Not Quite Normal Service Just Yet…..

Well, not quite back into my previous blogging rhythm just yet. And in fact, I’ve decided to give myself till the end of the year to find a proper format again. I will be posting a little more regularly throughout December though, as it helps with those ” end of year reviews” to put it in writing .

Anyway, today’s news is that I’m featured over on Stephanie Levy’s ” Artists Who Blog” website and I’m really delighted to share that with you here. We got in touch  earlier this year when we found out  that we had a year long European project in common . She is currently almost half way through her project – and I’ve really enjoyed seeing the images and hearing the stories so far. I was also lucky enough to meet her when I went to Hello Etsy in Berlin and we had a great time comparing notes.

She creates beautiful mixed media pieces based on the European cities she is travelling to or imagined interiors – watercolour and collage in vibrant colours – they are gorgeous – go and have a look !

Back Again – A Quick Hello !

By the date I can see that it is exactly a month since I last posted here. That was an unintentionally long break from blogging. Well, it wasn’t even intended to be a break. It just worked out like that. But thanks for keeping the faith and popping back again !

Sometimes I manage to be rather organised and pre -schedule a couple of posts to smooth over any times when I will be away. But this time even that went out of the window.

Anyway, I’m back at my studio now, and should be based in one place for the next few weeks. Hopefully that means I’ll be able to get back into a proper rhythm.

Ironically this blogging lull has occurred at the same time as I participated in a blogging course.  I’ve had quite a lot of food for thought and changes that I’d like to make. ( You might notice the header had a bit of a freshen up ) But just not the time online to carry it through.

Of course, just as I found when I had the AudioBoo break, once you stop, the habit is broken and it seems really quite difficult to get back into the swing again.

Or perhaps it is that the time away allowed me to reflect on my I blog and what I want to write about here.  And also that I even quite  enjoyed this blog free month. In any case, I think having blogged fairly consistently for a few years it is not a bad thing to review why I blog and the shape I’d like this blog to take in the coming year. Oh my, it is still only November and I am already considering next year.

Of course, I wasn’t offline completely . And my new favourite thing is Instagram. I did download it last year but hadn’t really understood how it works. There are a number of filters within the app itself and I thought you were restricted to using only these. I like to tweak and edit with any number of apps so I discarded Instagram. However prompts from a couple of friends encouraged me to have another look and I discovered that it is actually very flexible and versatile. And I have enjoyed seeing the work of other enthusiastic Iphonographers around the world. If you use Instagram please let me know so that I can have a look – if you’d like to find me I am rhiannonmc.

Five on a Friday – a Connections Round – Up

( The image is “Tea in the Hague” – Polaroid Painting – and available here. )

In another of my “Five on a Friday” round ups – this time I thought I would pull together five of the posts from the archive where I talk about the different meet ups and events I’ve attended during the last  year or so.  At the start of the year I set myself the goal to accept any opportunities that came my way this year, to connect. And there were a good few events that presented themselves. Some were smaller and inexpensive and others were frankly luxurious and a real treat. But each one has been worthwhile. Hopefully some of these posts will encourage you to find something local to you and get out from behind the computer. If you’ve attended something this year I’d really love to hear about that too.

The Do What You Love Retreat in Yorkshire – well – that took several posts to cover completely but here is a start.

Meet the Blogger in Amsterdam - an event that was based around Holly Becker’s book Decorate.

The Impossible Factory visit - back to Holland again for this as they are in Enschede over towards the German border. There was a very international mix here none the less, from France and even Italy, as it was a rare treat to see inside the Impossible Headquarters.

This one is in a rather different category as I didn’t travel far afield, but instead joined others from the local community ( and quite a few from abroad) who turned up to witness this rather bizarre local custom – The Burry Man of South Queensferrry.

Of course not all connections are one – offs – this post about the launch of a local craft group, Granny Greens - still going strong a year later though at a different location  - Fredericks Cafe on Frederick Street from 6-8pm. If you are in Edinburgh whether visiting or local you are welcome to pop in. Despite the name we are of all ages and I’m not sure that anyone is a granny !

Ringing the Changes

Drying in the Sun  - Polaroid Painting is available in my Etsy shop.

You might notice a few changes around here today. I’ve freshened up the header and switched templates too, in fact. This is something I’ve been meaning to get round to for a while but just always slipped to the bottom of the “to do” list. Now however, I’ve been participating in the “Blogging Your Way” e -course organised by Holly Becker from Decor8. ( Who you might remember , I met in Amsterdam at a Blogger’s Meet Up ). This has given me a bit of impetus to make some changes. I don’t feel that this header or format is what  I will settle on long term – I still feel a few changes brewing. But I just had to get going and at least get started with the new look.

As far as the course is concerned, I really only have good things to say about it. The material is very thoroughly researched and presented. And delivered in such a way that there is plenty of time to keep on top of the work. I was a little concerned when I discovered just how many people were doing the course, whether it would be possible to make many connections amongst so many. But Holly has a few tricks to make sure that it is easy enough to connect to people, especially those who might be nearby. I am already looking forward to meeting some of the Dutch bloggers in a couple of weeks time.

Courage

Hydrangeas and Pears – Fine Art Photograph on metallic type paper – available in my Etsy shop.

” Art is not often commissioned. We commission ourselves to make art. A young arranger works three years on a musical project that may or may not meet with a warm reception. A playwright wrestles with draft after draft, trying to bring to the stage the drama that unfurls in his mind. Artists love other artists , and part of what we love is their courage” – Julia Cameron from  ” The Sound of Paper”

Blogging and AudioBoos have been a little sporadic of late. There is a lot going on behind the scenes. Normal service should be resumed shortly !  I am also cooking up an art swap this week – so check back in a few days if you’d like to participate.

Also on the subject of Creative Courage, I have been participating in an e-course  with that name ,run by the talented and lovely Stephanie Levy. It is only half way through but I have been finding it such a joyful experience. She is hosting another round at the beginning of 2012 and you can find out all about it here.

Hello Etsy /Berlin Video

Paris, 12 City Project, Polaroid Painting – available in my Etsy shop.

It took a little while to pull together, but after attending a video blogging seminar at Hello Etsy by Niamh Guckian. ( Link to her seminar is here ) I decided to have a go. Unfortunately this was on the second day so I didn’t attend the whole conference with this plan at the back of my head. I’ll be doing a couple of blog posts in the next few days about the content of the conference.

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And I am also going to be launching an art swap in the next couple of days – so be sure to check back.

Creative Drought

“When we are in a period of creative drought , we must believe that we carry our own water, that we can gently tap the inner stream if we are kind with ourselves, and patient. The grace of creativity is a great underground river. It flows on , untouched by the events and the apparent droughts of our outer life. Like the great rivers that flow within the earth , it is there, waiting for us to acknowledge it and dip into it with humility. “

Julia Cameron, The Sound of Paper.

Today’s AudioBoo is here
I’ve been doing these little mini podcasts for a while, mostly on weekdays. Short bursts of about 3 minutes long usually, just reflecting on something that I’ve been thinking about that morning. One of the biggest benefits to me is that they mark out a weekday from a weekend. And anyone working from home or a home studio will know how easy it is to blur the lines there.

 

Blue vintage car, Polaroid Painting – available in my Etsy shop.

Daily Action

“Inspiration grows into full scale creation through persistence and imagination. The daily action exercises both.  Doing your daily action every day ( seven days a week) , at the same time of day, will make self-discipline a habit. In this way , the daily action reinforces the truth that tiny steps can scale giant mountains. Once your action becomes incorporated into your life, it will become a ritual imbued with its own power – the power of your own energy , focus , and joy.”

Carol Lloyd, Creating a Life Worth Living.

Put on your Dancing Shoes , Polaroid Painting – available in my Etsy shop.

Resilience.

“Time and again I have seen the finest work greeted by the most ruthless inner resistance. It is worth thinking  of our inner censor as our inner saboteur. If we are bent on the successful accomplishment of our dreams, our censor is bent on keeping us small and dreamless. But we are not small and dreamless. We are large, we are powerful, we are resilient”

Julia Cameron, ” The Sound of Paper”

Sunflower – Polaroid Painting – available in my Etsy shop.

Musing on art and play.

“Art is not something that we do outside of life. It IS our life, and has the power to engulf every activity. The more the spirit of art infuses you, the more you find the wonder of possibilities and opportunities for continual play in life. What you do becomes less important than your attitude. The more we look at life as the pursuit of excellence, the more it becomes play and the more that play becomes an extension of our art.”

Brooks Jensen “Letting Go of the Camera”

Door  in Florence – Polaroid Painting – available in my Etsy shop.