…and a catch up.
This lovely meme was started by Abi at Creating Paper Dreams. Around this time of the month we imagine a conversation over a cup of tea (and sometimes cake). I imagine we have met in town, old friends, catching up with each other.
I’m sitting on the wall opposite the café day dreaming, waiting for you, when all of a sudden there you are, smiling broadly.
“Happy New Year! I know it’s the end of the month but it’s the first time I’ve seen you. How are you? You look so well.
I was watching for you, hoping you weren’t blown away it is so blustery today but at least it’s not raining.”
We walk to the café arms linked easily falling in to step as we cross the road.
“I’ll get the drinks; you find us somewhere nice to sit, by the window perhaps?
I’m having the largest hot chocolate they have, yes and with cream, I need it.”
It’s been far too long since I had a natter with someone about blogging and all things crafty. We slip into easy conversation about our families, Christmas and New Year and where on earth has January gone?
You have brought me some of your latest makes; they are so much more beautiful in my hands than they are on screen.
“This is quite a nice café; overlooking the beach where I took my ZIZO picture of the dog. Helena’s new meme has really captured the imagination hasn’t it? I love it. Poor Helena’s ears, they must be constantly burning “Oh, wait a minute, go back, I’ve seen a ZIZO for Helena” or, in answer to “what on earth are you looking at?” “A picture for Helena! She’ll love this one”
I have brought some crafty things to show you. You were kind enough to ask me to bring something for you to see.
I tell you about the Gelli Printing class I started this week; it’s with Carla Sonheim. There seems to be a bit more structure to the printing than I have seen before. It’s only day two of five today but it’s messy and fun.
And about the postcards of my photographs I received in the post this morning. They look so lovely. The printing quality is wonderful even if the web site drove me nuts!
We discover that we are both joining Kat Sloma’s Liberate Your Art again this year. And I plan to send a card through the post every week this year. “If I have your address, you are on my list!”
I tell you that I have starting contributing to a new meme: Six Word Fridays, which I am enjoying. Adrienne who hosts it gives out a prompt each week. I like to find a picture and add just one sentence to it.
I am joining in with an eight-week course called Frugal Still Life Photography by Cheryl McCain. I struggled the first week but since I have set up a table top backdrop and reflector, I am getting along much better. I am also fortunate to be able to leave the table full of my stuff for days on end!
We talk about January, the beginning of the year and how so many people we know (mostly women) suffer with a depression, a lack of serotonin and the feeling of ‘What’s it all about’
In the past I have really struggled with the ‘January Blues’. This year I decided to alter my mindset and not think about January as a time in the year, the beginning of an uphill climb or the bottom of something too deep to climb out of as I used to. I am thrilled to tell you that I have been fine and can’t believe that it is February at the weekend. I am extra pleased with myself, as I have been quite poorly over the last couple of weeks and on top of that my hand, although improving is still very painful. (I have a new mouse mat, which has a gelli wrist support. I do think it’s helping.)
So this year I didn’t let myself go down. I covered up the word January on my desktop calendar and started two classes, both of which are indoor pursuits so I can watch the rain happily fall out of the sky and smile, I have something lovely to do right here.
You can tell I missed talking to you, I’ve not stopped to draw breath!
Can we do this again?
Next month?
I’ll bring some Washi tape for my mouth!
What would you tell me if we were able to have coffee together?
Oh how much fun this would be, Miriam, and I’ll just bet I’d need the tape for my mouth too!!!
What a fun post this is! 🙂
How lovely to sit here with you and look at that view … I’d be asking for a window seat and hoping you wouldn’t think me rude if I kept turning round to peep out. I’d be very sympathetic about the being poorly, and be delighting with you in making it through January. I’d tell you that I took that class last autumn and my Gelli plate is still in its wrapper :(. And I imagine you’d tut-tut mock-disapprovingly and say “Alexa, what are you like!”.
Thank you for that lovely catch up. You truly live in a beautiful place. I would tell you that I often feel that way about January, it seems like everything good has happened with christmas! I am pleased February is on the way!
Oh, what a lovely get-together! Your company and the sea – perfect. It’s so nice to hear your news. I’m glad you made it through January so well. It can be a rough time, what with short days and bad weather. Online classes are wonderful, aren’t they? I like the structure they provide; it motivates me to do something!
The image of you with washi tape over your mouth will keep me laughing until next month!
another lovely catch-up by the sea. Laughing at your explanation on my ears prickling. Your classes sound great – I’ve signed up for 2 that start in Feb – I’ll post when they start – but as you ask – a one day silverclay workshop and a beginners course on sign language – very different and looking forward to both exercising different brain muscles
I loved joining you for a chat, you have quite brightened my day x
It’s funny how the little things can make a difference – like your idea of covering up the word “January”. It does seem to have gone very quickly this year – TTO sent me an email yesterday with “week three already – how did that happen” in the title. I guess if I saw you in person I might be singing the praises of daylight bulbs – they’re the only thing keeping me creating at the moment, the light here is so poor.
Hope the hand improves soon!
I would tell you that I’m also joining in Kat’s Liberate Your Art though I haven’t yet chosen what to print into postcards. I would tell you that I’m also loving Frugal Still Life but this week’s “Masters” prompt has me stumped! No worries, I’ll figure something out. And I would tell you how excited I am for February. I’m taking SO MANY classes and I’m excited about all of them!!!
it looks beautiful at the cafe at the beach, what a pleasant way to spend some time! I haven’t actually managed to start frugal life photography yet or Shimelle’s new class but I am on leave tomorrow so maybe then! 6 words on Friday sounds interesting so off to check that out… hope to share a hot choccie again soon
Well, as always, I would love to have tea with you in real time! I’ve just received my postcards for the swap as well. I tried a new company, and am thrilled with the quality. Almost all my free time has been spent purging, cleaning, and reorganizing my studio. I have never, ever, tackled it wholesale, but it’s feeling very good and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
You are so cute, Miriam. I’m smiling at the thought of you with washi tape on your mouth. ;o) I’m so glad you’ve survived January – I’m rather glad it’s almost officially behind us myself. I have so much to look forward to in February, including a new baby niece to be born. Thanks for the lovely catch-up!
I’d tell you right off that I so admire your approach to January. I’ll have to remember that next year. Hope you have time to pop around for tea and hear about my January dilemma.
I haven’t posted for this meme before, but something in your post prompted an idea. Perhaps I will make an appearance next month.
Meantime…I do admire the sense of hospitality and friendship this series inspires. And I love the idea of sharing successes and failures, hopes and dreams, classes and crafts with someone who understands who and what you are about.