Childhood Memories
What are your memories of your childhood?
Positive, I hope.
We all have certain things we remember. My happiest recollections are of family holidays in the southwest of the UK; memories of an overwhelming feeling of delight when the summer holiday finally arrived and we went to Cornwall. Leaving home in the middle of the night to start the long drive down; all part of the adventure.
We stayed on a working farm, where we “helped” with the cows. Walking them along the lanes between fields. As well as playing farmers, We spent most days on the beach at Portholland. The cove is quintessentially British. The cliffs, the dark sand the cold water. My dad took our garden spade, to build dams and sandcastles. We gathered all the children on the beach and played all day. We fell exhausted into bed each night. My mother recounted, that often, I would not make it past the soup starter at dinner and would fall asleep at the table.
All remembrances of being content.
I was recently talking with my professional artist friend Marieke (Rikki) Tollenaere.
Rikki is an incredible artist, who is always exploring, experimenting, expanding her collections and trying different techniques. One day she was making flowers from material, recycled items and various bits and pieces. Beautiful, I thought but a strange diversion from her normal paintings and collages.
Then Rikki told me a story.
Her childhood story is based at the seaside too. Rikki grew up in Belgium. When she was little, she and her gran used to make flowers and take them to the beach to sell; the currency exchanged, was shells. Many other families were doing the same. The more elaborate the creation the more shells they could earn.
I thought how marvelous. What a treasure of a childhood memory. Rikki is reviving this wonderful traditon; she is currently building her flower collection, in between commissions and exhibitions. I am sure you will need more than shells to purchase any of Rikki’s work.
I am not sure if Rikki and her gran invented this colourful creative past time of making flowers, around 50 years ago but this pastime is still going strong.
The area even holds competitions.
There is always a story to tell.
I would love to hear your childhood memories.