Mum's Painting

Hello All!

Happy new year! Hope you all had a fab holiday period. Mine was good but very very hectic. I am feeling an odd mixture of relief that it is all over and sad that it's all back to normal.

I gave my mum a painting for Christmas that I had turned into a wall light by adding battery powered LEDS at the back and a switch on the side. I was a little worried about giving it to her, Art is so subjective, it is always hard to make something like that for someone as a surprise. I know my Mum very well obviously and chose colours I knew she would like but the image was one she would either love or hate...... luckily she loved it! :)

The image is actually taken from a top that didn't fit me anymore. I was going to use it as inspiration for a painting but ran out of time so instead, once the background was complete, I cut the image out of the top and adhered it down. A bit of a cheat I surpose but it worked well.

Here it is lit up.

Now on to 2016! New years resolutions for this year are to give blood, to try new recipes (and be more organised with lunches) and to find more time to run workshops and to be creative. I didn't have a single moment over the hols to do any art but I got some great books about bookbinding and a new stencil so looking forward to experimenting with those. :)
My main resolution however is to make the most out of the time I have with my youngest before she goes to school in September. I am dreading it really cause I don't plan on having any more and it feels like the end of an era. It has gone so quickly it has rushed past me, leaving me grasping at moments to hold on to. I know I have a lot to look forward to once she goes to school too, many happy moments to cherish (as well as precious time to myself) but I will never have those baby years again.

So lets make the most out of 2016 and hope it turns out to be a good one for us all!

Bye for now! xxx

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

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