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And I get stuck in the bellies of my two jobs. Is it bellies? Maybe it should be rumps. Something to do with really getting your teeth into something juicy. I knew that soon the two crests would meet and I'd have to put all my smaller balls down and start juggling the two big medicine balls, while simultaneously trying to wobble the little ones with my toes. If any of that makes any sense; I'm too tired to make a coherent metaphor or whatever they are called. However. Days have been spent finishing off tasks, admin and general communication. Some are months old.
This is Petra. I finished her back at the beginning of February, when we were snowed in and she was commandeered the next day for - something. She went away for months, and returned this week. She was reserved by someone who has been very patient. She needed a bit of TLC and her own label, and now is on her way to her new home.
Finished another little commission which was ordered back in 2008; I'm afraid I am taking no more commissions at all now until (possibly) sometime next year, depending on what happens with things. And I'm not even sure when I will have time to add anything new to my shop. Just can't fit any more hours in the day.
Things are changing. Throughout the summer it has been my humble goal to earn a minimum of £50/$80 a week. Just to get by with food, bills and the odd bottle of beer. I managed that. Many, many thanks to everyone who supported me and purchased my bits and bobs. Now I find that the handful of 'seeds' I have been secretly planting are starting to sprout; an ongoing job which has been stop-starting since February has started again. Another seed sown two years ago has finally put forth shoots and to my delighted surprise I was summoned to London for a business meeting last Friday.
Our country train station, not as sleepy as it looks.
If all goes well, I will be working on projects that fulfill my wildest dreams, with (for the first time) the freedom to indulge my imagination completely. But, that is as far as I can say; as is usual, these things remain confidential until they go public. What it does mean is that making things for public sale will take a back seat and I can cease worrying about earning that £50 a week.
What it also means is that I am stretched to my limits time-wise. I am keeping up the exercise though, although I rather overdid it yesterday; a nine mile cycle followed by a four mile walk in the sun has left me exhausted. For those of you who do not get bored with my endless ramblings, it is recorded on my Cotswold Peeps blog (not much boring text and lots of nice pictures) My morning cycle was happily diverted by a village yard sale. I restrained myself from visiting all of the venues, but found an excellent haul for only a few pounds.
An enamel pot, a nutmeg grater and only-slightly-chipped hare mug = £1.20p/$2.00 the lot. The pot and the grater still had their Daylesford price stickers on; the uber-upmarket, organic, lifestyle (sorry, 'farmers') shop, just up the road. They originally cost an eye watering £9.99/$16.65 and £12.99/$21.65 - and were barely used.
A useful box for 50p/.83 cents. Because you can never have enough useful boxes. And best of all, for a princely £2.00/$3.00, a wonderful little etching of Bertram Mills circus, signed by the artist 'Gould' - whoever they were. In a vintage frame.
I did much Googling, but failed to trace them. It is so skillfully done and with such lovely composition that I am sure it was rendered by a trained artist.
Next week I will be able to show a fully grown 'seed', planted earlier this year and now grown to fruition. For now, I must try to keep on top of everything; game over, and back to the pavilion for another winter.
23 Comments on Seasonal Changes, last added: 9/14/2009
I'm so happy that you are able to run riot with your creativity now. Wonderful news! Those yard sale finds are lovely (oh, the little drawer under the nutmeg grater! Small squeal of joy) That picture is charming. Something in the line and composition reminds me of Toulouse-Lautrec :)
Oh how exciting! I SO want to be able to support myself with my creativity but I'm not there yet. Congrats to you and I can't wait to hear all the juicy details! Oh, and I LOVE that little railway station!! It looks so quaint and peaceful.
Fall is harvest time after all, Can't wait to hear. Love the hare mug (that was predictable). The Gould looks compositionally like a Lautrec, but different characters. hmmmm.
Keeping my curiosity at bay, and sending along huge good wishes to you regarding the secret projects. Of course, all of us already know that you are immensely talented and have a very unique style. It sounds as if we might soon be sharing this information with a wider audience.
Congratulations Gretel on making your target for the summer, and such lovely finds...and how wonderfully exciting is your news...good luck and congratulations on whatever it is. You deserve it.
And my curiosity is piqued ;)...wondering what this seed is showing.
It is very wonderful and encouraging to hear news of your good news! I've been anxiously watching for any sign of sprouting from seeds I've been planting. Nothing yet but you've given me hope!
you deserve all the good coming your way Gretel. You have me so curious about all of this...do tell soon ;-) Good Luck and keep us posted. your friend across the pond, Janet ps...I simply love my Lemon Chicken!!!
it is sounding pretty interesting over here Gretel.... love to hear of sown seeds bearing fruit ... or tomatoes or courgettes..or whatever.... I say courgettes because it seems they go great guns over there..... and here, I have to pay $1.49 a pound for them!
Our cricket season draws to a close, heralded by the annual President's Match and beer festival. For the last seven years, since leaving our old home, we have commuted back to play cricket. Andy thought about joining another club, but our hearts and friends are here; they are not things you drop lightly. It's about 15 miles away via the lanes, and as it was a special occasion we stayed the night over with a lovely friend.
The President's game is a friendly between old and existing members of our cricket club; the President picks what he hopes will be a crack team of retired or moved-away players, and the Club - mostly the youngsters - play them. This year the Club wore silly hats. It is a light hearted affair, bolstered by beer and good humour.
Naturally, this being a summer game, held in August, it was cold and windy. We were joined by Eynsham Morris, who usually dance in the tea interval. Eynsham Morris has been in recorded existence since 1856, and is thought to go back beyond, to the 17th and 18th centuries. Cecil Sharpe, the renowned collector of folk dances, witnessed them dance in the now closed Railway Inn, in 1908.
“The dancers met me, I remember, one dull, wet afternoon in mid winter, in an ill-lighted upper room of a wayside inn. They came straight from the fields in their working clothes, sodden with mud, and danced in boots heavily weighted with mud to the music of a mouth organ, indifferently played. The depression which not unnaturally lay heavily upon us all at the start was, however, as by a miracle dispelled immediately the dance began, and they gave me as fine an exhibition of Morris dancing as it has ever been my good fortune to see.” (CJ. Sharp, The Morris Book, part III, 2nd edn. 1924)
The Eynsham Morris website is full of the team's fascinating, rich history and well worth a browse.
They are one of the things I still miss about our old village. They trickled in one by one, standing to watch the game and get an early beer or two in.
When the first innings was over and everyone trooped in for tea (or beer) and to partake of the good spread provided by the President's wife, they began dancing.
The highlight was the village 'in-joke', whereupon a pretty young lady volunteer becomes the centre of the dance; 'Maid of the Mill', otherwise known as the Eynsham Morris fertility dance. Various sweet and, one suspects, suggestive things are whispered to her, as the dancers 'court' her, to the barely concealed amusement of the onlookers, most of whom know how the dance ends.
I spent most of the second inning sat in the pavilion with friends and had one of the most disgusting pints of real ale I have ever had the misfortune to imbibe. It was called 'Grunter' and tasted as if someone had put several cigarette butts in the barrel. Should you come across this revolting and thankfully rare beer - avoid.
We - that is to say, the Club, for whom Andy was playing - lost, pretty rapidly, and not before time. All this cold, grim day was lacking was rain, and sure enough, it arrived. As is customary at the end of every match, everyone shook hands like gentlemen, even though they were all familiar and close friends.
With the near end of the season and the beginning of autumn proper, I have been frantically tackling tasks and chores in preparation for a new batch of commercial work which arrived, as I thought it would, this week. I am almost at the end of my commissions list. Including this chap; a portrait and a little different to what I normally do.
With my new exercise regime still going strong, I have begun recording my almost-daily wanderings in a new blog, 'Cotswolds Peeps' - more for my own pleasure than anything. It's a kind of record of the countryside, and the tiny things that happen in the natural world, which I find interesting. And, of course, the ever-changing weather.
13 Comments on Morris men, beer and cricket, last added: 9/9/2009
Crikey, I often drive 15 miles several times a day, lol. I wonder if anyone has ever wondered if maybe they buy some new clothes maybe they wouldn't need a fertility dance? Just funnin' ya, I'm gonna have to get me one of those, ahem, jackets. Thanks for the heads up about the Grunter. My husband often makes it over to England and he will appreciate the warning.
What a wonderful post! I LOVE reading your blog and will have to take a peek at your new one. I have always been fascinated by Morris Dancers...and love cool, damp weather....could I be a long lost English soul?? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new dog figure!!
Wow Gretel, a lot of things happened here this summer! You're sewing, it's wonderful news, and the new blog it's a great idea. If you still want sunny days, come to Barcelona and I'll come to your place. I want some rain, pleaaaase!
How could it be the close of the cricket season? Thank you so much for the marvelous video. I could tell that the sky looked very heavy.
The new dog in town has got such a personality. Well done!
I will surely have a look see at you new site. It's grand to see some beautiful country through the eyes of someone who truly appreciates where she lives. Keep up all that fitness business!
Oh, I love your little dog, he reminds me of my own dear Ted.
I have had a summer dominated by cricket on the telly. I cannot understand why it is so important not to get the ball wet, my suggestion of having a set of dry balls at the ready was met with pitying looks of incredulity.
What a cool dog! Hmmm, our local Morris Dancers are forever spilling out of the pub and stopping the traffic while they do yet another dance in the road. I can't decide whether I love them or hate them!
I love Morris Dancers. We were driving through Otley in Yorkshire, on our way to watch our rugby team play at their ground and were held up in the town by hoards of Morris Men crossing the road etc, on their way to a MM competition! It was great seeing the different costumes, I almost wished I was going to watch them....but the rugby beckoned, and we won, so that was ok. And I LOVE the doggie!
Great post and pics (as usual :) I'll remember that warning of the Grunter, but it makes me want to give it a try to see just how bad it is, haha! I think the one I steer clear of is Old Peculiar, whew! Great post...I'm over to take a look at your other blog! ~ER~
And I get stuck in the bellies of my two jobs. Is it bellies? Maybe it should be rumps. Something to do with really getting your teeth into something juicy. I knew that soon the two crests would meet and I'd have to put all my smaller balls down and start juggling the two big medicine balls, while simultaneously trying to wobble the little ones with my toes. If any of that makes any sense; I'm too tired to make a coherent metaphor or whatever they are called. However. Days have been spent finishing off tasks, admin and general communication. Some are months old.
0 Comments on Tomorrow is another day as of 1/1/1900
I'm so excited for you and your new adventures. Sending my best thoughts your way.
Fingers crossed for you darling. Love your finds too, wonderful x
Oh, this does sound exciting! And promising.
Your yard sale finds are splendid too.
That sounds very exciting, I'm intrigued.
My heart sings for you!
I'm so happy that you are able to run riot with your creativity now. Wonderful news!
Those yard sale finds are lovely (oh, the little drawer under the nutmeg grater! Small squeal of joy)
That picture is charming. Something in the line and composition reminds me of Toulouse-Lautrec
:)
Exciting! I love bargain finds and I love the sound of your new project :-)
definitely Toulouse-L in that; hmm.
Looking forward to hearing your break-out tale!
Oh how exciting! I SO want to be able to support myself with my creativity but I'm not there yet. Congrats to you and I can't wait to hear all the juicy details! Oh, and I LOVE that little railway station!! It looks so quaint and peaceful.
Fall is harvest time after all, Can't wait to hear. Love the hare mug (that was predictable). The Gould looks compositionally like a Lautrec, but different characters. hmmmm.
Good luck on your new projects! I am happy to hear that the seeds you sowed are starting to yield fruit.
Keeping my curiosity at bay, and sending along huge good wishes to you regarding the secret projects. Of course, all of us already know that you are immensely talented and have a very unique style. It sounds as if we might soon be sharing this information with a wider audience.
Cheers! xo
This is such wonderful news! I am grinning and bouncing and excited and can't wait to hear all the details. Congratulations!!!
Exciting times - you deserve it!
Fingers crossed it all works out just as you hope. Best of luck. Love your new bargain print.
Congratulations Gretel on making your target for the summer, and such lovely finds...and how wonderfully exciting is your news...good luck and congratulations on whatever it is. You deserve it.
And my curiosity is piqued ;)...wondering what this seed is showing.
Oh Gretel you have us in suspense! A tiny clue? Is it illustration work? Well done at sowing your clever seeds, I look forward to seeing them bloom!xx
There are an awful lot of positive thoughts flying through cyberspace to you. :O)
What exciting news ! Can hardly wait to hear all about it.
(())
It is very wonderful and encouraging to hear news of your good news! I've been anxiously watching for any sign of sprouting from seeds I've been planting. Nothing yet but you've given me hope!
So excited for you! Can't wait to hear what the news is. And I love the little box you managed to find in the yard sale.
you deserve all the good coming your way Gretel. You have me so curious about all of this...do tell soon ;-)
Good Luck and keep us posted.
your friend across the pond,
Janet
ps...I simply love my Lemon Chicken!!!
it is sounding pretty interesting over here Gretel.... love to hear of sown seeds bearing fruit ... or tomatoes or courgettes..or whatever.... I say courgettes because it seems they go great guns over there..... and here, I have to pay $1.49 a pound for them!