Kate Selene

The lampshade!

When I got home today after buying my new bag, I went through the house to get it nice and tidy, I opened one of my cupboards and found this.......... It may not look like much, but when I sorted through my Nans house after she passed away, this is the one object I wanted. When I was very little, this lamp shade was in the room I used to stay in, it was always there and the wall was covered in fairy tales, nights on white horses, enchanted forests and the lamp shade that looked like a toad stool! I totally forgot about it but it has come with me to every house I have moved to. Never been used again as a light but just somewhere, somewhere I could look at it once in a while and remember.

I realised that I have, without knowing it, reminded myself of my Nan by collecting lots of things with this pattern!

Including the bag I bought today because I felt quite low. It called out to me from the wall full of bags in pretty fabrics. Why then did I choose it. I had to find the Lampshade to really see the bigger picture.

I surround myself with things that make me feel safe and protected and at home, connected to my family. Even family I didn't really get to know, like my Nan.

These cheeky chickens didn't leave me alone when I got home. Im sure they just wanted their picture taken!!

Scrummy bag

Today has been one of those days, a little jaded and very grey. Well, thats how I have been feeling anyway............ Untill I saw this scrummy bag on the shelf of a shop during my lunch break!! I forget sometimes how much colour effects my moods, red is my favourite colour and now all of my 'bag things' now live in this spotty delight!!

Numbers

I don't know what it is about numbers....... Maybe its because I stamp everyones wedding date into their jewellery........ Hmmmm.......... Back on track ..... But I saw a lovely set on the way back from lunch today!!

I loved the colour, it totally didn't go with the rest of the street but it really set the house apart from the rest, it had some beautiful crocuses and snow drops in the garden and the colour reminded me of a blue summer sky...... No clouds.............

Slowing down

My poor unloved blanket......... She has been waiting in a bag ( that I made of course) since we moved here. When we first moved I had a mad flurry of granny square making, but this big project, which never stared out as a blanket, has taken a ling time to get back to. I spent the weekend with friends and my parents, and realised this blanket was made when i was in the mood to settle down. This house has only just settled in. All the rooms are now done now i feel the need to nest again.

So I got home, reached for my blanket, unfinished square and crochet basket.

Its about time I settled down. My life has been really packed, I have yet to leave education or full time work so I'm finding time to slow down. Its time for the next part of my life to begin.

Wood burner beauty!!

This may not look like much but this is my new wood burner!! It is currently in my in laws barn in France!!! Isn't she beautiful !!!!

Just wanted to share!

You know when you have OCD.....

.......... When everything you have ever made is built on the back of an obsession!!
This is just some of the work from over ten years ago.......

Inspiration

I always get into work really early, I love having a look around the studio spaces whilst drinking my coffee, puts me in s good frame of mind for the day.

It also reminds me that I am surrounded by creativity and inspiration.

Some of the spaces featured images which are relevant to my practice.

I enjoy the regularity and repetitious nature of some of these images. I find something soothing in repetition. The mind is allowed to wander. It makes me realise that this is why I may like to knit of crochet so much, my hands are able to relax into repetitious motion, allowing my mind to drift and unwind.

Creative practice

Over the last few days, we have talked a lot about creative practice and how, without really noticing it, we do the same things over and over again. It has made me look at my work in a different light and understand that for most, if not all of my jewellery career, I have been fascinated by repetition.



Surprisingly though, I was unaware that I expressed this through floral imagery, and shapes that are consistent with leaves, petals and other parts of flowers i.e the centre circles and stems.



This necklace was made years ago, it has been on my wall in the office for a few days and it was only this morning that i noticed that my most recent work, which explores repeated floral imagery, is really not a million miles away from the work I made almost ten years ago!!
Its true, sometimes we cant see whats right in front of us. Im going to be gathering imagery of my work to give a talk to my students next week about my creative practice. Im looking forward to what I may discover!!

Stitch marker

The other day I was talking to Penny in College and I noticed she had made herself a set of stitch markers for the socks she was knitting. They were really lovely and I was surprised that I hadnt even thought of making any of my own!

I have been in some real need of knitting inspiration as I haven't knitted or crochet in weeks. I have obsessive spells of crafting and it all boils down to how much energy I have left at the end of the day, and recently, there hasn't been much. So, when I woke up yesterday and grabbed for my needles I knew I was feeling better!!

Im knitting a new hat for Paul, he works at a lumber yard and is outside all day, he also gets filthy and cold, so I will probably be knitting him replacement hats for years! I only need one stitch marker and decided I would go through some of my silver cast buttons that i made almost ten years ago ( thats a bit scary!).

So, with a fair bit of sanding I was able to use some of scrap silver to make a really cute stitch marker!

It was enough to get me knitting again and I pretty much made the hat from start to finish in a few hours! Im glad my hands don't forget what to do, there is something really soothing about the repetitious nature of each knit and purl stitch. Lets hope this hat lasts linger than the last one!!

The Folly walk home

This week has truly been gruelling!! It has been reading week for all the students, but for us, days filled with interviews for next years intake, organising all the workshops for next semester, marking and writing module packs......... And all the other day job bits on top!! Its when I have full on weeks like this I miss my practice, whatever shape or form that may take!

On my way back from Folly Lane yesterday, I just found some really interesting details. Im really into different ways that numbers and text are displayed, so here is a little part of my journey.

There were so many different parts of the wall that i wanted to photograph, all the different textures and colours.

And of course, snowdrops! I just love how these all arrive in huge groups, all uniformed and precise.

This bark was really striking! I just enjoyed the transitions of colour.

This moss was really interesting! Almost had an alien appearance to it. The repetitious nature of the small details around me is fascinating, i look for it everywhere and I'm always surprised to see things i never expected. I would have walked straight passed this crazy wall of moss if i hadn't been looking for things to photograph.

Im looking forward to getting some quality time in my workshop this weekend, I feel like I need some time in my little word to escape the insanity that that can sometimes be my job!