On a happy note, I got a new origami book for Christmas; 'Marvelous Modular Origami' by Meenakshi Mukerji, and I intend to spend at least some of tonight folding units to make one of her beautiful floral balls...

This is a day lilly (folded by Mukerji) and I think it certainly makes up for the grumpy tone of this post... (at least I hope so!) 

thoughts

Sometimes, when I'm feeling quiet, I like to look back through my old note books, have a good old read. I like how ideas come back to me, fresh as the day I wrote the words, as if I'd pinned them there.

I used to write notes to myself, specifically to read in the future. I still can't get my head around time passing... 

And sometimes things seem clearer now, things I couldn't understand at the time. They slot into place, and perhaps even make sense. It comforts me, and I try and remember that in time things happening now may fit into place that way too. 

Anyway, this particular note book I was looking through the other day is from about 5 years ago. An unhappy and unsure time in my life, I was doing a lot of traveling backwards and forwards, feeling disjointed and spread too thin. I was studying on a course that deep down I felt wasn't right, a course I eventually left (and few months of my life that taught me to try and listen to my heart, although thats easier said than done isn't it...) The course made me feel like I didn't have a clue, and I wrote this in my note book...

when you make people feel stupid for not knowing things they start to pretend they do, and then they begin to make others feel stupid in the same way, because they don't know either

And it really rang true to me. (I hope it makes sense outside the context of my head...) I want to keep this in mind when I go back to work next week. I think its sometimes hard to remember that just because you know something inside out, that others may not. I think this is especially important in an educational establishment, where people are there to learn, and I don't ever want to make someone feel stupid for not knowing something...

And its sunny today.

3 books

It's funny weather today, all raining and windy, blustery, leaves flying all over, then all of a sudden sunny, clouds blown away and everything golden... It's inside out umbrella weather, and rain down your neck. Which is why I'm extra glad I can appreciate it from the cozy warmth of my armchair... 

I've been having a nice break (despite a christmas cold, don't you love those!) and doing lots of thinking... (and eating, don't forget the eating) I got lots of lovely presents for Christmas, I'm sure I don't deserve them all...  

3 round cornered books from 3 lovely friends...

First, a Moleskein with a difference...

An accordion moleskein! How perfect :) But I'm sure I will never dare write in it, it's too nice an object on it's own... 

'Wayside and Woodland Trees' by Edward Step, published 1940. Beautiful illustrations... (and it smells nice too!)

And when I unwrapped 'A Field Guide to Weeds' by Kim Beck I thought it was a coincidence; another plant identification guide (and that wouldn't be a bad thing, trust me) but on turning the pages...

The weeds grow and spread with each turn of the page. Beautiful.

Hope your days have been relaxing too x

branches and stuff

I thought I would try and fit in one more little post before I give in completely to the upcoming festivities... Life is still hectic (I'm sure you know how I feel!!) and I don't think it's going to calm down for a few weeks yet :)

Still no pictures of what I've been up to; still too dark and dreary, just some branches I walk past in the morning light. Snapped on my way to the bus stop...

Frosty mornings. 

Happy holidays!

6 days later...

Saturday. Already. I think I need to accept that I won't be able to post on here as frequently as I would like (which would be every day in an ideal world..) A few things seem to be conspiring against me; the dark nights are no good for photography, no good at all, and the fact I don't get in from work until half 9 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays seems to leave me not much time to spare...

But I shouldn't complain, should I. I'll just have to save up the things I've been up to and splurge them all out (with daylight lit photos!) towards the end of the week.

This week I made some monoprints. I won't subject you to them all (far too many, about 50, wouldn't want to crash any one's computer...) but here are a few of my favourites:

See more on flickr. Oh, and 7 random things, coming soon! (Thats if I can think of any...)

slow day

Rainy day. A good excuse to stay warm indoors and do a little bit of sewing (and knitting, and drawing, and watching the crows pick things (moss? insects?) from between the slates of the roof opposite my window) 

Sewing machine on the dining room table because everybody is out....

Tutorial here

And the finished gloves (well, glove. But the other one is there, I promise, making itself useful and holding the camera). Sunday.