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Yesterday I found a Peacocks bright green and blue iridescent feather by my front path. It surprised me at first and then I smiled as I realised that it must have blown out of my parked car sometime over the previous week. I have picked up many Peacocks feathers on my weekly writing trips to Monkshill Farm. Recently the Peacocks that normally loudly announce their beauty have been silent, skulking away from visitors as they moult and shed their wonderful coat.

Found peacocks feather on my new book.

The happiness I felt when I saw the incongruous feather in my street was linked directly to the wonderful memory of the place that Monkshill Farm is located. Before its recent reincarnation as 'Farm Work Play', the farm was the headquarters of the agricultural education section of 'Margate School for the Deaf'.

View from the window at Farm Work Play, co-working space.

My family, friends and I had regularly visited it when it was open to the public for official seasonal events, such as 'Lambing days', it had a wonderful café which was open most days, a farm shop and a play area. But to be honest what I mostly missed and what I am able to enjoy once again are the extensive beautiful views that are almost 360 degrees and the great sense of place that this location allows.

View from the summit of Monkshill, looking out towards the Thames estuary.

Today I read an article in 'The Guardian', that explores exactly this type of happiness. It suggests that contentment evoked by familiar and special places seem to have an even higher value than treasured objects such as photographs or wedding rings.

Dr Andy Myers is quoted in the article saying 'for the first time we have been able to prove the physical and emotional benefits of place, far beyond any research that has been done before. With meaningful places generating a significant response in areas of the brain known to process emotion, it's exciting to understand how deep-rooted this connection truly is.'

Being a Kentish lass, I love the Hop fields.

One of the lovely gifts that I was given this week for my birthday was a small book of 10 poems about home. It has a small but poignant collection of poems that captures 'the many ways in which we experience that unique sense of being at home.'

I do understand that home isn't always for everyone the place that creates happiness, but for me mostly it is and this poetry collection is evocative of just how special they are as 'vessels' to hold our own memories in.

North Sea mud, a love of mine on Tankerton seafront.

So, along with these poems, the indulgence of owning and loving my own home, having the knowledge of many special places which I understand inspire and make me happy, it really does pain me to know that this isn't common for everyone.

Migration.

There are many humans for whom this is an impossibility, many who are just surviving, 'on the road', without a base or a home, exiled away from the familiar places that once brought them joy. Many refugees are known to have picked up and carried a handful of earth from their home. Keeping it close to them for as long as possible. These are people whose lives have been torn apart by conflict, from family and loved ones. It is with this in mind that I remember how grateful I am for what I have and remember that I want others to share this feeling of contentment and well-being in discovering their locality. Creatively connecting people to place is my mission. This blog is part of it.

Gelli-print of Bluebells and William Blake poetry.

This weekend I will be opening the doors of my beautiful straw bale studio to exhibit my own and Alison Lees work as part of the Canterbury Festival, the theme is still 'The Spirit of Place' as it is an ongoing art project based in Kent.

You can keep up to date with our explorations and discoveries by looking at www.facebook.com/EastKentSpiritOfPlace

Open times are 11-5 daily on the weekends from 14-29^th of October. We can be found at house number 25 on the Whitstable trail. Please see the webpage www.ekoh.org.uk for more information.

My own personal art page can be found at www.facebook.com/RoseClarityArtist, do take a look!

 I can be contacted on 07432679164 or clare@people-to-place.co.uk

Celebrating the nature of place

A few months ago I visited the WealdenLiterary Festival at Woodchurch in Kent. The theme of the event was 'celebrating the nature of place', as this seemed very connected to my ongoing project exploring the spirit of place I felt it was well worth a visit. It was held at Boldshaves, which is 'both a family home and a working garden surrounded by ancient woodland in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the eastern edge of the Kent Weald'
.

webpage from the festival site

The gardens were used extensively for the festival with organised walks exploring the outer reaches of their woodland and the inner confines hosting many designer and maker stalls, workshop spaces and both a yurt and a marquee in which a multitude of authors introduced their new books to enthusiastic audiences.

I had booked tickets to see and hear Peter Owen Jones talk about the 'Sense of Place', this seemed too great an opportunity to miss. He was promoting his newest book, 'Pathlands' which is a collection of 21 of his favourite circular walks in the UK. In the book he promised to 'share his thoughts on the experience and the transformative experience of walking.'

'Pathlands', by Peter Owen Jones

At the talk at the event he was promoted to be exploring what is meant by 'sense of place' with the director of the festival, Andrew Willan. I entered the marquee and waited patiently near the stage at the front.

He started off gently explaining about how as a baby we all sense the world. We don't decide we are hungry and call for milk, we feel hunger. He explained 'we are all born fluent in feeling', it is our first language, not the language of words and he asked just how automated do we want to become? Distractions such as mobile phones can distance ourselves from our feelings which can then become anarchistic and uncomfortable. He went on to say that our feelings are what it is to be human, they are great teachers.

Peter Owen Jones talked of a sense of belonging, of having the capacity to engage with intimacy within our natural surroundings. From looking at church records between the 13^th and 19^th century he said it is clear that we didn't travel far away from home, and so we would have had a deep relationship with the land. For example we would have known where certain birds nested, we would have got to know the light and how the seasons change that particular place. He explained these are intricate observations that come from intrinsically sensing and ultimately connecting to a place. It was wonderful to listen to him speak, he was articulate and explained many concepts clearly that I had understood from my experiences, so far in life, discovered by walking and being in nature.

Detail of a feather from a recent drypoint etching print I made.

He asked us just how much time do we spend just practising the art of observation? If we were to devote ourselves to this, to hold a flower, a Rose or a Bluebell for half an hour at least, what could that teach us? He said we seem to have disallowed our capacity for observation. We have become 'blunted' by our unthinking connection to technology and therefore cannot feel the resonance of each place we visit. He explained it is an art that can be regained if practiced and this I plan to do, more regularly in my life.

But perhaps by reading and reminding myself of my last blog 'Observation and sensing the world around us', this is what I do already. Yes I do own and use a mobile phone, and so I am mostly connected to the wider world (if I remember to turn it on/have volume up). But I do find joy in the simple pleasures of experiencing natural beauty in the world and the mobile phone is actually a really good tool to carry and capture that on camera, to share with others and hopefully inspire them to get out there and see it for themselves.

I am still working on getting the content written within these blogs into a book form. You never know, one day I could be talking about it in either the yurt or the marquee at a future Wealden Literary Festival!

Full print of the Autumn inspired piece of work.

I will be opening the doors of my beautiful straw bale studio once again this year to exhibit my own and Alison Lees work as part of the Canterbury Festival, the theme is still 'The Spirit of Place' as it is an ongoing art project based in Kent.

You can keep up to date with our explorations and discoveries by looking at www.facebook.com/EastKentSpiritOfPlace

New delivery of 'Moo' postcards, ready for the exhibition.

Open times are 11-5 daily on the weekends from 14-29^th of October. We can be found at house number 25 on the Whitstable trail. Please see the webpage www.ekoh.org.uk for more information.

My own personal art page can be found at www.facebook.com/RoseClarityArtist, do take a look!

...and stickers too!

 I can be contacted on 07432679164 or clare@people-to-place.co.uk

Observation and sensing the world around us.

It is truly wonderful to be able to walk at this time of year. We have already had a few grey skies and chilly days now to really appreciate the bright sunshine and warming sun of a fine autumnal day. Yesterday was such a day. The sun shone bright and the clouds that caused the overnight rain scudded high above us as we climbed up Holly hill, Dargate.

Looking out and down the hill.

We stood to one side of the Bracken fringed path to let a group of walkers past and in our stopping we were able to marvel at the view down the hill, across the fields towards the Thames estuary. I could pick out the curve of the coast from Seasalter westwards and locate a few boats moored on the Swale at Oare. Looking beyond them, the atmospherics allowed a series of clear outlines of varying horizons, similar to a theatre set, mapping the distances away from us.

A naturally framed view.

One of my favourite books, 'Country Bunch- an anthology of the countryside' by Miss Read has a piece by Eleanor Farjeon on the poet Edward Thomas. In it she explains how Edwards father had given his children a piece of sage advice, to 'keep your senses fresh' and how Edward was able to do this, even as a soldier in the first world war.

Stormy sky clearing more sunshine.

'He could not live a day in the open air without being given something to 'enjoy enormously'; clear weather, flat shingle, a line of trees, the tallness of a church tower on a marsh, even a row of huts- he liked what he saw. And knew that nobody else liked it as much as he did.'

This is how I feel on such a gift of a warm, bright and sunny early autumnal day. I feel by making time and walking in nature, slowing down and allowing myself to observe, to 'look beyond looking', I can really feel connected to the place. Walking with others especially other observant artists is a very simple and enjoyable pleasure.

Walking speed, amongst the fallen leaves.

These lager fir trees on the top of the hill are a local landmark.

We stood leaning against a farm gate on the way back down the path and were happy to chat and point out to each other what we could see. Large black birds, perhaps crows, were spiralling up ahead of us, making a great noise and commotion. The longer we looked the clearer it was that they were mobbing a couple of larger Raptor type birds, who nonchalantly spiralled up higher into the sky.

Looking through the abundance of Rose hips, by the path edge.

A couple of Dragonflies and a Peacock butterfly flew over and displayed their own precious beauty to us. It did not go unnoticed. We 'enjoyed enormously' both the breadth of the distant view and the closer treasures that we observed.

The views were extensive. 

Our senses were awakened and we could clearly hear and feel the crunch of the abundance of acorns that covered the path back down to the car. The wind started up with a chill in it and we gratefully got into the sun-warmed car to find a local pub to have lunch.

The path out of the woods, thick with fallen acorns.

I will be opening the doors of my beautiful straw bale studio once again this year to exhibit my own and Alison Lees work as part of the Canterbury Festival, the theme is still 'The Spirit of Place' as it is an ongoing art project based in Kent.

You can keep up to date with our explorations and discoveries by looking at www.facebook.com/EastKentSpiritOfPlace

Inked imprint of feathers, found on a previous walk.

Open times are 11-5 daily on the weekends from 14-29^th of October. We can be found at house number 25 on the Whitstable trail. Please see the webpage www.ekoh.org.uk for more information.

 I can be contacted on 07432679164 or clare@people-to-place.co.uk

Gentle and Raw Power

The news at the moment seems to be filled with hate filled words, natural disasters, destruction, conflict, fear, suffering and threatening behaviour. Even writing this list starts to make my breathing more shallow and I feel upset.

Sarah Corbett.

So imagine my joy as I heard a quietly spoken lady explain Craftivism to me and others at a talk last night in Whitstable. Sarah Corbett talked of an approach to activism that was beautiful, kind and just. I left the talk inspired and empowered by her gentle powerful words. She is highly articulate and is a joy to listen to, so if you are able to catch her next event in Kent I urge you to. (It's on 25th November at the Folkstone Quarterhouse.)  

Her awareness of the world is not weak or fluffy, she comes from a background of truly understanding the injustice that exists and quietly plots and plans her response to it. But instead of shaming, demonising or adding more angry fuel to the fire, she approaches her goals and the people concerned with love and respect. Using strategic questioning, emotional intelligence and I expect, humour, she uncovers the correct powerholders to approach and acts as a critical friend, encouraging them to change their minds and use their power for good.

The actual handicraft element is well thought out, created within a group and is personal to each Craftivist. There has been some recent press coverage of her work as she is logistically clever and uses timely events such as London Fashion week to gain publicity for specific injustices within the fashion industry. See the link here for more information.

I found her approach resonated with me. She mentioned she had been burnt out on many occasions because of her deep need to act upon the social injustice that she saw yet her introvert nature and hypersensitivity combined to make her feel that a direct action approach, alongside often loud and aggressive protesters wasn't a sustainable one for her to take.

Her new book.

Her website, www.craftivist-collective.com explains so much more and shows some of the beautiful, humble work that she creates. Her new book comes out on the 5^th of October and can be pre-ordered from her online shop. She will even sign it and wrap it up for you with a ribbon for no additional cost, even that gesture shows you what a lovely person she is!

Another book I have just reordered as a gift for a friend is 'Sometimes a Wild God' by Tom Hiron. It is a wonderful raw and touching poem that is wonderfully illustrated by his partner Rima Staines. They conceived the idea of 'Hedgespoken', a travelling off-grid storytelling and theatre project a while ago and in recent years have made it happen. Hedgespoken runs out of a 1960's Bedford RL lorry which has been converted to be a home and 'go anywhere' stage.

Painting by Rima Staines.

The poem, 'Sometimes a Wild God' is both powerful and beautiful and I think it's about returning 'home' to ourselves. We can easily become distracted from our true path and forget what an experience it is just to be here at this time. This poem celebrates our wild natures and reminds us to connect: to nature itself and the wild raw power that we each own. One line in particular reminds me of my obligation to live life fully.

...'Wondering how you got so old

And where your passion went.'

Passionate poetry.

It is indeed a wake up call, as I wrote earlier, the news seems to be full of hate filled words, natural disasters, destruction, conflict, fear, suffering and threatening behaviour. But I wonder whether both approaches to life, Sarahs' gift of the act and word of 'kindfullness', (a mix of mindlfullness and kindness) alongside Toms' reminder of our essential connection to nature, that we are made of it, could combine to create a truly valued and sustainable life.

This is what I will be concentrating on for the next few days. I aim to buy a 'My Footprint Kit' from Sarah and after walking and reflecting on this combination of views, I will create my own stitched words. This image then becomes a heartfelt reminder to reflect upon my own personal beliefs. I will hang the completed stitched footprint by the front door to remind me of what is important. It will hopefully guide me when I leave the house and ground me when I return.

'My footprint Kit' from the Craftivist Collective shop.

NB; All photographs above are not taken by me, they are for reference only and were taken off the respective official websites.

I will be opening the doors of my beautiful straw bale studio once again this year to exhibit my own and Alison Lees work as part of the Canterbury Festival, the theme is still 'The Spirit of Place' as it is an ongoing art project based in Kent.

You can keep up to date with our explorations and discoveries by looking at www.facebook.com/EastKentSpiritOfPlace

Open times are 11-5 daily on the weekends from 14-29^th of October. We can be found at house number 25 on the Whitstable trail. Please see the webpage www.ekoh.org.uk for more information.

 I can be contacted on 07432679164 or clare@people-to-place.co.uk

Cabinet of Curiosity, from last years Open Studio event.

Time- collecting and connecting

There are many reasons why we don't do what we want more often, but my consistent one is that there will always be more time, 'I must just do this first, so that then I can do X, (what I really would prefer to do) another time.' I even plan to 'reward' myself, so that I can get these 'more important' things done, with self made encouragement.

A collection of beach finds, all ready for inspiration.

My house and workplace has clues to what I'd prefer to be doing, there are collections of objects to print with, draw, paint or just inspire. There are books I want to read, shelves of them in fact. I seem to collect piles of objects around me to give clues and indicate what else I could be doing. This could be seen as the unconscious becoming conscious and taking on a physical form. Just being there and shouting out to be recognised and acted upon!

Detail of dresser, filled with inspirational forms, patterns and colours. 

I rearranged a few rooms last weekend and I surprised myself by the quantity of books that I am looking forward to reading, that is...when I have the time. The realisation that only I can give myself this time is a wake up call. We all have the same amount but time can be wasted, I know that Facebook is my main time-waster and reading and re-reading the news, I know that The Guardian live updates become scarily compulsive when a big news story is on.

I do understand that we are fascinated by others stories and the news and Facebook feed me well and would continue to do so and even choke me on my own gluttony for this should I not have any will power to turn it off/put the Ipad down.

Sketchbook in studio, a reflective journal of my collections and connections.

But, my choice of career, that of an artist and designer means that it is my job to literally look beyond the stories that are fed to me and create my own. Making work opens up an experiential process which feeds my soul. Taking materials and giving myself the time to create original pieces of art is a wonderful way to 'fill' time. But I find myself not doing it enough. If I treat it seriously and timetable it into my week, then it happens, but there are often just too many other things that take up my time. So, it is with this realisation in mind that I recognise I need to prioritize and edit what to expect of myself, in the time given.

My first woodcut, ready for printing.

Going back to the first paragraph in this blog- 'There are many reasons why we don't do what we want more often, but my consistent one is that there will always be more time'. Well that's not always true either. A friend passed away earlier this week., so that long delayed meet up and cup of coffee that we promised ourselves last November didn't happen and now will never happen.

Life is precious, time is limited. We all owe it to ourselves to use it wisely.

Butterfly on Clover at Victory Wood, Late summer.

I will be opening the doors of my beautiful straw bale studio once again this year to exhibit my own and Alison Lees work as part of the Canterbury Festival, the theme is still 'The Spirit of Place' as it is an ongoing art project based in Kent.

You can keep up to date with our explorations and discoveries by looking at www.facebook.com/EastKentSpiritOfPlace

Open times are 11-5 daily on the weekends from 14-29^th of October. We can be found at house number 25 on the Whitstable trail. Please see the webpage www.ekoh.org.uk for more information.

 I can be contacted on 07432679164 or clare@people-to-place.co.uk