Friday, November 14, 2025

Windswept Tree

We are proud to share with you: Windswept Tree - A Fibre art/embroidery on recycled cotton. An accidental collaboration between Artists Bernadette Meehan MorrisElphin, Co. Roscommon and Corina Duyn Co. Waterford/Kilkenny.  

 

The Windswept Tree by 
Corina Duyn and Bernadette Meehan Morris.



“I absolutely adore this little pieces of work. It had an extraordinary deep gently but profoundly strong energy… “ 
                                                                Bernadette Meehan Morris


A limited edition Book was designed by David Murphy, Red Heaven Design.   

Bernadette is a fashion designer who spent over 25 years as a self-employed designer /dressmaker until 2004 when at age 45 she was forced into early retirement due to the sudden onset of severe debilitating illness – later diagnosed as ME & Lyme disease. Now 90% bed-bound Bernadette has been supporting various charities for over a decade by donating and selling her artwork and crafted items. All her creative works are produced while being propped up in bed. 


Bernadette



Corina is an Artist, award winning Poet, puppet designer, and author who has explored life with chronic illness for more than two decades using her creative mind. 

The sudden start and rapid decline in Corina’s health due to a debilitating neurological illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) at the age of 36 (1998) changed her creative ability and intensity. Corina is originally from The Netherlands.  She has lived in a care-home in Waterford for the past number of years. She now lives in a care-home in Co Kilkenny





Among Corina’s works are many books – including her most recent ‘In Bed I cut words’ for which she received an award in the Anthologies Category at The Carousel Awards for Irish Independent Authors (CAP) 


Both artists have had work featured in on-line exhibitions within the past few years, including Bring ME out of the Shadows’: An online art exhibition hosted by ME Advocates Ireland (MEAI) to mark Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Awareness Day in May 2025. And in: Let Art Be a Way to Witness and Remember  Severe ME Awareness Day 2025.



A word from the artists:


Bernadette says:


I have spent a lifetime deeply connected to my natural environment. That’s a passion I think we both share along side creativity and art.

Since childhood I have been deeply immersed in everything to do with our natural environment and the perseveration of our planet’s healthy ecosystems. 

I was a keen gardener during my healthy live.


Despite the delights of the outdoor natural world now being inaccessible to Corina and myself, our deep desire to remain connected and supportive to a healthy flourishing diverse natural ecosystem remains as strong as ever. Nature features in many of our art.


For these reasons, we have decided to use the story of our Windswept Tree to raise funds to support art, well-being, and the natural environment. (Details below)


Page from ‘Windswept Tree’


Corina wrote:  


In 2022 I started working on a tree stitching but soon realised that stitching was no longer a possibility for me. I did keep the work with all the threads etc in my dresser in my nursing home room, for the ‘just in case’ moment…


Late December 2024 I sorted my room and belongings (long story) and posted the remaining yarns and the unfinished tree to Bernadette. This resulted in an accidental collaboration between us two artists, both living with Severe ME, living mostly on our beds, 240 km from each other.


The now ‘infamous’ box of yarns that went to 
Bernadette late December 2024

Some of our reflections and images of this work were collated and made into a very special and beautiful publication.


The Book


Book design by David Murphy

This beautifully produced 20 page book with images and words which follows the creative journey the Tree made over a two year period. Including some poetry by Bernadette inspired by this project. 

The book was designed by David Murphy, Red Heaven Design. We printed only a Very Limited-Edition which are now available by donation. 

We would suggest a minimum of €20 per book, which includes art cards package by Bernadette. 

The donations will go to a variety of organisation whom have healing, arts and/or nature in mind. For example: ‘Helium Art’ who work with children with lifelong health continuous to improve their wellbeing and creativity; Doctors Without Borders; or have native trees planted in our honour.


Corina: We like that this has came out of our work.”
 Bernadette: “The purpose of this work is healing.”


The books will include a beautiful original watercolour greeting card & a bookmark by Bernadette.  Cards and bookmarks are also available without the book. Please contact Bernadette via email, or facebook. 


Bernadette's Little helper to put original art cards with the books. 



Once your donation has been received, we will post a book out to you as soon as possible. As we both live on our beds and depend of support and PA to go to post office, please be aware it could take a few days to be able to post.


Payments can be made via Bernadette’s Paypal or  Corina’s Paypal 


If you are interested in receiving the book and require further information, please contact Bernadette bernadettemorris@rocketmail.com  Or Corina 




Many, many thanks for your support.


We will post updated on our social media pages on the progress of this project and where your kind donations have been forwarded to. 



Bernadette and Corina


(November 2025)


On the day Manchan Magan died 
The rainbow appeared on the Windswept Tree hanging on my wall…
Magical.




Tuesday, October 14, 2025

In Bed I cut words - a winning book

“Authenticity is at the heart of this collection.” 
Judges: North Star Collective of Authors  

In bed I cut words- winner at CAP awards for Indies

 

I am Beyond Words.  

My book - Our book ‘In Bed I cut words was awarded winner in the Anthologies Category at  The Carousel Awards for Irish Independent Authors (CAP) 

  

Around 5 pm. an hour before the event started at Chapters Bookstore Dublin, on the 10th of October 2025, I dictated some thoughts on my phone: “…It breaks my heart that I’m not there. But that is reality of life with severe ME. I can think of places to go with the reality being different. I’m here in my nursing home room in bed looking out over the mountains but my heart is with you all.

“… It’s kind of like a little bit of history made. A book created from collages made in bed, with words by many others, and made into a beautiful piece of art by designer David Murphy from Red Heaven Design. It has been loved, shared, and the story honoured by so so many around Ireland, around the world. 

I would not have been able to do this without the support from soo many….” (See my book web page)


Watching the event and communicating with my brother 

I watched parts of the award ceremony on my iPad. It isn’t easy for me to look at a screen for anything longer than a few minutes but it was wonderful to be able to be part of the night… just in case…Also it was also very much past my bedtime. 


Around 7pm  My book was being reviewed along with the other 5 brilliant shortlisted books in the Anthologies Category. The Judges for this category were North Star Collective of Authors who said: “It has been a challenge and a delight to judge the entries in this category. On behalf of Shelley Tracey, Adeline Henry and myself, Anne McMaster, I’m delighted to give our feedback on these remarkable anthologies and announce the winner in this category. 



Anne McMaster from North Star Collective of Authors


If you like to hear what they said about my book, please go to 1:06:16 on youtube 



“We were deeply moved by In bed I cut words – by Corina Duyn Artist in care  - an original, haunting and beautifully produced book containing words and artworks created by Corina Duyn which reflect on her experiences of severe ME. 


The book is enhanced by a commentary of the artist who supported her and by a range of people involved in Corina’s care.  With its selection of voices and its striking, thought-provoking and deeply moving collages - this anthology makes a powerful case for the arts in care, helping patients to express themselves and to connect with their creativity. 


Corina addresses evergreen themes here: the idea of home, illness, ageing / loss of independence. Importantly, it highlights the value of a creative practice for both in-the-moment enjoyment and self-expression. Corina draws us into a pattern and rhythm as we moving through from one image to the next, searching out the words in each collage – unpacking her moving observations of the life she lives. 


These words and images ask for our time and our attention -  they identify a woman who lives with an all-consuming, overwhelming illness but who explores her condition and her world with a truly fine articulate mind. 


Authenticity is at the heart of this collection; it’s what this anthology is all about. It is about being heard and about being seen. Given Corina’s isolation, her lack of mobility and often her invisibility, this anthology showcases a clear, strong artistic voice. This anthology carries a clear personal voice of loss and loneliness, of tiredness, of creativity and of a deep ache to go home. 


This is a stunning collection that will stay with us – and that is why I’m happy to say that it’s our unanimous decision to award In Bed I cut Words by Corina Duyn first place in this category. 

Thank you.”



The after:


Wow.

Yes.

I did it.

We did it.

Surreal.


My brother Joop, and Niece Aisling at the event 



My brother Joop Duyn received the award on my behalf.

“I am Corina’s older brother, and the two of us are living in Ireland for the past 40 years… She has been diagnosed with this illness at least 25 years. l've seen her going down and down and at the moment she's lying flat. She's actually looking at us.  She's in her nursing home, but she's very happy at the moment. This is a big achievement for a person with so little mobility… This is her biggest award.”


I did it…


I rang the bell to alert the staff.

I texted with friends.

My brother rang.

Carer came to congratulate me and paged through the book.

So many messages…

So many thoughts…


Sunday


My brother Joop travelled from Dublin, to Mooncoin, on his way back to Kerry, to bring me the award in person. And tell me all about the night. 


It is real! I really did win the award. I have the trophy.





Receiving the CAP award



With my brother Joop handing over my award on Sunday

The weekend on social media

Over the weekend this achievement was well celebrated on social media by ME Advocates Ireland, as well as friends and other writers. I was delighted, as I certainly was not able to share this news myself, but over the days was able to read the many, many comments and shares, and respond to some of them. All helping me to understand not just the joy of having been awarded a CAP award for my book, but inadvertently brought the world of severe ME to a different audience…


“You've managed to bring awareness to ME in a way that is unquantifiable.”    Sarah Meehan O'Callaghan

*** 

“….Through her writing, Corina has once again shone a much needed light on Severe ME, sharing, with courage and grace, the daily realities and challenges faced by those living with this devastating disease.  We are beyond proud of Corina for this incredible achievement, and for using her voice to bring visibility, understanding, and strength to our Severe ME community.”  

ME Advocates Ireland (MEAI)

The now 

I will continue to digest this news. Am delighted. Am overwhelmed. What does this means to me personally. Life in care. What does this means to me creatively.  I believed my work was done. Perhaps it isn’t. I will shift through the impact of the judges profound words. I cry when I hear them being spoken or read the transcript. The unwavering believe in my work from so many. What it means to being a voice for those ill, and those living in care

How to go from here…
There are a few books available, and for any updates on future releases, please keep an eye out on my website and social media pages.


But for now - A Big Thank You to everyone who made this possible, and to the CAP team for this worthy events to highlight the work by independent authors. And for the opportunity to witness the award event via YouTube. Much gratitude.

PS
See also Creative Waterford post: HERE