sorry!

I've been really busy with preparing for a charity recital taking place tomorrow, so haven't really been thinking much about the horsebox this week. (we've been practising nearly every day!) Busy making cakes too, as the ladies doing teas as part of it didn't have time to make them (not as if I've got time either....)

I'm also doing lots of thinking and researching a project for art school- about a location- and I've decided to take on aspects of the old railway line that ran between what is now Cam & Dursley station and Dursley- up the Cam river valley, by the mills that were worked originally by the water power there. Ever since I discovered last year that there had been a railway, I've been wanting to do something about it. Been reading up about the history, looking at old maps, and generally mulling things around in my head. Trouble is I now have to get those vague thoughts down on paper, as a coherent moving forward project. Always the scary bit when you have to actually commit for real!

I've already had some great adventures snooping around the station looking for evidence of the old one, and the old line, walking along some of the raised track above the river, Harrison Ford style, hacking my way through the undergrowth (great fun!) and finding lots of dumped stuff on the way... (including rows of chairs- bright pink- very surreal)

I was even accused of being a gypsy (which I thought was ok, almost flattering.... but clearly the person saying it didn't think so!) when I was digging around in a ditch by the railway, trying to find old oil drums that obviously had been there for at least 15+ years...... full of water, covered in piles of ivy and brambles.... got one out- will be used as a plinth for one of my mixed media sculptures! Got covered in mud, bits of leaf, seedheads etc- must have looked a fright!

Also had a fantastic guided tour what is now a paper pulp factory making board out of recycled paper. It once was a leather mill, although so far I have very little information about it. On list of things to do.... It is a beautiful Victorian red brick classic mill, with the mill race still there.... amazing buckled iron girders where there was once a fire, and the biggest cobwebs I've ever seen!  Old paintwork, piles of metal "parts" for something.... enamelled signage, old window frames and glass, just all those little details of the passing of time which get me so excited!

I will get round to posting photos in due course... Now of course with modern extensions, but even the modern processes are fascinating. Loads of ideas of things to follow up....

Have ordered some merino wool as one of my ideas is to do some felting as part of a mixed media installation- creating links with the old textile mills of the valley.  I'm also busy reading about ceramics- especially dry glazes and alternative kiln firings, as I want to use ceramics as part of the project.

AND FINALLY... as they say, I've also been busy as one of my artists' books has been exhibited in UWE and some mini matchbox art is currently at Museum in the Park in Stroud, as was my contribution for Secret Artist raising money for renovating the old garden at the Museum.

And in case you missed the last posts, the Secret Postcard art did really well, and I'm going to sell the rest of the pieces at the Christmas student concert in December when we'll be raising more money for SHAPE.

So not a lot of time for blogging right now,,,,