Hastings. A Model Town?

I haven't stuck anything about this great little town that i live in for a while, so here's a nice little toy town version of the place where i live. Welcome to Hastings, wish you were here.

Commit Yourself!

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


I saw this quote yesterday and it connected, it made real sense. You can apply it just as easily to making work, being creative, or taking a much bigger step in life. I remember, many years ago, someone saying "if you have something to fall back on, you will". I think that's very true, you can't move forward if you know you can safely move back.

The quote is attributed to von Goethe, but it seems that it's actually mostly (nearly all) by W.H. Murray

'But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money--booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way"

W.H. Murray

The quote was in the fantastic new book by Lloyd Kahn and the Shelter crew. Tiny Homes On The Move. A follow up to that amazing book Tiny Homes Simple Shelter. This one focuses on homes that move. Converted vans, gypsy vardos, boats, you name it... if it moves it's been converted. As always these books are just so rich with imagery, hundreds of photos. Jam packed with inspiring stories and people, along with lots of links to their cool blogs following their adventures. I highly recommend buying both these books, even if you never plan on going Tiny or hitting the road. They give you dream space by the bucket load!

Hokusai Elvis

Another old drawing, dragged from the depths of that same old notebook, late 2000. I worked this one up and it lived happily in my portfolio for several years. I'll have to see if i can find the old artwork anywhere.

More Pots

Here are a few more of the pots from Hastings Museum.

I have that same big jug that's top right. I always like that big bulky one bottom right.

The brickwork inlaid slip is interesting, I don't think i've seen any others.
Classic Sussex inlaid type at the front, they have lots of that in the museum.

A Shoe! and a very lovely one it is too. You don't see many Slipware shoes.
I'd like to make one though... nice bit of Adidas or something!

My Bruin!

I haven't been to the museum for a while. Since moving studios I no longer walk past it everyday. I detoured recently though and was happy to see the Slipware Bruin, bear, given a permanent display. He looked well at home. I always get inspired sitting in this room, amongst these pots. I love these old hedgehogs, not the cute style little lumpy versions (though i do love those too!)... and check out those Sussex pigs, with their detachable cup heads. I'd love to have the skills to make those somedays, bring them back to Sussex and not just have the twee Rye Pottery ones. I heard recently about Mike Crosby-Jones (once of Briglin pottery, but now running Gopsall pottery, Winchelsea Beach. He threw 163 pots in an hour in 2012, he was 78 at the time) making a glaze out of Winchelsea silt, from just down the road. I'd love to be able to combine something like that with these traditional Sussex pottery forms, but also keep them current and not just stuck in the past. Maybe a little modern sgraffito can perform that service! Anyway, these pots, they all get my mind buzzing!
I also see that a splendid new pub that recently opened in Hastings, The Crown on All Saints Street, is using Mike's pots to serve their food and drinks in. Yes, a new pub opening!... makes a change these days doesn't it! I'd love to meet Mike and chat about pots and the Sussex traditions, i'm not very comfortable contacting folk like that though, so maybe the Universe will just drop me there one day.

I'll post a few more of the museums pots in my next post, it's not just this cabinet! ; )

Take A Waltz

A couple of weeks ago i was hanging with my mate Tom. Just catching up, drinking too many bottles of wine and watching The Last Walz in the early hours of the morning. Amazingly it was the first time i'd seen it all the way through. I love Levon Helm singing and drumming away. Anyway, thought i'd share for anyone unfamiliar. Oh, and If you ever feel like picking up a guitar, but could do with some guidance, Tom's the man. Follow the link and you can watch a few of his youtube tutorials. Or you can contact the man and get some one-on-one lessons via Skype. Here's his fb page

Life

This quote by Eleanor Roosevelt to "Do one thing everyday that scares you", was in a short film by Casey Neistat- Make It Count that i'd watched. It did make me think i should achieve more, get off the track occasionally, do something different. It's been a funny old year after the crazy one the year before it and i'm in another process of re-evaluation, what exactly do i want?... Or rather, how much less do i want?!

I feel like i'm at that point where the life we're living and the life we want to be living are maybe at their furthest points from each other. A few changes need to be made, but everything seems so much. I watch things, read things, but then still feel paralysed to do anything… what can i do?… what should i do? I'm active, i'm moving, but i still feel frozen… paralysed. Does anyone else feel like this?

And yes, everyday when i wake up i do feel a little bit of fear. I'm ill equipped for this world we live in. I don't seem to 'get' how it all works.
...How does it all work?