Shedding

Life is peculiar. Life is never linear. Life can be like a rollercoaster ride with its gentle rolls where one can take a deep breath of relief only to experience those terrifying highs and lows again. Such is life. Presently lots is changing. In terms of my health. In terms of the care I require. As well as changes in my care team. Lots to comprehend. Time to rewrite - time for a new era. 

For months I am engaging in ‘space-clearing’. Bit by bit I am letting go of anything I either don’t really need, or no longer require, or don’t particularly like. Or would be of more use in someone else’s life. Even books. My tv. I keep what I need, what brings me joy, which has memories attached I simply am not ready yet to let go off.

Some of these decisions were dictated by a change in health. Over a short time I became more and more unable to tolerate the clothes I loved for years. Many a morning I’d be close to tears by the thought of having to get dressed. Clothes brought an extreme reaction to the sensation of touch. Of being trapped. Even clothes which were not tight. I’d tolerate t-shirts for a few seconds before I had to ask my carers to pull them off straight away. Panic. I could no longer deal with trousers which were baggy and made ‘noise’ when I walked. I couldn’t deal with a shirts because of the collars. I was at a total loss on what to wear. 

Like a snake I shedded my skin - my clothes.

I bought a new set of clothes. Big, soft clothes. Just a few pieces. When I decided to do this big ‘culling’ of my wardrobe it actually felt liberating... After the few tears of letting go of my once beloved clothes. It was a letting go of another era. Most of my wardrobe now has new homes- new bodies. I am comfortable again in my new skin. My new clothes. And marvel at how little I need. Still more to let go.

Letting go of the old - makes room for the new.

Books. Ah, books. Letting go of books used to be a challenge. I used to love, absolutely love my library of books. Then suddenly I was overwhelmed by the amount of books I owned. Over the past few months I let go of quite a few books. In the past few weeks I am more rigorous. Lots of books went into the ‘give away’ box. Disability Study ones are now in new ownership (More to go). Other books I am re-reading, and if I truly love the story, the sentiment, the writing, the author, it will go back on the shelf. Others go into the ever filling box.

It is all very liberating to be honest. And an interesting experiment in what books I liked enough in the past to keep. Some I’d say just ended up on the shelf without a special attachment to them. Some were obviously very much right for a particular time of my life. And of no interest right now. Some are absolute beauties and will stay with me for the rest of my life.

This morning I realised that I also need to let go of my own previously published books*. So, I am offering them to you at half price. I prefer them to be read than stored away in my space. I hope they’ll bring joy to new readers. I hope they will share a tiny nugget of wisdom I gained during two decades of illness. “Hatched”, “Into the Light”, “Cirrus Chronicles”, “Snapshots”, and “Life Outside the Box”. Of some books I only have a few copies left.

                If interested, PLEASE ORDER HERE.

The half price will be calculated on the books.  Please let me know at either Paypal level or via an email to me that you have read about this offer, and I will refund the 50% of the cost of the books via PayPal. (Full postage will be charged.)

If you can make a case for wanting my books but have no funds to pay for them, please DO let me know and we make a deal. Please do let me know.

Please be well. Stay safe. And thank you for your company in person or via cyberspace.

Corina 

*This offer is not for the ‘Invisible Octopus’ Poem booklet or related art works which can be ordered here.

Christmas 2018: Open Studio and Pop-up shop at Little Wings

Welcome to the Christmas 2018 

Open Studio and Pop-up-Shop page.

"Butter-fly to Freedom" (100x60x10cm) Puppet: clay, fabric, silk
€295
Collaboration between Corina Duyn and Spark Deeley 2018 

These are some of the artworks which are on sale at this event. Books, prints, cards and bookmarks are also available from my Webshop. 

To arrange a visit to the studio any day between 12 noon and 4 pm, please contact me in advance (087-9812570)

• Please visit my SHOP for

• BOOKS

• Into the Light PRINTS

• Art POSTCARDS & Puppet BOOKMARKS 

• Contact CORINA for

• To book a DISTANT LEARNING PUPPET MAKING COURSE 
• Or GIFT VOUCHER of any value

**** FREE GIFTS WITH EVERY PURCHASE ***

"Birth Dance" (60x60x60cm) Clay, fabric, paint.
€750
Cannot be displayed outside

Please CONTACT  me if interested in any of these works. 

The prices indicated on the puppets and sculptures are for works to be collected. Any delivery cost will be calculated depending on destination.

"Beach Bliss" (18x16x10) Clay and rock
€95
cannot be displayed outside

"Pulled from the Mud" (23x16x10 cm) Ceramic €45

• To buy from a self employed artist, you can be assured that each sale results in a little ‘dance’ 

  • … with the added bonus that from the funds raised, new work can be created 
  • and in my case, funds raised will directly help me to pay for PA support to help me in the studio

gift voucher of any value

"Crying Crow - On the Right Course" (85-65cm) Painting/3D 2003 & 13
€95

detail

Tapestries: "Garden Poppy" (11x15cm) 2011 €70
"Garden" (10x20cm) €30

Cirrus Chronicles- a story inspired by short walks

Page from Cirrus Chronicles by Corina Duyn 

Cirrus Chronicles- Landing in Ballynelligan, is a fairy-story-with-a-difference. The story was conceived during my short walks along Lady Louisa's Walk in December 2008. 

Every time I went for my (fifteen minute) walk, I thought about this story: what Cloud Fairy Cirrus would see, who he would meet, what they might do. I took many photographs along the way which also inspired the story, and many of which became illustrations in the book. 

Thinking about the story, and having my camera with me, made me less aware of the struggle I had with walking. It made it fun.

The Robin, who is the first 'person' Cirrus met, accompanied me on many of these walks. 

Quite extraordinary.

I also made a small sculpture of Cirrus which I then superimposed into the photographs.  

Cirrus Chronicles is a story of a Cloud Fairy Cirrus Kalani when he accidentally lands in a field in Ballynelligan (a real location). There he meets Sarah Robin, Wally Wood mouse, Robert Cat, a song trush, partying Christmas Tree Fairies and a wooden Zebra. 

Following is an abstract from this small book. To set the scene: Cirrus took part in an event on Cloud Nine: Cloud Hole Jumping. This is what happened.

...

Cirrus made himself as tall as he could, all five inches of him, and walked towards the starting line of the track. Taking a deep breath, he started on his run. Counting eleven small steps, Cirrus slowly increased his speed. Then three long steps, all the while concentrating on his posture. However, what he could not calculate, were the many marshmallows bumping up against each other, in the litres of lemonade in his belly. Just before the last and most important jump, he slipped, and tumbled through the Cloud-Hole.

Sliding with great speed down the rainbow below him, legs in the air.

(next chapter)

Wet Trousers

“Get out of my bath!” Cirrus looked up, and saw a bird, smaller than himself, sticking out its red breast. “Get out of my bath! Can’t you hear me?”

Cirrus was a little scared. He had never been away from home before.

To be honest, he felt pretty embarrassed too, sitting with his bottom in a puddle of water.

“I am so sorry,” he said in a shaky voice, “it happened by accident.”

“Well, you just make sure it doesn’t happen again,” was the reply. “This is MY field and MY bath!” The bird flew off in disgust.

Cirrus ran towards the edge of the field, water sloshing in his yellow boots, and sat down on a moss-covered rock.

The sweet smelling grasses surrounding his hiding spot, were tall enough to reach the rooftop of his parents’ house. To see the tops of the enormous trees in their winter outfits, he had to lie on his back.

Taking off his boots and wet stripy socks, he asked a little shaken, “where am I, and how on cloud do I get home again?”

Hanging his trousers out to dry on a low branch, he looked out over the field. Through a gap in the trees he could make out a river. On the other side there were trees that looked like huge wet feathers.

“Look at those mountains, they are so green,” he said in awe, “and so BIG!”

“Well, what do you expect?” the red-breasted bird called out from a nearby tree. “You are looking at the Knockmealdown Mountains. What you see there are only the hills. You should see the REAL mountains!” the bird boasted.

“The ‘what me down’ mountains?”

“The Knockmealdown mountains, with the famous Vee Gap. ARHG, what would you know about mountains!”

“We have mountains too you know,” Cirrus said in his defence. He was feeling rather self conscious, sitting in his knickers, legs covered in goose bumps.

“So, where did YOU come from?” the bird asked.

“From up there,” pointing his skinny finger at the sky. To his horror

Cirrus could not make out Cloud Nine, Cloud Nimbo, or any other

Cloud for that matter. The rainbow too, had long since disappeared.

Taking a deep breath, he continued, “and if you would be so kind as to tell me, where am I now?”

“In Ireland, you ejit. Don’t you know anything?” The bird stuck out its breast again, ruffled its feathers, holding its head up high, tail resting on the branch. “You are in County Waterford, near the town of Lismore. To be more precise, you are in the townland of Ballynelligan, in the field owned by me and the Scanlon’s.”

“Enough,” said Cirrus. “One more thing though, who are you?”

“I am Sarah Robin, registered resident of this glorious field!”

“My name is Cirrus Kalani, and I live on Cloud Nine.”

“Cirrus? Never heard THAT name before!”

“I am named after those feathery clouds, you see high up in the sky,” he explained, “and if you like to know, my granny told me that Kalani means ‘the sky’.” 

Page from Cirrus Chronicles by Corina Duyn

There are many adventures. The overall goal is to get Cirrus home again... 'Santa Man' will make an appearence too...

Links:

To buy a copy of Cirrus Chronicles- Landing in Ballynelligan, click HERE 

With EVERY book order I will also post a copy to Barnardos, a children's charity in Ireland.

Christmas time while living with chronic illness

page from Hatched 

Christmas is almost upon us.  A time of sharing. A time of memories past, and yet to be made. A time of celebration. Of love, fun and kindness. But - looking at it from the view point of someone living with chronic illness - for some this time can also be a time of worry.

My Christmas times are quiet, and I like them that way.

But I know that for many it can be a challenge not to go along with the 'norm'. To not feel the pressure to pretend to be well.

There might be worry about shopping, about buying presents, about travel, about organising food. The financial burden.

The thought of being in the company of many others when really you can only cope with one or two people around you at the one time, might already bring stress.
The worry about going over the precious energy levels and ending up with a relapse. The accompanying thought: "Is it worth it?" It might well be!

page from Hatched 

When one is well for a short time, 'others' might think that you can always be that well, and that you are 'faking' illness.
How, or can one stand up for ones needs? Concerns on how others would react to those needs.

These are real pressures for some, and it can be a huge challenge to not get drawn into situation you don't want to be in.

Those of you who live with chronic illness, or are in constant pain, I truly wish that you are able to carve out me time, and stand up for what is important to you.

Hard, I know...

I truly hope that you find some time to value the true sense of Christmas. Not get drawn into the madness.
Enjoy the light- the festival of light.
Enjoy the company- for as much as you can manage.

Maybe see if you can simplify your Christmas preparations.
Friends and family, hopefully, value your presence more than they would like a bought gift.
Share a friendly smile.  A listening ear. A hug. Write a letter, a short note of thanks...

Plan ahead: creating a balance of the time spend with others, and time in solitude.

My health has improved a great deal since writing these poems which are from my book Hatched- a creative journey through M.E. More able to be out of the house more often and have some level of independence. But even so, I still like to focus on the simply things of Christmas...

Lots of love to you all.
I am thinking of you.

Christmas related Links you might like:

A fun fun abstract from the Cirrus Chronicles:

'Santa Man' 

Read abstract here. The book available to purchase here. 

The poems on this blog page are from Hatched,

which is now available as e-book (PDF format),

here  for €3.99. 

A previous Christmas themed post

Housebound but homeless

My "Christmas card" of 2011

Christmas is on again

The magic of Christmas is through sharing

Dear Friends, I hope this finds you well. My thoughts during these (frenzied) pre-Christmas-shopping-days go to those people who have no home - who are living in hotels, hostels, shelters, or on the streets. And to the children in these situations, or those young souls who need our support to simply be a child. And to adults and children who are living with the challenges of illness.   With this in mind, I am making donations in various ways:  25% of proceeds of orders for Into the Light books, or prints, or original sculptures will go to Focus Ireland.  “Focus Ireland helps prevent families, young people and individuals from having to first experience homelessness if possible. For those currently experiencing homelessness, they identify the best available supports and options to aid them on their journey out of homelessness”. I will match each order of Cirrus Chronicles– Landing in Ballynelligan for a Children’s group of your choice, for example Barnados, with an extra copy of the book, and a copy 'Flying on Little Wings'. I will pay for the postage. “Barnardos is a children’s charity. They work with vulnerable children and their families in Ireland and campaign for the rights of all children”. And those of you who would like to support their local hospice or health clinic with the Into the Light Care Box (which has a set of laminated pages specifically designed for use in hospital/hospice/complementary clinic/care centre/GP etc), I will acknowledge your kindness with the box, and will cover the cost of postage. The true cost of this version is €60, but through sponsorship has been reduced to €40.    See all the details on how to get involved HERE

Thank you for your kindness this Christmas. Thank you for helping me to help others. Or by finding other ways to support the people who need us the most at this time of the year - through funds, clothing, practical support and kindness. With every best wish to you and all. Corina.

HATCHED by Corina Duyn re-hatched as E-Book

Creative adventures have a funny way to go around in spirals.
(And there I was, calling my last exhibition 'Full Circle'...)
Anyway.

Ten years ago I published my first book Hatched.
It was the pivotal point of my then eight year long adventure of learning to live with illness.

I truly believed at the time that when this book was published, that I could put these eight years on the (book)shelf and get on with my real life, i.e. a life without illness.

Ten years have passed since then. I have not recovered in the 'normal' sense of the word, but I am well in lots of other ways. Life is not as I had planned, but I am having a very interesting life all the same.
I write, I sculpt, I take photographs. I love my garden, love my studio, my house, my friends, life...

During this decade I had many challenges with ill health, but nothing is stagnant. Bad (energy) days do pass. Illness days do pass. Not fast or with full recovery, but there usually is a light at the end of the tunnel to be found.

So, creative spirals.

During the past decade I had several exhibitions and published three more books. Cirrus Chronicles - Landing in Ballynelligan (a fairy tale much loved by adults), Flying on Little Wings (a tiny book with words of wisdom from the birds), and most recently (exactly a year ago) Into the Light (a book in a box).
More details about all my books see HERE.

HATCHED- re-hatched E-Book 

The book-publishing-spiral in this case is that Hatched, my very first book, is now available as E-BOOK! I called it HATCHED -rehatched

For me this is a big step. To go from creating very tactile, and handmade books, to something that is only viewable on a computer or tablet...
One of the reasons is that Hatched is pretty much out of print. There are a few books here and there, but reprinting it as a 'normal' book is very expensive, and maybe this new format will actually reach a whole new audience.

I am immensely grateful to what Hatched has brought to my life. Through it I made contact with people all over the world. A very welcome 'side-effect', when living a life which is often lived in (near) solitude.

If you interested to download the HATCHED re-hatched E-Book (PDF) you can do so on my website, where there are also a few sample pages. The slightly edited book has 184 pages, full of images and very short observations. Suitable for all those who can only read for a few minutes. (Been there- done that!)

The introductory offer is €3.99.


Some reviews:

• Hatched is one of the most energetic, generous-hearted, sharp minded and inspiring book of poems I’ve read for quite a while. No matter at what page I open the book, I find a love of life, an appreciation of life, and a vibrant sense of privilege and gratitude. … Illness has somehow endowed Corina with the ability to conduct a dialogue with reality. She turns fragility into strength, disability into freedom, and confusion into beautiful normality. Poet Brendan Kennelly
• “Great day for a walk” – is not just a greeting, but a celebration for the human spirit. Hatched deserves an international audience, and merits a place on best-seller lists. Liam Murphy, Munster Express
• It is beautiful. Really beautiful. It gives me courage. Dianne Mawhood
• The lesson of this deeply personal yet emphatic diary that is Hatched is that you don’t have to get ME to embrace them. Christy Parker, Dungarvan Observer
• This is something really special and uplifting. Interaction Magazine I found tears rolling down my cheeks- tears of both empathy and relief. Corina has shared her experiences in a simple, beautiful, and human way. Sue Page
• Corina Duyn is living proof of the adage that you can’t keep a good woman down. Deirdre O’Flynn, Irish Examiner

The Flight Path documentary by Katie Lincoln about the making of Hatched, can be viewed here

Garden visitors

I enjoy visitors  to my garden, some more than others it might be said...

On Saturday just after a lovely nap in my garden, I heard the doorbell ring. 

A lady walking "Lady Louisa's walk"which runs along my house, saw the small wooden block on my wall with the notice that there are art and books for sale here, and decided to enquire.

She went away with a copy of the Cirrus Chronicles which is a fairy tale set in along the path she just walked, after exploring my garden and visited my studio.

How lovely to meet people in your own home. She brightened up my day.

Yesterday I met a young lady who recently moved into my area, and later that day she came to my house to buy a copy of Flying on Little Wings  and promised to be back over the coming weeks for my other two books.

Today I received a Thank You note in the post from the lady who was here on Saturday. 

You know, it is this little acts of kindness that really matter in life. 

Visitors also arrive in other forms- like through a package in the post with gifts to celebrate my new greenhouse, from a dear friend, cyber-friend as we have never yet met in person, who was so delighted with the new addition to my house and life.

A big thank you to you all for being part of my life, in subtle but amazingly powerful ways.

Yet other visitors, well they need a little more kindness from my part to welcome to my garden... Caterpillars. In saying that, I actually think they are creating their own bit of magic to the garden. Body sculptures in a way. Look how they become part of the leaf. I think it is kind of beautiful.

The skeleton that they leave behind is pretty to! They settled on this small tree/shrub (of which I do not know the name but was assured by gardener friend that it is a weed) after they had devoured all the leaves on the red current bush, but in an act of kindness (or just dislike) they had left the berries for me to eat.We all have our own taste I suppose!

ps... As always it is lovely to know that you stopped by to read my musing and follow my creative adventures. It would make my day if you leave a comment...

 Many thanks & Lots of love Corina

Cirrus Chronicles now as Audio Book

Dear all, long time no writing, but first of I'd like to with you all that is good for the year ahead!

So much to tell but start with one little bit of news. 

The Cirrus Chronicles is now available as Audio Book. 

Which is great for all of those who are not able to hold a book, 

like I experienced at the start of the illness M.E.

The story has been read by the brilliant Actor and Storyteller Nuala Hayes, who initially launched the book for me in 2009. 

While reading a chapter at the launch she had the whole room full of adults spellbound.

(I have resently been given a DVD of this lauch, and love to share a part of it with you.. 

if only I knew how!

Help accepted!)

The Audio CD recording has been kindly done by NCBI (National Council for the Blind in Ireland). 

The CD can be borrowed from their library although I am not sure how that works... 

BUT, it is available from my shop for €7.50

(including postage to anywhere in the world.

If you still like to look at the illustrations while the story is being read to you, the book and CD are available for €15.

See my shop for order details 

For sample pages of the book, please see here

Best wishes to you all

Corina

Going with the flow

Brudair © Corina Duyn '12

So much has happened...
First of all, a few months ago I turned 50, and it seems to be an onslaught on my health. Kind of funny, not haha funny, but don't 'they' say, "going over the hill"? Well it feels as if I climbed the hill and tumbled down with great speed into the ravine at the bottom.
Well, I am slowly crawling out of it.
Wiser?

One of my dreams was to make the long desired trip to Canada. I really thought I could do it, but as my energy is so incredibly precious at the moment, I had to acknowledge that I can't do it this year. I think the "I can, I can't" thoughts were taking energy as well.
On the same day that I really was ok with the not going, the "universe" or actually the arts officer, showed me again where my energy should go. And I know this, but I, just like anyone else, have dreams.... But I know that my energy should go into my creativity. "The only constant" as a friend pointed out.
The arts officer, offered me to submit my work for a group show before Christmas, and more excitedly, to have my own show, with an artist of my choosing.

solo fish © Corina Duyn

I glowed, for the rest of the week!
Still am! My work will be sharing the gallery space with Pascale de Coninck's weaving. I am so excited.

That week I also had to complete a commission, a Fairy Doll like Cirrus  The main character in the Cirrus Chronicles. I searched for months for a wooden animal puppet. I searched in vain.
Lying on the couch, after the exhibition news, I thought about the person where the commission was ordered for. One of the main thoughts were the need for a new sense of direction; living by the sea; interest in sewing. Slowly a fish sculpture came into my head. Over the next while the idea became a reality. A fabric fish. I would make a fabric fish!

Brudair © Corina Duyn '12

Over the coming days I played with fabric, rope, string, stuffing and came up with a way to place the fish on a stand.

Fun!

I had so much fun!

And... this sculpture showed me Trust. Brudair (Irish name meaning Dream) sits so comfortably on the fish, he is not even holding on to the fin. He seems to Trust that wherever he is being led, it is fine.

The piece of driftwood, has a curve and it shows me Movement.

I was shown to go with the flow.

I was glad to be able to spend a few days in the company of Brudair and his Fish, before it was picked up to be given to its new owner.

Of course Robert needed to be in the picture!
Both seem at ease! Although not in agreement
which way to go!

Before I forget!!!
To celebrate the New Look Website (heading), please click here for a summer book offer