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Christmas was weird.
On Christmas eve my sisters beloved cat died after a long and painful illness. Our spirits were pretty low to say the least. Ok, it was awful, devastating for us all, a Christmas that we are unlikely to ever forget...for very painful reasons. But, we are at least relieved to know that she isn't suffering now, and that we were lucky to have had her in our lives at all, if only for six short years.
So, I have decided to take a week out from my shop and take a little rest. A much needed holiday. A week of reading, relaxing, long, hot bubble baths and setting myself the surreal task of making strange little sketches in a previously untouched moleskine that I have been far too precious about 'defacing' for over six or seven months now (!). That ought to cheer me up a little.
I have been making little photographs around the house these past few days. It took my mind off less pleasant (although understandable) associations. No new 'work', as yet, but i would like to share some of my favourite things from over the Christmas period...cards, gifts, self bought treasures, my kitten....
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Comforting oneself with dreaminess, and the perfection of the winter light...
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(Top left to bottom right)
1. Experiments with sugar paper. I call it sugar paper, but I have no idea what it is exactly. I just pushed it over the lens for fun. My old favourite pva glue streaked paper layer that ages photographs so nicely.
2. My Lounge Tree. Dawn light, silence all around. A beautiful moment. I try to photograph this tree each season because i adore it's many guises. Now it is resting. Soon, it shall be covered in wild pink blossom. And you know, i much prefer it this way, my skeleton tree, my fog-cloaked, bare-naked sweetheart)
3. My beautiful Marie Antoinette pendant (made by DarkEleganceDesigns) as featured in my last installment of The Wonder Cabinet.
4. Me. Shortly after the bad news on Xmas eve. I chose to make a photomontage depicting the clouds dispersing, a rainbow forming through the centre.
Still roaming through rainbow land after my fling with Lula Magazine last week.
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Oh! It's Miss Piggy........
My precious new Piggy doll, a gift from Vanessa.
1. A fine example of Piggy Haircraft (as seen in the latest edition of Le Hogge magazine, Paris). Here she is sporting the notorious 'up do'. How versatile those locks!
2. The golden flowing waterfall 'do'. Such glamour.
3. Sporting my Blythe's afro. Moog, my Blythe doll is none too pleased. Miss Piggy, of course, interprets the Moog's recent display of hostility towards her as a hideous form of deep rooted jealousy. I am sure that she is right.
4. Her Jewellery. This lady likes to accessorize.p
Antlers,
For some unknown reason, my face is kinda warped here. Or else it has warped quite naturally in reality without me noticing it. I love this Ikea blanket. I have been wearing it, sari fashion, since Christmas eve. I do not actually intend my self portraits to be an eternal advert for Ikea or the very lovely AshleyG, but this is the best spot in the house for light, you know....and Ikea suits my budget. It also happens to be the only home furnishings store within a three thousand mile radius of my town.
His favourite game of recent days is tearing through the house with this clump of tinsel around his neck. It was due to be thrown away, but I couldn't bear the thought of parting him from it. The strangest little thing............
So, I hope that you have all experienced a very pleasant Christmas, and I shall be sending out heaps of my best wishes for the New Year!
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My latest (and last for now!) purchase, a hand carved fox mask by merimask. I will likely get landed with a tedious customs charge for this one, but I had to have it. Trust me.
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Enjoy!
xxxxxx