Sadness and Gratitude

This morning the first email I read was from Kirrily who is the brains (and action) behind the Creative for a Second Project. A project that brought together people from all over the world who live with the condition M.E./CFS. *

She wrote to inform us that one of the participants, Nina Bunin, sadly passed away this week.

I can't believe it. Only a few short months ago Nina wrote to me that she was "Out doing. Virtually recovered from M.E". On her Blog (9th July last) she wrote: "I’ve gotten almost well, and am painting like a fiend, and teaching art."
What a tough blow to be diagnosed with cancer after such a long battle with M.E.

Rest in peace my friend

The thoughts about Nina makes one appreciate and express gratitude to life. The daily challenges seem small.

I am grateful to wake up in the morning.

I am grateful to have friends: 'Real life' Friends, 'Phone' Friends, 'Post' Friends and 'Virtual' Friends, who keep me grounded in life, who make me part of the world we live in.

I am grateful to have a roof above my head, and a place to write and create.

I am grateful to see the world, to hear it, to smell it, to experience it.

Love to you Nina.

Love to all of you.

*About Creative for a Second

Into the Light

Work in progress.....

Books by writing friends

I am fortunate to have writing friends, I would like to introduce you to some.

Diane Searls published two books recently: 

The Goldie Boy (a short one-act play); 

and Ozzy the Emu. A wonderful story for children, well actually, for adults too!

'Ozzy the Emu is based on a true experience of the animal keeper author, Diane Searls. Written for children, this story will be an entertaining read for the adult also. Children learn about emu facts through the story and then complete a quiz and puzzles to enhance their learning.'

To order Diane's books please click here

Spark Deeley published her second book "Do you Remember Me? a few months ago. “Do You Remember Me?” is a beautiful new CD/ Book collaboration by Catherine Cunningham and Spark Deeley. Soulful and quirky, it features six original songs and thirteen vibrant ink paintings which complement the song lyrics. 

“As an atheist and someone steeped in the tradition of science, I found this beautiful CD/ Book particularly satisfying. The illustrations of Spark Deeley are vividly striking. Complementing the words and music of Catherine Cunningham, they allow for an overall narrative that speaks to the reader in a personal and poetic way. Get your hands on a copy and look, read and listen to what’s inside, I guarantee you will enjoy it”  (Kevin Doyle, writer)

To order copy of Spark's books please click here

Alan Murphy published his second poetry book this year: Psychosilly

"Alan Murphy's latest collection of poems explores big themes and ideas about the world. The poems themselves vary in length and style, but they are always rhyming, playing with words and taking literal meanings to surreal lengths. The book is illustrated with bright and playful collages. Children aged 9+ will enjoy reading this on their own, although the poems lend themselves to being read aloud with gusto for the enjoyment of children of all ages."

Children's Books Ireland Recommended Reading Guide 2011

The book can be ordered from Alan  

Another book I would like to tell you about is Farewell to Chapelstreet by Paddy Vaughan  

My dear friend Paddy passed away last year at the age of 87. Paddy had been working on this book (his second) for a few years, but ailing health preventing him from finishing it. His son Patrick and granddaughter Mary Anne completed the book.
Paddy lived all his life in Chapel Street, Lismore. The stories in the book brings us back to a different pace of live and is full of anecdotes about the people who lived in this street.
The book is (so far) only available locally, but if you're interested, please contact Patrick Vaughan and he will look after your order.

Poems in shop windows

Our current Mayor of Lismore, Ken Madden, came up with this wonderful idea to invite 10 poets to submit a poem to be displayed in shop windows of our little town of Lismore.

All the poets have a Waterford connection, they are either born in this county, or live here. 

The poems appeared 'overnight' to celebrate All Ireland Poetry Day, on the 6th October.

see here for more

Invited poets are:

 James Ballantyne, Edward Denniston, Corina Duyn, John Ennis, Áine Uí Fhoghlú, Thomas McCarthy, Liam Murphy, George O’Brien, Mark Roper and Peter Sirr.

The photographs don't quite do justice to the quality of the displays.

My apologies.

But I hope it will give you an idea of what's on offer and that it will inspire you 

bring a visit to Lismore!

Please come in and have a look around...

in my studio -

  The Garden Room

now I've started to move in.

Actually 

I have moved in.

A few jobs remaining- like installing a sink

but

I can work in it;

sit in it;

relax in it.

What a lucky woman I am!

The Garden Room, but then you already knew that!

An inviting place to enter

All my materials, tool and books are in.
When my craft books went in- I felt I'd completed
my move!

Finally space to finish my bird- a Sea Gull
Ready to fly!
Love the light, the space.

Have used the space so far to work on my weaving projects- paper weaving- more about that later.

Thanks for the visit!

To see how the studio came about, please click Here

Invitation to IWA Exhibition in Dublin

Last year I entered the IWA (Irish Wheelchair Association) 50th Anniversary Art and Craft Competition with my sculpture Naked Truth. To my great delight it won first prize in the 'craft' category (3D works).
The following was taken from the Summer edition of Spokeout magazine (see page 52) 

"In autumn 2010 IWA invited artists to submit entries for the 50th Anniversary Art and Craft Competition. The aim of the competition was to encourage artists with physical and sensory disabilities to showcase their creative talent. The competition received huge interest and many pieces of an extremely high standard were entered into the four regional heats, which took place in late 2010. Pieces from three categories were selected by representatives from Colleges of Art nationally. All entries selected at regional level went through to a national final which took place in Dublin, and was judged by Declan McGonagle of NCAD."

Winners:

GROUP CATEGORY: Drogheda ROC

CRAFT CATEGORY: Corina Duyn, IWA Member `Naked Truth'

FINE ART CATEGORY: Olive Noonan, IWA Limerick

The exhibition of all the regional and final winning entries

 will take place in Dublin from the 12th till the 14 October.

You are all kindly invited to attend the opening on 
Wednesday 12th October- 12.30pm 
official launch by Professor Declan McGonagle, Director of NCAD
Prize giving will follow and light refreshments will be served.

Connaught House, Burlington Road, Dublin 4

Exhibition open to the public till 4 pm Wednesday and
Thursday 13th and Friday 14th from 10.00am - 4.00pm

(further details: IWA)

I would love to have your company on the 12th! And please, do spread the word.

Many thanks

Corina