I have been enjoying a sweet flow of creative inspiration in the recent weeks. In fact a more mellow, consistent level of pure bliss from the contact with materials and processes than I’ve experienced in all my years of artistic endeavour. This period has also carried on gently and steadily for a lot longer, without the usual highs and lows of a creative process, than I’ve been used to so far. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I now have more studio time and less tug-of-war with “must create, need to create, but when!” amidst all the other life commitments. Whatever it is, I ride this beautiful wave until it’s time for the next stage in the process again.

I have shed many “shoulds” and “should nots” from my making, which is incredibly liberating. In many ways I have also returned to the beginning, to re-discover  why I used to like making books in the first place. Yet it’s an ongoing spiral upwards, now combined with some purposeful research and development. I’m currently playing with macrame bindings, where the knotting is integral to the book’s structure, as well as carrying on with more jewellery work. I’m fascinated by this direction. I sense this time is full of transitions and new beginnings, and I’m quite excited to see where it all ends up.