Gillian Lee Smith

Hear my voice!!!

if you so wish....... I had wanted to let you know before but was so stupidly nervous about the whole thing that I didn't really want to tell many people - but I made an appearance on BBC Nottingham radio this morning! Although I was feeling so sick before it, the actual interview wasn't half as bad as I thought it might be and listening back I almost sound coherant....

short and sweet (and gosh I sound so much different than I thought I did!!!) you can find the interview here and it is about 2hrs and 10 minutes into the show - it didn't take long for me to load and you can skip to the actual bit with me in it - it is only about 10 minutes long with a song half way through). I had so many things noted down to talk about and they didn't ask me about any of it!

It will only be at this link for the next 7 days (till next tuesday) so I need to figure out how to save it to disc before then when it will hopefully be on my website so I will let you know the link to that when I have it.

PS. please excuse my rather annoying habit (which I have only just noticed) where I go Hmmmm quite alot and then make a sort of a tutting sound................. I sound so disapproving! But I am pleased to note that even after 4 years in Nottingham I have retained my wee semi-scottish accent!

Verity

Verity, originally uploaded by gilfling.

As nocturnal as an owl, Verity fills her garden with flowers that only bloom in the night. She wanders through the fragrances that sift into the moonlit air, stopping to listen for the other characters that only come out at this time. A constant tune can be heard from her lips as she dreams whilst awake and waits for dawn.

Verity is one of two new dolls now residing in the Studio 61 gallery in Lea, Derbyshire. I had a lovely trip out there last week - delivering her and a collection of (oldish) framed originals which are all being displayed for the next two weeks as I am guest artist. If you are in the area, it is worth a visit as it is such a lovely gallery with a wonderful coffee shop with the best coffee or chocolate cake!

I do have a few other exciting things in the pipeline that I will reveal as and when they come to fruition. One collaboration in particular I am beyond excited about but I shall reveal all as and when!! (sorry for the secrecy....)

Other excitement is that I have just had it confirmed that my part time job as 'Memories are made of this project co-ordinator' (my job working in reminiscence work with older people) which was initially only a year long post and due to finish in August - has just had funding which will enable the project to be extended for another 2 years!!! This is incredible news, for the district, for the project as a whole, for me and in particular for the wonderful people I am lucky enough to work with. It is such an exciting and much needed project - I work in care homes, day centres and community projects as well as training staff in reminiscence work and really this extra funding is validation that the project is going well and that I am where I am supposed to be.

Also........... sadness that my favourite, favourite TV series has just come to an end and I have to wait goodness knows how long for the next series. Seriously, this was one of the highlights of my week and made me cry with laughter as well as brought me to tears of sadness. Sunday evenings will not be the same!

and................. I am just loving this new album ....... seriously....buy it...... and just sink into it. Wonderful.

I do hope you have had a wonderful week and have a wonderful weekend to come!

Fingerprints included - This Light

Fingerprints included - This Light , originally uploaded by gilfling.

Hello! This is a busy week as ever with preparing new work, catching up on all that I am behind on and spending some time with Mark who is on holiday. Although I am working less hours at my Memories are made of this job this week I still have lots of the little jobs to be getting on with and one of these is showing these new pieces!

Fingerprints included - some new little works that originally began as sketches for larger pieces (still to come to life) but ones that I am actually quite pleased with. The title of the theme comes from the fact that they are a little 'rough'. They are worked oils and graphite and coloured pencils with torn edges to the paper and the distinct marks of my hands in the form of fingerprints. Normally I try to keep my work as 'clean' as I can (in that I am messy but then try to remove the evidence of this by rubbing away hand-marks), however with these I enjoyed the tactile quality of working with the oils and the smudginess of the pencils.

Although I have been working away in my journals and sketchbooks in order to develop new work and ideas that have been arriving at a fast pace, I have been slow to put these ideas into practice. I am feeling really inspired by my reminiscence work and the way in which we would like to see ourselves represented, the objects and ideas that are important to us and of course there are little details of costumes and the past in there too.

I am looking forward to creating more of these and eventually making larger pieces based on the ideas, but mostly I am just enjoying putting my ideas onto paper. So much so that these will be available in my etsy shop! This Light is available here
Thank you so much for your wonderful comments on my dolls. I love hearing peoples views on them. I am not interested so much in whether they are 'liked' or not, more the reactions, whether of connection, discomfort, or even feeling unsure about them. So I do very much appreciate you taking the time to leave your comments.

Right back to work for me!

mosaic monday 23 feb

mosaic monday 23 feb, originally uploaded by gilfling.

 

1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thenoise000/3301523781/">negate</a>, 2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29488741@N06/3298019643/">casatorre1</a>, 3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30630895@N05/3290764695/">stoneknot</a>, 4. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astulabee/3288789260/">woodsy ghost 2/17</a>, 5. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/danitaart/3300097051/">20090218 Me And My Panda Dolls And Box</a>, 6. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25258999@N08/3261104865/">RedfordKatharine06</a>, 7. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gesah/3303415486/">Trees on Water, Monoprint 3</a>, 8. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/novembermoon/3300806391/">bluebell (doll in progress)</a>, 9. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14461380@N00/3300174677/">To keep pins and needles safe</a>

with thanks to the artists, artisans and creators for sharing their wonderful work as always.

I have a busy few days for the next few days 'employed-work' wise with various meetings and me leading my first staff training session in one of the care homes I work with - I am so nervous!! However the focus for this 'introduction' is activities to inspire each one of us in our own reminiscing so it will be very activity based and hopefully alot of fun. Although I love working with groups, I get very shaky and nervous when 'presenting' to people - but am hoping that I will gain confidence the more I do - I am not a natural at this atall but as it is part of my job it is something i need to get used to!

I am just off into town now to spend lots of money on props and tools for this and other sessions which I hope to be able to do a post on nearer the end of the week. I am hoping you will recognise some of the things and they may even spark some reminiscing for you too! Unfortunately my studio time will have to wait till the end of the week but I do have some images to show you from last week so will be posting them in the next few days.

Have a wonderful beginning to your week!