The Art of Craft is a great blog I've just rediscovered on the topic of marketing works of art and craft.

Instincts and tulips

About 5 years ago I met a person who was very successful and I ended up having a professional connection with them over a creative project. I always had a 'funny feeling' about her. Whenever I met them I felt odd, off centre, something was not quite right and I couldn't identify what it was. I eventually had a great deal of trouble completing this creative project and in order to do so found that I had to remove myself from this person as far as I possibly could.

A few days ago I got some information about this person which confirmed all my instincts that there was something off and odd about them. I had not been imagining anything all this time, I had not been 'jealous' and I had not been making it up. My instincts had been telling me the truth all the time.

The more important question is why don't I listen to the 'still small nagging voice within'. It doesn't always bear bad news - I was once standing in Marks & Spencer trying to decide on the flowers to take as a present to an interviewee. Suddenly and clearly I felt myself self thinking 'I must take the red ones'. When I got to this woman's house her kitchen was acessorised in exactly the same shade of red.

Rather than ally ourselves with outside authorities we (and I) fail to take seriously what we already know but will not give credence to.

Zoe the cat has started blogging. She lives around the corner from my cats but is an 'indoor' cat so they have never met. I don't think mine would be into blogging - it would interfere with tree climbing time.

Make yourself a virtual pumpkin!

Night People Screenings

Night People, the debut feature film from Mead Kerr Ltd, backed by Scottish Screen and SMG’s New Found Film initiative, is released in Glasgow and Edinburgh in November.

The film won the BAFTA Scotland Audience Award 2005, and has been shown on the international festival circuit, to much critical success; it will be shown at HD Fest in Los Angeles this December. Night People takes us on a journey across the city of Edinburgh, introducing a cast of characters for whom there will be no sleep. Each is faced with a dilemma that may change their lives forever.

Catch Night People now at:

Edinburgh Filmhouse
Tues 31 Oct (one night only)
8.15pm + Q&A session with Clare Kerr, Adrian Meade and cinematographer Scott Ward.
Showing as part of the Reels Scottish/Irish Film festival for one night only.

Edinburgh Cineworld (UGC)
From Friday 3 Nov – Thursday 9 Nov.

Glasgow Film Theatre
From Sunday 5 Nov - Tuesday 7 Nov.
Director Adrian Mead and producer Clare Kerr will introduce the screening on Sunday 5 November at 5.15pm.
~~~~~~~~~~

Adrian & Clare are fabulous people and I've seen the film already and would highly recommend it.

Interesting blog post on Leni Reifenstal.

Compare and contrast with the life of Ruby Grierson her contempoary in the UK.

I can hear random fireworks going off every now and again. Its open season with Halloween coming up. I rather like Halloween as a festival and am sad to see that some shops are already putting up Christmas displays before Halloween has even come and gone.

I went to a fantastic fancy dress Halloween party last night. I went as the 'Knitter of Hell' apparently a character in Heart of Darkness but I've not read the book so I'm taking that on trust! Someone else came as a professional Victorian mourner with stovepipe hat. She had a card - professionally printed and I was pleased to discover that not only would she do wailing and moaning at gravesides, she would also take on the mantle of guilt. Now I don't have guilt but I do have guilt that I don't have guilt... ie I've done somethings that previously would have me metaphorically writhing on the ground with guilt but actually I'm not... so she said that for a small fee she would be happy to take on the guilt about the lack of guilt! One of the hosts was dressed in twigs and ivy as a green man (he also had hampster grass attached to his person but that escaped the costume and was strewn around the flat). There were bats hanging everywhere and cobwebs. But the piece de resistance was a headless body lying in the bathroom which I had to veiw on arrival. The neck was a watermelon wedged into a shirt. It was amazingly realistic with blood oozing out all over the bath.

I discovered that the host was a primary school teacher by trade and I realised where this crafty excellence came from. I've seen this before offices of extreme dullitude where worksations are transfored into snow scenes with cotton wool or the three wise men trecking across the desert. All meticulously done in cardboard and paint. Somehow these festivals allow people to let out their creativity whether it be transforming a paper lampshade into an alien head making a working ghostbusters back pack for a fancy dress costume. It all shows how amazingly creative people can be with they just give themselves permission to be creative.

snickers fairy?

One has been operating in my area. I came home on Tuesday night to find two full sized bars lying in my hallway. Obviously posted through my letter box. No friends have admitted to doing good works - so I wonder is this scenario being replicated across this city?

Eskimo Disco

Yes I know you have never heard of it (some popular music combo thingy) but my friend HC made well noises on their new release and if you go here you can read about it and help her out by rating it that new fangled website for young persons - oh you know Your Tube or something...

Still here - knee deep in life - rather like standing in a flooding river. Its raining again here. My computer isn't working 'properly' so I'm unable to post links hence my lack of internet practice.

@*@*@*@

Yesterday I left the house and decided that I should do some exploring. I walked down a street normally I just whiz past on the bus. I walked past the big houses built for merchants in the 19th Centuary. Visited the cemetary and checked out cemetary fashions (photographs on gravestones, painted bears are all coming in). Then I walked off the main road an ambled around suburbia, large fluffy cats watched me from front steps, a secret collection of allotments hidden from view, mysterious houses behind high walls, high hedges and firmy shut gates. I took a few photographs and walked home. I have a confession to make .... I 've lived in this area for nearly 8 years and this is the first time that I've gone for a wander without any kind of errand or aim.

How to be creative

Hugh MacLeod's ideas which I was reminded of recently on an email list I"m on.

Artist's Way Course

I'm starting two new courses based on the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

I've facilitated these groups for over 10 years now and I'm an experinced facilitator in getting people back in touch with their creativity, discovering previously hidden creatitivity and leading people back to becoming the 'artist of their own life'.

Introductory sessions are a bargain £5 (try before you buy!). The afternoon class is 2-4pm Thursday 19th Oct and the evening class is 6-8pm Friday 20th October. Both are at Buddafield in Blackfriars St off the High St. Email me on creativevoyage at hotmail dot com to check if there are places.

sorry about lack of updates but blogger being very uncooperative

”As life goes on it becomes tiring to keep up the character you invented for yourself, and so you relapse into individuality and become more like yourself every day. This is sometimes disconcerting for those around you, but a great relief to the person concerned.” -Agatha Christie

from 37 days

Embracing Mistakes

Yesterday I got up early, dashed to Woolworths to buy a card and present for a friend's child who was turning 3 that day. I got home wrapped the present, walked to catch the bus and journied across the city. I got off the bus and luckily remememberd the instructions on finding my friend's house (I've only been there once before). As I walked up the street I saw my friend and her daughter outside her house and she said 'Hello what are you doing here?' I'd arrived a day early for the birthday party. So I abandoned the present inside the house, got into the car with them and went to the Morningside 'Festival' which consisted of a few stalls in a street. I bought a cool necklace made out of buttons, a few nice postcards and my friend and I caught up with each other over lunch. It was lovely. My friend it turns out always assumed that her childless friends were busy on a weekend so never arranged to meet any but enjoyed having some adult company. I enjoyed catching up with my friend who I'd last seen 6 months ago. We then ambled through the charity shops of Morningside and then I went to try and do publicity for my classes.

Similarily whenever I go and pick up pictures and they say 'oh they are ruined' at the processor I get more excited as I take the package of photographs. I've learned that this often means more interesting colours or even this rather mysterious picture of double exposures. What is seen as ruined and mistaken is often wonderful.

Fragmentary Glimpses

Udate on the demolishing World Heritage site

Hello SOOT Supporter

Two members went to a presentation by the council last night (only 2 from each community organisation were allowed) and were told to keep the information from the press until Trevor Davies (planning convener) could brief the press himself for Fridays Evening News!

We have therefore sent out a press release today about our reaction to the revised scheme which does little to address concerns which have been raised.

Come along to Old St Paul's Church Hall , Jeffrey St, anytime from noon till 5pm on Sat. 30th to find out more, share ideas about what can be done , hear the SOOT Song and even buy a brick!) Refreshments provided. Children are more than welcome. There is disabled access.

The revised plan looks very similar to what was put out by Mountgrange before. You can have a look at some of the document which has been scanned and posted on the Image gallery at our website www.eh8.org.uk

Latest Press on the eh8 website has today`s eve. news. letter from Sally. Keep the discussion going by writing to the Evening News and responding to their question today about the council`s consideration of the views of local people letters_en@Edinburgh's.com

Listen out to Radio Forth FM tomorrow as they are doing a piece about the revised plan (possibly early morning news bulletins)

Please spread the word, forward email on etc...about the information day on Saturday. It is also Doors Open Day (look up www.doorsopenday.org.uk ) so some interesting buildings in the area will be open to the public and there is an independence march/rally also on that day that starts at 1.30 from East Market St finishing at the Parliament about 3pm. So there will be lots of people around to hopefully come along and get involved.

Hope to see you Saturday

Julie
On behalf of the SOOT Campaign

~~~~~~~~~~~

On a slightly happier note the Cameo cinema has been saved from the hideous fate of being sold as a super pub and the for sale sign has been taken away.

Manna Bakery on Easter Road Edinburgh is a beacon of cheerfulness on a rather gloomy street. Was surprised to see it mentioned in an article in the Guardian about the use of transfats in cooking. No they don't use them.

The Knitted Garden

How come some things are just perfect?

My moka coffee pot gave up the ghost a few months ago. It became tempramental - only squishing through half of the water making almost undrinkable coffee. I handed it over to my tecchie dept (aka dad) and asked as he is an engineer to see if it could be fixed. It appears not but he gave me a new one! Why is it perfect? I can fill it up, put it on my stove on the lowest gas setting and have a shower. When I get out the coffee has bubbled through and I'm ready to face my day.

Stop the world I want to get off

happy birthday to me

I've not been terribly organised this birthday but had a lovely evening out seeing Little Miss Sunshine 'Quick everyone pretend to be Normal!' at the Cameo with 4 friends. Sunday was spent with my parents having lunch in the country - my mother's birthday is very close to mine. I've been treating myself to lunch in cafes with glossy magazines, drawing pens, stamps, and a new skirt. I've got to do a bunch of work soon but am planning a series of visits and treats for the runup to Christmas. We all need something to look forward to.

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.

Margaret Young

Road Dust

Don't graduate

The best directorial touch is 'I don't know'.

Arthur Penn

How and why one should upholster tree stumps.

“We have to be utterly broken before we can realize that it is impossible to better the truth. It is the truth that we deny which so tenderly and forgivingly picks up the fragments and puts them back together again.” Laurens Van der Post

from Muse to Muse Blog

“Does the sun ask itself, “Am I good? Am I worthwhile? Is there enough of me?” No, it burns and it shines. Does the sun ask itself, “What does the moon think of me? How does Mars feel about me today?” No it burns, it shines. Does the sun ask itself, “Am I as big as other suns in other galaxies?” No, it burns, it shines.”

–- Andrea Dworkin, 'From Our Blood'

Ian Rankin is interviewed in Chapman magazine on the creative process and the status of crime novels. He has some very interesting things to say - which I would repeat but no time tonight.

Day a washout went to party last night and managed a hangover on two glasses of wine plus wheezey chest from the brie... no wonder alcohol is not recommended for creative types.

I've been trying to upload pictures but its been very iffy on the upload front.

Weekend catching up with people which is lovely and meeting new babies and unexpectedly running into people. Was down at Portobello beach with a London based friends today. Lots of dogs, vast amounts of white flesh, people being buried in the sand and blue blue skies.

rain?

did I ever think I'd pray for rain?

New Australian in office from Manley Sydney -she's been here a week and recons its as hot as Oz...

Working working no time to post. I come home water plants in containers, sit on my bench and stare at the clouds and doze. I'm knackered after a day on the computer fielding emails around the world and don't want to log on at home.

More pics when I can

How to Draw by Danny Gregory

Nothing Bad Can Ever Happen at Liberty's

I've got an adorable early 20's model assistant, she's bright, well accessorised and after uttering the immortal phrase above I can see will go far in life. She even might attain the nirvana of 'Being Lovely' which is the ambition of a great friend of mine's goddaughter. I'm afraid that 'Being Lovely' is probably out of my reach now but I'm delighted to see that others can obtain it.

Hope to have a flying visit to Liberty's this weekend, in between, going to a phd begetting party, catch up with friends and go and see this play. Written my my mother's friend's mother. Julia Britten took up playwriting in her 70's and now at 92 is Australia's most performed playwright. How about that as a role model. Rock on Julia!

Anchor Close ghosts

More muscians

Stephanie's audience

The French Institute in Edinburgh holds a 'Fete du musique' on midsummer's eve. This year Stephanie Brickman who is in my Yiddish class sang some Yiddish songs.

This roll of film seems to be filled with lots of double images.

sorry about silence - internet concked out on me

started new job - nice boss came and sang a Lisa Simpson song to me on my second day - made me realise what was wrong with last job

head down on excel as a result

gorgeous weather - I keep on smelling the roses which are blooming away

lots and lots of photos taken

Manly, Sydney

"I keep a notebook with me all the time - and I scribble.... You begin to get your felt reaction in a phrase, perhaps. But, you know, I've said before that the angel doesn't sit on your shoulder unless the pencil's in your hand. ... And in truth that [is only] given after years of desiring it, being open to it, and walking toward it."
Mary Oliver

Look at me a website of found photos.

Purrrleasure

I was lying in bed this morning reading and Diego my tabby cat jumped up beside me, rolled over and was in exctacy as I rubbed his tummy. 99% of Diego's life consists of pleasure, napping, climbing trees, sniffing plants, eating, being cuddled (the other 1% is when neighbourhood cats invade his house and he has to tell them to piss off).

Last week I was trying to explain to someone how much pleasure I get from talking photos. Much of the pleasure is from how uncontrolled it is. The camera I use is famed for basically being quite crap. They might come out or not, it might be delicious deep colours or look like a faded Monet, it might superimpose 3 different images onto the same frame or the entire roll might be blank. I carry my camera in my bag or the pocket of my coat in winter and whenever I see something of interest, the light in the sky, a piece of graffiti I can take out the camera and attempt to capture it. Somehow because I have my camera I look more closely at the world and enjoy it more. Getting a roll processed is like a Christmas present. It activates my inner purr. But I've been deprived of my camera for over 3 months. It got broken in NY (on the ferry to Ellis Island) and I was afraid to try and get it fixed because I thought I'd be told the bad news that it couldn't be fixed and I couldn't afford a new one.

There deprived of pleasure for months and months for no good reason at all except fear. We just don't have enough pleasure in life! We deprive ourselves of ice creams, a quick walk in a park instead of hurrying directly to do errands, we don't slow down to smell the roses blooming near the bus stop, we don't sit in our gardens if we have them instead we do more housework, we fail to cook our favourite meals, we get cheap supermarket soap instead of splashing out an outrageous £1.45 for Australian Organics soap, we have lovely rose sented body lotian but do we use it? Like heck! Pleasure is not expensive normally it costs in time not money. So sit in that patch of sun, buy something which will give you pleasure, use what you have but have been saving for best.*

Resources

Madam Gena
Watch a cat

* One of my mother's friend's once said to me 'I don't have anything for best because I don't want my husband's next wife to enjoy it!'.

Her mother had died young and everything she'd kept for best was used by her step mother.

What is your happiness?

from Ali Edwards

sun

warmth

camera working

cats wanting foot rubs

my organic box

Mooskines in Edinburgh

more naked cycling controversy

humm aparently the organisers tried to institute a photography policy which seems to have caused a hoo ha.

London trip

Highlights include

My lomo working! Lots and lots of photos taken.

Walking through Camden and seeing a narrow boat going through the lock with a urban duck swimming beside a floating beer can.

Meeting two Edinburgh friends at Verde in Spitalfields Jeanette Winterson's shop/cafe.

Walking and walking. Because of this I saw so much more than if I'd hit the tube or busses. I walked to Leighton House and on the way passed through Green Park. The seemed to be somekind of crazed Ruritanian ritual going on. Cavalry and braid and prancing horses. When I went up closer they started firing a salute. All the tourists began coverging around the taped off area. It turned out to be a 21 gun salute for Prince Philip. Then there was a marching band. Later my friend S (her 40th birthday being the reason for my visit) was told as a child that God Save the Queen was being played on the radio on her birthday - just for her!

I met my friend B at Leighton House which is magnificent. The 'Turkish' room is amazing and the photos I've seen just don't do it justice. We sat in the garden for about an hour (its free the garden) with a squirrel at our feet.

On the bus back into town I looked over at Hyde Park Corner and thought 'those people don't have very many clothes on'. Then I said to B 'Good grief they're naked!' The entire bus population's heads swiviled to the left as indeed a stream of naked people on bicycles sailed past. It appears to be the World Naked Bike Ride ab annual protest against oil.

In London town...

the wonderful 'funny man' fixed my lomo for £9.40! and the same day. I'll post his contact details when I get back to Edinburgh. I have so missed my camera. I'll even see about uploading again when I get back home. But think I need to find something better than Picassa. Any suggestions?

London is AWFLY hot... walked through Camden today and watched a narrow boat go through a lock with a rather browbeaten duck swimming among the beer cans. Lunch at Verde in Spittalfields (Jeanette Winterson's shop/cafe) lovely and we got a free choc to try. Got the tube to Libertys and bought soap and suncreen and have resisted fabric so far.

Danny Gregory has a great posting on drawing. I've got to get back to it myself. Its a gorgeous day here and I'm finding it hard to motivate myself. Lying on a beach sounds good or sitting in the garden. But tomorrow I go to London for a friend's birthday party and I must clean clothes, wrap presents and try to get my camera fixed. I've been without a working camera for over three months now. I miss it so much. I love seeing a weird cloud formation, bit of graffiti or other oddity and being able to whip put my lomo. I do hope its fixable. I'm off to take it to the 'funny man' in Abbeyhill.

Ways to jump start your writing

over at 52 Projects

The Mirror Project - its been ages since I visited here. Just been trauling through the lomo uploads.

Dear X

Wow! I can see that you are easily distracted from yourself and need reminding of your core - who you really are.

You need to remember what interests you and what you enjoy. Enjoy not want to do for the kudos. The light on the water - the graffiti on the door - be obscure. Stop trying to gain love and stop trying to gain approval. It doesn't work in the end.

Instead be obscure, talk to yourself, talk to cats, enjoy the abundant luxuries of life. A cozy blanket, a ripe strawberry, a piece of velvet, the smell of roses, the bare earth, the sea. Oh the sea, you can never be there too much.

Enjoy your body. Love it - don't get to caught up in changing it - change your mind first and then your spirit and it will follow.

Dream about love and give love. Dare to dream love dare to think you have love to give. You do have lots of love and are loved - the more you send it out the more it will return.

Be open do not close yourself off being afraid of being hurt. The price paid for being safe is too high. You will never feel and if you never feel you will never feel love.

Embrace the eccentricity of life and embrace the multitudes that dwell within and without yourself.

Be gentle with yourself and take more care of you.

You are precious and the more you treat yourself as precious the more people will see you and treat you in the same way.

love

love

love

M

Real Cats Don't Eat Quiche

No really - I ran out of cat food yesterday and left some quiche (bacon & corgette) out for them before going to work. It was still there when I got back. Yes I am a hideous person.

Poetry Chook

Check out Catherine's NZ blog on poetry amongst other things. I've 'known' Catherine for several years now as we are on an email list together.

grubbing about in the dirt

First weeding of the year... my mother came and cut my rather hairy looking hedge. Everything is so late this year because of the weird spring. I must admit I'm not a natural gardener. I love sitting in gardens and the idea of gardening but I don't actually do much unless under the express direction of my mother the uber-gardener. We took out all the tulip bulbs out of my pots, they will be replanted in the autumn after storage, planted some nasturium plants, removed weeds, attacked the dandelions and watered. It felt great to be creating something from scratch. I was delighted to see that despite my appalling neglect my peony seems to have leaves and there are 3 yellow roses on my Woolworths rose (scent as well!). I'm tempted to go out and buy plants this weekend to add to the collection of pots. Its rather the 'triumph of hope over experience' as I've done this before and the dratted things have keeled over on me. I'd instituted a plan of planting lots of blackcurrents and redcurrants previously in order to have the ingredients for Summer Pudding locally grown but none of the plants survived a winter in Leith.

you grow girl is a great resource for gardening

Boys who knit or to Sir with Yarn

Losing my Mind, Coming to my senses

Remain Frugal

!In 1997, I landed the dream job. High-paid advertising copywriter. Big office. Big apartment in New York. Glamorous parties and glamorous backdrop. All feeding the urban sophisticate narrative etc. All good.

The trouble was, even though I was being paid very well, I was still broke by the end of the month. Life in New York is a costly business, and I was determined to experience it fully. I sure as hell wasn’t saving anything.

Like they say, education is expensive. And I ended up paying top dollar.

Because of course, one day the recession hit, the job dried up and I nearly found myself on the street. Had I lived a bit more modestly I would have been able to weather the storm better.

There are a lot of people out there who, like me back in New York, make a lot of money, but spend it just as quickly. The older you get, the less you envy them. Sure, they get to go to the fancy restaurants five days a week, but they pay heavily for the privelege. They can't afford to tell their bosses to go take a hike. They can't afford to not panic, when business slows down for a month or two. The have to keep tapdancing, whether they like it or not.

Part of being creative is learning how to protect your freedom. That includes freedom from avarice."

Wise words from Hugh at GapingVoid

"Each time you participate in crafting you are making a difference," she writes, "whether it's fighting against useless materialism or making items for charity ... it is possible to go beyond banners, email petitions and chants as ways of fighting for a cause you believe in. You could have a knit-in, papier-mache puppets or teach a crafty class for kids."

Great article on Craftism from the Guardian

Film comp

Turner Classic Shorts 2006 - entry form here.

A whole bunch of links on Wendell Berry here if you want to find out more about this poet.

Lost

a pile of papers needed for my work. I've been wandering dimly through the flat back and forth like an anxious cat, upending things trying to find it. At last it's been unearthed...

Off for Artist Date - scrummy lunch at Glass & Thomson and then a wander.

Talent V Practice

interesting discussion in Kottke - personally the practice element I think is way underestimated in 'success'.

I really hate the hierarchy of one form of creativity over another. Usually one is seen is more 'masculine' and therefore worthy and another 'feminine' and therefore unworthy. The most documented examples are from histories of the struggle of women to obtain entry into institutions of art education where women were prevented from studying life drawing and diverted to the applied arts (embroidery and jewelry). Jude Burkhauser's Glasgow Girls covers most of this material. There is a book also on the Edinburgh Girls (artists) but have failed to find it on Amazon - which is a shame as one of them was my great grand mother.

Last week I was urged to call myself a 'documentary maker' and told to 'go and make cakes' if I wasn't prepared to call myself that. And I thought 'Don't diss the cake makers - its harder than you think' and betrays a condescension which I loathe. I found this groovy cake making page... chocolate meringue... checkerboard cake. Wouldn't you like to turn these out?

Also found via 52 projects a weekly quilt project.

Do Buddists watch telly listen to Cream and compose?

Welcoming Ruben

I went around last week to my neighbour's who have just had a baby boy and gave them a baby blanket. It was knitted mostly by my mother but I'd contributed a sprinking of multicoloured squares to the finished piece. The new dad plied me with wine and after a lovely neighbourly chinwag I wobbled off and as I left saw the new mum and Reuben curled up on the sofa with the blanket draped around them. The magic of hand made and unique items part of the 'Economy of Gift' reminded me of the Craft Manifesto.

It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work.
And that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings.

Wendell Berry The Real Work

Get Lost

On Friday I wanted to get into the centre of Edinburgh quickly so I walked from my work into Dalkeith and waited at a bus stop where I thought I would have a better and more frequent selection of busses. I hopped onto a 3a which said 'Princes St' on the front, sat down, chatted to the woman beside me and it sailed off in a direction I've never been in. It ambled between houses, swooped up and down beside green fields, schools, housing estates, it passed hamlets, Gorebridge, Newbattle, stables and museums (Lady Victoria Colliery) and zipped passed trees laiden with blossom, and small pink snowstorms of petals in the rising wind and came to a stop in the middle of 'no where' at a terminus. At which point I talked to the bus driver and got off the bus and waited for a 29 which he said would get me to where I wanted to be quicker. I dashed off the bus on South Bridge and made it to my new class with about 30 seconds to spare. At some point during the journey after getting more alarmed at being 'lost' I gave up and instead hoped that this was merely a diversion, a small loop in time which would in its own time take me back to were I was going. On the other hand if you think of it as exactly where I was supposed to be going (on a trip around the countryside I'd never been to before) then I was not lost at all and I was infact going exactly where I should be all along.

I was thinking about this again later after teaching. Being creative is often about being 'lost' without a map because you are creating the map itself. Becoming comfortable with being lost is an art. To stumble about thinking 'I've got no bloody idea where this creative bus is going but I'll stick around for the ride' is where the most interesting and productive creative discoveries are made. Creative journeys made with the creation of premade maps and guides which often follow other people's journey's are with out surprise, (the light on the distant hills as the weather got worse, the black cat sitting on the window sill). Getting lost both metaphorically and literally might just help gettting connected to the creative parts of oneself.

Write like your heart speaks

great post on writing and keeping going by Evelyn Rodrigrez of Crossroads Dispatches.

finally summer?

I sat in Dunbar's close a garden off the High St on Saturday. Enjoying almost balmy weather, tulips and wall flowers and a small black cat chasing insects.

I've decided to make Summer Pudding for a friend's 40th Birthday Celidh.

Danny Gregory on the Artist's Way

"I am not, as a rule, a joiner. Nor am I a believer in much. So please take what I say with a healthy dose of salt. Still, whether you begin this program or another or invent one for yourself, I'm fairly certain that you will find that when you give yourself permission to be creative, your life will change. You will either leave or transform your job. You will open yourself up to new people. You will develop new relationships. You will find that serendipity plays a very active role in your life. You will worry less and appreciate the universe more. You may not lose weight but you'll enjoy food more. Your body may not look better but your taste in clothing will improve. You may not become wealthier but money will matter less. You may not improve your health but each day will matter more."

more from Danny here

Artist's Way Course

I've decided to facilitate a 12 week course based on Julia Cameron's Artist's Way. The introducton/taster session will be on the 12th May at 6pm Buddafield Blackfriars St. Cost £10 - email me on creativevoyage at hotmail if you are interested in attending. AW is a powerful way of creating changes in your life, removing blocks to creativity and generally just having more FUN!

Play Magpie.

If you are in London go to the Embankment NOW and look at the tulips.

Been wandering around Liberty's getting inspiration drinking in colour and design. I tried to have tea as well but arrived too late - next time.

Lying awake in Highgate listening to something that sounded like gunshots. Either a) gang warfare has broken out on Parliament Hill b) they are shooting foxes or c) my hostess muttered darkly about 'ferral neighbours'. Made me appreciate the peace and quiet of Leith.

Going with my friend to see The Squid & The Whale - its a joy to share some thing which is good. Do go and see it (unless your academically minded parents divorced sometime in the 80's in which I would give it a skip).

Muse to Muse continually updated inspiration

Save the Old Town

The Edinburgh Old Town is part of a designated World Heritage Site. Its a curious urban landscape created by building on the tail of a volcano and bound by city walls. Thus creating some of the first 'skyscrapers' as to squeeze in as many people as possible early builders had to build upwards. Some times with disasterous results. Building engineering being ruidmentary one 16 story block topppled over. The results is an urban patch with tiny narrow vennels and closes which have access to back courts and buildings crammed together. In a remarkable society before the building of the New Town in the lat 18th Centuary every class was crammed into the same 'Land' (building) and each 'house' (flat/apartment) would run from the bottom mercantile to nobility in the middle (far enough from the stench of the street but not too far to climb) to the attic rooms where people would lie probably on straw or on rags. Things have improved somewhat in the intervening 200 years, indoors sanitation, a sewer system, electricity but this higgildy piddgily way of living is amongst other things thought of a factor in the creation of the Edinburgh Enlightenment. Now a section of the High street is being threatened with redevelopment into a 200 bedroom hotel and conference centre. We are to get 'piazzas' a completely alien concept to the geography and history of the area (not to mention rather windy I would have thought). This isn't a bloody Italian city... its a cold miserable glakit place with narrow passageways to hide in! A friend of mine lives in the Canongate and is tearing her hair out with her encounters with the planning authories, the local 'authority', at the moment local democracy seems to be completely by passed. If you go to the website there are 3 petitions which if you could sign would make the people fighting this feel a lot less alone.

suffering from bloggy guilt

Actually I've been doing quite a lot. A little action has happened to get a few essential projects moving forward. Meetings for work. A visit to see American Dreamz at cinema. Great fun film though me and my two mates seemed to be the only ones who laughed. Shopping to cook for friends - first time since September! The first rhubarb of the season. River Cottage website has a great seasonal recipies section if your culinary side is getting jaded. Beautiful day here sat outside, journalled and watched the cat do a tree climbing demo. Off to swim.

I've just had a very dull day working my way through errands eg pay bills, buy cat food, referee kitten sibling fight over a pice of ham... more interuptions from people coming to the door to try and make me change my electricity supplier. But dull days are there to make the other kind shine out. So instead I feel good about doing dull things and even better knowing I'm going out for dinner.

Visual Chronicles I've linked before - they're sassy.

Its good to leave the house...

The 'Artistic Garret' is a bad idea that just will not die. Miserable and pained creative people are supposed to lurk in them and come up with the goods. Well funnily enough I've found more inspiration out there in the world. Again last night this lesson was repeated to me. I went to dinner and may have found an idea for a documentary. I had a lovely dinner as well.

I think I've mentioned Crossroads Dispatches before - I'm doing it again as there are always interesting posts on work/money/spirituality/life purpose.

I'm half way through a super Easter Egg which I got half price - the rewards of doing last minute egg shopping.

I had a lovely evening - aided I must add by 3 glasses of fizzy wine. I may be 3 fizzy wine glasses under par generally.

I've realised that I'm a tummy tickling cat slave.

What a glorious day!

Not only is it finally warm enough for tough Scotch lasses to abandon winter tights - I've got one afternoon to hunt for my Easter Egg. Yum!

Screenwriter Course Edinburgh 6th May

Tutor Adrian Mead director/writer - people I know who have been taught by Adrian say he's an excellent tutor - more info here.

unshouldning

Its snuck up on my rather quickly. I got rid of one big 'should' my last job and suddenly I noticed how I'd replaced it with a whole lot of other 'shoulds'. I should get up at x time - I should do a, b, c, d, e, f, g... and before I know it I've failed to do all these things and I feel like a hampster with tiny legs running on a wheel and failing to get anywhere. I'm now trying to become more conscious of my 'shoulds'.

La Beany c'est arrive!

Sitting outside on my bench when the postie came. After opening the letter from the council informing me my neighbours were going to have a velux rooflight put in I spied the small padded envelope - tore it open and settled down to read The Beany. I love it - especially the 75 ways to Draw More list.

4 things blog tag from Michael Nobbs

Four Jobs I’ve Had


1. waitress
2. publishing assistant
3. Artist model
4. Teacher

Four films I can watch over and over again

1. The Garden by Derek Jarman
2. I know where I'm going - Powell & Pressburger
3. Whisky Galore - Alexander MacKendrick
4. On the Mountain - Margaret Tait
Four places I've lived

1. Pietermaritzburg, SA
2. Irene, Gauteng, SA
3. St Andrews Fife Scotland
4. Independent Republic of Leith , Scotland

Four TV programmes I love

1. Ivor the Engine
2. Nip/Tuck
3. Grand Designs aka house porn
4. Food progs aka food porn

Four places I've been on holiday

1. Isle of Mull, Scotland
2. Annecy France
3. Aran Islands/Galway Ireland
4. NY

Four of my Favourite Dishes

1. Summer Pudding
2. Roast Chicken
3. Roast lamb
4. coffee


Four Websites I Visit Daily

1. Hotmail
2. Gawker & Defamer (just checking up on husband to be)
3. Keri Smith
4. 52 Projects

Four Places I’d Rather Be Right Now

1. On the beach
2. In Bed
3. Walking in NY (or any other unknown to me city)
4. In a cinema

Four Bloggers I’m Tagging

1. Hendrix Cat
2. Catherine
3. Mrs Pom
4. Here Be

Four Books I Recommend

1. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
2. Pablo Neruda - POirot
3. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
4. Women of the Left Bank by Shari Beinstock

And I’m also adding…

Four Artists that have inspired me

1. Derek Jarman
2. Margaret Tait
3. Ruby Grierson4. Kaytee Horsman

Its no use with all this weird weather I might knit a sweater for my poor tree as well.

This is ridiculous... April and this afternoon the skies darkened hail rained down, the cats ran in and stood on the kitchen table in bewilderment.