Monday, May 30, 2011

{my story captured}

Journals

"...sometimes I ask to sneak a closer look,
skip to the final chapter of the book..."
                                             The Wood Song - Indigo Girls

Day by day, and year by year, going right back into my early teens.  Pages and pages, volumes of ink on paper {the photo shows only part of the collection}.  Capturing the minutiae and the extraordinary, the triumphs and the falls. Words have always been such a part of my journey.

Sometimes I wonder who will be the caretaker of my stories when I'm gone.  Who will read this story of my life?  And what will they make of it?

Friday, May 27, 2011

{those new frontiers i spoke of}

New Studio

So we survived the move!  On some days over the past two weeks I have to say that it felt like survival was all we had managed.  There was something about this move that was physically and emotionally larger than any other I have done before.  Perhaps it was the combination of a major birthday being right there in the middle, or perhaps the fact that work has been extraordinarily busy, or Ms L losing her job in the same week also.  Or the combination of all those events!  It has been a BIG 2 weeks!

However part of me recognises that this move symbolises the end of a very difficult period in my life, and all those extra events/stresses somehow seem to belong within the intensity of it.  I've been thinking a lot over the past few days of how rarely I acknowledge the intensity of the last 3 or so years.  Years defined by illness, and loss, and change, and grief that was and is profound and far reaching.  I am reminded of a similarly intense period in my mid 20's where over the course of a number of years my life completely fell apart, where all that was left to do was slowly pick up and rebuild the pieces of myself.  The end result was a stronger, better, much happier version of me, but gee was it an excruiting process.

That last enormous effort, the final act of pushing through, in readiness to begin anew has brought such emotional and physical upheaval and exhaustion over the last few weeks that I really wondered if I was going to make it to the other side, and perhaps more pertinantly what would be left of me when I arrived.

But here I am on the other side.  In a stunning new home, with the most beautiful new studio {can't wait to get organised and give you a tour}.  And this afternoon I can see that perhaps indeed this is the new beginning that I have been waiting for, for some time now.  I am hopeful for the future.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

{just an everyday, ordinary room}

Studio Lights

Real

Studio Views

New Forest Works

Glimpse

BigCat in the studio

Studio Floor

Belonging

Packing Up


where I became an artist.

Farewell my beloved first studio.  I'm off to new frontiers.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

{a million thoughts, the abridged version}

Forty
 A gift today from one of my sweet colleaugues

There's a million things I want to share with you about what I'm dreaming, how I'm feeling, where I'm at right now.  But the reality is there's just no time.  Life is chaotic, and full,  and constantly changing and I am running to keep up.

But tonight, me and my favourite lady are taking ourselves off to Hellenic Republic for a sumptuous celebration of my 40th.  Bliss!

Tomorrow we pick up the keys to the new house and between then and Saturday {and beyond} we'll be completely focused on moving homes.

So who knows when I'll be back around to share all those thoughts, dreams and plans that are swirling around in my head and heart.  Hopefully soon.

You know what though?  Life is good.  In all the twists and turns I keep coming back to that same reckoning.  Life is good.  I'm good.  I'm forty and all is well in my world.

*********************************

and just in case I am gone for a little while...

SAVE THE DATE

Acts of Love

ACTS OF LOVE
PAINTINGS BY CATH KIRWAN

OPENING NIGHT
THURSDAY JUNE 16TH 2011 7-9PM
CHAIR 14, THORNBURY

Saturday, May 14, 2011

{things i'm diggin'}

Dream

Sharing my story over at Do What You Love.  You can read a bit about my journey into being an artist.  Thanks so much Beth for the opportunity.

CurlyPops Hottie Challenge supporting the Margaret Pratt Foundation to raise much needed funds for research into heart lung transplants.  Get on over and join in.


 
Monica's call for help.  I'd love it if you'd pop over and read her story and request.

Kat's Worthiness Wednesdays.  Love seeing her put her heart into this project.

Counting the sleeps till I'm forty. 4 sleeps peeps!

Early birthday presents from Ms L.  I'm so lucky and loved.

Getting a stack of happy mail this week and news of some other lovely gifts coming my way.

Little moments of serendipity.

Dreaming about making our new house into a home and creating my new studio space.

What about you?  Whatchoo diggin'?

Thursday, May 5, 2011

{home sweet home}

I am so excited to share our big news.  If you're a regular around these parts you'll know that Ms L and I have been through quite a long period of uncertainty about our housing situation.  After nearly 3 years in our beautiful home the owners decided it was time to sell up.  That was around 9 months ago. 

We embraced the adventure and considered a tree change.  We realised that for now our hearts were deeply rooted in our local neighbourhood.  We got our hopes up when we thought we'd found our dream place.  Most recently we decided to put all the thinking and searching on hold and wait to see what the new owners wanted and whether they would offer us a new lease.
 
New Home, Sweet Home

Late last week we found out that the new owners were definitely planning to ask us to leave.  We realised it was time to go. Last Friday night we looked at the lovely house above and both instantly knew that it was right. Today we got word that it's ours, with a two year lease no less.

To top it all off it's got everything I wrote on my fabulously big list about my dreams for a new house - light and space, trees and birds.

OK, it's time to get packing!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

{so this is where things ended up}

Dream Sweetly
Dream Sweetly
Acrylics on canvas
78 x 60 inch

A perfect end to a perfect week of holidays today.  CurlyPops and Hoppo Bumpo came over for afternoon tea to celebrate Cam's birthday.  There was a delicious chocolate cake, the opening of a really large birthday painting, and lots of laughter and great conversation as always.

Camille and I

Tomorrow it's back to work.  I've turned into one of those people.  Heading back to work already dreaming of my next holiday.  Living for the spaces in between work.  I don't mind.  It's all part of a bigger plan.  One day my working life will look very different.

Buddies

Life really is good I've decided.

Camille, Me and One Very Large Painting