Our Celitc Tiger motorway from Waterford to Dublin, the M9, bypasses Thomastown, Kilkenny, Carlow and all the narrow villages we used to know so intimately. Unfortunately it's also now against the rules of the road to stop and photograph the landscape.
This part of Ireland has it's own story; gentle rolling hills, the flat plains of the midlands, and lots of old trees. A journey through an inland maze of fields, all sky and agriculture.
So on this eerie early morning road trip, I shot these frosty trees and fog as the sun came up, just because I was a passenger and for once and I could.....
PS
Thank you so much to everyone who shopped here in the Foxglove Lane Studio over Christmas. While it was a very busy time it was also good to connect with so many of you who are becoming like old friends at this stage! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, it has been very encouraging.
I'm having a short SALE at the moment and while the hardback book is still available you can now get the download version of the book here here reduced to 1.99 euros.
In other news I have just begun to sell a new range of Limited Edition Fine Art Prints Each one is a result of layering paintings, textures and photographs and is something I hope to explore much more in 2015.
Here's to a fresh New Year!
Outside it may be winter but if you are back here, reading this, you are helping to create an inner glow of warmth! From the wonderful book lovers who have been buying my book, to bloggers and on line friends who have shared, every positive word of encouragement has really been special. Thank you!
It is such a vulnerable thing to put a self published book out into the world. I had absolutely no idea until I did it myself and I still can't fathom the disturbance it created in my world. In many ways it has reminded me of when I first started to blog and share photography anonymously. But like everything else I've done in the last three years.....there are so many new lessons in it.
Sure it's what the book is all about! Setting out again and again in spite of these feelings of wanting to hide, give up or literally fold up the tent. So today I want to mention where you can find some of these wonderful generous bloggers and broadcasters, and there's still time to have a copy delivered before the holidays. It's only available on line here or get the download here
First of all Nicky Cahill of Salt and Sparkle invited me to participate in her Q+A interview blogpost series, published today! Nicky is a Belfast based writer and broadcaster. We met on twitter where I suspect we were drawn to each other's sense of place and love of the soulful.
Next up was Tony Riches from the The Writing Desk who invited me to guest post. Tony supports writers and creatives through his blog which has a huge following on line. He is also a published author and his latest novel The Secret Life of Eleanor Cobham is available on Amazon.
My friend and blogger Susan from Vibrant Ireland and Travel put together a selection of Irish gifts to buy on line and included the book! Susan is some one I have admired and followed since we first met up as newbie bloggers three or four years ago. She shares positive stories from Ireland and from her travels, and yes she is just as vibrant as her blog! She also offers blogging tours and other services through her partnership with Dee in Green and Vibrant.
Candi and the stories from her life on Looking for Blue Sky have always melted my heart. She is a single Mum of 3 who writes courageously about the fun and the challenges she finds in every day life and the joy in each of her kids. So thrilled that she included the book in her blog of 9 Christmas gifts available on line!
Then there's Pat Carroll from CRY FM in Youghal. Pat invited me to chat on his Drive Time radio show and asked me such intriguing questions about what I do and why. At one point he compared me to Leonard Cohen, which made me giggle, so he is right up there as a critic as far as I'm concerned!!
But especially to all of YOU for coming here every week, for your ongoing support, encouragement, emails and for buying the book.....THANK YOU!
I have just put my first little book out there into the world!
I started the book back in Greece when I had a "studio" space with a view and free wifi as long as I bought a glass of wine and a few nibbles. (OK, yes it was a bar on the beach!) Most evenings I would sit there screening Instagram photos and figuring out how to bring them together.
Gradually, the story of what got me here and why the creative path is an exciting choice for any one to make, began to emerge. It became a celebration of beginning on that path, continuing, stumbling and beginning again. A process of phases and seasons, challenges and triumphs.
The book also follows the year in Ireland and how the seasonal cycles reflect in our work. Over time and with a couple of sample drafts in the post from Blurb, the tweaking and editing finally had to stop; the hardest part of all. I called it "Seek light, embrace shade, live colour" which sums up both my photographic aspirations and my take on life!
For two weeks now I have been laid up with flu and bronchitis and for some reason butterflies have been appearing around me as if from nowhere. One landed on my wooly jumper and looked up at me. That little face gave me more support than any mentor could. Because every step along the creative path requires steadfast courage, a whole lot of it and I realised that's what the little book is all about.....
So there will be no fancy launch. Just a gentle breeze to carry the this little book or download to you, where ever you are.
I would love you to have a peek at the preview of the book here and may it be a companion to you on your creative path wherever it may be taking you!
