The year has been a quiet one with a shaky start when I was suffering from severe anxiety but with a little help from friends and a 6-week well-being workshop I learnt new skills to help me deal with it. I'm not saying it will be gone forever but this year my approach to Christmas was altogether different from last year's.
I took up yoga (very lovely group of people) and I joined a book group, (ditto).
We had a few nice breaks away and I'm lucky to have been to three of my favourite places and I've had two very successful selling events and two not so successful.
December was mostly taken up with selling all the things I didn't sell at the last craft fair. I had a bumper year for on-line sales so a big thank you to everyone who has bought or just shared my work.
I heard from my son yesterday that the wife of a friend of his had bought one of my brooches for her Grandma. (If you're reading, hello, you know who you are!) That was so lovely and very close to my ambition to see someone wearing one of my brooches when I'm out and away from Textile events.
This is getting a bit like a 'round robin' Christmas letter and I don't always enjoy getting those so I'll stop reviewing and do a bit of a preview.
I've decided, next year. to stop bemoaning the fact that I am overlooked by a certain Textile blog which makes me feel as if I am not an 'Artist'. I'm not going to change my work and the way I present it just to fit in. I can't think what else an Artist is except one who works tirelessly at creativity because they have to, and need to produce something they find beautiful and fulfilling, and I think I do that.
My pieces are what they are 'wysiwyg' ..'What you see is what you get' and not 'wyriwyg' (the 'r' being 'read' instead of 'see'.)
Maybe it isn't Art but it's my form of expression.
That's it then..thats my New Years resolution.
I may also have another one up my sleeve...I'm going to have a clear-out of my existing wall pieces sooner or later, and will be selling some at a reduced rate to clear the decks for making new work. So watch this space. Or you could visit my website and look at the pieces I have there and imagine them with a quarter off!
This year I've only made three wall pieces as I've been very busy with my bread-and-butter brooches. I send the brooches to Galleries all over the country, not many, as I can only do so much, but they are spread out. Sadly two of the lovely Galleries I supply and who have been incredibly supportive are closing. Lazyhill Gallery in Abbotsbury, Dorset, has already closed, but the lovely Rachel and Gordon can still be found there at the weekends until the end of January and will continue to run the Village shop next door.
Jam Eton, a Gallery in, yes, Eton is closing as the owners are retiring at the end of January. They too have been selling lots of my brooches for a couple of years and are having a sale now, so if you want a bargain pop along there before the end of next month (and don't forget to say hello from me.)
I'm losing two of my stockists but along have come two more to fill the gap. Details later.
I'll leave you with a picture of a wall piece I made this year, and with my best wishes for a happy, peaceful and healthy 2016, and thanks for all the support and comments I had from you during 2015.
19 comments:
So sorry to hear about your anxiety and am pleased you have found a way of coping with it. I know how awful it can be having taken 4 or 5 years to find the right way for myself.
What else is your work if not Textile Art?! Just keep doing what you do so well - it's beautiful. I love this wall piece - it would make the perfect focus for meditation.
I hope you find new outlets to take the place of the galleries that have closed and that 2016 will be a successful and peaceful year for you.
Thank you Heather, you are always so supportive and positive .Happy New Year.x
I simply can't imagine why anyone would ever think your work wasn't art...the nerve! I can understand it though, because we crazy quilters run into it all the time. It's only been recently that quilt shows are even accepting our work, tending to look down their noses at what they perceive to be 'only a craft'. So sorry about the galleries closing - not only from the viewpoint of you losing an outlet, but for the loss of yet more smaller venues for artists. Take care of you - and a very happy new year to you and your family. May it be filled with love, laughter and plenty of creativity.
'wyriwyg' is so often a justification for badly made work in all areas of art, craft and design. Keep on with your 'wyriwyg' I'm looking forward to seeing what new work/art you make next year
from the mother of the wife of your son's friend (hope that doesn't sound too creepy)
Whoops!!! When I said " Keep on with your 'wyriwyg'" I did of course mean wySiwyg
I know you did! Hello it's nice to hear from you. I've just been reading your beautiful blog. I love your illustration and print. I read that you were working in the Preston Archives , so I'm guessing you are from Preston.
I was very happy to hear that Lizzie had bought one of my brooches . I hope the recipient liked it.
Thank you for saying hello.
All the best for the year to come, Jackie ;-)
Jackie--
I have four pieces of your work, all of which are beautiful examples of fiber art. Forget about the the "authorities" who think they know best. Wishing you a happy, healthy and creative 2016.
Irene
Love that wall piece !
Well if you're not considered an artist Jackie then there are an awful lot of us out 'there' that aren't as well! Some "artists" groups can be such a bunch of snobs!
You're one of the most talented artists I know...textile or not. You hang in there and keep doing the beautiful art that you do, and I wish all the success and prosperity for this and the coming years. xx
What utter rubbish to say you are not a proper artist - your work is really lovely. Perhaps they are secretly just jealous!
I hope 2016 brings you everything you want, including new stockists for your gorgeous brooches.
Hi Jackie, here’s hoping 2016 is all you want it to be!. As regards the attitude of ‘a certain Textile blog’ - all art is subjective and I’m sure your lovely artworks transcend their ability to recognise inspiration and talent. Why conform? Rules are for those who need the safety of boundaries. I love the way you interpret photos into panels, especially the shadowy ‘deep pool’ blues of this one (above). Kind regards, Val E. (Wales)
Happy new year to you too Jackie. So sorry to hear about the anxiety. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety. I took up yoga too and find it helps, as do simple meditations. I learnt a three minute breathing meditation which really helps in the moment when anxiety strikes.
Your work is not only beautiful but also truly original. How can that not be art?
Of course you're an artist! And all the better for not meeting boring conventional expectations. I don't know what blog you mean but I expect (and hope!) they ignore me too, and that's fine, doesn't sound like someone whose opinion I'd respect.
I hope you find time to make more of your wall art this year - I love it. Wishing you a fantastic 2016!
I love your beautiful art! Best wishes for 2016 :)
Well done on finding a way through anxiety. As for not being an artist, what tosh!
I'm glad you've managed to end the year on a much more positive note. Just make sure that you, the artist, carry this through 2016. Pity about the galleries closing but see it as an opportunity to find a new outlet for your work.
The wall piece is beautiful! Happy New Year!!
Hello my clever artist friend.....I hope you have a wonderful and happy 2016 doing what you do best (and enjoying it :-) ) LOVE that felted square - what a beauty! XX
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