Well Hello!

Yes, I'm back! Finally. Celebrating my 462nd post- can you believe it- with an image update- do you like? So I've given myself a little break from blogging- I didn't plan it that way but life has been fairly eventful at home, even by the standards of the Hawes Family.  Thank you for missing me (Zoe especially!); everything's fine, though life has changed a lot for me over the last few months, most of which I haven't shared on the blog. You'll remember that Oliver started back at school- looking back I can't believe how little I wrote about that; something to do with tempting providence I think. After his early school days- on a disaster scale of 1-10, his experience was a -6... we were bracing ourselves for just a little stress. We need not have worried. He has done brilliantly in every way. The things we worried about- getting on the bus... learning to play cricket following a lifetime phobia of team sports... long, long school days... homework... he took in his stride and has risen to every occasion. He even took his end of year exams (exams!) having only been at school a few weeks, and passed them all, some with flying colours. I know this sounds like a boast, but in fact it's a huge relief for me and an endorsement that the last 4 years of home education has not been a total waste of time. Phew. I'm off the hook, and you don't know how much of a relief it is to hand over the responsibility for his education to someone else!

So, as Ollie went back to school, my time was taken up with helping my 88 year old Aunt, Dulcie, to a bungalow round the corner from us. Unpacking, finding lost items, reassuring, shopping, cooking, and lots and lots of reminiscing. It's not always easy to help a loved one to adjust to a new lifestyle and adapt to the thought of a little less independence, but so worthwhile. Dulcie has always been a huge influence prescence in my life. Very sadly though she died of a heart attack a few weeks back, while we were in Canada. We came home to an empty bungalow and a huge gap in our lives.

In September the chillen will go back to school and I..... what will I do? I'm envisaging days on end of time to myself, time to make art, take photographs, read books, grow vegetables, walk for hours through the Wye Valley.... OK, reality check. Things don't work out like that do they! But I am going to try.

My first step has been to transform the old 'school room' into new 'art room'. Indulgent I know but I think of it as my reward for 4 years hard labour. Let me show you.

 

Need I say I love love love my new nest. I love it. (love).

Having done very little in the way of art (apart from photographs!) over the last few months I've been trying to make up for it over the last couple of weeks and so I'm going to post a few shots over the next 7 days to show y'all that I'm still in the game!

Starting with a few pages from my holiday journal. I just took watercolours, a pen and a moleskine journal. Found myself dying to get back to the scissors, glue, sewing machine..... but I coped.

Thanks for sticking with me! I'll be back tomorrow with a little mini on the subject of 'Moxie'. All will become clear, I promise.
Cheers m'dears x

Comments

[Carol Evans]

Love It ALL Maz,true ART... Love Carol xxx

[Elizabeth Harper]

How wonderful to have this time and transition. I love the new studio space and the website changes. I'm also so impressed with your journal. I wish I could paint in a way that one might be able to tell what the end result actually was. Yours looks lovely.

I am sorry to hear of your Aunt Dulcie's death.

[Zoe]

Hi Maz,

So sorry to hear your sad news, always tough losing a loved one, sending ((hugs)) x

Lovely to see you backthough! Journal is gorgeous, took watercolour pencils etc on our camping holiday but didn't produce anything to that standard. and am turning green looking at your revamped studio!

Zoe x

PS: Well done to Ollie's school successes!

[spread your wings]

love you art space and love what you create there.

[Rachael]

Nice to have you back. So sorry to hear about your Aunt. Your studio is stunning I am sooo jealous.

Rach x

[beth]

I don't know what I love more....
the studio or your journaling....okay, it's a huge tie of LOVE LOVE LOVE !

[Bobs]

Maz - you're back! Fantastic!
I love your studio - it's so neat and tidy and orderly compared to my craft room, which is piled high with allsorts.
So sorry about your aunt. Why do things always seem to happen when we're away?
I hope you've given yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for the education you've given Ollie. Well done to you - and to him!

xxx

Bobs xxx

[heather fuentes]

your space is absolutely divine, maz! happy to see you back, btw! and your watercolors! totally make me want to break mine out! HI!

[janie]

Oh my gosh, what beautiful artwork on your pages! Thank you for sharing it with us. So sorry to hear about your aunt, and hoping good memories wil help you through.

The first thing I noticed about your space was ALL THE WONDERFUL LIGHT! Lucky you! Enjoy!

[elk]

first of all ...BRAVO MOM! you did it and he did great...you must take credit for how well your son is doing in school!
your space is truly a work of art!...just so visual ...bright..if you hit a block you can get up and play the drums!

[Rachel]

AMAZING ART! wow. :) :)
racheygriff; x

[Lelainia]

Maz, did you by chance submit a series (sleeve) of ATC for a show at the Richmond, BC Art gallery that were configurated to create a map? Because if they aren't yours, someone has a style very similar to you!

[Maz]

Lelaina-
Hmm- that sounds intriguing! No, it wasnt me- I am far away in England. Id love to have seen it, for curiositys sake!
xxx
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Diving for Pearls] Lelainia submitted a comment to Well Hello!
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:50:46 -0800