Poetry and a Fish

Well uni has started, new faces, new names and new places to remember and get used to. To try and feel more at home and to challenge myself I've jointed the creative writing society. We had to create a few poems last week using different techniques. The first one was a sonnet which has a rhyming scheme of AB AB CD CD EF EF GG and our theme was travel/nomad.
I got a little confused so my sonnet isn't really a sonnet but here is what I came up with, a humorous tale about a pompous man.

Today I went to the sea, yes I.

T’was bright, the sea, and the ship, oh aye.

I jumped on board, it rocked, I fell.

Onto that ship, upon the swell.

The waves crashed on, the gulls they called.

And I alone, got up, I crawled.

I jumped up fast, before we cast, and swore:

“That ship will be my last”

On Saturday I went to the O.T. conference run by S.O.T.L. and learnt how to do basket weaving - we were taught how to make a fish from willow:

Well that's it for now. =]

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Irish Inspiration

Last weekend I visited relatives in Ireland and we visited the folk museum in Cultra. I took some pictures of crockery, lace, textiles and a few bible verses that decorated the different buildings there. Here they are all in one place so that I and anyone reading this might be inspired by the designs, ideas, colours and shapes.

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Life

I'm sure there's a time in everyone's life were everyone seems to get married, moving on, moving in and moving out. And you feel stuck. Feelings of jealousy and loneliness come in and appreciation for what you actually have goes out the window. That's how I've been feeling lately.
It seems like my textile centred life is now going to be forgotten as I am about to embark upon a new adventure... in a degree in Occupational therapy. I don't know if its going to work out, I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with the course work and reports and research, but I'm going to try. Its another four years.
I feel so many emotions all at once, hopefully I will be able to control them one day. Well anyway, back to textiles for a little bit.
I've decided to again discern my charism, but I feel so unmotivated. I am pretty sure its craftsmanship and so I'm trying to use my gift in personal ways with others - making them things but also working with others.
Here are two textile samplers I made for my friends

100% linen from John Lewis, button handmade in the Scottish Borders, duck egg embroidery thread and embroidery hoop.

Crucifix from bead shop in Northern Ireland, frame from Dunelm Milne.

I'm not too sure what else to do in my discernment, faith seems so complicated, stressful and like you have to have a degree in theology to understand it. I know that that's not what its supposed to be like at all, but there are many times when I feel overwhelmed and not worthy. I enjoy creating things and I enjoy mass and worshipping God through song and prayer but I feel like I'm not trying enough. I guess I'll be shown soon enough what I should be changing.

I came back from Lourdes last week, it was a challenging but fun experience - it was a pilgrimage with the HCPT with volunteers, the elderly and disabled. I enjoyed drawing with one person, he has autism and we both drew a portrait of him, here is my drawing of him:

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Inspiration

Running low on inspiration on anything creative. I want to sew and write and draw and design but I just feel like I have no motivation to do any of it. I've just got back from a holiday to Malaga, Spain and there was a lot of lovely tiles with eye catching pattern and colour. I then looked in anthropology on the way back in Edinburgh and found that they had wonderful ceramics that linked in with this theme.
I thought I'd share my images on here and also for me to look back on too.

cups from anthropology

cups in anthropology with floor tiles

ceramics in anthropology

balloon visual merchandising in anthropology

gorgeous plates in anthropology

plates in anthropology

cups in anthropology

Spain:

outdoor wall tiles

tourist information building in Malaga.

Cork stoppers

cork stoppers

cork stoppers

church at "the lakes" Malaga.

Restaurant stairs at "the lakes" Malaga.

Outside tiles of restaurant, "the lakes" Malaga.

Outdoor fountain, Benalmedina costa, Malaga.

outdoor fountain, Malaga.

laminated lace table cloth

Church mural, "the lakes" Malaga.

Tiles.

I'm hoping I'll at some point use this as inspiration to have scribbly ink drawings and turn them into pattern repeats.

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