The Art & Times of Sam

More Ebay stresses and thinking about my life

Well it seems that the problems with the Ebay account continue. Why must this happen to us?! I feel really disillusioned with things at the moment. I don't usually write much of my "other life" on here as I felt this blog should be purely for my art but perhaps it would help me to share a little of my "other life" here in order for me to move forward.

I have a 7 year old son who is autistic. I only received the diagnosis last year after many years of struggling with difficult behaviours (mainly in social situations such as nursery & school), lack of verbal skills (he didn't speak until he was 3) and other distressing problems such as soiling/wetting himself. I feel like we've come so far in the past year though. He is still in mainstream school (for now!), is able to speak and has learned many more social skills. To a lot of people my son might just seem to be the "quirky" child of a hippyish mother! But to live a difficult day with him when his asthma/hayfever & allergies are making him feel so ill and he can't "control" his autistic behaviours is painful to say the least.

I want so much for him. I want him to be happy and healthy. And not to be judged for what he appears to be. I guess my own "alternative" appearance is a way of seeking people to think more about what the person inside might be, rather than what just appears on the surface.

What on earth does this have to do with art? Well at last I'm pursuing an avenue I've dreamt of for so long. Today I'm viewing an art studio space to share with some wonderful woman artists. The site of the studios would afford us to work with young adults with learning difficulties. Tonight I will be at college working towards my Foundation Degree in Art & Design. Tomorrow I will do more work on my website. I don't want to lose sight of what I'm working towards - a better life for my son and others who are trapped in a world like his.

Recently, the problems with the Ebay account have made me question whether or not I should continue to work with art and pursue my ultimate goal of working with children & adults with learning difficulties - whether they are on the autistic spectrum or not. I hope I can maintain the strength to pursue my dream. For now, I can only take one day at a time and hope it will be a good day for my son and one step closer for me to achieve my dream.

Vegetable Growers Altered Book and Shop Stresses!

Well it certainly has been a trying couple of days! I received a call late on Monday evening when I was travelling back from college to tell me that my Ebay Shop had been closed down and my account suspended! It was a shock to say the least! Once I got home it became apparent that Ebay felt there was a "security issue" with my account and had taken "evasive action". Much wailing & gnashing of teeth (where would we be without Monty Python quotes?!) ensued. Today, thankfully, our account has been reinstated and I'm now undertaking the painstaking task of relisting the 200+ items which should be there!

In other news, my veggies are growing well - especially the onions outside. A nifty winding of wool over the raised bed in which they are growing is now discouraging the greedy birds! With this growing season in mind I'm adding a photo of a little altered board book I made for a dear friend of mine last year - Jayne runs her own organic smallholding in my home county of Suffolk and I hope to visit to help out with beating the pesky weeds next month!

Altered Board Book - Vintage Sewing

I've just completed the front cover of one of the two altered board books I'm sending on their travels within a Group of wonderful artist ladies. The book will return home later in the year with 6 spreads completed by 6 different artists from across the UK. Its so exciting to receive them back again.

I've also been playing around with alcohol inks, Stazon & dominoes! Mucky fingers & much fun!

Card in Crafts Beautiful and where has the time gone?!

I can't believe its been over 2 weeks since I posted in here. I really have been very busy though! During the past 2 weeks I've attended the opening night of the British Art Show 6 in Nottingham, started work on several altered books, designed many many cards and got published in Crafts Beautiful!

This card is in the Quick & Crafty Cards supplement with June's issue of Crafts Beautiful magazine. A lot of the supplies for making it are in my Ebay Shop - shame that wasn't included in the details! Oh well, its nice to be in print :)

ART DOLL & HAPPY EASTER!

Well I never, its Saturday already! I've had another busy week. Mainly due to my other half's car finally breaking down and meaning a new one had to be bought sharpish! With all the kerfuffle (gosh, I love that word!) of the new car, Joe still being off school and suddenly we have a Bank Holiday - I don't seem to have got as much creative stuff done this week! And I've still not managed to list all the new buttons in my Ebay Shop. Oh well. Back to school for Joe next week so hopefully I'll catch up!

For now, here is a picture of an art doll I recently completed. She is called "Queen of Create". I really loved making her. I wonder what you think?!

Bright New Monday!

Despite yesterday's SNOW! See picture (by my 7 year old son) of what outside my front door looked like yesterday evening!

Today is brighter, but the days always start this way then disintegrate into either rain, hail or snow by mid-afternoon! Its seriously hindering my organic onion planting - I've been sold a half-share in an allotment and I'm itching to get over there to plant these onions. We've currently got organic chillis, coriander & mixed spicy salad leaves growing in half toilet roll tubes on the kitchen & bedroom windowsills. My son is happy with their progress, checking them every day!

Enough of this though - you're here for pictures right? Well here are some of a gorgeous Altered Book which was sent to me by a lovely fellow artist in USA. Later today I'll post pictures of the Art Doll & mini Altered Box which I'm sending to her in return.