June 25, 2007

Peony Roses

I just love Peony roses. Thanks Susan. x

Posted by Maxine at 11:14 PM | Comments (2)

June 24, 2007

Perfection

Warren recently rescued this old game from the attic of his parents. It is fantastic and Emily loves it too! Even though I know what is coming it still makes me completely jump out of my skin. I have been having lots of fun with this and I love its retro styling!

Its also quite appropriate in a way, as I am a bit of a perfectionist, but not in a good way. To cut a long story short my first trip to the print workshop last week was a bit of disaster. My plate came apart when I inked it and it just didn't print anything like what I imagined. I think its partly because I am out of practice and partly because its a different workshop and their methods are not what I am used to, so I didn't feel as comfortable as I would've done if I had gone back to my other workshop. I came away quite deflated by the whole experience. But I am trying to not let it get to me too much and I will persevere, even if it takes me the next 6 months to get a decent print.

It also got my thinking about how I really expect far too much of myself and if something isn't perfectly the way I envisaged then I am not happy. I have to try and change this aspect of myself because I really think it holds me back in many ways, it takes me ages to build up to doing anything for fear of failing or being rubbish. I wish I could turn it off in my brain. I also find myself complaining and being quite negative when I'm with friends. Although I am super conscious of this and I really hate it I just don't seem to be able to stop myself! Maybe it is just tiredness.

I am thinking too much lately and need to stop thinking and start doing! Excuse my nonsense, one day normality will be resumed...maybe...

Posted by Maxine at 09:41 PM | Comments (3)

June 18, 2007

Stage One Complete

I thought I would document my progress with getting back into printing so here is the first stage complete. As many of you know I have an obsession with tea, so what better subject matter to get me started again! I thought it would be interesting to see how it develops and sometimes I love the plate almost more than the print itself.

As I am very comfortable with printing collographs I thought it best to start with that, rather than get ahead of myself and get frustrated when things don't work out (who knows this might not work out yet either!). So the plate is finished, all it needs is a coating of shellac to seal the card and its ready to go.

I am going into the workshop tomorrow morning to pay my studio joining fee, have a look around and get prepared for printing this week. I am nervous and excited at the same time. Nervous because it is somewhere new and its been a good while since I printed. Also I still have to consider Harrison and the possibility of having to come back half way through the night. He is very clingy and still a bit unsettled so I have to keep my fingers crossed that he sleeps well the night I go printing.

Also, on a totally different note, except for the fact that I am adding more focus and responsibility to my life, I have now officially taken over my local Mums & Chums group! Again I am nervous and excited about this too. There is not much to it but its just having the responsibility and making decisions about things mostly, which is what I feel I really need to introduce into my life. All you stay at home moms will understand this. When you haven't been in the working world for years, you just start operating differently, you brain works in a different way to accommodate the kids and just being at home. The thought of going back to work is a very scary prospect for me and this very small thing I am doing by leading the Mums & Chums is just a way of regaining some focus and control. Lets just hope I am right and its not bedlam!

Posted by Maxine at 09:12 PM | Comments (2)