Please can you keep me up to date with any shows/events you attend and I will endeavour to come and see your work in person!

Vix

Congratulations Vix on the immense progress you sound to have made, and especially on getting on the road to being published, I wish you success.

By chance, the next Farmers & Craft Market at Nether Edge is next sunday, 7th December 2008, 1200 (noon) – 4pm, when Nether Edge Road is closed to traffic. There are many stalls,food and entertainment – musicians, even belly dancers last time ! I would be thrilled if anyone was able to come along to have a look at my paintings. I am usually at the corner of Nether Edge Road and Glen Road.

Love and Best Wishes to you all
Victoria

I know that Victoria has sold more paintings since July – again at her local farmers’ market and, and that another one is due very soon.

I’ll make sure she sees your comment and hopefully she can let you know some details.

You’ve also raised the idea for another post that really does need writing – the impact of parenthood!

Good luck with your writing and all your future creativity – Andy

My Story (briefly) Is one of an artistic background, good at almost everything I put my hand to but never really finding where I want to be.

I tried Set design (which became a good business) interior design, Stately home interior restoration (again career-wise was successful), gilding, paint effects, life drawing and painting, Poetry, story writing, DTP design and editing for magazines and company literature, acting, dancing, music (okay so I am not a natural at that or singing, but it lifts my heart ) I have tried anything creative and when I am not being creative I have a hole in my life… but then 4-5 yrs ago I did the most creative thing ever – I created another life… and for 2 yrs I was exhausted, very uncreative and quite blue!

After 2 yrs I tried going out dancing again and from the strain of childbirth and a long standing back problem I was then in serious pain and put on major pain killers, which killed creativity as well as pain and I was under a cloud until I had a life changing operation. When I read Victoria’s story I was 6 mths down the road of recovery and unfortunately some signs of recurrence were showing (possibly due to the burst of creativity, rebuilding the staircase, designing and retiling three bathrooms and wallpapering my landing!) so even though I had promised myself to stay off the pain killers there came times, when I needed them and I found my mood and creativity drop.

So now, after a second op, 7 weeks into recovery I have been off pain killers for 3 weeks (most days) and I have found my flare for poetry/rhymes and writing again and I have just finished writing and illustrating 2 childrens books.

I can sympathise completely with Victoria in the trepidation of the little steps you have to take. And I am on the road to getting published (albeit taking the first few tentative ones) I am just hoping that my first leap into having the confidence that my own work is actually worth something will be as successful as Victoria’s.

Also I would like to know where Victoria exhibits? I grew up around Nether Edge and Hunters Bar and would love to come and see what looks to be superb work!

Thank you Andy, I am taking your advice and making the most of my creativity now, who knows what will happen next – it may just continue far into the future – I cannot tell, but at least I have been able to channel my creativity through some channels that are allowing me to rest and recuperate and still mean that I can remain sane!

Best wishes to anyone who finds themselves or a loved one in this situation.

Thank you again Andy for this website, which is a constant inspiration.

Vix
x

I have just tentatively started my “next” painting – it was a bit daunting !

I really hope this story can inspire others.

Best wishes to all
Victoria