Sunday, July 15, 2012

First Class Honours

The marks are in and I'm pleased to say that I will graduate with a first class honours BA degree in embroidered textiles from Middlesex University on July 20, 2012.  The ceremony will take place at the university in London, England.
The above photograph is of me at the private view of the graduation exhibition, June 20.  It was taken by my friend Wim.
Here is another photo that Wim took of me thanking Catherine Dormer, my tutor.  I shall miss the stimulating tutorials that I had over the last few years with her and with other favourite tutors, Kay Swancutt, Liz Harding and Joan Richardson.  Also in this photo you can see my dear Ned and also Wim's wife, my good friend of 40 years or so, Marjan.  Marjan and Wim came over to London from the Netherlands to support me through these final days of the degree.  x

Thank you to those who read this blog and have encouraged me through many thoughts and worries.  Your support has been nourishing and I really have felt your caring  
xxx
Wow, I'm finished!

45 comments:

Victoria said...

Heartfelt congratulations from a regular reader. I recently gave a presentation to students at the Haliburton School of the Arts, "Creativity & Aging: The Time of Your Life." Average age of attendees at the school is close to 60. I mention you and your work, and quote from the blog the passage about turning 60.
You might like this quote also, from Stanley Kunitz, with my best wishes:

In my darkest night,
when the moon was covered
and I roamed through wreckage,
a nimbus-clouded voice
directed me:
"Live in the layers,
not on the litter."
Though I lack the art
to decipher it,
no doubt the next chapter
in my book of transformations
is already written.
I am not done with my changes.

Victoria said...

Heartfelt congratulations as well as on-going thanks for your blog. I recently gave a presentation at the Haliburton School of the Arts, where the average age of students is close to 60. The title is "Creativity & Aging: The Time of Your Life." There is a section where I mention and quote you:—
Judy Martin is a textile artist who lives and works on Manitoulin Island.

She writes about one of her pieces:” The quilt . . . . [is] not finished. It’s like me. I’m not finished either. I feel that I'm on the brink of a new and simple way of working. Turning 60 is a huge deal and instead of denying it, I am celebrating it. I am aware that the time available for me is limited. I believe that my best work is yet to come.” In another posting she wrote that time is material. I love that idea. We are all being woven and stitched by our experiences as time goes on."

I also quoted some lines from Stanley Kunitz which you may enjoy:

Cda00uk said...

Congratulations - well deserved. I find your work very inspirational.

Cate Rose said...

Congrats, Judy. Very well deserved. Your body of work is magnificent.

blandina said...

My congratulations too, I am full of admiration for women of our age that go back to university.
You are an inspiration in many different ways.

mansuetude said...

Congratulations! Its true, you are such an inspiration, a force, in action integrity and intelligence, love and courage. I've learned so much from you.

"live in the layers, not on the litter." is a favorite Kunitz poem. He understood every the subtle of every stitch.

thank you

Dolores said...

A very big congratulations. Well done. Now, take a deep breath, celebrate and carry on.

Ms. said...

Finished? No--never finished--not you--not your inspiration either. Still, congratulations!

Sujata Shah said...

Congratulations! I am always inspired when I visit you and look forward to seeing more of your fabulous work.

Margaret said...

Bravo! Supremely well done...and an inspiring validation for the rest of us in textiles to persevere, one stitch at a time, for however long it takes.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations.
You and your blog are an inspiration.
Cheers Jan

Valerianna said...

Congratulations Judy, its been wonderful to witness your journey! I look forward to seeing where you go now. Blessings from the forest, Valerianna

Sweetpea said...

Am so behind in my blog visiting, Judy, but I could not pass up this post in my sidebar today....ooh, this is too, too wonderful ! I am so very pleased for you. What an amazing and greatly deserved outcome for all of your hard work, determination, and sensitive stitching. May you stitch on and on and on, an inspiration to so many of us. Thank you for all you share here.

Penny Berens said...

Congratulations and love to you. That was some journey you undertook. So happy for you. Relief and regret that it's over I expect.

Myra said...

Let me add my congratulations, Judy. So proud of our Manitoulin girl. Congrats to Ned as well for his support.

wholly jeanne said...

Congratulations. That's quite an accomplishment, quite an honor.

Marianne Hall said...

Congratulations Judy......your work has just begun.....

Nancy said...

Congratulations Judy! Well done...very well done! I've so enjoyed traveling along with you.

Karen Thiessen said...

Congratulations Judy! A new ending equals a new beginning. I look forward to see what new paths you will forge in your work.

chrissythreads said...

Congratulations - now comes the undiscovered country, a new journey.

Gina said...

Congratulations Judy. What a wonderful achievement.

Jennifer said...

Congratulations! Doing a little happy dance in the studio in your honor.

Hoola Tallulah said...

Biggest congratulations, the first class honours is clearly well deserved. Thank YOU for sharing the journey, you are such an inspiration XxX

Bethany Garner said...

Hallo July...

Sending along so many congratulations and huge cheers coming from all of your friends in Kingston, ON.. where you have inspired, shared so many skills, brought your beautiful work to the community and continue to teach US lessons on deternmination, courage to move forward and just make ART!So many of us have grown through exposure to your knowledge, skills and inspired by your beautiful work. Many of us follow you daily in the blog, through news flashes and just word of your recent travels and accomplishments.

We know you will continue to focus on sharing,teaching and reaching out to put arms around the shoulders of those of us who struggle with our own projects and focus in on the important facets of creating textiles for the ages! THANK YOU, Judy. We are so very proud of you.

Bethany Garner in Kingston, ON

Jane said...

Dear Judy......Congratulations! First class all the way, there was never any doubt. Celebration dinner is in order when we see you next. Jane and Reg

Jackie said...

Congratulations Judy! So well deserved and all those hours you put in, so dedicated!

Honoured to say I know you.

Heather said...

Congratulations! Hugs and applause!

henrietta (aka ani aka zani) said...

applause to you judy for all your hard work and discipline. great that you have accomplished so much and that your heart is full. and now for the next step - continuing.

Sandra Reford said...

WOW!! Amazing! First class honours, you in your black dress, a glass of prosecco in hand! Now you can do your own thing -nothing related to the guidelines of the curriculum. I can't wait to see what you will be developing next.

Grace Martin said...

Congrats, Mom! First-class! You are amazing. I am so happy for you. What an achievement. xoxo

lynda howells said...

Yeh..l expect you can hear me yelling from where you are. I am so pleased for you Judy..you deserve it. You must be feeling so great at this moment.xxagain congrats Judy. Lynda from Putneyxx

Velma Bolyard said...

judy, a huge congratulations and we in blogland are proud of you. what a journey, and thank you for including us. your work continues to inspire and surprise me.

Judy Martin said...

See what I mean?

You are all so fabulous! Thank you for your continued support.

I too, can hardly wait to see what happens next.

Art is an adventure.

xxxx

Deb G said...

Oh this is wonderful and well deserved!

Montse Llamas said...

Congratulations, Judy! And thank you for sharing your worries and your success with us!
Big hugs.

Gisele said...

Congratulations Judy, so well deserved :) I'm continually inspired b your work & blog posts, thank you for sharing.

maggie said...

Congratulations Judy, I feel so happy for you. It's well deserved and so inspirational. Cheers! Maggie

handstories said...

hooray for you! what deep breaths you must be taking.

Nat Palaskas said...

Congratulations from me too. I'm so happy happy for you and loving the final cloth you presented - Well deserved the First Class Honours - Hugs Nat

Suzanna said...

Congratulations! A wonderful accomplishment!

Anonymous said...

a big congratulations to you!!! I find your work of unbelievable quality and look forward to following where your stitches take you...

kat said...

Hi Judy, I've been following you with much pleasure for a little while now, but not through all the time you've taken to get your degree. How thrilling - you must have felt a great rush of achievement when you found out how well you'd done. I hope there isn't a sense of "what now", now you're finished.
Many congratulations

Kim Henkel Creations said...

Congratulations! Your work is outstanding. So very beautiful.

nandas said...

congratulations. i am catching up on all the posts and i see that you have finished! and with honors! you have inspired me every time i come to your blog and for that i am grateful. i will be watching for what comes next!

Lulu said...

Congratulations Judy on your well deserved first class honours. No one is surprised
I think all of us who follow your blog are soothed and calmed by your very being. Your calm quiet centre shows in your work and in your writing and we feel it.
Thank you for bringing your calm peaceful , loving spirit into my world every day.
You are truly an inspiration to us all.
I am 77, but I want to be like you when I grow up.
Marilyn