HNY
January 11, 2020Happy new year! Bonne annee! Buon anno!
I’m back at it! New year, new goals. I took a bit of a hiatus but now that we’re in 2020, I will do my best to update more. The last couple months have provided tremendous growth. Settling into a flat in South East London, getting my studio space in order and finding work. For those who I don’t converse with regularly, the month of December I spent slinging pizzas and drinks at a pub next door. I’ve been adopted into the family-run business as the token non-Italian speaker and have come to enjoy the social interaction between coworkers and clients. One of my bosses couldn’t quite pronounce my name, so he deemed me Juno. A name I’ll happily take as he explained to me the myth of Juno and that she was the wife of Zeus, queen of the gods. I could think of worse nicknames… In any case, it’s a wild little pub filled with a lifetime’s worth of collected items including a giant handmade Rhino head, three pianos, photos galore and characters of many sorts. My favourite of our clientele are two British brothers deemed “the Twins”, who pass many hours drinking Guinness and sharing laughs. Not only am I learning bits of Italian, Cockney (an East London way of speaking) is something that is slowly permeating my vocabulary. Most used is cream-crackered (completely knackered).
Moving to London has been one the best decisions I’ve ever made. While the whole process of settling in has been a bumpy one, I feel incredibly alive. It is always a risk to leave that which you know but as they say “freedom is on the other side of fear”. While I may not be doing exactly what I want to do professionally at this moment, I feel I am edging ever closer to it. My health has improved dramatically with my gym habits and creatively, inspiration is always but a short train ride away. This past week I went to Paris for the first time and it was every bit of what one would expect.
When I first stepped onto the street level, I was met with the sound of a man playing an accordion in the street. The Christmas lights shone bright and the air was filled with delicious pockets of bread and stinky cheese. Paris is every bit as magical as they say it is, even in the midst of manifestations and a strike that limited our transport. I was especially lucky to have a native Parisian show me the less seen corners of the city. Walking next to my pal in a beret, we visited thrift stores, ate traditional french cuisine, drank lots of wine and ate all the cheese! I came home with a full heart (and suitcase). Truly, I felt at home in Paris and have plans to perhaps pursue work or studies there at some point. Tout est possible!
Some highlights of my short visit were visiting L’Opéra Garnier, La Musée de Parfum, a converted 18th century hospital to artist live-in space and an embroidery exhibition from the Middle Ages. I feel incredibly inspired and am still digesting the immense beauty. Photos below!
Now that I’m home current goals include my freelance work (finishing samples for a London based textile company), gyming, visiting more museums and continuing to read and be inspired by Julia Cameron’s “Finding Water”. 2020 requires more long walks, getting more contracts that support healthy work/life balance, and creating art in whichever form that takes. This is going to be a good year… I feel it in my bones!