Merry Go Round

Jump on the merry-go-round and join a group of artists/ crafts-women as they link hands around the world and tell you a little bit about their lives in art and craft!
We’re being a bit seasonal with our posts this month. The question we’re all going to answer is...
"How do the different seasons and weather affect you in your art and craft?"

I’m aware that for practically the entire month of November, I’ve done nothing but moan. Moan, moan, moan – nothing unusual in that, I know (before those that love me and put up with me feel compelled to leave a comment to prove it). The depressing light of day in these late autumnal /early winter months is hard to deal with. Am I the only person who struggles to get out of bed in the morning, when it’s still dark, and the warm comforts of a snuggly duvet are enticing me back to bed for ‘just five more minutes’?? It really does make you question your self discipline...but thankfully there are children to be breakfasted, sandwiches to make, ‘undergarments’ to retrieve from the ironing pile (no, I don’t iron them) and the school run to undertake (all in a mad rush!). Somehow, I manage to start the day.
But it doesn’t stop there – the general light in the house has lost its summer brightness; all clarity is gone. Remember our parents telling us off for sitting too close to the television – it’ll ruin your eyes!! – well, that’s it, my eyes feel ruined! I don’t need glasses (I’ve been tested) just proper daylight!! Not only that, but I’m fed up with poor photographs. It’s nigh on impossible to use electric light because it always leaves a caste over your images that I simply can’t eradicate...grrr!!

However, there are good points – honestly! I sit and sew my creations, using a machine or by hand. Granted, working in the evening is more difficult at this time of year, but it’s indoor work, so the weather doesn’t stop me. It’s lovely, too, to be able to reflect the changing seasons in your work – the colours of autumn for example, are glorious; winter sees crisp, cool snowy white; the advent of Christmas sees reds and golds; the party season heralds the opportunity to pile on sumptuous textures and sparkling beads; the colder days cry out for cosseting neckwarmers, scarves and shawls...fantastic!! I love the fact that I can embrace the year in this way; living in a forest, nature and its glorious colours are all around me. It influences our daily lives, so why should I fight it?
What was that line from a Crowded House song, now?...Ah, yes –

Colour is its own reward.

Perfect!

Please use the Merry Go Round links in the sidebar to read everyone's responses to this question...it's fun to find out more about each other, isn't it? Just remember that we are all in different time zones - so if you don't see a post, please pop back again later. xxx