The Revolution Will Be Cultivated

Beach Huts !

I said to R ~ "Its stupid but I thought if I have an interesting diary I'll have an interesting year." And she said 'That's a really Russian thing to say."

From DesignDoma

I bought a terribly expensive diary from them for next year - I saw it- and kept on thinking about it so I went back. Its impractical without dates in it and other useful stuff but its illustrated with photos which drew and redrew my eye.

Interesting blog over at Danny Gregory about learning to draw. I'm afraid that I had to weigh in on the comments.

Sydney 2004 Lomo Crown St

I've got stuck into knitting the wool I bought yesterday - a jersey for The Cutest Neice (TM). But I didn't do a swatch and now I'm worried it will be ... HUGE.

May Day

I've been all over town doing errands, picking up book orders, buying wool, cards, soap and a new calligraphy pen. Lunch out - I feel I've had a decadent day. I wrote cards while having lunch and posted them. Edinburgh looked like it was thawing from winter. It was wonderful to pass by the Canongate churchyard and see the blowsy pink cherry blossom.

I'm going to sit outside now with a coffee and sew up the third baby blanket.

Picture above to support the Fight for your right to dry - apparently municipalities are banning people from drying clothes outside because its unslightly. Our planet is frying and these eeejits are concerned about washing outside... Oh and I love this blog Two Shear Spirits.

Been working. But on Thursday I felt better a bit of my energy came back. I've been living in the 'land of the cold' for three weeks now. I went the beach straight after work and walked. Cold but invigorating. My eyes miss the view. Last night I went home shoved a chicken in the oven with potatoes and then dashed to beach. So lovely was able to take off my shoes and walk barefoot. Then I came home to roast chicken for dinner.

I know I know but I just thought I have to post this. Someone looked at their poodle an thought ' yellow and blue top knot I wonder what that would look like?'

Living in full colour

As I sneeze my way through my day this phrase popped into my head and I began to wonder what it meant. What does it mean to live in full colour? I've had periods of my life that felt like wading through grey sludge and it felt like the colours had been turned off. Like on a TV. I'd love to hear what other people think of as 'living in full colour'. Part of me thinks its a ability to live outside the parameters as what everyone else thinks as 'normal'. If you want to eat chocolate cake for dinner do so. If you want to lie on the sofa and read a novel the entire day - do so. If you want to hand knit a baby blanket at 4 times the cost of buying something new then do so. If you want to wear purple wellingtons to private views, care for 25 cats (each with a basket lined with cashmere cardigans from charity shops), have a supply of funky hats for vistors for tea in the garden, keep up a voluminous correspondence, and collect teapots then do so. If you want to commandeer students to drive you to the countryside to collect clay from fields do so. If you husband dies and he's always refused to let you live with your children 5000 miles away get yourself on a plane three weeks later and fly there. If you want to cycle across the widest part of Scotland because its there, do it. Hell if you'd like to cycle around the the coast of Australia do it. Do a degree in English at Cambridge and realise you'd rather be an artist? Take an inheritance and go to Edinburgh Art College and flunk being a teacher in a school (you would have hated refereeing Lacrosse games). If you realise that doing a degree in law is a short walk to being a solictor in a no horse town take you skills and become a film producer.*

'Living in full colour' to my mind is not just about adding a bright ribbon to your life but remaking it the way you want it.

I've love to know what you think.

*
Me
Hendrix-Cat's Mother
Kaytee Horseman Head of Ceramics Department Edinburgh College of Art
My Grandmother
My Brother
My Cousin
My Mother
Rebecca Knapp

Stuck at home ill hence the desire to see pictures of stations. My life has regressed to knitting and bad television. Relieved somewhat by K visiting unexpectedly yesterday and a phonecall this morning out of the blue from C stuck at an airport. I've now got full blown allergies. I've taken drugs but the drugs dont' work. I will tear myself away from the internets and make bagels.

glorious tulips and blossom

Cool reminder by Summer Pierre

Interview with SARK around the importance of self friendship in creativity.

FOR ONE MINUTE PLEASE STAND RIGHT HERE IN SILENCE AND LOOK UP AT THE SKY

Knitting away on the sofa and praying for a good film on the telly. This ill business is terribly boring.



However perusing Knitty and found an article on the history of Virago books.

the lights on Manley Beach

Guerilla Gardening

Pictures of Strangers for R - holga Kinnaird Park Edinburgh

What tips or advice do you have for writers still looking to be discovered?

I can't get behind the ambition to be "discovered" as much as I can get behind the ambition to write beautifully and honorably and steadfastly. Here's what I believe about creativity. I believe that creativity is a living force that thrums wildly through this world and expresses itself through us. I believe that talent (the force by which ephemeral creativity gets manifested into the physical world through our hands) is a mighty and holy gift. I believe that, if you have a talent (or even if you think you do, or maybe even if you just hope you do), that you should treat that talent with the highest reverence and love.
Don't flip out, in other words, and murder your gift through narcissism, insecurity, addiction, competitiveness, ambition or mediocrity. Frankly -- don't be a jerk. Just get busy, get serious, get down to it and write something, for heaven's sake. Try to get out of your own way. Creativity itself doesn't care at all about results -- the only thing it craves is the PROCESS. Learn to love the process and let whatever happens next happen, without fussing too much about it. Work like a monk, or a mule, or some other representative metaphor for diligence. Love the work. Destiny will do what it wants with you, regardless. Just love the work.

Interview with Elizabeth Gilbert

Knitted up my ravelled mind by a) walking on the beach which was suitably stormy which suited my mood no end b) made bagels from scratch.

I feel knackered this cold is dragging on and on and on... however on Friday went to see Shine a Light the Scorsese documentary about the Rolling Stones. It turned out to be more a concert film than doc - though I loved the occasional archive interludes. It was fabulous I was glued to my seat the entire time. I was really bowled over by seeing Mick Jagger perform. Amazing. I'm about 20 years younger and couldn't keep up. What it did make me think was that we should all go off and do what we have a passion for (whether we get paid for it or not) because it makes us alive! open! interesting! and obviously keeps us in better health. I know this but I need to be reminded. Just last week my parents took a 91 year old painter and gardner to lunch. She still paints and gardens at 91 and is in great health, totally mentally on the ball. And I'm sure its being engaged in these two creative acts which have allowed her to carry on being an active creative person.

I then went to meet my friend B for dinner afterwards. Her amazing entreprenurial can do spirit was a good kick up the pants for me. Oh and having lunch with H during the day as well. Thank you both of you. I'm percolating ideas in the tiny tired brain now.

Must go and do over due housework and find Rolling Stones CD.

Bonus: FREAK FLEE REGRESS - or the other Eat Pray Love

Things I have Learned in my Life