A wonderful day out at Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk with my old friend Sally. 

It was a busy summer, well busy enough. And although I have indigo, cyanotype and rust experiments that I want to document on my blog I've been in easy space after the frenzy of preparation for the Blue Jacket Textile fair and just needed to revel in the late summer sunshine, to enjoy my garden and to begin to prep it for winter which is not so far around the corner. I've been sifting my compost heap which is always satisfying, and I've had one small bonfire.
Today, however, the weather broke which has given me a little time to read. That's the reason why I'm blogging today because sometimes I read a book and I just want to make a note of the title and author so I don't forget. This book is From A to X - A Story in Letters by John Berger. It's another library pick up and is a slow read for me as it has a quality that is akin to poetry, every word is potent and so it is difficult to absorb, but every word is potent and I am enjoying every word, and also the form. 
A part of me longs to write and another part struggles with that longing because when I do put down words they sound clunky and ugly. Maybe one day I will break through that vanity and let myself be. I know that I often encounter this block in art and the knack is to just do it and if it isn't good it's o.k. In a way it's a rule for life, better to take the risk than spend a lifetime wondering.
Anyway From A to X is giving me pleasure at the moment so expect a few little snippets over the next few days/entries.

I found this on you tube last weekend and it made me feel peaceful so I thought I'd share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfdu9pJ7GWk

Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon

Sometimes, I come across a book that seems to fall into my hands because I am meant to read it. This happened to me yesterday whilst at my local library. I don't generally read graphic novels but I was looking for a book I'd been recommended many years ago by Neil Gaiman and as I was searching for this I picked up Habibi by Craig Thompson. All I can say is read it, it is beautiful. I couldn't put it down. 

And I guess, while I am blowing my own trumpet, now may be the moment to put up a link to the Blue Jacket Workshop http://bluejacketworkshop.co.uk/ which is where I will next be showing my work.

I've just been looking back over the past year, remembering my journey, and pausing in the moment before I move into autumn, and what in many ways feels like a new year. After five years in education I still think in school years. One of my hopes when I left university a bit over a year ago was to continue working and to get a feel for who I am as an artist now that I have been cut loose. It has often been an act of faith. I am mostly quite broke but I love what I do, and that is priceless. And, all the artists I know are amazing, warm, generous people whatever their skill is. To be a part of that community is similarly priceless.
After I got back from the summer residency in Cumbria I was contacted by Emma from Norwich Resident http://www.norwichresident.co.uk/ which is a high-gloss local lifestyle magazine. She wanted to interview me and to have some photos taken of my home. She said that it would be in the September issue. I was pretty nervous and I tend to talk too much when I'm nervous, but both Emma and the photographer were lovely and this is the gentle article that she wrote about me and my home. 
I am on pages 70 and 71 Issue 16 September 2014