I’m Elaine aka Peaches (that story later), art-maker, gardener, hiker, crafter (amongst other things). After finally letting go of a 37 year Nursing career I’m discovering space in my life to follow my heart’s desire. This means I’m actively spending time making art and being creative…mostly I’m painting with acrylics but being who I am, I get excited about many things at once and feel the pull also to try printmaking, pastels, water colour but whoa Nellie!!! Those to come. I’m learning to not split my energy between too many things…my friend Rosie always said I was like that because I’m a Gemini. Who knows? I just know I get excited about trying new things and I love to have stuff to look forward to doing each day.
I figured blogging is a part of my creative process too. So I get to share my experience including the ponderings, the frustrations, the self-doubt and hopefully some of the joy of making art or whatever way I’m being creative at the moment. I’m learning a lot these days too through taking courses, lots of them are free on-line classes so I’ll be happy to share that with folks.
I’m excited to get started.
Oh and I like to cook too so maybe there will be the odd recipe to find here. Maybe a hike or two, something I’ve knit, an update on my garden…
And finally, the story behind Peaches. My sweet friend, now deceased once asked during our women’s Friday Happy Hour (we were in a running group together), “if you could have had any name other than your own what would it be?” It was such a chuckle. Everyone one of those women came up with an alternate name without hesitation. Mine was Peaches which morphed at times to La Peche. When I was about 11 years old there was an American tennis champ named Peaches. She had long pigtails and was about 14 at the time. I remember dreamily thinking that was the best name ever. I also played tennis so I guess that was the connection too. To this day, 25 years later my friends still use their ‘other’ names. As I mentioned Peaches morphed to being called La Peche which can be translated in French as the peach or the fish. But I prefer the peach translation (is that too obvious?) and the idioms that have evolved from it…basically it can mean feeling peachy as in feeling great or full of energy. So, yes Peaches suits me too and also suits my energy for art-making and being creative.
My sweet Mom always said “anyone can be an artist”; she was an artist and master printmaker. I will be featuring some of her work here soon.
Here’s hoping you have la peche in your life.
