Rosy Lady

Chocks away!

I like to challenge myself in terms of the design style that I use and so decided to create a World War II post card design.  My Dad is a big war airplane enthusiast and specifically the Spitfire, which is a British airplane launched in 1936.  So, when my parents visited me earlier in the year, I had to take him to the Duxford Air Museum in Cambridgeshire.

Afterwards we had a lovely afternoon in the beautiful university town of Cambridge.

Chocks away is a term used by British pilots in World War II to indicate that they were ready for take off and therefore required that the blocks placed in front of the airplanes wheels be removed for take off.

Here's to dreams taking off.  Chocks away folks!

xx

Lazy Sunday

I've had a really good Sunday.  Started with a church attendance, followed by the great British tradition of a Sunday roast in a pub.  

My favourite pub is right by Hockley Woods where I often go for a walk when I want some peace, quiet and time to think (or not).

And, you're always guaranteed to bump into one of these guys:

Tonight, I went on a film-date with Hubby.  We saw District 9 and, although not my usual cup of tea, I really enjoyed it.  It is a South African sci-fi film.  My eyes usually glaze over when I hear sci-fi or alien movie but this one had me on the edge of my seat and it was lovely to hear some South African accents and the odd Afrikaans words (my native language) thrown in. The critics are raving about it and I have to agree, it is great.

Anyway, hope you've had a great weekend.  

xx

 

One sunny day

I'm still off sick with the flu but have been enjoying the time on my own. And, on a day like today when the sun is shinning through my studio window and my Begonia is blossoming her little heart out, 

I really feel like I can 'hang in there'.

Of course, it is all made even easier when Hubby comes home with a surprise bouquet of roses 

to make me feel better AND a copy of one of my favourite South-African magazines, Idees, arrive in the post.  A birthday subscription from my Mum.

I hope that no matter what is going on for you today, that you get to feel some love too.

xx

Becoming an English Rose

I've had my Citizenship Ceremony during my recent holiday.  I should have applied ages ago, but never got round to it but I think it worked out really well.  I decided to have a private ceremony so, I was the only one who became a citizen but, it felt so special to have close friends and family present to share in the experience.  The town's mayor and mayoress attended and he confided in me that it was his first private ceremony as well which, meant we were all nervously excited.

I felt quite philosophical about the experience even though I am not giving up my citizenship as a South African.  Where I was born and where I grew up, will always be a part of me but, my future is my life with Hubby who is British.  We have a very close, special relationship and I could not help but think of the words of the Biblical Ruth:  "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried."

Catching up

Hi blogland,

It has been a while since my last post but, have kept busy laying the foundations of my business.  I've done lots of emailing, contacting, reading, thinking, planning, plotting...  I now feel able to take some time out from that and focus on getting some designs done, oh where to begin when I have so many ideas?!

But, first, my parents have arrived today from South Africa to visit us for 3 weeks.  It is such a privilege to have parents who would travel half way around the world, just to see me!  I feel so loved and blessed.

Tomorrow we will be getting up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a plane to Amsterdam for a 5 day trip.  I am so super excited.  Holland holds a special place in my heart.  It was my first trip to Europe and definitely where the travel bug got me.  I was an exchange student for 2 months and stayed in the town of Breda from where I used every opportunity to travel.  Those 2 months felt very long, I loved every moment but, got so home sick, never could I imagine that I would end up living in England and only see my family once a year (when all goes to plan).

I have been back to Holland since my student days and always dreamed of taking my parents, but Mum in particular to see the country and especially the tulips at Keukenhof.  I believe that this is the year of 'dreams come true' and it is going to be so wonderful to share.

I wanted to post some photo's from a recent trip to South Africa where we visited the beautiful Cape.  I've only downloaded my photo's a couple of days ago and couldn't help but notice how the majority were focussed on pattern and design.  

Looking back...

Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that there were pointers or 'signs' all along to bring you to where you are today or to indicate what you were meant to do in life? Sometimes, you only got half of it, other times, you blinked and the opportunity was lost and yet somehow, you found your way to that 'a-ha moment'. 

I remember the first time that I thought about textile design was when I was about 13 or 14 years old. I was making myself a dress out of really bright floral fabric. I distinctly remember suddenly thinking that somewhere someone has this amazing job of designing all these fabrics which, I loved to sew with. I brushed the idea off as I did not think that I was talented enough or that I could make a living from it. 

I was brought up with the sense that you had to get a 'real job' and that art, design and sewing was great as a hobby but, not a wise career move. This is no criticism of my parents who have always been supportive, despite my strong-willed stubbornness. Anyway, I didn't give it much further thought, but along the way, on top of my love of sewing and making clothes that nobody else would have, I also discovered a love of fabric painting. I remember painting 70's designs on fabrics which, I then used to make my own clothes for uni. Yes, I loved the 70's and still do. 

What did I study? Nothing relating to art and design in any way shape or form. I picked a 'career' in stead. As this blog is about fulfilling my dreams to be a textile designer, I will not mention my 'day job' here. Somehow, whilst at uni though, I remember spending hours on my bedroom floor, painting canvasses, missing the odd boring class (man, how did I not catch on?!) and eventually designing and painting T-shirts. This ended up a great move because, students started to stop me on campus and placed orders with me, word of mouth spread and it quickly became a great way to help to pay for my studies. Still, did not catch on. 

These had been some of the pointers in my life that upon reflection, should have pointed me in this direction sooner. However, I do believe that there is a time and a purpose for everything. I had to do the degree that I did as it opened doors for me to come to the UK and ultimately, to meet my soulmate (although we did not meet in the UK, but that's another story). A lot has happened since I left uni but, now I finally feel in a place where I can move on and pursue my dreams. I don't have that dress anymore that I made all those years ago, but on a recent visit to South-Africa, I went through some boxes full of my belongings and found my old Home Economics book. Inside, I made a collage of different textiles in the form of a girl holding a rose, the bright, floral fabric that first inspired me, was made into her dress. I have picked the name 'Rosy Lady' a few months before this, but I somehow can't help but think, there it was all along...a 'Rosy Lady'. I had to bring the page with me and in my studio, it is now a constant reminder.