2012 – The year of Magic Chairs in the Sacred Creative Gallery
What you sit on is probably not something you think about much.
Couch, Office Chair, Waiting-Room Chair, Dining Chair.
Royals have a throne. It’s called the “Seat of Power”.
Last year when I was thinking of a project I could do with a preteen, I came up with the idea of making a Magic Chair.
A special chair, we would make together. Something that would last her through school years, teenage putting on make-up years, first home, and even first child, etc. I loved the thought of a chair having a place, a memory and being full of hope and positivity that would flow through life.
Courtney and I started on her chair, and its waiting till we get together again to finish.
I loved doing this so much, it fired up my imagination and I started collecting chairs. Right now I have 7 chairs and 2 bar stools to make-over plus another 7 stools that will stay in the studio. AND my brain is dreaming of little magic chairs for little people, especially after a visiting 4-year-old said she wanted to make one…
Hence 2012 is going to be a year of making Magic Chairs. I will be posting my progress on here. I will sell them down the track, or else they will take over my home… be inspired, create your own and share via our facebook page, twitter or by posting a link in a comment.
Maybe we can start a Magic Chair revolution and move the ‘seat of power’ back to where it belongs… with a chair for everyone.
(c) Lisa Blainey-Lewin 2012
Try and not cry when you hear this song.. sang by a tramp in London in 1971.
I heard this song on the radio today. The raw emotion in his voice, was so authentic and so moving I wanted to share it with you.
I suggest you pop on headphones and close your eyes as you listen.
No matter, what, if any religion you are, the simple song and the emotion is a moving snippet of one elderly man’s life, as he lived in the street in London in 1971.
The story behind it is below.
The story behind …. “Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet”, recorded in 1971
In 1971, when I lived in London, I was working with a friend, Alan Power, on a film about people living rough in the area around Elephant and Castle and Waterloo Station. In
the course of being filmed, some people broke into drunken song – sometimes bits of opera, sometimes sentimental ballads – and one, who in fact did not drink, sang a religious song “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet”. This was not ultimately used in the film and I was given all the unused sections of tape, including this one.When I played it at home, I found that his singing was in tune with my piano, and I improvised a simple accompaniment. I noticed, too, that the first section of the song – 13
bars in length – formed an effective loop which repeated in a slightly unpredictable way. I took the tape loop to Leicester, where I was working in the Fine Art Department, and copied the loop onto a continuous reel of tape, thinking about perhaps adding an orchestrated accompaniment to this. The door of the recording room opened on to one of the large painting studios and I left the tape copying, with the door open, while I went to have a cup of coffee. When I came back I found the normally lively room unnaturally subdued. People were moving about much more slowly than usual and a few were sitting alone, quietly weeping.I was puzzled until I realised that the tape was still playing and that they had been overcome by the old man’s singing. This convinced me of the emotional power of the music and of
the possibilities offered by adding a simple, though gradually evolving, orchestral accompaniment that respected the tramp’s nobility and simple faith. Although he died before he could hear what I had done with his singing, the piece remains as an eloquent, but understated testimony to his spirit and optimism.
2012
Sadly the Sacred Creative Gallery will no longer be opening in Maleny. Due to the leak in the premises we have reassessed the situation and decided to take a different tack in 2012. We apologies to all our fans, but we can assure you in, 2012 will see beautiful and soulful work through an innovative series of events and connections.
Each works holds a place and tells a story. Art & Creativity allows us to explore fresh viewpoints and expand our sense of what is possible.
Sacred Creative Gallery’s founder Lisa Blainey-Lewin believes in providing connection opportunities for us humans. Artworks vibrate with resonance. Each work holds a place. Each work tells a story. It’s about light, choice, creativity, connectivity and fun. Lisa’s core beliefs have also seen her form Twine Marketing, and when she is not travelling, researching and training, she is based in the Gallery, or in her Maleny Mountaintop home.
20.11.11 Maleny Gallery Opening
11am Official Opening – all welcome.
12 – 4pm General Trading.
NOTE: Opening was on 11. 11. 11 as as the building is getting a new roof… we’ve put the opening back to Sunday 20th at 11am.
RSVP – Facebook Event Link or via leave a YES Comment on this page
Sacred Creative Gallery opens to emerging artists/creatives 11.11.2011
On 11.11.11 the Sacred Creative Gallery will open to include exhibitions, talks and workshops by emerging artists/creatives.
Become a Sacred Creative Gallery Supporter and join our mailing list to know what’s coming up, workshops, exhibitions, talks, events and opportunities at Sacred Creative Gallery, overlooking the Glass House Mountains, Maleny, Australia. Support emerging artists/creatives and explore your own creativity.
SUBSCRIBE NOW to Sacred Creative Gallery’s mailing list
Circles. What they mean to me and two special wearable artworks.
Close Up - Fire Sign Circles Winter Wrap (c) Lisa Blainey-Lewin 2011
Circles, to me symbolise the never-ending energy inside, around and connecting each of us. From the circular shape of our cells, our planet, the cups and glasses we drink out of, the pattern of the rain falling onto a lake or a pool, the shape of bubbles, seeds and life.
Our life is woven with circles. Circles of friends, colleagues, we live on a circular planet, but it orbits in an elongated and slightly uneven circle, with a little wobble.
Now I don’t know about you, but that has certainly summaries my life. Things have got very elongated and there are always wobbles in life.
Made with pure nature fibres only. Australian Merino wool, silk, a touch of alpaca and mohair. I have made two gorgeous large and special felt wraps. Royal Purple Rainbow Circle and Fire Sign Circles
A lot of love and care goes into the making. If you have ever felted you know the finished product looks quite different to layers of fibre before wetting down and rolling.
I roll by hand. It takes at least 500 rolls before I am happy with the result.
My studio is in a sublime part of Australia, perched on a ridge, overlooking the Glass House Mountains.
Our water is all rainwater, and this makes a difference to finished product.
The Wrap is the length and style I love making.
Why, because I find it so practical. Either of these works could live the back of your couch as a practical artwork.
If you get cold at night its easy to reach.
If you are running out the door and you need something to dress up a plain black coat, you can grab it and wear it like a scarf.
If you are breastfeeding its just the right weight and size to keep you warm and discreet.
Its adorable for grandchildren, they love wrapping themselves up in it.
On the downside, cats love it too and tend to ‘claw’ it, so caution needed if you have cats.
Mainly I wear these size wraps, around my shoulders like you wear a Pashmina.
Exclusive Original Designs – Handmade in Magical Maleny by Lisa Blainey-Lewin from the Sacred Creative Gallery
National Book shop Day – TREASURE YOUR BOOKSELLER – they are an endangered species.
Today is the inaugural National Book Shop Day. What a wonderful idea!
AFter this years’ mass closures of bookshops, book lovers around Australia have woke up the fact if you don’t support your local bookseller they will close down. Simply maths really.
So if you are a bookworm, book lover, bibliophile, basically if you love books, makes sure you get down to your closest independent bookseller today and buy something.
Rosetta Books, in Maleny is our local bookseller. This year they broke with the trend and moved to a larger premises, with more reading chairs, an expanded children’s section and best of all MORE books.
Yes you can buy books online, but is there really anything better than the smell and feel of thousands of new books in your local bookstore.
The knowing you are the first one to crease the pages is the bookworms secret indulgence, much like the wine drinkers first taste of a lovely vintage.
A good bookseller is like a family friend. They help steer you through; cookbooks, family additions from baby books to home extensions, to the escapism of fiction and adventure of travel guides.
The answer to most things lies in a book. A great bookseller helps you find it and knows what you like to recommend to you when you next visit.
Treasure your book seller, and their book shop, as they are both an endangered species.
Go down today, on National Booksellers Day and show them you appreciate them.
Buy a book, bake them a cake or if nothing else simply say THANK YOU for being here!
If you live close to me in Maleny or on the Sunshine Coast you may already know Rosetta Books have free books, discounts and a competition today..
Whats happening at your bookstore? Comments, Photos? Blogs?
Facebook Business Page – smack your hand if you haven’t got one for your business yet
If you are a creative business and you havent organised yourself a Facebook Business (Fan) Page yet let me admonish you right now. Naughty naughty you.
Maybe its all a bit hard and you just don’t know where to start.
Lets have a brief chat on the benefits of having a Facebook Business (Fan) Page and how it can work for you.
Most people have a personal Facebook page, where you add your friends.
A business or fan page on Facebook is similar but instead of adding friends you are asking for people to LIKE your page.
You can use it as both an information outlet, like an email newsletter or mail out for short bursts of information on Status Updates.
OR if you are running events you can create an Event, you and others can share and invite people to your event, subject to your privacy settings. Best of all its clear it is a business and not a personal event as it comes via your Facebook Business Page.
You can also create larger messages and post them to your wall as “Notes”.
And of course you can upload photos of your products, your store, what you are working on, people, places etc. Everyone loves a photo of themselves.
Plus if you create your page as a local business and put a current address, your customers can CHECK In on their smart phones when they come to see you.
This is just the tip of the Iceberg. There is so much more you can do to encourage participation and interaction on your page, but its enough to hopefully encourage you to get cracking on a Business Page, as I call them, or a Fan Page as Facebook calls them.
When you reach 25 Likes on your new Business Page you can go into your Account Settings and choose your office Facebook URL… so it will read Facebook.com/whateveryouchoose
AND thanks to the lovely kind way modern technology is working if you have a Word Press Blog, you can synch your blog to automatically post to both your Facebook Business Page AND your twitter. Now that’s convenient.
Have fun with it and send me a comment if you would like to added to a group I administer on Facebook for Business Owners promoting our own products using Social Media, its full of helpful tips and we all help each other out with questions etc.
bye for now.
Lisa
Feeling GLOOMY? Heres some tips to make you smile
Feeling gloomy? You are not alone.
A lot of people I know are feeling rather SH*&TTY and a bit down. DON’T PANIC its ok. Tomorrow is a better day. Heres some suggestions…………………….
Number 1. Get some scissors, or if you are Fancy some pruning shears, go out into your garden and prune the deadwood and old growth. Start around your front door, work to the main road and then anywhere that takes your fancy. Even if you only have pot plants, you can deadhead the old flowers, snip away and keep things under control. – Yes its a metaphor for life
Number 2. Write down all the crap stuff that’s going around and around in your head on toilet paper and then jump on it, have a bit temper tantrum, cry, moan and yell at it, then flush it down the toilet.
Number 3. Get out and roll down a hill, sand-dune etc. If that’s too out there, put on a red top, red dress, red scarf, red hat, red shoes, anything red and take yourself out for a cuppa, meet a friend and encourage them to wear red too. Write down the main thing you love about your friend and give it to them over the cup of tea. Friends are life’s blessings.
Its a rather deep moon and astro cycle so be kind to yourself and remember this too will pass x Lisa
Please note, make it a small hill, and I don’t take any liability if you roll off a cliff or hurt yourself. Just relax and start small x
Why bother with Social Media if you have a Website?
I just had one of those quick corridor discussions with my husband.
He couldn’t understand why I had spent money on stickers to direct people to our Facebook page.
As he said “Why bother we have a webpage, if they want information they will go there.”
AND that dear friends cuts straight to the heart of the information gap in understanding why Social Media taking off as an information platform.
I’m sure many of you may be thinking the same thing. Social Media is a hell of a lot of work to support so why bother….
Let me tell you why, and let me say now, I’m so passionate about Social Media, I’m in my early 40′s and an avid user.
Why does it matter to me?
Simply I am sick of having my IN-BOX filled to the brim with emails that are selling or promoting a product. Just opening my emails and seeing how many are there is enough to make me feel overloaded.
So I am reacting the same as lots of people, I’ve changed my email and I only tell a few essential business contacts.
On my business card I no longer list my mobile number as I was getting marketing calls at all hours of the day and night, plus I no longer list my email address, just my company website.
If you want to reach me, leave me a message via my website or by calling my landline number.
Why because I want to be more productive in my work time, and enjoy my off time free of constant work related interruptions.
Social Media, normally fits into my off time. So if I’ve met you at a festival, or chatted to you in the street, or visited your shop, and liked what you had to say etc, I will go and LIKE your business on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. So when I’m relaxed and browsing on the net, your message, event or product stream will show on my Facebook and I will be in a MUCH better mood to look at it.
Marketing is changing. Social Media is an OPT in Marketing option. Consider yourself extremely fortunate to have your Facebook friends and Twitter followers, don’t spam them, and deliver relevant content, make what you say engaging, exciting and informative. Social Media can work like a drip drip form of relevant information advertising, so when I need whatever service you offer, you will be ‘Top of Mind”. Writing a Blog is a way of building confidence in yourself, your products and services. The more articles and information you share on your blog, the more the public feels they know and trust you.
If you are counting on your website to do all your work, you are so behind the 8-Ball you need to give yourself a Slap! Social Media is about friends, referrals from friends and authentic business delivering interesting content.
So keep it real and delve into social media and most of all have some fun with it.
(c) Lisa Blainey-Lewin