My Mum, who I very much miss, was a fine art artist who trained at 'Bournville College of Art & Design' before me and my brother came along! I saw some of her work not so many years ago, it was beautiful fine artwork, she worked as a window dresser at 'Rackhams' in Birmingham using her design flare. She went on to meet my Dad through a colleague and good friend, his sister. Mum went on to have me and my brother and like a lot of ladies of her generation totally concentrated on bringing us both up, her passion was poured into us and (I don't know if there was regret) not into her art!
I often wonder and as I sit here reflecting, writing this little piece about her, whether I take after her more than I ever realised! I don't think she ever thought her work was good enough and she was certainly even more of a perfectionist than me. I am unfortunately not blessed with a very good memory(or any memory at all), so I do not remember if she sat and crafted with us when we small but both me and my brother have followed her artistic side, (Dad was the sporty one) my brother more so than me, as he has actually built his whole career around his phenomenal talent!
Me, I have dipped into and out of my artistic bent every now and again, when I started doing my nurse training back in 2004 I decided to put my design flare to good use (following previous visits out to the crafting country of the world US) I used the beads I had bought on my visits to see my brother and turned them into wine charms, which I went onto sell to my student friends for Christmas presents.
The same wine charms I made back then have been available and selling since before Christmas and are available still today at DotsPlace, Richmond http://www.dotsplacerichmond.co.uk/index.html.
Before Thomas was born, about four years ago now, I had an idea to make my unborn child a handmade and original baby blanket and so the B.T.B.B was born (British Tagged Baby Blanket) which I went on to make for several friends. I bought all the items to reproduce for those who would want one, of course I managed to make myself more than busy bringing up a baby, so the stock still lies in wait ready to make up more for those who would like one of these wonderful blankets! They make an ideal present for a newborn, for a christening or a keepsake, Thomas still plays with his today, using it for all sorts of things!
Really should make some up and take them into Dots too, along with the B.T.B.B dog and bear which made not so long back for Thomas.
Since Thomas has been born the camera is never very far away from me, this has resulted in thousands of photo's, mainly of Thomas but I have managed to select a few without him in that I am putting into production as cards and prints. I have been encouraged to rediscover my arty side by Lulu Fiddler the owner of The Showcase Gallery, Finkle Street, North Yorkshire, having had several conversations with her since Christmas and many visits to their wonderful gallery, I decided to show her my favourite print and she really liked it.
Through the post today, came the last bits and pieces to make my prints look professional and worthy of a place on a wall or stand, tomorrow I will be taking them in to the gallery!
So approaching the fifth anniversary of the loss of my dear Mum, in memory of her, the artist in me is being unleashed on the general public, I am ready to take my work in with fingers and toes crossed, I am looking forward to sales and repeat orders, then as well as my photography I might pluck up the courage to share my fine art!
Through the post today, came the last bits and pieces to make my prints look professional and worthy of a place on a wall or stand, tomorrow I will be taking them in to the gallery!
So approaching the fifth anniversary of the loss of my dear Mum, in memory of her, the artist in me is being unleashed on the general public, I am ready to take my work in with fingers and toes crossed, I am looking forward to sales and repeat orders, then as well as my photography I might pluck up the courage to share my fine art!
