New Year New Word

New Year New Word

Pinch Punch - First Blog of the Month, and the Year.  The above pin sums up my goals for 2015. The words are from Silly Wizard's Ramblin' Rover - a song that brings back a lot of happy memories from my student days or perhaps Student Nights would be more precise.  The Picture is by an old friend whose life was the epitome of the song.  And so bringing them both together brings a phenomenal spirit and promise to 2015.

I intend for 2015 to be the year I curate a Successful Creative Business.  I say "Curate" rather than "Create" because I have put the legwork in over the years and now it's time to bring it all together.

I'll be keeping my Etsy Shop sheeny shiny, regularly updating my website and taking part in more social media interaction on FaceBook and Twitter and Pinterest (not just posting and running away!)

I'm planning to take part in some blog alongs, already checked out The Sewing Directory Year of Handmade Gifts and Adventure in Making's DIY Challenge.  2015 will be all about joining in with the Creative Community.

And talking of community I'll be building on my local connections through my Paisley inspired Creations and sharing my intention of putting the pattern back in Paisley, one piece at a time.  (More on this later in the week).

I'm throwing away the rule books - and sticking with the well proven phrase "There are no Rules - Only Guidelines" (unknown) and looking forward to a Creative and Satisfying 2015.

I hope that your 2015 turns out to be just as meaningful.

Namaste

Catherine x

Today’s the Day....

Art by Richard Richardson

This  day will go down in history – the day of the Scottish Independence Referendum.

For much of my life I have been A-political, not really fussed one way or the other who I voted for because my vote didn’t really make much of a difference.  Today I believe my vote counts – as do so many others.

I am proud to be voting YES – not least because of the positive campaign.  We truly do get more of what we focus on.  And in the months running up to this day we have been focussed on a Scottish Community that cares about our future.

If by some freak of chance the NO vote wins, it will not be an end.  I believe that today is the dawn of a new era for Scotland.  The Scottish people have been given a voice – and once realised – we’re not about to let go of the issues that effect us most.

Never more proud than to be a Scot from Paisley. (A YES Town).

Some Paisley Threads by Me

Namaste

Catherine

Drawing With Scissors – I Just Didn’t Get It.

It was a beautiful sunny day in Paisley, one of many throughout this summer, and I felt I was taking a trip to see some ‘grown up ‘ art.  And as such, I should appreciate it.  This was a timely reminder in why I don’t do ‘shoulds’.  Because I just didn’t get it.

Before I visited the Matisse Exhibition, Drawing With Scissors, at Paisley Museum and Art Galleries  I had been reeled in by Matise’s words, ‘the paper cut-out allows me to draw in the colour’.  Iwas intrigued and I was on my way.

I’m not sure what I was expecting to see.  Perhaps my expectations had been heightened by pieces I’d recently added to my pinterest boards.

Now that's what I call 'Drawing with Scissors'!

I found the whole exhibition to be pretty basic and disappointing.  Allowances may perhaps be made for the fact that these works were completed by Matisse as he lay in his sick bed toward the end of his life, 1950-54. (Matisse died in 1954).  Not wishing to be too harsh but I’m sure many an art project of a similair style may have been put together by a child home from school and needing some entertainment to soothe the boredom.  I’m not sure what it is about this exhibition that has stayed with me.  Perhaps the vibrancy of the colours or my wonder at the stark simplicity of the pieces, who knows – perhaps you should see it for yourself to find out.

Your visit would be enhanced further by the ever present Paisley Pattern and Weaving Galleries and by the current ‘Generation’Exhibition, tracing the development of Contemporary Art over the last 25 years.  Now some of these pieces were starkly simple but I got the point. 

This is more of a what other people made Hand Made Monday piece, all the same I'm off to see what everyone else has been up to, it's been a while...

The Matisse Exhibition remains at the Galleries until 28 September, with Generation running till 5 October, finishing just before we get to see some more Lego Brilliance with Brick Wonders opening 11 October.

Namaste

Catherine x

What’s Your Sma’ Shot?

I recently visited the local museum in my home town of Paisley.  Walking through those high glass doors and up the steps past the room where I used to attend Saturday Morning Art Classes there was a touch of nostalgia reinforced further by Buddy the Lion. The reason for this visit was to see the Story of the Paisley Shawl and the Weaving Gallery.

(he was much scarier and I’m sure much bigger when I used to make weekly visits)

I was born and brought up in Paisley, and spent most of my teenage years planning my escape.  I never truly appreciated the history of this beautiful  town and the many treasures to be found here.  I’ve been working on creating some pieces around the Paisley Pattern and thought a trip to the museum would bring some additional inspiration.  And I was not left disappointed.

The story of the Paisley Pattern, the Paisley Shawl collection and the Weaving Gallery were well worth the visit.  Whilst there was much to learn about the shawls there was a wealth of knowledge to be gained regarding the spirit and resilience of the Paisley People.  Whilst Paisley was a highly industrialised town, I’m sure this was as much a product of the highly skilled and hard working people as the wealthy industrialists that also called the town home.

As you enter the Weaving Gallery there is a short video presentation showing the restoration of the Sma’ Shot Cottages, further instilling a pride in Paisley’s Past and the pride Paisley’s people have in their town.  This is also where I learnt what a ‘Sma’ Shot’ was/is.  Every so often, as weavers wove the cloth on the loom an extra weft was shot through the work in order to add strength to the fabric – this was the “sma’ shot”.

A sma’ shot was a balancing thread strengthening the fabric.  It struck me that the fabric of all our lives can benefit from a sma’ shot.  What do you weave into your life?  Art? Meditation? Journaling?  What’s your sma’ shot?

Namaste

Catherine  

Sky Line - August Break Day 7

Positively Paisley

Photo by Brian McGuire

 Enjoying anAugust Break

Monday is for Making

Been Making My Brand

  

I said last week that I'd be working on Branding.  I've finally settled on this logo, having decided to dispense with The MacsX and  start using the label I was born with.  I've placed my name in the middle of a Paisley Pattern as Paisley is where I am and it is a town with a great creative history, threads and Paisley Pattern playing one of the major parts.  I wrapped the embroidery hoop in London Bus Ribbon from The London Line by Helz Cuppleditch - the London bus having, played a major part in my creative story so far.

So, on the making table this week I have the Ribbon Jewellery Links I showed off a few weeks back.  And I have lots of embroidery patterns to put together for my new book.  Some might say 'busy, busy, busy' but I'm really having fun, fun, fun - long may it continue.

A 'little' late to the party, I'm off over to Handmade Harbour to check out all the other lovely creative goings on this week.

What have you made of Monday?

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Time For More BS

So, that was the week that was;

Checked in at Handmade Harbour on Monday and contemplated the concept of Christmas in July - the hottest July Ever.

I'm loving the Creative Mornings vibe and would so love to be involved in something like it at a local level - a theme that's kind of stuck, more later.

Wednesday I posted a piece about choices and my choosing not to be a Domestic Goddess.  My gut told me not to post the piece.  But I failed to listen and, at a time when the traffic to my blog is building up, this piece had the lowest hits ever.  Lesson learnt: Trust The Gut.  I had already said I'd only write 2 long pieces per week - that way I can focus on quality - and I can easily fill the other 4 days with Feedly and Pinterest finds, like the posts for Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week.

And, as always, Sunday is for the BS, round off one week and set up the next.

Branding was the key task for this week and I think I now have that sussed, I just have lots to do to put it all together, so watch out for the changes ringing through this week.  You may have noticed already that I've changed the name here.  Keeping it simple really, using the label I was born with Catherine McAtier.

Almost got the label sussed - just need to add the Paisley Touch

Whilst on the surface I'll be re branding everything in the background I'll be working on my first mini project.  I'm taking the advice of Marianne Cantwell being Free Range and jumping right in, giving myself 6 weeks to get the project off the ground.  I could say more but I'm still ironing out the creases.

Suffice it to say I'm still reading Lissa Rankin's Mind Over Medicine, and I'm thinking if my mind can help heal my body can it help heal my town too?  I wanted nothing more, when I finished college, than to move out of Paisley.  I so wanted to move to London - the grass is always greener etc.  I'm finally coming to love the beauty, history and possibilities held by Paisley.  There are a lot of positive Paisley vibes out there, it takes a little digging to find them.  But I've started digging and my first project will involve a lot more.  I believe it's time to be grateful for the history, be hopeful for the future and live and enjoy the now.

Namaste from a True Paisley Buddy

Casting wonderful wishes for the week ahead...

Catherine

xxx