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Definition of vision
1a: the act or power of seeing: sight b: the special sense by ...
Nov
17
Wrinkles… wisdom.. fairytales and ‘Don’t be sad it’s over – be glad it once was.’
Aug
31
Greenland Photographs – Reflection
More photographs of Greenland coming soon. Click here to Pop your name on my notification list so you don't miss them.!!!
Oct
12
The cumulation of images…greater than the sum of the individual items – A body of work.
As a visual artist and philosopher ... my 'bodies of work' are conceptually based; meaning they have a voice. I have a voice through my work. I have a voice which is expressed through not only each single image and artwork; but amplified through the collection as a whole.
Over the past few weeks I have shared some images which are of a 'narrative' nature. Some go a little further and express an emotion I was feeling .... or were catalysts for my introspection. For me - a body of work is different.
A body of work is a collection of images which has a voice...which expresses a vision; a philosophy; poses questions; reflects a unified thought or concept.... and is where the collection of images and artworks is far greater than the sum of the individual items......MORE....
Oct
10
Hot water…. icy water… doesn’t matter – I’m in!!!!
Oct
09
What isn’t really noticed….unless you really want to look – little icebergs completing the picture
In these images...it would be easy to just look at the larger iceberg or mountains; because they don't need any work to find ...but it is when one looks to search for something which takes more effort to find... to search for elements which create a 'relationship' between them.... to have the awareness to want to take the time to investigate the smaller icebergs and what they bring to the relationship within the image... that the richness of the relationship develops between them... the more dynamic, interesting and unifying it becomes.
The smaller icebergs offer so much to the whole.... there is a sort of communion happening within the image between them ...each apart - yet interacting and in balance completing and unifying the relationship between them.
When the smaller icebergs are omitted, excluded or I had not had the awareness to see them... something is just lost in the dialogue in the relationship between the elements ... and it seems nowhere near as rich when they are not there; as when they are present and actually noticed.
Click READ MORE below to view more beautiful images!
Oct
07
With fierce resilience still glowing….
Oct
06
….Going to see a bear… a Polar Bear !!!
I was excited. I could feel in my tummy that we were going to see a Polar Bear. I popped on my Polar bear fluffy white hat… and I said to Wendy (the Avian specialist from previous trips who was journeying as a passenger this tour) that “We are going to see a bear!”
Wendy said “It is good to be positive..but it is highly unlikely and the possibility of seeing a bear is next to zero in this location.” Wendy sort of giggled at my child-like enthusiasm.. not believing for a second that we were going to see a Polar Bear. From the ship ...
Click READ MORE Below to read more and see photographs of the Polar Bear!!!
Oct
05
Me in the landscape in Iceland and Greenland
Oct
03
The past exposed in the present….
3 thousand year old ice
last nights snow......
Oct
03
Grown-up with a child-like imagination; Daugaard-Jensen Glacier at the head of North West Fiord.
one unique for each to hold
just for one night…
in our hands
the knowing of the universe
shining brightly
for each of us to remember...
and then when the darkness leaves
and all the stars return -
that knowing is remembered in our heart
so that we each on earth may continue to shine as brightly
as the stars in the night sky.
Oct
01
Dichotomy…
When I saw this exquisite iceberg I heard – ‘Dichotomy’.
I saw the dichotomy between strength and softness; stability and fluidity; large and small; dark and light; movement and stillness; air and water; solid and liquid; above and below; reality and illusion.
What word comes into your thoughts when you see this image?
Sep
30
By Stealth we slid past the icebergs in the stillness of the morning…
Sep
30
Sailing ….Observing… Solitary
I recognised that whilst watching this beautiful iceberg.
Sep
26
Paid to ‘entertain the tourists’… the answer to survival in Greenland.
Hadleigh - our tour operator, is fascinated by the archaeology and history of this area, and tried to generate interest with the government of Denmark to investigate further the remains of previous cultures which scatter the landscape. Hadleigh was not successful though, and the stories of those who once lived in this extreme environment may perhaps melt into the rocky ground over time.
There are still however some traces of Inuit culture threaded into modern life in towns in Greenland. We visited a small community called Ittorqqortoormiit.
Ittoqqortoormiit is located on Liverpool Land near the mouth of the northern shore of the Kangertittivaq fjord in Scoresby Sund.
On the afternoon prior to our visit we watched a video on the life of those living in Greenland communities in 2013. I wished I hadn’t viewed it actually. It painted a very gloomy scenario of the current situation within these communities, and I suspect sculpted for me a preconception of the town we were to visit.
How does one survive totally from the land in a traditional way – from the earth and sea in accordance with the seasons; in our modern world today? How does one eat traditional food of whale, seal and Polar bear when there are quotas – and yet... Click READ MORE to read more and see more images..
Sep
25
Zodiacs and Icebergs !!!!
Beads of sweat were trickling down my spine as I stood in the chute where we were numbered and checked off - awaiting like parachutists to be spat out of the ship along the gang plank into one of 6 zodiacs; each escorting us through the magnificent ice.
Layered on my skin was a woollen baselayer; then my down vest; then my Quark coat; waterproof snow pants; bini; gloves; 2 cameras hanging on my double harness - each in a waterproof bag should there be any sea-spray; and last but not least - my 'muck boots - rubberised wet-suit material boots which were mandatory as well and actually not too bad..... oh not last - I nearly forgot; my life vest... which so many forgot only to realise when they were standing near the clipboard.
Hanging on THE clipboard to the left of our 'shute' was a piece of paper where we each had to initial we were disembarking; then initial we had returned. "Smiley" faces and other forms of hieroglyphics marked our departure and return. The ocean air and adventure brought out the playfulness in so many of us!
We were sailors - so we all used ... Click READ MORE below to read the rest of this post and go to the gallery of images.
Sep
23
Ymer Island… walk along the tundra and beach…
The geology of igneous rocks of the Paleozoic age; Devonian extrusive rocks; and Cambrian deposits exposed themselves and created for me a sense of the age of the earth and gave me pause to reflect on my own significance as I walked the landscape.
We crossed a peninsular where the sun shone into the pristine water, and the stones were round from the constant rumbling of the ocean waves. I spent some time watching the expanding circles join and expand; as I tossed small stones into the crystal water. The path of reflections where the light refracted, danced across the wavy lines in the sad below. I felt child like.
Evidence of volcanic and glacial history were prominent in the landscape. Traces of animal steps ghosted the sand.
Once again I carried my pocket canon G16 to create photographs of this remarkable environment. Walk with me across this beautiful landscape on this stunning day by viewing my images by clicking READ MORE below; and imagine walking this pristine landscape with me.
Sep
23
Walking the tundra in the snow- a childhood dream….
I had a wave of emotion as the icy wind rushed past my cheek and my feet stepped carefully across the soft moist landscape. My childhood imaginary wish was manifesting. It was a little surreal. I was walking across the tundra in Greenland. I felt so privileged and humble.
Dave was leading a group of "fast/long walkers" at a landing on Ella Island. For each of the land excursions we had a choice of either a "fast/long walk"; a "medium walk"; or a "contemplative walk". I was missing my running and gym so chose the "fast/long walkers" and I was so glad I did. Dave was our guide and we climbed up to this wonderful saddle in the ridge-line. It was magical. Another world of snow and ruggedness.
I left my 'big' cameras on the ship and carried with me my trusty Canon G16; because firstly it was snowing!!! :-)... (Click READ MORE below to read more and see more images)
Sep
22
The magic of Greenland…
I have had the most wonderful and profound time exploring this part of the Arctic and would love to share with you over the coming weeks some of my experiences and photographs.
Max and I were members of a photographic journey with my friends John Paul Caponigro and Seth Resnick. It was wonderful to meet again some of my colleagues from previous photographic workshops and journeys.
In the late afternoon sailing north from Akureyri along the longest fjord in Iceland, we watched whales playing - a calf celebrating with its tail. I knew a wonderful journey was ahead.
During the night we crossed... to read more...
Sep
06
Why to Greenland…..????
When I begin weaving, I have no idea what it will end up looking like
I never have a plan because I weave intuitively from my memories
Here I’m weaving my memories from the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
As I weave, I roll it, then becomes hidden. It’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets when I unroll it from my loom.
You could try this in your form of art as well. .
Try starting with a memory, and remember the colours of your experiences.
You can save this idea for your next project; and for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio.
Come follow along with me!
#weaving #weavingloom #weavinglife #madebyhand #artisanmade
3 days ago
Weaving is “like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
When I begin weaving, I have no idea how it will turn out.
I always start with memories; and I never have a plan.
In my latest Series, I’m weaving my memories from our vintage car roadtrip; and the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
Colour is my thing. I don’t have a colour plan because I weave intuitively, and I don’t remember what colours I’ve used.
As I weave, I roll the fabric onto the back beam, and it then becomes hidden. When I’ve finished the weaving and I unroll my piece from the back beam - it’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets.
Why don’t you try to weave without a plan? You could try this in any creative medium as well.
Start with a memory, and remember the colours of that experience. Then just go for it, and play!
You can save this tip for later; for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio; and for more creative ideas, come follow along.
#handweaving #madebyhand #arttips #roadtripindia #weaver
3 days ago
Are you floundering with making a project meaningful?
As an artist for most of my life, who has meandered and searched for meaning within my own work; I have a couple of tips for you.
If you don’t know where to start, think of an experience that is meaningful to you. Recall the colours.
Just start there!
Tip 1. Remember the colours.
Tip 2. Use ONLY those colours.
A meaningful experience for me was our journey to Kolkata and the Mullik Ghat Flower Markets, and is the inspiration for my handwoven blankets.
You can save these tips for future reference for your next project. Let me know how you go!
For more, come Follow along.
#artisanmade #handweaving #madebyhand #artisttips #visualstorytelling
1 week ago
Want one secret tip for visual storytelling? There is an art to visual storytelling.
As an artist, there are some very important things which contribute to making a work meaningful and an expression of it’s intention.
Here I'm using the memory of my journey to Kolkata Mullik Ghat markets as the source material for my handwoven blankets.
One secret (not so secret hehehe) is to
1. Remember the colours of an experience or scene which is the subject matter of your project; and use ONLY those colours.
Perhaps save this for your future reference, and give it a go for your next project.
For more, come Follow along.
1 week ago
Curious, Creative, Living Boldly - That was my tagline I put on the footer of my emails 30 years ago; well before Instagram came into being.
It was not known to me then how important ‘curiosity’ was to be for me.
Being curious, and creative; has helped me navigate my life’s challenges; to heal; and provided the pathway for me to experience the richness of living - despite these challenges.
Curiosity is the intrinsic desire to learn, explore and understand.
I am an artist. My work has included conceptual photography & video; multimedia installations; and textiles. Working with my hands is important to me. I am a weaver. I weave my stories into blankets.
I wanted to express my experiences of Kolkata, but didn’t know how to share with others the magic I felt in this city of extremes. Poverty and wealth. Colour and darkness. I didn’t know where to start.
I was curious about how to express my stories of Kolkata. What I did was to just start. Experiment and play. I let my inner voice and memories guide my colour choices. I had no idea whether my handwoven blankets would ‘turn out’... but I was curious and felt the most incredible gratitude and joy weaving these blankets which hold my memories and stories.
Why don’t you try becoming friends with your curiosity? What a lifelong friendship that will be; and hopefully that friend will remind you every single day, despite everything; to keep holding on to, and never let go of being curious.
For more on my journey, follow along.
For those interested, I’m using a 48”/120cm @ashford_wheels_looms Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom.
#curiousity #createeveryday #creativelife #weaving #selfdiscovery
1 week ago
Pro-tip for weavers. Most weaving using wool, benefits from a soak, as I’ve shown you here.
Why?
To let the fibres expand and settle into the weave. This is especially important for woollen handwoven items where warmth is one of the goals.
Machines must not be used. The water must be the same ambient temperature as the weaving, so it is not ‘shocked’ by the temperature of the water. Then just a gentle hand press into the water without agitation for a short soak.
I then drain and shake it in a gentle “fulling” process to interlock the fibres to make a sturdy and warm beautiful blanket.
If you don’t already soak your weaving; give them a soak to let the wool ‘bloom’. You will be so amazed by the difference a bubble bath makes!
There is so much which goes into the making of my handwoven blankets; from preparing some of the yarn I use from the raw fleece; “fulling” the blanket after soaking; to the final stitching and then sending on to new homes; where others stories are made with them.
For more of my process; and my journeys which inspired each series of my blankets, and pro-tips; save this for future reference and follow along.
#Protip #artisanmade #handweaving #weavingtechnique #madebyhand
2 weeks ago
Just off the loom and time for some bubbles! Not for me!....but my handwoven blankets.
Why do they need a soak?
So the fibres expand and settle into the weave.
Weaving a piece doesn’t just finish when you cut it from the loom. This is how to finish your hand weaving.
The blanket is wet and heavy, but I need to shake it in a gentle “fulling” process to interlock the fibres to make a sturdy and warm beautiful blanket.
There is so much which goes into the making of my handwoven blankets; from preparing some of the yarn I use from the raw fleece; “fulling” the blanket after soaking; to the final stitching and then sending on to new homes; where others stories are made with them.
For more my journeys which inspired each series of my blankets; my process; and to remind you to give the items you knit or weave a good soak; save this for future reference and come follow me.
#handwoven #handmade #fibreart #artisanmade #weavingtechnique
2 weeks ago
Time for some bubbles… Not for me!....but my handwoven blankets just off the loom need a soak.
Why?
So the fibres expand and settle into the weave.
This is how to finish your hand weaving. Weaving a piece doesn’t just finish when you cut it from the loom.
The blanket is wet and heavy, but I need to shake it in a gentle “fulling” process to interlock the fibres to make a sturdy and warm beautiful blanket.
There is so much which goes into the making of my handwoven blankets; from preparing some of the yarn I use from the raw fleece; “fulling” the blanket after soaking; to the final stitching and then sending on to new homes; where others stories are made with them.
For more on my process; and my journeys which inspired each series of my blankets; save this for future reference and come follow me.
#handweaving #madebyhand #fibreartist #handwovenluxury #artisanmade
2 weeks ago
Split ends? Brittle sun-damaged tips? Do you have that problem? 🤣
I don’t. Hehehe But I can help solve your problem if you do!
For those of you who have the good fortune to feel beautiful raw fleeces in your hands, sometimes the fleece just needs a bit of extra preparation before it is spun.
If the fleece has matted, brittle or fragile tips, I need to remove that tender part of the staple.
There are many ways to do this, but I have my preferred way.
It’s simply a snip. With the weak part of the fibre removed, my yarn will be smooth and strong, to use in some of my blankets.
Losing a little of the staple length is ok, because I’m carding a rolag to spin a yarn using the long-draw technique.
I’m going to show you how I do that in an upcoming post.
You can save this pro-tip. To see more spinning and weaving tips; and the next steps in preparing fleece to spin; follow me!
#handweaving #woolfleece #madebyhand #rawwool #handspinning
2 weeks ago
When I begin weaving, I have no idea what it will end up looking like
I never have a plan because I weave intuitively from my memories
Here I’m weaving my memories from the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
As I weave, I roll it, then becomes hidden. It’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets when I unroll it from my loom.
You could try this in your form of art as well. .
Try starting with a memory, and remember the colours of your experiences.
You can save this idea for your next project; and for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio.
Come follow along with me!
#weaving #weavingloom #weavinglife #madebyhand #artisanmade
3 days ago
Weaving is “like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
When I begin weaving, I have no idea how it will turn out.
I always start with memories; and I never have a plan.
In my latest Series, I’m weaving my memories from our vintage car roadtrip; and the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
Colour is my thing. I don’t have a colour plan because I weave intuitively, and I don’t remember what colours I’ve used.
As I weave, I roll the fabric onto the back beam, and it then becomes hidden. When I’ve finished the weaving and I unroll my piece from the back beam - it’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets.
Why don’t you try to weave without a plan? You could try this in any creative medium as well.
Start with a memory, and remember the colours of that experience. Then just go for it, and play!
You can save this tip for later; for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio; and for more creative ideas, come follow along.
#handweaving #madebyhand #arttips #roadtripindia #weaver
3 days ago
Are you floundering with making a project meaningful?
As an artist for most of my life, who has meandered and searched for meaning within my own work; I have a couple of tips for you.
If you don’t know where to start, think of an experience that is meaningful to you. Recall the colours.
Just start there!
Tip 1. Remember the colours.
Tip 2. Use ONLY those colours.
A meaningful experience for me was our journey to Kolkata and the Mullik Ghat Flower Markets, and is the inspiration for my handwoven blankets.
You can save these tips for future reference for your next project. Let me know how you go!
For more, come Follow along.
#artisanmade #handweaving #madebyhand #artisttips #visualstorytelling
1 week ago
Want one secret tip for visual storytelling? There is an art to visual storytelling.
As an artist, there are some very important things which contribute to making a work meaningful and an expression of it’s intention.
Here I'm using the memory of my journey to Kolkata Mullik Ghat markets as the source material for my handwoven blankets.
One secret (not so secret hehehe) is to
1. Remember the colours of an experience or scene which is the subject matter of your project; and use ONLY those colours.
Perhaps save this for your future reference, and give it a go for your next project.
For more, come Follow along.
1 week ago
Curious, Creative, Living Boldly - That was my tagline I put on the footer of my emails 30 years ago; well before Instagram came into being.
It was not known to me then how important ‘curiosity’ was to be for me.
Being curious, and creative; has helped me navigate my life’s challenges; to heal; and provided the pathway for me to experience the richness of living - despite these challenges.
Curiosity is the intrinsic desire to learn, explore and understand.
I am an artist. My work has included conceptual photography & video; multimedia installations; and textiles. Working with my hands is important to me. I am a weaver. I weave my stories into blankets.
I wanted to express my experiences of Kolkata, but didn’t know how to share with others the magic I felt in this city of extremes. Poverty and wealth. Colour and darkness. I didn’t know where to start.
I was curious about how to express my stories of Kolkata. What I did was to just start. Experiment and play. I let my inner voice and memories guide my colour choices. I had no idea whether my handwoven blankets would ‘turn out’... but I was curious and felt the most incredible gratitude and joy weaving these blankets which hold my memories and stories.
Why don’t you try becoming friends with your curiosity? What a lifelong friendship that will be; and hopefully that friend will remind you every single day, despite everything; to keep holding on to, and never let go of being curious.
For more on my journey, follow along.
For those interested, I’m using a 48”/120cm @ashford_wheels_looms Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom.
#curiousity #createeveryday #creativelife #weaving #selfdiscovery
1 week ago
Pro-tip for weavers. Most weaving using wool, benefits from a soak, as I’ve shown you here.
Why?
To let the fibres expand and settle into the weave. This is especially important for woollen handwoven items where warmth is one of the goals.
Machines must not be used. The water must be the same ambient temperature as the weaving, so it is not ‘shocked’ by the temperature of the water. Then just a gentle hand press into the water without agitation for a short soak.
I then drain and shake it in a gentle “fulling” process to interlock the fibres to make a sturdy and warm beautiful blanket.
If you don’t already soak your weaving; give them a soak to let the wool ‘bloom’. You will be so amazed by the difference a bubble bath makes!
There is so much which goes into the making of my handwoven blankets; from preparing some of the yarn I use from the raw fleece; “fulling” the blanket after soaking; to the final stitching and then sending on to new homes; where others stories are made with them.
For more of my process; and my journeys which inspired each series of my blankets, and pro-tips; save this for future reference and follow along.
#Protip #artisanmade #handweaving #weavingtechnique #madebyhand
2 weeks ago
Just off the loom and time for some bubbles! Not for me!....but my handwoven blankets.
Why do they need a soak?
So the fibres expand and settle into the weave.
Weaving a piece doesn’t just finish when you cut it from the loom. This is how to finish your hand weaving.
The blanket is wet and heavy, but I need to shake it in a gentle “fulling” process to interlock the fibres to make a sturdy and warm beautiful blanket.
There is so much which goes into the making of my handwoven blankets; from preparing some of the yarn I use from the raw fleece; “fulling” the blanket after soaking; to the final stitching and then sending on to new homes; where others stories are made with them.
For more my journeys which inspired each series of my blankets; my process; and to remind you to give the items you knit or weave a good soak; save this for future reference and come follow me.
#handwoven #handmade #fibreart #artisanmade #weavingtechnique
2 weeks ago
Time for some bubbles… Not for me!....but my handwoven blankets just off the loom need a soak.
Why?
So the fibres expand and settle into the weave.
This is how to finish your hand weaving. Weaving a piece doesn’t just finish when you cut it from the loom.
The blanket is wet and heavy, but I need to shake it in a gentle “fulling” process to interlock the fibres to make a sturdy and warm beautiful blanket.
There is so much which goes into the making of my handwoven blankets; from preparing some of the yarn I use from the raw fleece; “fulling” the blanket after soaking; to the final stitching and then sending on to new homes; where others stories are made with them.
For more on my process; and my journeys which inspired each series of my blankets; save this for future reference and come follow me.
#handweaving #madebyhand #fibreartist #handwovenluxury #artisanmade
2 weeks ago
Split ends? Brittle sun-damaged tips? Do you have that problem? 🤣
I don’t. Hehehe But I can help solve your problem if you do!
For those of you who have the good fortune to feel beautiful raw fleeces in your hands, sometimes the fleece just needs a bit of extra preparation before it is spun.
If the fleece has matted, brittle or fragile tips, I need to remove that tender part of the staple.
There are many ways to do this, but I have my preferred way.
It’s simply a snip. With the weak part of the fibre removed, my yarn will be smooth and strong, to use in some of my blankets.
Losing a little of the staple length is ok, because I’m carding a rolag to spin a yarn using the long-draw technique.
I’m going to show you how I do that in an upcoming post.
You can save this pro-tip. To see more spinning and weaving tips; and the next steps in preparing fleece to spin; follow me!
#handweaving #woolfleece #madebyhand #rawwool #handspinning
2 weeks ago