Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..the ugly duckling....

6/2/2018

9 Comments

 

Designer Bruce Mau advised -

Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child).

Having reacquainted myself with my novel I have to ask myself, says Chris Baty,
Do I want to devote a year of my life to making it better?

Hmmm.

I think the answer is yes.

Having a serious creative project is making me feel - grounded.


Do you have a creative project on the go? Serious or otherwise!
9 Comments

Simply..what now?

5/2/2018

12 Comments

 

Straight to Chapter 9 of Chris Baty's book, called -

I Wrote a Novel. Now What?

He assumes you have had a break since writing (not as long as my break!) and suggests you

'..make a date with your novel. Set aside an entire evening for just the two of you. No phone calls, no visitors and no red pens to catch spelling mistakes. You are going to spend a couple of hours getting reacquainted with your book.'

  At this point it sinks in - I have written a book!

Yay!

Picture

And the lilies are opening and strangely scentless...
12 Comments

Simply..what to say....

3/2/2018

20 Comments

 

Don't laugh! Who knew I had so much to say that I could write a daily blog for eight years (I didn't!).

In previous Writing Months (notice the capitals) from 2011 - 2015, I have had fun blogging about finding good places to write, about advice and amusing tips from famous writers, about good first lines of novels, and last lines....

If you are new here I should point out that I only write in Februaries (!) so have been writing my novel for just 5 months in total. See here and here and/or under Simply Write.

This Writing Month I think I will quote from the book which got me started on this crazy idea. Chris Baty started the creative writing experiment National Novel Writing Month NaNoWriMo in 1999 with 21 participants. It has evolved into a world wide movement with about 400,000 participants in 2017!

Have any of you tried it? Are any of you writers? Do you write morning pages, a journal, a blog, articles for magazines, novels?  I'd love to hear from you - do join the friendly group of commenters here  :-)


Picture
20 Comments

Simply..write....

1/2/2018

7 Comments

 

February.

I think I will re-instate it as my writing month.

And set up the study as my writing room.

Things may be a bit erratic here for a while as I re-read all my posts under Simply Write and/or past February posts.

Bittersweet.

But a lovely seriously challenging project to see me through - my novel.

Do you have plans for February or Fabruary as i once mis-!typed it...
Picture
A little clutter clearing..
Picture
Some daffodils and a special card
Picture
Light the stove
Picture
As my ancestors watch over me!
7 Comments

Simply..cold!

8/1/2018

8 Comments

 


A world frozen white
Sun by day and stars by night
My home my refuge.



8 Comments

Simply..your word....

29/12/2017

10 Comments

 
..is your bond, you keep your word, the word is God upon my word! There are crosswords and cross words. Lucille writes about words (or lack of them) in this post, being 'wordy' is not usually a compliment. I treasure the comment made by a student at my Drawing for Non Artists course. He said that the course in the evening was 'such a relief from the wordiness of the day'.

I've chosen a 'word for the year' for a number of years now. See here and here

This was my first one I think (2011) and here are some of yours! Remember?

I think I have decided on my word for 2018 but thought it would be fun to try Susannah Conway's free course in choosing a word before I settle on it. Join me?  You can sign up here.

Picture
More snow today. I love being in this house when it is snowing. And I've got as far as 'C' in my new address book..
10 Comments

Simply.. before the year is out....

28/12/2017

19 Comments

 

Before this year is out I will.....

How would you finish this sentence?

(Keep it simple. There are only three days left! I am going to fill in the new address book which has been sitting around for about a year....)

Picture
The Christmas tree sparkled in the sunshine today!
19 Comments

Simply..a mystery....

7/12/2017

9 Comments

 


Haiku opens a
tiny window on my soul.
How does it do that?



9 Comments

Simply..winter....

25/11/2017

7 Comments

 


Winter without you.
Memories of winters past:
will they keep me warm?


Picture



7 Comments

Simply..haiku all around....

12/11/2017

8 Comments

 


First snow on the tops.
Heron high in the larch tree,
there the morning moon.


8 Comments

Simply..write....

8/11/2017

10 Comments

 



I forget, and then
suddenly, I remember.
A stab in the heart.





10 Comments

Simply..November 2010

4/11/2017

8 Comments

 

Looking back over November 2010 (see sidebar and yesterday's post) I see that I did my first big book organise. Of course I had done it often in  the past - every time I moved house, and that was quite often - but never so methodically. In fact organising was a theme that month and I realise that writing about it made it more fun. I was enjoying all the books about different approaches which were new to me then. I liked the concept of objects as companions to our emotional lives. A lot of the ideas I picked up then are truly second nature to me now.

There are some good snow photographs - I wonder if it will snow this November. Hope so!

There were far fewer readers of course. Eighty a week - I was so excited. Now according to Weebly it is thousands - gulp!

Not all the links are still live and some of the blogs I mention no longer exist sadly.

I wrote here about how I liked challenges and, looking for a kick-start to winter as I am, I think I shall try to write a haiku a week between now and Christmas. Am off to research that now!

Blogging is still such fun.

Thank you so much for reading.


8 Comments

Simply..morning pages....

28/8/2016

15 Comments

 
Picture

Julia Cameron in her book The Artist's Way recommends starting your day by hand writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing.

Have you ever tried it?


Also, I replaced the battery in the bathroom scales.

Oh dear..
15 Comments

Simply a head full of..

19/1/2016

10 Comments

 
..Venice!

I have reached the final words of Peter Ackroyd's Venice Pure City  -

..vivacity, gaity, radiance, extravagance, energy, buoyancy, spontaneity, urgency, facility, exuberance, impetuosity. Oh! Venezia!

Who wouldn't be excited?

Here is another Fortuny garment I'd love to wear, and if you scroll down you will see the most dazzling selection of Fortuny gowns.

Have you heard of this artist and his Chandeliers Over Venice project? (This is for you Lotta!) There are lots of videos on Dale Chihuly and the full story here. Allow yourself an hour or three if you really love glass!
10 Comments

Simply..the Palazzo Fortuny....

18/1/2016

12 Comments

 
Hope to visit this exhibition in Venice.

I trained in Textile Design at GSA and remember coming across the revolutionary, and elegant silk 'Delphos' gowns of Mariano Fortuny. He began making them in 1907 but they are utterly timeless and now collectors items. You could wear them today and not look dated. The book highlighted today at Cornflower Books looks like a must read for textile lovers.

We leave in a month's time. After the Carnivale is over. Fun, I am sure, but not the Venice I really want to see (or the prices we can afford to pay!).

A writing month is one of the best ideas I've ever had.

Fantastico!


What is the best idea you have ever had?
12 Comments

Simply..write....

5/1/2016

0 Comments

 

One of the fun things about a few recent lazy days has been the new websites I have come across. Maybe you will take a look at this one - The Awfully Big Blog Adventure while I am away for a few days babysitting (my little sister!)

And after all the flooding here in UK I was rather amused at this post from Venezia about there not being enough water in Venice...
0 Comments

Simply..Venice....

27/11/2015

8 Comments

 
..in books (and there are lots of them!) Here are some I have read...
Picture
And here is the one I think best so far...
Picture

Though a bit old fashioned (it was written in 1960) and full of generalisations about the character of the Venetian (which is one of the reasons it seems old fashioned) it is still in this 1993 revision an excellent and enjoyable read. The foreword to this edition, in which the author justifies not making many changes, is a delightful read in itself.

To be read slowly, and savoured.

Some others I have are in this post.
8 Comments

Simply..Venice, crossroads of cultures....

19/11/2015

8 Comments

 

My Venice post this week has to be this sad and moving one from the blog of Venetian Cat Bauer.


(Venice posts come under Simply Write as writing my novel is my reason (or excuse!) for going there this winter.)
8 Comments

Simply Write..about Venice....

13/11/2015

8 Comments

 
Picture












On Fridays I usually post something about Venice.

I love this little drawing of Venice from a nautical map of the 13C.

And to the city of today a link to a wonderful autumn photgraph from a blog I enjoy.

And you may enjoy this essay written by Erica Jong in 1986 in which she extols the advantages of being there in winter (as we will be..)

Have you been, in any season? And has anyone read Erica Jong's Serenissima?


PS first snow on the hills today!
8 Comments

Simply..an American in Venice....

6/11/2015

8 Comments

 

I've been enjoying reading blogs by people who live in Venice and this post interested me, especially the mention of San Michele which I've visited.

Picture

ln preparation for our winter month in Venice I'm swotting up Palladio (I always was a bit of a swot, and have decided to own up!)

Picture

Getting excited about February again.

Imagine.
8 Comments

Simply..Venice by Raoul Dufy....

29/10/2015

10 Comments

 

I've always enjoyed the exuberant and joyful work of Raoul Dufy, especially his works from about 1930 onwards.

I seem to remember reading, when I was first considering becoming a full-time artist, that he said something along the lines of getting the mundane things of your life sorted so that you can concentrate on the creative side. I remember thinking ruefully he meant getting a wife!

Fortunately I decided to ignore his advice (I do by the way have a very supportive husband!) and decided to Paint First and let the rest fit in somehow. I might never have got started otherwise!

Many books have been written on this very subject.

One I am enjoying now is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

But back to my topic (I'm breaking my rule for blog posts - one subject and one aspect of that subject at a time..)

I came across this brilliant little painting of Venice by Dufy.

Enjoy!


10 Comments

Simply..cleaning up Venice....

23/10/2015

9 Comments

 
..or should I say Venezia. I am enjoying learning Italian with my excellent teacher Luisella. She speaks a lot in Italian throughout the class - talking quickly, translating as she goes, insisting we listen, listen, listen and talk, talk, talk. She goes at a challenging pace!

A challenge I had not anticipated was being unable to read the whiteboard when Luisella uses a coloured or faded pen. I had to explain that I have an eye problem. (I have AMD, a degenerative eye condition.) Until now when out and about or meeting new people I get away with not saying anything, but we are asked to work in pairs and read to each other from the textbook. If the lighting is not good - and it isn't - I can't see the words. I am still so shocked when this happens! So of course I have to say 'I'm sorry I can't see that'. I have a tiny torch the size of a credit card (thank you Lynne, what a thoughtful gift). It helps but makes me very  slow. I've never before in my life been slow in a learning situation. It is so hard! It makes me feel foolish and so self-conscious. I know I have to get over those feelings and find ways of coping.

It also makes me feel humble when I see people coping with far greater difficulties.

I enjoyed this post on a favourite blog about Venice.

(This post explains why I am learning Italian!)
9 Comments

Simply.. a bit of this, a bit of that....

15/10/2015

4 Comments

 
An interesting blog from Venice here.

Some fun calligraphy to try here.

And a smile at the date of the original essay about The Diderot Effect here (thank you Julia and Angela!)

Enjoy if you have time....

4 Comments

Simply Stylish....

14/10/2015

8 Comments

 
Picture

This is a coat.

Picture

In a bag about a handspan long and weighing next to nothing.

Picture

A warm winter coat.

Picture

Good for travelling.

To Venice.

I bought it from new-to-me Uniqlo.


 And this post made me think about what else I will take.
8 Comments

Simply..arriving in Venice....

10/9/2015

8 Comments

 

It was dark and late as the old vaporetto chugged its way to the Piazza San Marco, calling in at dimly lit stops on the way, the buildings only appearing out of the hushed  darkness at the last moment, and one or two people embarking or disembarking quietly as the rugged engine changed sounds. and the sounds floated over the water of the lagoon

We disembarked and walked across the empty silent Piazza in moonlight and the two unseen figures struck the bells of the clock high on the Clock Tower:  midnight.

Magical.

I always knew I would go back.
8 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Art
    Simply..A Student Of Old Age
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.