Making patterns with snail shells and rose petals on a concrete path may well have been my earliest creative project. These hours of play and dreaming became the foundation of a life time of exploring my inner and outer worlds through art, design, photography, journaling, psychotherapy and community development.
A creative life is full of challenges but somehow I still manage every day to maintain this space and continue.
I have learned along the way that keeping going, putting one foot in front of the other is essential to a creative path. There's a lot of meandering and muddling along from time to time, and I can waste hours staring into space! But both of these serve creativity well; working with intent and relaxed gazing ......
And here I am.
The blogging began on a rainy Sunday afternoon in February 2011. It wasn't planned or thought about in any detail, I stumbled into it. Over that time I have learned everything all over again! A roller coaster trip, made without ever leaving my studio here beside the lake. If you are toying with the idea of blogging.......just do it......it's another way to outsmart the excuses....
Thank you so much for taking the time to browse the Foxglove Lane Studio blog, for writing comments, sending good wishes or buying work. It continues to be very heartening and encouraging.
And finally you can contact me here
Catherine Drea
Foxglove Lane Studio
Great tale and wonderful pictures. No wonder I like you so much!
ReplyDeleteHi Ca,
ReplyDeleteI adore your blog (and your fee!!!) although it would be nice to see what the rest o'ya looks like!
Check out my FB pg http://www.facebook.com/thegardendesignco where I have given your superb blog a plug..... Are you on twitter or FB at all? Following your blog now also
Best wishes and a very happy Easter
Ena x.x
Hi Ca,
ReplyDeletejust wanted to say, I'm no horticulturalist, but i love everything your blog (and by extension, i'm presume, you!) are/ is about. I can't say I'm as you when it comes to matters of the garden, but i love the photos all the same.
"family, place, community, friends, the occasional sunny days, the beauty of the planet we live in, and the space we enjoy when peace reigns." .... i agree wholeheartedly.
Keep up the great work, please!
Brian // The Casanova Wave
http://www.facebook.com/TheCasanovaWave
I LOVE your introduction !
ReplyDeleteWonderfully beautiful ...especially your feet ! ;-)
A French poem about a garden...
Après trois ans
Ayant poussé la porte étroite qui chancelle,
Je me suis promené dans le petit jardin
Qu'éclairait doucement le soleil du matin,
Pailletant chaque fleur d'une humide étincelle.
Rien n'a changé. J'ai tout revu : l'humble tonnelle
De vigne folle avec les chaises de rotin...
Le jet d'eau fait toujours son murmure argentin
Et le vieux tremble sa plainte sempiternelle.
Les roses comme avant palpitent ; comme avant,
Les grands lys orgueilleux se balancent au vent,
Chaque alouette qui va et vient m'est connue.
Même j'ai retrouvé debout la Velléda,
Dont le plâtre s'écaille au bout de l'avenue,
- Grêle, parmi l'odeur fade du réséda.
Paul Verlaine
Thanks for asking Anonymous, see Where is Foxglove Lane in the Special Features section.......good guess but I live in County Waterford no where near Callan!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely peaceful feeling you've conveyed. This is special; a piece of glorious peace and quiet amidst a mad mad world. Well done for doing this and let us please see some more...
ReplyDeleteYou seem like such a kindred spirit. Lovely profile.
ReplyDeletehi. just saw your fb page today. really liked your photos and comments and found it uplifting. I take a lot of similar photos but not so well unfortunately. looking forward to the next instalments. we have a place in rural north tipp but no lake :(
ReplyDeleteall the best. sonja
Yes, I can see why you feel a soulful kinship...you've expressed so eloquently how I feel about elevating the ordinary and celebrating family, friends, community and the simple beauty this life has to offer. I too am teaching myself photography and enjoy the creative expression it allows...there is never a dull moment 5 minutes from the backdoor ;) I look forward to following along as you blog about responding to what you find there!
ReplyDeleteLove this blog. Your capturing of frosted Ireland is gorgeous. I live in Galway...there is more rain here so complain away x
ReplyDeleteAnother note: we started blogging almost at the same time - Feb 2011. And I've found it a journey of discovery, like you, of human endeavour and courage as well as the darker treacherous side of our species. But the power of blogging, as part of the global social network, needs to be preserved and protected with our lives.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, your blog is the most refreshing I've yet found on the web. So a 'thank you' from me for your endeavours and blogging Happy Anniversary!
Foxglove Lane sounds like a beautiful and magical place. Your photography is lovely as is your manner of speaking and describing your surroundings. I can hear that lilt clearly. Ireland's countryside is a delight that I have long embraced through books and stories. I will look forward to visiting you again...Judy at GoldCountryCottage
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your great blogs and pictures, you have a beautiful way of conveying snippets of your life, in and about nature. That, for us all to appreciate the small everyday things around us, is a very fulfilling gift that comes from within, but only if our eyes and hearts are open to see it. Simple pleasures and soulfood. Thankyou for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Foxglove Lane, my life has changed a lot recently also and I have found the joy of photography, poetry and art, simple beauty of life that surrounds us if we are just open to seeing it. Soul food as Heather says. I have been writing one year and particularly love haiku, it is a Japanese form of poetry, 3 lines and is a bit like a photo, it captures a moment. There are many variations of haiku, I recently started doing haiga, a photo or painting and haiku embedded within. It is simple and fun. Maire
ReplyDeleteQuite lovely.... Great pics and a lovely blog. I too celebrate the everyday.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a Keogh, now I'm an Archer... Hope you'll visit me too at
http://archers-at-the-larches.blogspot.com
Hi Foxglove Lane thank you for letting me share a piece of your world.Feel free to visit a piece of mine in the orchard. More good times to you.
ReplyDeleteHiya
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying St Patrick's day, and will also have a lovely day tomorrow... this comment is to ask for a favour... On my blogs and Facebook pages, I try to include 'how to' and info on apps - and i found this wonderful app that displays blogs in a lovely way, its called channelcaster. I would love to add a pic of the foxglove lane blog posts as they appear on my app- with the pictures and post titles, and you click for the words...i cant explain it but could email a copy of the pics to you for you to decide if its ok to use foxglove lane as my example of a lovely blog on a lovely app. Thanks Dily
Your photos are very fine. I have turned my photography and love of the natural world into books for children. The idea is to catch them young and create a sense of magic and relationship with the natural world. Do visit. http://www.photoluminations.com/books/index.html
ReplyDeleteHi there - long time no chat! I know you've been following my blog Garden Adventures - for thumbs of all colors, so I wanted to let you know it's moved! As a follower you will no longer receive my posts but you can easily re-subscribe at my new site to continue the fun. The url is www.lejardinetdesigns.com/blog Hope you keep in touch!
ReplyDeleteHello! I've just discovered your blog through City of Blackbirds :) Your photography is beautiful, thank you for sharing, Sarah Jane
ReplyDelete