moments

Another moment of mild amusement today - was connecting to WiFi on phone and discovered someone had labelled themselves GETOFFMYWIFI.  Er, well, I was looking for mine, actually.

Just been wandering round the displays at our church this morning for our Celebration of Creativity - may post some pics at some point (now updated with a few pics - although they don't capture the feel of everything!). Looks gorgeous - amazing what people can do! Spent quite a bit of time on Thursday putting up some of my poetry which is a bit nerve racking but the overall effect is very nice indeed.  Have come home to conserve energy but would have stayed otherwise - lovely space for moments of reflection and contemplation.

Artwork from Jacqui Lea:

Feltwork from Ray Reynolds:

Display from church craft group:

Poetry wall from me(!!):

Local artists display their work:

creativity in demand...

I'm having trouble keeping everything in my head this week. I keep thinking I have loads to do and in a sense that's true, but it's do-able if I'm organised. And if  I don't forget things.  And if when I go to write down the thing I'm not supposed be forgetting I don't forget before I can find the pen / type it into my phone.

No, the photo has nothing to do with anything, and yes, you are allowed to laugh.


I had an interview on Saturday to join the editorial team at Magnet magazine, which was successful.  It's a voluntary position and will be great experience in the editing process.  After that I had a lovely lunch with two friends, which was fantastic (as shown by my previous entry!).

It was in London so in the brief window I had between interview and lunch I decided to take a stroll along Westminster Bridge, deliberately choosing to exit Westminster Tube Station under Big Ben itself (which totally awed me in my country bumpkin days!). However I only got halfway across the bridge before retreating - horizontal rain and fighting to keep my umbrella from blowing inside out while trying to avoid other people's umbrellas (who were having same problem), getting squished by tourists and utterly drenched anyway. Every time I squinted up at the Houses of Parliament I got a face full of wetness.  Clinging onto the sides of my umbrella meant the rain was also pouring down my sleeve. Glad this happened after the interview! Retreated, defeated, to Waterloo before going to lunch on the Southbank.  Tottered onto the train feeling utterly exhausted - having got up at 5.30am, as well as all the rest of it.

Anyway.  Was not going to say any of that but never mind.  Now, I have to sort out the church magazine (rather smaller, but I try to do a good job), having the youth group round tonight and also on Sunday, and preparing for our church's 'Celebration of Creativity' weekend (the one after next).  Spent all morning preparing two 'welcome' boards - as well as printing and laminating some poems to display in one of the smaller rooms.  They'll be sharing wall space with textile art from my very talented and ultra lovely friend, and I'm trying to work out the best way of displaying everything (since she is on holiday).  I need to email someone to ask for a wall hook, I need to prepare the room a little (probably this Saturday) and then sort most of it out next Thursday.  In between, I'll be putting the magazine together, chasing up articles and finding fillers as necessary.

As well as those little ordinary chores which fill up the to-do lists.

This is all aside from the day job (writing), you understand.

Still, I enjoy being creative and it all comes under that category.  Now, if I can just remember to do everything....

the power of space

I'm an odd mix.  I like neatness and clearness to work.  Yet I'm a haphazard worker - creativity going berserk as I rifle through papers, jot down ideas on the nearest free surface (paper, post-it, napkin if necessary).  My mind is a natural bundle of chaos and it thrives on it.  But I do need space to sit down and pour it out.  Hence, some of my days I spend merely creating space for me to work in.

Sometimes I find this frustrating.  As I work (write) from home I need to be aware of things like housework - maintaining a multi-purpose space, which can be challenging.  I need to learn to prioritise what needs doing and what can wait.  But it can feel I have to wade through an awful lot of things in order to get to an open space - and this is as much mental as physical.

But the space creating in itself is part of creative process (being creative in creating space in which to be creative?!) as my mind reshuffles and sorts, tidies and catalogues.

Not sure how to end this post, as my mind is still shuffling.  I'll leave you with a blank space and say go create.  And making the space for it is a necessary part of it.

What needs clearing, decluttering, cataloguing in order for us to get on with the process of dreaming, inventing, discovering?

I had an idea...

A simple thought for today. If you have an idea, write it down.

Especially if it's a good idea.

You may think: it's such a good idea, I'll never forget it!

Don't be fooled.

The things you lose are usually the things you need.


Image:  I did not draw that lightbulb. In  case you thought I did.

getting ready...and a lovely present

I have been getting myself together today as my mum and I are going away this weekend to a Christian conference /retreat centre here in the UK. I'm travelling to my parents' house tomorrow and then we'll go on from there on Friday. Hence I won't be online for a few days. Am hoping it will be a good, replenishing time for both of us. Hopefully the trains will behave tomorrow - especially as I have reserved seats (much cheaper to do it in advance) and have to change twice.

On a different note, Amanda over at Kre8ive Life sent me this lovely creation which arrived in the last week - a gorgeous stitched notebook cover made with recycled materials (with a notebook included) - such a good present for a writer. She is a very talented artist.

Have a look at what she made me:



Lovely, isn't it? She's just won a Kreativ Blogger award - well deserved! I also love the fact that it's removable - so when I've filled one notebook I can transfer it to the next...with that cute built in bookmark!