LAUNCH DAY!!!

Very excited that Launch Day for my NEW collection inspired by the Isle of Portland has finally arrived!

To view the full collection fly on over to my Folksy shop here: https://folksy.com/shops/Morwhenna

THANK YOU!

Morwhenna xx

Launching - Here's what to expect

I had planned to share a lot more before we actually got into 'Launch Week', yet there’s been so much to do that suddenly I’m running out of time. Taking product photos, making short animations and creating listings is a L-O-N-G job…

Thank YOU for being with me along the way.

I am slowly getting through all of my tasks [alongside my part-time job] and I’m actually rather enjoying it. Some are small satisfactions such as FINALLY being able to use the lovely piece of branch I picked up years ago, because as a prop, it's perfect for hanging owls from! [see below].

But this has meant that some things haven't happened yet, such as the emotive piece that I'm writing to describe what inspired me about the Isle of Portland and how this translated into the collection I'm sharing with you. Actually - I'll tell you a bit right now. It doesn't have to be a long winded essay does it? I wanted to evoke the feeling of the place, but I'm guessing that you'd like it short and snappy - you're busy and you can always read a longer piece later...

So, here we go - The Isle of Portland is an intriguing place that has been quarried since Roman times. Portland Stone, a type of limestone, can be admired on the United Nations HQ in New York, St. Paul's Cathedral in London and the big shop in central Bristol that looks like a ship [now a Primark]. 

Due to the amount of quarries, most of Portland isn't actually there!  The marks left on the landscape, which would have originally been made by hand using a chisel and hammer, made me think of the marks made when creating a linocut print. That was the first spark. Add to that the fact that before starting this project I'd decided that, where possible, I'd use the tools, art materials and fabrics that I already had. This was another element to the Island theme as a lot of Island life is about using what you have to hand and making and mending. That's where this collection began.

I'm still beavering away with putting everything together for Thursday and everything will be 'live' from 12.00am in my Folksy Shop for you to see first, as promised. 

OK, back to my listings and see you again soon!!

Morwhenna

xx

Note to self - next time I start a launch, at least I'll have a better idea of how much time I'll really need! I have another 13 Islands to go after this one...

About the UK Islands Project

The marks left on the Portland landscape reminded me of the way linocuts are made, and became the basis of my collection inspired by the Isle of Portland.

Launching my first ever collection - What if nothing sells?

I've some news on The UK Islands Project!! I’m going to be launching my first ever inspired-by-islands-artwork collection on the 15^th October! Whoop Whoop!

My original plan for this project has changed.  I’d been tightly holding on to the idea that I’d wait until I’d finished all of the artwork and items created inspired by ALL of the islands visited as one exhibition. I'd created this big, sparkly image in my head of how it'd be, BUT, I think that's been stopping me from actually getting close to it. I think that it got too big, and too scary! I've been giving this some thought and in the current situation, I’ve decided to change my vision.

My NEW vision, and the one I'm actually going to be doing, is to release the Island exhibitions one-by-one online. I'd created a series of artworks and creations inspired by The Isle of Portland - the first Island I visited, that were pretty much ready to go and thought with a few other things to finish I'll be able to get this all up and running in no time! Then *reality check* I sat down and created a mind map [see above] and listed out ALL THE TASKS and realised there’s a lot more involved in launching an online collection!  If you've ever launched anything yourself, then you'll already be aware of this, but if not, listing online means photo shoots, writing product descriptions, taking measurements of each item, and I've even gone as far as creating some ‘Certificates of Authenticity’..!

I'll be sharing the process with you over the next few weeks and hope you'll find it interesting and useful. 

Worst-case scenario - I don’t sell anything. 

Having thought of this, I felt better and it lifted the pressure. Of course, I hope that doesn’t happen and that I have created a collection that is appealing, interesting and that tells a story that you'll would like a piece of. But if it does happen, then that’s a lesson in itself!!

You never really know what's going to happen unless you actually DO THE THING, and often, as I'm sure you can attest to, things often work out differently to how you'd imagined. So I'm going ahead and embracing whatever unfolds - however that might look and wherever that may take me, and if I'm honest that's part of the fun isn't it? The seemingly random unknowns that ONLY come about because of one step that we've taken. Here I am taking that step. Or maybe more of a leap!

Is there something that you've been working on or would like to work on but are feeling the fear a bit? Figure out what you single small next step is and do that. If you need some help figuring out what that step is - drop me a line and I'll do my best to help you.

In my next blog posts, I’ll share what I discovered on the Isle of Portland, what it inspired me to create, and why, plus some behind the scenes processes. We still might not be able to physically travel far at the moment – but we can travel in our imaginations and plan future creative adventures when we’re freer to roam and ramble. 

If there's anything you'd like to know about this first island - or this whole project - please ask! 

And if you'd like to be the amongst the first to see the full collection and have an opportunity to buy from the collection before it's showcased on social media - sign up to my newsletter as I'm sending all details to by lovely subscribers first. 

See you again soon!

Morwhenna
xx

Sneak peek of some of the collection inspired by The Isle of Portland

On being determined

It's been a while since I've written a post here on my blog and I can't even begin to imagine how this year has been for you so far. I hope that you've been able to find moments to be creative and have some small adventures, even if these have been imaginary and in or close to home.

When I created these Goat of Determination Magical Animal postcards, little did I know how much determination, encouragement and support we'd need to get through the past 6+ months. I sent out some as gifts at the start of the year and they've been pinned to notice boards and stuck to fridges and [so I've been told] have helped and brought a smile when it's been needed. They've been a visual reminder that little by little, small step by small step, we can keep going. 

I've just discovered that I've still got some Goat of Determination postcards and so I've listed them on my Folksy shop at a reduced price [3 postcards for £2.50 plus p+p], as I'd really love for Sandy to go and to hopefully spread a bit of 'doormat' joy!  

Link to Folksy Shop:  Goat of Determination

I hope I can tempt you to purchase a few Sandys to send to your friends and family. Send to raise a smile and a hug by post.  ;-D

Keep Going, don't stop believing - YOU CAN DO IT!!

Morwhenna
xx

PS Please do share with anyone else you think might like to buy some. Thank you! 

What happens when you say Yes...

Exciting Announcement!

I’ve written a chapter for a book called The Biggest Book of Yes and it's now available for preorder on kindle (print coming later this week)!  

This book is all about what happens when you say Yes. It includes 49 short adventure stories ranging from driving a Tuk Tuk across India, long distance cycle rides to what happens if you get up a little earlier each morning. Tales of adventures big and small as you know, adventure can come in all sizes. 

I'm so chuffed to be a part of the book and this project as it is filled with inspiring stories. I've a feeling, some of them will inspire my own future creative adventures...

I’ve written about the time I decided to go on my own pilgrimage following in the footsteps (ish) of Saint Morwenna from Brecon in Wales to Morwenstow by bike, boat and foot. 

It's actually 5 years since I went on that adventure and this Saturday - the 4th July, is the date I completed the journey in 2015, so the timing really couldn't be better!

Here's the link if you’d like to take a look at the book and find out more: https://bit.ly/TBBOY3

It's a book for charity, with all proceeds going to The Teddington Trust.

*Happy Dance* 

Skye in Cyanotype

I've been thinking about the Isle of Skye for some time in terms of what artwork it inspires me to respond with, and on first thoughts it was about the light, the colours, and the food. I'd been thinking around a few ideas and one that kept coming back, was experimenting with the cyanotype process using digital negatives which I thought could have lots of scope.

Before I show you my experiments so far, I wanted to share a bit about the history of the process and one woman in particular.

The cyanotype process was developed in 1842 by the English scientist and astronomer Sir John Herschel [who has a museum in Bath] as a way of reproducing notes and diagrams rather than in a creative application. It was Anna Atkins [1799 - 1871] who first saw the potential for the technique to be used as a type of photographic record and who used it to create a series of cyanotype limited-edition books that documented ferns and other plant life. Because of her use of this technique, Anna is often considered the first person to publish a book illustrated with photographic images and the first female photographer. Images from her book can be seen here: Anna Atkins Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions

The process works by mixing two chemicals [ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide] together in equal measure, and coating a surface e.g paper. Once dry, you arrange objects on the paper and put outside in direct sunlight to 'develop.' Mixing these two particular chemicals together causes a reaction that renders it sensitive to the UV rays in sunlight. Cyanotype photography was popular in Victorian England, but became less popular as photography improved.

So, here, I'm sharing my very first test pieces with you, and it was a rather magical experience seeing the images appear as you rinse away the chemicals! I discovered that the handmade paper I'd used wasn't really up for the job as some of the paper started to disintegrate when washed. So you do need to use a strong paper as you have to make sure you wash all the chemicals out of your pieces otherwise they will continue to develop. These test pieces were left in midday sun, with a glass plate covering them to improve the contact with the paper, for around 7 minutes. 

I was also surprised how well the digital negatives I'd made worked and which images created better prints than others. I did have to try a fern, as that's possibly the most cyanotyped object in history! And I can see why, as it creates a really strong image. 

Next is to try some different papers, objects and fabric.

I bought my Cyanotype set from www. cyanotype.co.uk and my Inkjet film from The Surrey Inkjet Company and have been surprised and really pleased with the results so far.  It's really fun!

Have you tried this process for yourself?  

All images copyright Morwhenna Woolcock

A New Tradition. Say Hello to Sandy, The Goat of Determination.

Happy New Year and New Decade to You! 

As it's the start of a new decade it felt like the right time to begin a new tradition:
Creating a special postcard to bring in the New Year.

This is something that I've been thinking about doing ever since going to Morocco in 2013 and visiting Yves Saint Laurent's beautiful home, Jardin Majorelle, in Marrakesh.

Every year, Yves would design and send out a special postcard to friends and clients of his fashion house. He used mainly collage and the theme was always the same - Love. I bought a replica postcard of one of the designs, and ever since then, thought it such a lovely idea that one day I'd start doing this myself. This year, as we start a new decade, it seems like the right time to adopt this tradition for myself and to begin....

Let me introduce Sandy, The Goat of Determination. 


As you may already know, I've been creating Magical Animals for a while now and this seemed the perfect character to grace my first ever postcard to send out to friends and family. 

Sandy has a message for us:

"Keep going, don't stop believing - YOU CAN DO IT!"

Sometimes, we all need a little encouragement from Sandy, The Goat of Determination.

Seeing the cards printed, writing the cards, sending them out and then recieving the messages from those who've recieved one is bringing me so much joy! Being told how Sandy is now pinned to their fridge or notice board, how getting a card has made their day and how it'll help them through 2020 is just so so lovely and makes me so glad that I went ahead with this idea. I didn't really know how people would respond to this curious looking goat, but it appears that everyone loves Sandy. x 

Sandy is proving so popular that I've listed some for sale over on my Folksy shop. ;-)

Have you created your own traditions? I'd love to hear about them. 

Sandy, The Goat of Determination is the first New Year's Postcard I've created especially to send out to friends and family