A Kind of Work

I've been getting slowly engrossed in print making as of late. In particular, I've found that wood cutting, over lino cutting, is more therapeutic than I could ever have dreamed of possible.

It's a slow process (for me) - from idea on paper, to something I can scrape out of wood (or lino). Bearing in mind the colour inks I want to use, and how to bring a composition together, it takes a little brain power. I am sure, with time, sheer experience can take over and the process will be less brain intensive. I'm loving it, and I haven't started printing with the blocks yet! Maybe I'll always love the process more then the end product; and maybe with art that's the way it's supposed to be.

More Peeks

More sketchbook peeking. We're full of low level illness this weekend. What are you up to?

I've Been Ill

And when I say 'ill' I mean with a capital 'i'... like 'ILL'. I was fortunate to have picked up flu, real flu, not man-flu, not cold-call-it-flu-to-get-a-reaction flu. FLU. 'I' for 'ILL WITH INFLUENZA'.

So this past Eid was spent aching, shivering, sweating, hurting, unable to move or feeling as though I'd run a marathon if I did, and seeing the house go from 'small but homely' into 'Holy Mother of God, someone has broken into my house and committed aggravated burglary, found nothing and then trashed the house in anger'. Which is always a good look, right?

Now we, and by 'we' I mean 'I and my minions who I'm ordering around on pain of death' are trying put back the horse which bolted and clean the house. Leaves little time for crafting, or indeed anything except feeling sorry for oneself actually.

Laundry, which was once ridiculous anyway, is now insane fo' REAL. Carpets have been de-crunched, bedsheets changed, surfaces dusted and I'm craving creamy rice pudding as the evenings close in. And I've got my grump on. Thank the Lord for boilers, is all I can say. At least we are snuggly alhamdulillah.

Not to be a damp squid I do have a few images to share, not great, but you get the idea...









Before illness did striketh us low I had been getting steadily engrossed in carving and stamping and printing and all things lino. It's very absorbing, and a source of creative adventure. Books have been bought. I know. Because we don't have enough. It's another craft that has invaded my dreams and I wake up with more things I want to carve into lino.

So, that's what I'm doing - slowly learning more about this amazing medium and applying things slowly slowly.

And maybe if I can get on top of everything again and start keeping all those balls in the air that us mamas do without realising it, I may find time to do some more...

I Made an Impression

So. I've been following Geninne's blog for years, on and off. I've had a love affair with stamp making for years, on and off, too.

I couldn't resist buying the book any longer. It is so pretty and full of inspiring things and I've been inspired to pick up my sharp, pointy tools again.

Also been drooling over Angie Lewin's work. Again. And scrabbling around to find pennies for this book of hers.

I'm no good at this, but I do have fun. And it keeps me busy and quiet and stops me haranguing my family over their never-ending detritus and lets me focus on pretty things instead of crunchy carpets.