...When I joined deviantArt, eight and a half years ago, I was looking at University, and three years seemed like a lifetime. Now I'm fast approaching the point when I'll have to say I'm in my late twenties, I'm looking back at the last three years and wondering how the time went that quickly!

It's two and a half years since I wrote a journal entry here, and in that time, it feels like there have been some major changes. Prosaic ones, artistic ones, personal ones... I had just started an HND in Fine Art - come Thursday, I will have handed in my final modules for that course.



Two years ago in April, I started working for a local Convent, as a housekeeper and "general factotum" - I never expected to find myself content in that kind of job, and yet here I am, two years later, loving it even more than when I started. The Sisters have become as family to me, some of them I count amongst my dearest friends. They are all inspirations.



Three years ago, my work was almost entirely in oils, with the odd foray into photography. Now it is almost completely in textiles, with the odd bit of photography (some things don't change...) Subject wise, I would never have believed you could prise me away from boats - and now, I find much of my work is 'spiritual' - fuelled by a passion for the Mercy Charism of the Order I work for, and by much reflection in to my faith.



That reflection has also led to a very exciting event in my life, coming up very soon indeed - my Confirmation and Reception into the Catholic Church. The last few months have been been rather like the beginning of a roller coaster ride, gradually speeding up and gathering momentum. It's included exploration in to how I could use my creativity in a pastoral way, and starting on a Theological Reflection course with a number of Mercy Sisters, Associates and Partners in Ministry. Who knows what will come from that?



Three years ago, I couldn't have imagined having a solo Exhibition - and yet I did, in August 2010. Nor could I have believed I could be given a Daily Deviation - and yet I was, in April 2011, for Midnight Folk, a textiles piece inspired by my Granddad's favourite childhood book, and his final resting place.



And then there's simple "little" things, like moving house (not far), and continuing to be just as much in love as always, and watching my siblings grow up, and my God-Daughters, and simply enjoying being... happy. If I could tell my nineteen year old self only one thing, it would be - "it gets better".

Thank God.

And, thank you, all you lovely people who watch my work, who add it to your favourites, who comment on it, or just look at it and enjoy. Gratitude is always in season, as the saying goes, and I really do appreciate it.