after a non stop busy busy exhausting couple of months, I've had a couple of days to catch up with myself . I need to get some more painting done, but these things can't be rushed, I like to sort, tidy, rearrange & 'footer' about between work chapters. De cluttering home & head to clear space before throwing myself into next project.
Also, the rowans are red the heather is purple, the chantrells are out, theres a colder edge in the wind - Summers over, our brief autumn and a long long wild wet winter is a coming. Which flips the craft switch in the brain- textile time! So I've been using up cones & cones of spare lambswool by making these wool & rag boas. addictive to do !
I've also been playing with words and colours, these should turn into driftwood hanger things when I'm finished.
There is a fine line in crafts and art, especially crafts, ideas sort of migrate, we are influenced by the workers that we are surrounded by, the creative meme- but where do we draw the line between this and downright plagiarism? It has driven me nuts for years, I lie awake at nights working out a clever way of making a) into b), then other people turn up at the next sale selling their version of my groovy idea. This undermines my work, so I've had to keep chopping and changing to try & keep ahead of the pack. At least with 'Art' & painting its mine, distinct, they can copy all they like, good luck with that - but a glass shard mosaic, or calligraphy hanger, or book marker, or mobile, or lino prints, or collage, or hand made paper, or rag crocheting or, or , or...they're not things I can hang onto. At least I can do this, But one of my colleagues utilises a specific skill, and someone else time & time again copies the colour mixes, the designs, even selling at the exact same price. This day person 2, even took person 1's pitch. Person 1 blew a gasket, which is something rarely seen in polite 'jam and Jerusalem' crafty circles. Its just not cricket though, in a small village one should side step to not tread on other peoples businesses, not blatantly copy. I think I should employ a similarly open & honest approach next time I am copied instead of quietly seething to myself. 
Normally I try & reserve this blog for art & craft related activities. But Pearl Jam are allowed a mention as much of my work is accompanied by Eddie and the boys, their music is hardwired into my brain. This concert was my first time of seeing them, it wasn't easy getting there, the third ticket I bought didnt turn up - NEVER EVER buy from theonlineticketshop or onlineticketexchange or any of their other ticket fraud businesses - So sadly just myself and youngest daughter Iseabail headed down, two instead of three.
- How to draw Comics & Manga, 4th Dingwall session. This was a keen & quiet group, the 18 or so in the morning were a prolific & quiet lot. Ullapool yesterday they were all keen readers with a great grasp of storytelling techniques ... every session completely different !
