Wednesday 23 December 2015

Christmas pom poms and stencil play.

Hello All,

I love Christmas crafts and always try and make something new with my girls each year. This year we went a bit pom pom mad. We made ones to hang on the tree plus enough little ones to make this:


Which is now hanging on my wall :) I wrapped a picture frame and stuck the pom poms on the top. 

My eldest who is 6 has obviously inherited my love for all things creative and loves to draw all the time. She decided this year to draw me pictures to go in my advent calendar. Here a few of them:


It has been fab to find out what she has drawn each day and she has even written little notes on the back for me too! :)

Apart from all things Christmassy I have had time to play with one of my new stencils and created this background:


I used modelling paste, acrylic paint, brusho pigment powers and irridescent ink on this so far. I don't know where it is going to take me next. I felt I had to leave it a while to see where I wanted to go with it. I love the stencil though which was made for me in the last art swap. It may well become one of my favourites! 

If I don't get chance to blog before Christmas now I hope you all have a fantastic one! I for one am really looking forward to it all!

Bye for now! xxx



Tuesday 22 December 2015

Finished page

Hello All,

Managed to find some time somehow to finish off this page in my small journal.


The background started as a gelli print which had lots of circles in it. I added the doodles in white and black pen over the top. I then added blue acrylic and a piece of a stencilled napkin. Finally I added the girl and the text. I think I like the combination of blue and orange best in this one. I love big bold colours and in particular orange at the moment.
The girl appears to be looking forwards and so that was what this page became about for me. Especially with new years approaching its all about looking forward to all the things I have to look forward to.

Bye for now! xxx

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Art Swap

Hello All,

The other day I received my art swap for this month from the lovely Tanja in the Netherlands. It was as if Christmas had come early! The theme this time was 'embellishments'. We were tasked with making (or buying) a bundle of goodies for our partners. I really really enjoyed this one, with the time of year it felt like I was sending off a treat for Christmas. Here is what I sent to Tanja:


The bundle included handmade tags, a mini journal, beads and origami butterflys plus some bought mini tags and little hessian jars.

I was truly overwhelmed with what Tanja sent to me:


Her bundle included Christmas glasses for me and my children, handmade beads, beautiful stencils and tags galore. Stickers, confetti, sequins, felt flowers and a box each for my girls with the components to make their own xmas decorations. 
The postman delivered the box of gorgeous goodies as we were decorating our tree so it really was like Christmas!


It is absolutley fab doing the art swaps each month. I love chatting to people from all over the world, finding out about them and trying to make something that I hope they'll love! Plus, lets face it, who doesn't love getting post! 

Bye for now! xxx


Monday 14 December 2015

Commissions delivered

Hello All,

With both portraits completed I finally delivered them last Thursday and Karen was thrilled. I was a little worried as looking at a portrait of yourself is very different to looking at one of someone else. I was worried that she may not see herself the way I had portrayed her but she was very happy and she delivered them straight away to her partner. They were supposed to be his Christmas present but she said she couldn't wait.




Later that day Karen text me his response .... 

"I can't help looking at them. I'm moved to tears here, it's so flipping weird having you here but not .....And the colours are just so fluorescent, wherever I hang them they must have changing colours to bring out all the aspects......I'm flabbergasted. In fact, my flabber has never been so gasted."

What a response! I am well chuffed!

Bye for now xx

Wednesday 9 December 2015

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Hello All,

I am sorry I haven't been about much! This time of year I get so busy with other things and Christmas prep I haven't had time for my blog. Its not that I haven't been creating, though my focus switches this time of year to what gifts I can make.

I am finishing a gift for my Mum (can't give any other detail away in case she reads this!) plus I have been commisioned for a journal and a picture so busy trying to finish them in time. The journal is going to be personalised with song lyrics and pictures in amongst the pages that have some meaning to its recipient.

Journal in progress
Picture now finished!














I did however manage to start a journal page last night which so far I am quite pleased with. Here is a detail of it:


 Really liking orange and reds at the mo. This will have a little portrait on it too once its done. Also I have been doing some filming in preparation for some workshops that I hope to run in the new year. busy busy editing them now! :)

As well as all the gifts I have been making Christmas pom poms with my girls and we will start making decorations including our own wreath from this weekend. The tree will be going up and it will all be mulled wine, mince pies and cheesy Christmas music from then on. In our family my husband's birthday comes first (this week) and then we can turn our focus to all things festive :)

I do love Christmas!

Bye for now xxx