❝November Knows❞

❣ For Friday ❣

For Friday has come around again and as somebody said to me this morning, it's only five weeks until Christmas.

This troubles me a little.

This week I have been running 'on the spot'. There's a lot of movement, a lot of arm flailing but I'm not getting anywhere. My mind is going overtime and a half

I woke up in the night and wrote this:-

The doubting begins & I don't know what I need to do anymore. Could I twirl into an about turn and become another creature? But the same glum one stares back at me in the unforgiving mirror. I want to learn to write in Japanese and become as unflinching as a cat. Become a discoverer, a tightrope walker, an astronomer, a chef, a poet, a soother of wounds there is no medicine for. Become a fairy on a Christmas tree, I'll be a bauble that dangles and leaves a cloud trail in the night. A scarecrow in a field might have more warmth than me so I shall become a student of garden gates and solid fridge air.

I dunno?

Just sharing. That's what blogging is for...

Actually I am filled with a giddy excitement about a new project I have dreamed of for years. It's starting to become a  more tangible shape now, I can actually put my finger on thoughts and hold them like struggling beetles so it's closer to realising and I have much much work to do. I wish I could tell you more but for now it's a shushy thing. All will be revealed in 2010. I suppose my night ramblings are the twinkles of self doubt but my dad always said "you can do anything you want" so I'm going to believe in my bigger picture. For him, if not for myself.

Have a lovely weekend my treasures. You are the jewels in my inbox.

〖jumping through the week〗

Thanks to all you lovely dreamy people for sending me your festive lusts, I mean lists. 

It was fun reading them all and the one that I thought would make a 

grand design was this one which I have typeset and am preparing 
to have made into a printing plate. 

The only thing is...it was sent by 'anonymous'. 

Please, please contact me anonymous. 

I want to thank you properly for 80% of designing my card.

Obviously I will share the making process, the swearing and thrashing of my Adana as it happens live from

behind the hedge.

It's been a couple of really busy weeks and looks like it's about to explode with busyness again. 

I am flying to India on 1st January so the blog will be going very "beyond" for a while.

I aim to keep you updated with tales from there which will predictably contain yogic anecdotes

and lots of talk of food and heat and my funny landlady. You are going to love her kitchen.

More on that soon.

I had a great time teaching rubber stamp making at The Make Lounge  

We've been making stamps like this and turning them into labels, tags and cards. 

Tremendous fun and I keep forgetting my camera to show you the amazing things people have been making. 

Will try to remember for the other workshops.

Tagged by Suzie {who seems to live an idyllic existence in France taking photographs (proper ones) visiting 

gorgeous places and no doubt drinking vats of red wine} to choose a 

song that makes me happy and I have chosen

"Lovely Day" by Bill Withers 

because it made me happy when I was a kid and I remember my dad 

singing along with it trying to hold all the long notes. 

I still smile when I hear it now and it's almost always a lovely day. 

I don't usually choose songs that make me happy, 

I usually listen to dark things that make me feel a bit melancholic, 

which must be why I am so bursting with sunshine!

Can't find a video link to Bill Withers, 
probably because the song is as ancient as me.

But, I wanted to leave you with this video I found that makes my head 
feel funny and happy in a sad way?

Look, it's not easy being me.

┉ one page wonders ┉

Last week I had the pleasure of running artist's books workshops at The Southbank Centre for half-term. I was holding court outside The Saison Poetry Library which was word heaven for me.  All those books and publications to drool over.

The Poetry Library is a wonderful free resource in London and it is an oasis of calm on the fifth floor of The Southbank Centre. The workshops were great fun and I met some really lovely families joining in the creative jollities.

We were making books from one sheet of paper which is really simple and very effective with a smattering of applied creativity. And best of all, it was free to drop in and make.

I had a splendid time.

Pictured is one of our creations. "Motheaten"

I'm still collecting your Christmassy lists and hope to make some decisions by the end of the week. It's not far away is it? 

Gulp. I'm planning a proper family time and I am decorating my lounge in anticipation of my new couch which is scarily gorgeous and filling me with fizz. Please note that I get about an hour a day to proceed with said renovations which means I am living in a total chaotic slump. But it's nice to let it all go.  Shrug. 

Mess schmess...

✢ ✣ ✤ list for halloween ✢ ✣ ✤