Friday, 30 September 2011

Victoria Chalmers...brilliant artist friend.

Vic posted one of her latest pieces on Facebook the other day and prompted me to share her brilliant work with you all. You can see some of Vic's work on her website. I'm not an art critic & don't speak the art speak - but I know what I like, and I like and am inspired by Vic's work.


Copyright Victoria Chalmers






















Copyright Victoria Chalmers






Copyright Victoria Chalmers


Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Paint and draw: Lesson 3

New week and new materials - hello charcoal & pastels! I was very nervous about attempting a face...phew! Done!


The pepper took me 5 mins and I'm much happier with it than the face.





Saturday, 24 September 2011

Paint and draw...weekend work.

Something new to distract me. Just to check I can still draw! I feel very comfortable with a pencil...






Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Paint and Draw 2

It's week 2 of the lessons and today Will talked about free-drawing but using measuring devices to sketch out your drawing, using a piece of paper and your pencil. We looked at artists who use the dot and carry method to construct their work.


For our first drawing we had to place our image upside down just to change how we looked at it and challenge the way we see things. A link to Will's classes is here.


Produced in less than 2 hours...I feel there is a fruity thing going on here!


Sunday, 18 September 2011

Message in a fabric basket...

It's Freshers' Week next week and 'freshers' have been making their way around the UK this weekend. A really exciting time, but one of mixed emotions for all concerned.


I managed to see Bee before she was driven away from Bristol today and give her my 'message in a fabric basket'. The basket will be collapsible storage for her knick-knacks and a little reminder from us...I'm so soppy and sentimental!
































They'll have the time of their lives....

Friday, 16 September 2011

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Paint and Draw - lesson 1

A lack of drawing experience led me to enrol on a 10 week beginners course led by Will Stevens, details of his courses are here on the Paint and Draw website.

Lesson 1 was about using a grid to draw an image and using shading. Here's what I produced - I'm really pleased with myself and look forward to improving and learning new techniques.


















































We also looked at how artists use other techniques to help get down the basics of a drawing down on paper - projections, camera obscura and photographs. Briefly also looked at examples of photorealism.


Watch this space...





Bunting and Pennant creation..'Penning'

Flora loves horses! As her birthday got nearer so my hunt for 'horse' fabric failed. The farmyard fabric was too young and nothing else would do, so I used my bunting skills and applique techniques to make Flora 'Penning', pennant style bunting.


What do you think?
She loves it!

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

Roald Dahl Day 2011






































It's Roald Dahl Day today and I've made my daughter some monkey ears for the occasion! She' going to be a monkey for the day...what's new!


Happy Dahl day...


Roald Dahl website

Wednesday, 7 September 2011

Thank you White Stuff...my thoughts exactly!

'Nanny knit bonnets'...upcycled!

My mum knits just about anything and when my kids were born she produced fantastic 'nanny knits'. We've kept lots of the bits and pieces and my daughter uses the tiny clothes with her dolls.


A few weeks ago I found these two lucky soft toys snuggled up in these knitted baby bonnets, dangling from her desk lamp! 






































The toys in question had been rescued from freezing conditions in the North Pole and were placed in the hammocks to warm them up quickly. The game continues....


The joy of play....

Sunday, 4 September 2011

Liberty...oven glove tutorial - lush!

Liberty, of London, have created some fab tutorials on You Tube and I love this oven glove one. 


If only you could make one in 6 mins 24 secs!

Tutorial here


Back to school...BIG school cards....

Going off to secondary school is a big move...


Here are the cards I sent to my nephew and a neighbour.
I used the free machine embroidery foot on the
sewing machine to stitch my message!

A private joke...meant to show me calling Lauren with
a raised voice...
 Good luck to you and yours in this new school term, may they blossom and grow!