Weston Arts Festival

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Last weekend was the beginning of the Weston-super-Mare Arts Festival 2009. I was (kind of) involved up at The Quarry as there was an open day with Open Studios and a sculpture trail, but to be honest, it was such a nice day that I spent most of it outside in the sunshine! But I did take Ruby on her first sculpture trail. (although I CAN'T WAIT to take her to see the sculptures at Broomhill)



There are lots of exciting things happening in my hometown art wise over the duration of the festival. On my birthday, I went to meet Camilla at The Mythical Beast Sweet Shoppe. It was lovely to meet her, and, as she wrote on her blog, I too hope we can meet in the not too distant future to drink tea and talk all things art related!

I also met a lovely fellow artist called Becky. Becky runs a little boutique shop in Weston called Frou Frou where another little slice of arts week was taking place. I loved what was happening here. Sometimes, exhibitions in places which are not exhibition spaces can feel a little.....well, wrong. Pieces can feel jarring and look a little out of place. But this place was entirely different. The pieces were meant to be an integral part of the shop so the lines between shop and art were blurry, and it worked really well. And I loved chatting to Becky. She is also an artist and mum, so she knows where I am coming from in terms of still needing to create despite having the pressures of a new little person in my world, and on how it has focused me and frustrated me in equal measure! And I feel more than a little inspired but everything I have seen so far.

I have a little idea brewing....... I never took fine art at University, as I always had a sense that I would not be good enough, or clever enough, or cool enough! Now, I have a small fire inside my belly. I would really like to go to Weston College and study the Applied Art degree that both Becky and Camilla studied. Talking to Becky, it sounds exactly what I need to really focus my art practice, and the thought of immersing myself in an environment where I can totally focus on my art and the artwork of others is deliciously appealing. I worry that I am being selfish even considering it, as it would require lots of sacrifice on both my and Dave's part. I'm not sure I can afford it, I'm not sure I could justify quitting work in order to do it, or to keep on working and have to put Ruby in nursery for 4 days a week to do it. Basically, it is a bit of a logistical nightmare!


But I can't get the thought out of my mind.....

September...

...is officially my favourite month of the year. Not only is it my birthday month, but it seems that September is usually better weather than the entire summer here put together.

Its wonderful when the skies look like this....




But the leaves look like this.



I have little energy right now, and have been feeling a bit poorly recently. However, I have also been on quite a few creative wanderings recently and met some interesting new people, so have much to write about. September also seems to herald new beginnings for me as the season changes, strangely much more so than the new year. My head is full of creative thoughts and plans, which is much better than it being full of the pain of a rather nasty ear infection.....

Here is to new artist friends, blue skies, the beginnings of Autumn and (soon) healthy ears!!

My favourite shops are sweet shops...

And on my birthday I'm going to one....


The Mythical Beast Sweet Shoppe is a collaberative exhibition of 20 artists exhibiting work on the theme of mythical beasts. Its being housed in a curious little building overlooking Birnbeck Pier that I have always wondered about but never visited, a ten minute walk from where I live. Its next to Prince Consort Gardens, a lovely little park that I often end up at in order to see the sea, wonderful sunsets and to plot creative endeavours and generally feel inspired. There will be 40 different types of sweets on sale during the exhibition.

I am VERY excited! And hopefully I will get to meet Camilla...

Keeping it separate

In light of my word of the year being "Karen", I have created a new blog.

This whole "bring up baby" lark can be all consuming, and I have felt the desire to document it, think about it, write for therapeutic purposes and talk about my experiences, but it didn't feel right for these musings to end up on this blog. This blog is about all things creative in my world, and I kinda want it to stay that way.

So if you are at all interested, you can see my new blog here.

www.meanderingsmusingsandmotherhood.blogspot.com

You don't HAVE to read it, but give it a try? I hope you won't find it dull! Of course, if babies aren't your bag, then just stay here and normal creative service will be resumed.

Don't say I'm pushing you into anything.....