Shelly Berry Original
  • Home
  • Blogs and Journalism
  • Fiction
    • The Committee
    • The Lunch Break
    • The Walk
    • The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
    • Second Skin
    • Release
    • Open
  • Art and Craft
  • Events and Exhibitions
    • Hoe Street Market
    • High Street ADVENTures
    • Outreach: Meet the Author
    • E17 Art Trail - Yonder and St Saviours
    • Norah Zeale
    • Art @ The Mill
    • E17 Art Trail - SHELLY AND STAMPS
    • OUT OF HOURS exhibition
  • Contact Me!

The House of Dreams

10/25/2013

0 Comments

 
So, one week in of my “blog every week” resolution, I have fallen behind.  In my defence, it is only by a couple of days and I do have a very good excuse.  Last week, my dear little netbook decided that it had suffered from enough use and abuse over the years and had a small meltdown.  Luckily it was only a minor mid-life crisis and, having spent a weekend recovering in rehab and sitting through lots of therapy (thanks to my friend Emina and her other half), it is now pretty much recovered and, assuming the next half an hour or so goes without a hitch, functioning as normal.

Picture
Ah, so that's where I left my right leg...
I must admit, the prospect of not being able to write over the weekend did send me into a bit of a panic – not only did I want to keep up with the weekly blogging and novel writing but I had planned to send out an electronic newsletter too (now postponed until next weekend – watch this space!)  But I soon got over it and had a very pleasant weekend feeling fairly relaxed and – dare I say it? – content.

You see, I think I am starting to see the light.  After a fraught few months I have bemoaned my plight to enough people (guys – sorry!) to start to get my head around it all.  I knew something had to give – but I wasn’t sure what.
Picture
Then, after a smashing cup of tea with Dr Emina on Saturday afternoon, I went down to East Dulwich to visit The House of Dreams Museum – an art installation by artist Stephen Wright.  Over the last 15 years, Stephen has been turning his home – as in the bricks and mortar of his house – into a visual diary.  Visually inspired by places including Mexico and Barcalona and spiritually guided by the bereavement of not only his partner but both his parents within a ridiculously short amount of time, his home has become a record of his life.  The ground floor of his terraced house has been consumed by the project, which has now spilled into both the back and front gardens.  Stephen describes only one room as “complete”, but each and every room has become a mosaic of seemingly randon items thrown together (yet every last bottle top, doll’s head and vinyl record has some significance to the artist) to create a space radiating with energy.

Needless to say I was blown away by the place – and massively curious to learn more from the artist.  We chatted whilst I marvelled, mostly about the museum (which the National Trust will take over once complete) but also about our creative processes – and what stood in the way of them.  Full of inspiration and slowly realising that something was going badly wrong in my own artisitc life, I headed to the Southbank for a walk before I met my friend – and for a good long think.  By the time I got to Vauxhall, it was all starting to make a bit more sense – and I felt like I could breathe a little bit easier in the knowledge that thing could – and would – get better.

Picture
So, after an afternoon in the “waiting room” eating a roast dinner, drinking beer and chatting mainly shite, I headed home last night with my little digital friend, feeling a little lighter, a little brighter, and very relieved.  Which just goes to show, having some time out once in a while can be much more productive than you realise.

Stephen – I’ll be back next time I feel my self wavering.

Oh, and if you were wondering, I wrote the above four days ago... yup, the netbook got sick again.  Luckily Beth came to my rescue and leant me hers over the weekend - thanks love!

0 Comments

Back to School

10/13/2013

1 Comment

 
Autumn.  Love it or hate it, its here.  All the kids have now settled into the new academic year, and even the slackest of students are back in their digs and sleeping through those 9am lectures.  Glossies everywhere are telling us that this is the time of year to start afresh, to re-affirm, and, in short, get our act together.

Well, who am I to disagree?  I too am back at college, studying social media every Saturday morning (yes, you read that right.  Saturday.  MORNING.) and today felt rather chastised when my tutor pointed out that I should be blogging more regularly.  As in, in the same place.  At least once a month.

Ooops...

So, here I am, and here is my updated website, with a direct link to my Etsy shop, amongst other things.  Oh, and did I mention my new Facebook page? No?  Well, click here to take a look – it’s in its infancy, but I shall be keeping in updated with all my news.  Hurrah!
Oh, and to help me out with my new Social Media Mania, please say hello to Sammy, my new Samsung Galaxy somethingorother, all tucked up in the phone sock I knitted last night whilst watching Amelie – which, if you don’t already know, has subtitles.  I’m not sure what lost out most, my knitting or my movie watching, but it was a perfectly pleasant way to spend an autumn evening.

Speaking of autumn – don’t let the cold weather get you down, love.  Instead, read my blog for Anglo Info, get your wellies on and go out and enjoy it.

That’s an order...
Picture
Sammy cosies up with Art Quarterly...
1 Comment

    THE JUICE

    Here you will find my latest news, including what I have been up to and what I have been writing (and making).  Hopefully you'll like what I have to say - and perhaps I will motivate you to get creative too...

    Archives

    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    25th Anniversary
    Africa
    Afternoon Tea
    Agents
    Alcohol
    Amy Winehouse
    Anglo Info
    Art
    Artists Who
    Baking
    Bank Holiday
    Bargain
    Berlin
    Berlin Wall
    Bernstein
    Blogging
    Campaign
    Camping
    Charity
    Child
    Choose Life
    Christmas
    Cinema
    Collage
    Come Dine With Me
    Comedy
    Cooking
    Counselling
    Countryside
    Craft
    Craftfest
    Crochet
    Culture
    Dating
    David Starkey
    Decorating
    Discount
    DIY
    Drink
    Drugs
    Dublin
    E17 Art Trail
    Easter
    East London
    Editing
    Election
    Environment
    Etsy
    Evita
    Exhibitions
    Facial
    Farage
    Fate
    Feminism
    Fiction
    Food
    Fox News
    Free
    Freecycle
    Freedom Of Information
    Gay Marriage
    Gay Rights
    George The Poet
    Glastonbury
    Green Gym
    Halloween
    Health
    Hobbies
    Holidays
    Home
    How To Get A Council House
    Human Givens
    Inside The Klu Klux Klan
    Inspiriation
    Internship
    Interviews
    Ireland
    Islam
    Islington
    Laura Stamps
    Lego
    Lido
    Life
    London
    Manners
    Market
    Massage
    Media
    Meditation
    Mental Health
    Music
    Musicals
    Oval
    Owen Jones
    Painting
    Paparazzi
    Photography
    Pizza
    Podcast
    Politeness
    Political Correctness
    Politics
    Positivity
    Press
    Public Sector
    Publishers
    Race
    Racism
    Reading
    Referendum
    Reflection
    Regents Canal
    Relationships
    Relaxation
    Remembrance Sunday
    Research
    Responsibilities
    Rights
    Right Wing
    Running
    San Francisco
    Script Writing
    Selling
    Sewing
    Shopping
    Short Film
    Short Story
    Singing
    Skegness
    Snood
    South London
    Spa
    Spirituality
    Sport
    Stalking
    Stand Up Comedy
    Study
    Swimming
    Theatre
    The Kings Head
    The Lion King
    Therapy
    Thought Provoking
    Thought-provoking
    Trainspotting
    Travel
    UKIP
    Upcycle
    Upcycling
    Volunteering
    Voting
    Walking
    Waltham Forest Echo
    Walthamstow
    White Supremacy
    Wonderhill
    Work
    Writing
    Yoga
    Yoga Mat Bag

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Blogs and Journalism
  • Fiction
    • The Committee
    • The Lunch Break
    • The Walk
    • The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
    • Second Skin
    • Release
    • Open
  • Art and Craft
  • Events and Exhibitions
    • Hoe Street Market
    • High Street ADVENTures
    • Outreach: Meet the Author
    • E17 Art Trail - Yonder and St Saviours
    • Norah Zeale
    • Art @ The Mill
    • E17 Art Trail - SHELLY AND STAMPS
    • OUT OF HOURS exhibition
  • Contact Me!