For the last week or two, aside from healing from endometriosis surgery no1, I've been prepping the little studio in the cottage to receive visitors - It's sort of a test run for the overall aim which is to have a much larger studio-gallery here in the lake district where I can show the amazing artworks, jewellery & ceramics my friends & associates make as well as my own. So it's a little update & chat this time...
...Part of setting up the cottage & studio has been enjoying foraging in our semi-wild garden for my vases & I've been inspired by Athena Calderone, so, so much. Her ritual daily enjoyment & arrangement of her home & the sentiments of self care in her cookery & home design are pure joy. In this, I also took some time to incorporate learning from the amazingly wise A.F Nutrition & applying her incredibly thoughtful dietary support for life with endometriosis in to my day. It's been lovely to know everything that I'm eating & drinking is helping back up my body & the intricacies of healing, truly healing, not putting a bandaid over a problem with chemical meds which almost always adds a new nasty side effect to the repertoire, ( see @af_nutrition on Instagram for her incredibly helpful & kind hearted services )
I also took my drawing sessions out in to the Spring sunshine to sit & draw the lambs just outside the cottage, I've loved watching them play (had to release one from behind a gate, you think cats are curious, just watch a field of lambs for a hour) ...I'm listing my sketches from around the lakes here in the web shop along with my first print releases, starting this week. I'll also be open to studio visits for anyone wanting to view / collect a piece (safely) from 17th of May & as I've already mentioned in some of my posts, I'll be starting out donating 5% of profits to The Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the more I sell the more I can donate - With a little luck I can bump it up to 10% before the next few months pass...
The Cumbria Wildlife Trust are one in a small set of brilliant conservation workers here in the lakes. Their work & their approach is fantastic, they want people to be aware of the serious issues we all face, in a positive way which encourages people to stay connected to the joy & beauty of the countryside - the very same sentiment in my work. I recommend their Instagram page (@cumbriawildlifetrust) it's an excellent dose of 'nature-dopamine' as well as an informative connective place to learn. I can't wait to get to know them better & spread the joy as the world opens back up for exhibitions & the countryside to (caring) visitors...