Empower her with Flowers

I love working from home, but we don't really have that much space in our little stone weaver's cottage. 

So, twice a month, I book into the Powerhouse Arts Centre in Llandysul for an afternoon of Research and Development. I love it. I get to have the whole space to myself and play with ideas, without the clutter of home. 

Having this space enables me to explore within almost as if the clearing of space creates a place ot think more clearly. 

This week I made a film advert for my new story BLOD and completed my collection of 7 little handmade, handwritten books.




Together, the collection of 7 books tell one story, that of Blodeuwedd, the story of the flower woman from the ancient welsh  Mabinogion written in the 12th and 13th century in Wales, only in my re-tell there is a twist, our Blod is empowered by her blooms.

The Collection is available for purchase from my Heartfelt Bookshop at  Quiet Space Studio, Facebook ... Here's a link ...

Keeping tinnitus hands busy

One of the best ways that I have found to distract from my tinnitus, particularly in the evenings, is to focus on tactile creativity. Working with wool and felt is perfect. So, tonight I set about making a collection of friendship bracelets from local hand-dyed wool. I made the one above for my partner, Jeff. He loves the Tibetan silver dragon bead because the dragon is our National emblem.

I mention this because I know that many visitors to my blog are from other countries and may not know our National flag , here in Wales.

But my most favourite of all things to make are my little Heartfelt Books within which I write my stories and poems. There is something so sacred about taking so much time to make something so small and yet so loving. And I love the risk of it, that I might make a mistake when handwriting in my poem or very short story ... 

That's one of my top tips for for anyone learning to live with tinnitus. Expand upon your other senses. I quite often have essential oils on in my diffuser whilst creating with wool and felt in the evenings, or combine the two as both wool and felt absorb the essential oils really well.

I hope that is helpful advice. It can be hard to come to terms with tinnitus. By sharing what works for us, we might help others.

Heartfelt Human Rights

The Declaration: 1948

Having started making a Collection of my Heartfelt Books to Celebrate 100 years of Votes for Women, I decided to experiment with the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Could I fit the entire Declaration into a tiny book?

The picture shown was my first sketch, if you like and I am very pleased to say that this morning, I managed to fold the smallest, longest concertina book I have ever made. I can't wait to show you it. If I get time tomorrow, I'll take a few shots. I have handwritten it and yes, I did manage to get the entire 30 sections into its little pages.

        Monica Ross: acts of memory at Platforma Festival

I have long admired the work of the late Monica Ross and her 'acts of memory' live performance art, whereby she learnt the entire Human Rights Act and performed it. It became an interactive piece with people learning and joining her in what cascaded into a mighty tour of 60 global dates. On the last night of the tour, Monica died of cancer.

Here is a link to the 'acts of memory' website where you can find advice as to how you might hold your own acts of memory event. I held an acts of memory session on International Women's Day at the University in Lampeter 2 years ago. It was very moving experience. www.actsofmemory.net/

I love that my heartfelt books, though tiny, are able to convey such deeply important messages.

Special Thanks: to a friend who would prefer to remain anonymous. She wondered if I would be able to fit the Act into a tiny book and this led to me making a Heartfelt Book for Human Rights. And thanks to Márta Minier at The Atrium, Cardiff, who introduced me to the work of Monica Ross in one of her inspirational lessons when I was a student on the MA Drama.

100 Years of Deeds Not Words: Celebrating The Suffragettes

I have started Research for a new Collection of my Heartfelt Books entitled 'Deeds Not Words'. 

The tiny heartfelt books will contain the names of suffragettes, thanking them for their determination and strength in securing Votes for Women which feels very important in 2018, given that it is 100 years since the first voting. Then, on my website, I will write about each of the women listed in the tiny book.

I am making tiny little felt wallets for the books from the colours of the suffrage ribbons and sewing them with some 1940's stocking yarn that I found in my late Mother in Law's sewing box.

I am not sure what I will do with the finished books, it just feels important to make them and I am certain the Universe will sort out what happens to them next, though hopefully they will be ready for International Women's Day in March.

I would like to thank two friends  (who I think would prefer to remain anonymous) because it was the evening after a wonderful afternoon of chatting and laughter and sharing of ideas that I thought to create Deeds Not Words Heartfelt Books. And that's the wonderful thing about sharing and exploring with other creatives, you never what sparks might fly. 

Live Your Gift

  

If there is something you love to do, something that eases your troubled mind, that brings peace to your heart and yet sets your soul alight, then grab hold of it, give all of yourself to it. Jump right into your desires for these are your gifts, given to you by that which gives light to all. 

Trust yourself, rather than question why you desire to do something.  Does the daisy doubt that she should turn her golden face to the sun?

For me, it is the writing of short stories and poems set with an intention to help others feel better, to inspire folk to look at the world in new ways and then, to make beautiful books that are kept forever as a reminder of how much we are loved. 

What is it for you? What is the gift that you have so lovingly been blessed with?

If you like my blog and would like to find out more about me, why not pop over to my website by clicking the link below ... 

Heartfelt Christmas

There is something very special ...

Knowing that there are people ...

all over the country ...

          Who opened a gift Christmas Morning ...

              that was written and made by me ... 

Heartfelt Stories

It's an absolute joy, making little heartfelt books to house my stories and poems. 

I have been making books for fun all my life but during my MA drama, I made them to house haiku as an exercise in stripping back stories to their core ... and my passion for teeny tiny books was re-ignited.

Then, when I was staying in France as a Sound Therapist in an Artist's Retreat, I did a little course in how to make concertina books. I made them all Summer. I fondly remember collecting the paper from the Boulangerie and making a concertina book for the baker, who had kindly baked me bespoke bread every day of my stay.

So, this evening I started experimenting with concertina books but this time using handmade paper and hemp.

I can't wait to put my stories inside these lovely books ...