I found a "trickmarker" pen which you use to draw a design on fabric, stitch it, and then a couple of days later the penmarks disappear. This is so much easier than drawing lightly with a pencil and then trying to rub out what's left! I apologize now for trying to teach my granny how to suck eggs -thought it could be of interest to someone out there!! The brand is PRYM. Hi-ho hi-ho it's off to sew I go..............
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Thursday, 28 December 2006
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
Petulant Burdie
Monday, 18 December 2006
New Twist
Sunday, 17 December 2006
paint scraping
Saturday, 16 December 2006
Old-fashioned butcher's shop
Brings back memories of going all over town to find a 'bird' last year - so my mother and I went today to order a capon in a real specialty butcher's shop - they had pheasants still in their feather coats, quails' eggs, a huge variety of stuffing, pigeons, all kinds of sausages, and just everything you could imagine, I half expected Scrooge to come through from the back shop. I ate too much today (practising for Christmas day LOL) went a bit mad and had apple tart with cream, lemon drizzle cake, found some Cadbury's milk flakes I'd forgotten about - well there's still time before the New Year's resolution teehee!!
Sunday, 3 December 2006
a few more paintings
Friday, 1 December 2006
For Sale
I've tentatively started a photo album for items I've made and would like to sell. The price is on each photo - postage will be very low as these ATCs weigh next to nothing! I have listed 3 only as there's a programme I want to see on TV and it starts in 6 mins. OK, I'll admit it, I'm an Eastenders fan.....
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Oh Boy -
I had a bit of a disaster for the exhibition opening - no-one had thought to mention that they light the place at night with candles == it was very dark! Great for a bar but not any good for an art exhibition! So I took it on the chin and removed all my work the next morning. Yesterday I set it up again at my cousin's beautiful inn and it looks really fab. Now all I need is buyers!!! Here are a few more paintings:
Friday, 24 November 2006
Countdown
I set up my exhibition this morning helped by my daughter (who actually did all the work) and have earmarked the rest of the day for painting my nails - makes a change - face mask and anything else I can fit in. It feels like an anti-climax not having anything urgent to do, so I'm just gonna have a relaxing day. Here are some of my paintings (and as I have 22, I'll just post them a few at a time). I noticed my camera is giving everything a bluish tinge and don't know if I can remedy that, but I'll try:
Tuesday, 21 November 2006
more fabric things
Saturday, 18 November 2006
challenge 3
Monday, 13 November 2006
I've finished
Good old 13th is a lucky number for me 'cos I've finished my paintings for the exhibition today. All I have now to do is give them each a name, it's so funny but most of the paintings suggest their name to me (better do and lie down - beginning to sound strange). I'll post pictures after the opening on November 24.
Sunday, 12 November 2006
workshop
I attended a workshop yesterday run by Sally making 'jewellery from junk' and it was great fun, also learned lots of new things. Being a hoarder by nature, the thought of adding new junk doesn't alarm me, but I'm wondering where oh where can I store it!! I've scanned my stuff but the colours are much brighter in reality.
Tuesday, 7 November 2006
Need a break
I've taken a break from painting 'cos I'm a bit washed out. I have 18 paintings, most of which are finished, and I think that's probably enough for the exhibition - just need one frame as most are wrapped canvas and ready to hang - like them the best!
I have also received my first commission for an art quilt - exciting stuff! So am going to start that now as I'm all wound up and that's probably due to the vast amounts of coffee I drink. The jar has a mixture of regular, half-caff and de-caff so I tell myself that it's fine..,.,.,.
Saturday, 4 November 2006
Found time for ...
Invitation
Wednesday, 1 November 2006
Vintage Xmas Card Swap
Here are my swaps for the vintage Xmas theme. It was a bit hard to stitch onto card and they're a tiny bit squ-wiff (I've never written that before, looks wrong!). You know they say 'if you want something done, go to a busy person', well it's like a merry-go-round gone mad here at the moment, the more I take on, the more I get to do!! I even had to take some Bach's Rescue Remedy today.....
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Creative Journey
I'm a member of a Creative Journey group on Yahoo - I've just completed the second challenge which is to draw in pencil. The first was to create a mind map and my theme is 'Art Nouveau'. I've done the same drawing with my right hand (dominant) and with my left hand. Which do you prefer?? If anyone is interested in joining in, it's great fun and gently leads you to unknown pastures -- here's the link:
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/creativejourneygroup/
http://creativejourneygroup.blogspot.com/
Friday, 20 October 2006
Winter boots
On Monday, I bought a pair of nice boots which were about 2 inches above the ankle. Wore them once and they'd snagged my new tights where the zipper was stitched. So (I am one of the world's greatest taker-backers so my DDs tell me) the assistant got an emery board and started rubbing at the stitching, as if I'd accept that!! I got a refund and to be perfectly honest, they weren't all that comfy hehehe!!
Thursday, 19 October 2006
Altered Vintage Nu~de Swap
And so to paint...
I'm in the midst of preparing for my solo art exhibition at the end of next month. So far I've finished 10 paintings, at least I think they're finished. I hang them on the wall to see if I'm satisfied but find myself tweaking here and there. That's the hard thing - to know when it's enough. I keep buying more canvases - it's like when the groceries start to run out - an empty fridge makes me depressed. And I might even use all of these blank canvases, I just need to know they're there!!
I remember years ago having a calendar which I admired - floral watercolours - and I wanted so much to paint in that style. But you know what, I now don't like that contrived keep within the lines type of art and my own 'style' has developed. I love messy art with colours running into each other and drips and blots - it's just great!!
Friday, 13 October 2006
update
It's been a very worrying time this week concerning my mother's health - thank God she's feeling a lot better now and went home today. I closed my Etsy shop as it wasn't working for me, and I'm going off Ebay as well. So have decided to list my artwork here on my blog and see how that goes. I still have to do the nitty-gritty so keep tuned!!!
Thursday, 5 October 2006
Altered Vintage Nu~de Swap
I've finished my first of three cards for the swap. As I'm hosting the swap for Art-e-Zine and sign-ups closed on 30 September, if anyone would like to join in (cards due to me by 31 October) there's still time -- please email me. See here for more info:
http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/artexchange.html
Thursday, 28 September 2006
postcard for charity
Wednesday, 27 September 2006
swap cards
I've finished my cabinet cards for Art-e-Zine's swap, hosted by Christine (http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/artexchange.html) which are due by Oct.20 so I'm well ahead. I bought the cards on ebay and they are lovely although quite faded. So to make the contrast I used a lot of white paint! Here they are:
Tuesday, 19 September 2006
Sea glass and china
I visited my arty niece yesterday - she lives very close to the beach and loves to go foraging for all sorts of treasures. She was so generous in giving me loads of blue and white pieces which have been pounded by the waves and are so smooth. And some sea glass too. It'll all come in handy for a workshop I'm attending in November "Jewellery from Junk" by Sally (see link for Grumpy Shopkeeper).
Wednesday, 13 September 2006
shop closure
Today I went to my very favourite fabric shop owned by a Pakistani lady and full of beautiful sari cloth at rock bottom prices -- only to find that she's ill and is forced to close down. So I've got a month to get a stash of fabric. One day I'd been to a charity shop across the road from 'Shabbir' and bought a couple of fabric pieces, she asked to see what I had and fell in love with one of them, she said I could have whatever I wanted in exchange -- so I did!!
A few new art quilties
Tuesday, 12 September 2006
faces challenge
I'm delighted that I won 2nd and 3rd prizes in the challenge - goodie bag on its way!!