• A Creative Journey

    Noelle and Rosamund Ffrench, Photograph c 1903

    Noelle and Rosamund Ffrench Photograph This photograph of Noelle and Rosamund Ffrench was taken at Hill’s Studio in Galway city around 1903. It is a fairly typical child portrait of the times, though a little more relaxed than most. I love the way that they added a country feel by the use of props, like the gate and spade. Props were very important in those days and helped to convey the story behind the image. Indeed photographers often used them to distinguish between girls and boys at a time when very young children of both genders wore dresses. That is why so many vintage photographs of girls include dolls, while…

  • A Creative Journey

    Creativity: Joy and Torment

    Joy And Torment When setting up my Cavewoman blog , I had a vague idea that it was to be centred around the theme of creativity. But what did that really mean?  After a while, I  tried to get to grips with where I was heading. So many thoughts and ideas started swirling round my head, like a swarm of leaves let loose by an autumn storm. The more I tried to chase them, the more they flew from my grasp and left me feeling bewildered. What was I going to focus on? Who was ever going to read this?  And, most of all, why was I doing this, exposing…

  • A Creative Journey

    Childhood Memories , Adult Thoughts

    Childhood Memories “The Past beats inside me like a second heart ”     John Banville,  The Sea   What are your earliest childhood memories? Studies on this topic vary, but the general consensus is that the earliest valid memories are from about the age of three. Some people claim to remember events before that age. Others can’t remember anything before the age of seven. Does that matter? Not really, according to the experts. It seems that what actually matters is the quality of the experience that you remember.  This is significant because it lays the basis of your self identity ,  helping to shape you as the person you are…

  • A Creative Journey

    Bushy Park House: Ivy Clad

    Bushy Park House: Ivy Clad Thank you so much to my mother, Helga Weiss Mullins, for supplying me with this picture of Bushy Park House.  The photograph of the house, covered in ivy, comes from her own personal collection.  This is what the house would have looked like when she arrived from Germany in 1946 and, indeed, it retained that facade well into the 1960’s.  Eventually my father , Larry, decided that the ivy had to go because it could cause structural problems with the building. Tractor Pulling My mother once told me the hilarious story about the day the ivy met its’ end. Larry, on the tractor, tugging at…

  • A Creative Journey

    Cavewoman Reflections: September

    Cavewoman Reflections: September I have found the last month to be a bit of a roller coaster of emotions. When ever I start a new project, like Cavewoman blog, I tend to throw myself into it heart and soul.  Sometimes that can be a good thing and other times it can have a negative effect.  With so many new ideas swirling around in your head, it is easy to become distracted or overwhelmed because you don’t have time to process them all And that is exactly where I found myself this week, feeling a little lost and in need of inspiration. This cavewoman was definitely ” having a moment “,…

  • A Creative Journey

    Bushy Park House Roscommon

    Bushy Park House Roscommon Do you have a special connection with the house you grew up in ? Bushy Park House holds a special place in my heart.  My childhood home, my sanctuary, my inspiration. So much more than just a house. This beautiful, old Georgian building was the spark that ignited my creative passion and helped shape me as a person. The building, the furniture, the antiques, each held their own attraction and mystery. Also the gardens with their unique flowers, a throw back to a different era.  Plenty of places to find fun or solitude, depending on my mood. Definitely inspirational. History Bushy Park House Roscommon was built…

  • A Creative Journey

    Every Day Creativity

    Every Day Creativity Creativity is everywhere , it’s found in every facet of life. I was in Dublin at the weekend and enjoyed a terrific night out with a lovely , charming group of millennials.  We started out with a small family meal and later  on we met up with several of my son’s friends from his college days .  Throughout the evening, I was struck by the every day creativity going on all around me. Things like clothes , make-up and tattoos, all part of our desire for self-expression.  Activities like food presentation and cocktail making,  designed as a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Musical…

  • A Creative Journey

    Creating Cavewoman blog

    Introducing Myself They say honesty is the best policy, so I’m going to share a secret with you….I’m feeling petrified right now.  I realise that , for many people, starting a blog is no big deal. But, for me, it encompasses so many of my fears and insecurities that I feel almost like I’ve turned to stone. Yet, I’m still here and somehow letters are being typed, words are appearing on the screen and content is being written. Creating Cavewoman blog has finally become a reality. Is this me? Have I actually managed to do the impossible? What about slugs ( the blog type ), snippets, excerpts ? I guess…