New Project

I can not believe how quick the summer holidays are flying past. Though the weather in England has not been that great I have been enjoying pottering and getting things done around the house. I still have loads on my list I would like to achieve before I go back to university...wether they all get done is another matter. We have been given a summer project to work on called 'Boundaries, Borders and Connections'. Its a great title and the possibilites are endless, its a challenge to narrow down the ideas. I have been pushing my brain into thinking outside the box..pushing my own boundaries...to come up with some ideas. I have been thinking about my interests, things that are happening in todays society and the visible boundaries that we see everyday. Im not giving to much away at this stage but i will update as soon as my ideas are set in stone. Do you find that when you are an outsider looking into someone else's work that the ideas pour in much easier? Once involved it seems to be much harder...or is that just me?? Ha!!! Think i just need to run with my idea and if it works then great and if it doesn't then no one needs to see it...ha!! Well on that note Im going to get started.....fingers crossed!! And to all my class mates who are working on this...good luck, I look forward to seeing and hearing about your ideas! xx

The French Life

I cant believe that I have been travelling around France and Im back sat in front of my laptop updating my blog! The country was amazing and so diverse from Mont Blanc in The Alps to Chateaus in Tudor Towns. There was so much to see probably to much for the time that we were there. Yet it didn't blow me away in the way I thought it would, dont get me wrong I loved it and would happily return but there wasnt that pull that i was expecting to get. For a while I have fantasied about living there and I was expecting that draw from England but it did not happen. Im not sure if my fantasies were to unrealistic or if it was that gradual change in scenery from the North to the South. However there was one place that I think both me and Mr M liked and the was Josselin in Brittany, in fact I think Mr M liked Brittany the most. We stayed in a very nice family run Hotel, there were six rooms in total and we stayed in the family room at the top of the house and had a whole floor to ourselves. The lady of the house was more than lovely and really took care of the guests. In the morning for breakfast a spread of various breads, crepes, coffee and tea was laid out and either a fruit medley or home made natural yogurt would be brought out to us. We sat on a big table with the other guests which was wonderful and gave a really homely feel. The only thing was most of the guests were French who spoke no English so me and Mr M, mainly Mr M would try our best to speak with them with the very little French we knew. It was an interesting experience but I will most definitely be brushing up on my languages. I think we both felt a little rude and ignorant to be travelling in their country speaking very little of their language. But it was all a learning curve and a wonderful experience. Now im home I want to be really getting creative but I dont know where to start, lots of ideas but not sure which one to choose. Also there is always housework to do...thats always a bit of a distraction, i find myself constantly trying to get organised. Tomorrow though I will get into it, once I am back from town I will be putting my creative head on!

Family Visits, France and Life

The last couple of weeks have been mental but lovely. My family have been visiting and its been great to see them, to show them the lake district and show them a bit of what I do. Though I must admit i feel that my creativity has been zapped from me and its been nice to have a break from it. I think its important to have a bit of time out, time to refresh, get new inspirations. Im off to France for a month with my man, we will be travelling to the Alps and along the coast. A budget trip so we will be camping which will be ace and will be a great way to get some inspiration. Also the break from uni will help to let all what has been learnt sink in, its been a mental year and I have learnt so much and im looking forward to doing some of my own things with my new skills. Well peeps I wil be back soon with some of my work from the last year. I do hope that for those who have dyslexia or a mental illness realise that there are so many opportunities out there for them and finding a creative outlet will really help. Speak soon. Big Hugs x

How it feels to be dyslexic...

I have recently been on the British Dyslexia Association website and found some information on how it feels to be dyslexic. I will copy a few of the quotes and leave the web address link for you to look at yourself. There were certainly a few quotes that I instantly related too. If anyone relates to this quotes I suggest getting it checked out and if you are a UOC student, the support that is available there really is great!!!

 The web address is www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Some of the quotes:

‘I see things from a different perspective.’

‘I can come up with solutions no one else has thought of and I think fast on my feet.’

‘When I am reading, occasionally a passage will get all jumbled up, but when it happens I have to read and re-read the passage over again.

‘I know what I want to say, but I can never find the right words.’

‘In formal situations, although I know what I want to say, I struggle, lose focus and then my mind goes blank and I panic.'

‘I have the right ideas, but I can’t get them down on paper.’

‘It’s like my computer crashing with too much information!’

‘Sometimes when I am being told what to do, the words I hear get all jumbled up in my mind and I just can’t take in what is being said to me.’

‘In general conversation with family, friends and colleagues they usually accept that I tend to ramble, forget and repeat,…. because that’s part of me’.

What to do next.....

It feels very strange not having any work to do. Essay finished and handed in which i quite enjoyed in the end. I focused on the arts and crafts movement, and learnt so much. I feel that my writing skills are improving too which is a bonus. I do have a poster to finish but that wont take to long i hope, i find photoshop to be a little confusing, so much to remember and i dont even understand my own notes. I am going to have a new approach to this blog as i want it to focus more on dyslexia and mental illness. Trying to do all on one blog may not be working as well as i liked so  I am thinking of setting up another which has more to do with my work. Well...i shall consider the new approach and get back to you. x

Stuck inside whilst its hot outside!

Why is it that when its hot outside you either end up being stuck in an office or working on an essay!! Well today its essay day as I no longer work in an office!!  The sun is pouring through my studio window  and the swallows are chirping away as they have been for the last few days. The life of a bird...able to fly free, do as he pleases, play kiss chase with the female birds. I wonder if the female birds like it?? Lots of male birds chasing her around. Well its Good Friday and I wish you all a Happy Easter!!! x

Two swallows chilling after a game of kiss chase.

Poignant Art

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2010/04/30/human-bones-used-to-make-art/

another link for some very poignant art.