More Me

Mornin folks :D

Thought I'd share another self portrait I've done for Amy's Inside Out class over at Flutterbye ning. It's a free class, so if you've ever fancied trying self portraits pop over and join in :D

This one is for week 6???" working in charcoal"

I started by making a colourful base with paint on board, then added a layer of tissue paper, which I 'd already "placed my features on in pencil.

When the tissue(glue) was dry, I started to emphasise the features with charcoal

Next I "filled it out with a bit of shading.
When I was satisfied with the portrait, I added some stencilling and doodling(with a bit of foiling to add some sparkle)
The words read "Time for change"

Enjoy :D XXX

Linking to Flutterbye ning, and Whimsical Wednesday's#Anything goes

Tribal me :D

This weeks theme at The Butterfly Effect is "Tribal/Indigenous art", as chosen by Natasha

I am supposed to be doing some self portraits, under the guidance of Amy at Flutterbye, so I thought I'd combine the 2 "Tribal self in cool colours"

The paints I have used are the new Martha Stewart any surface home decoration paints. You can't see from this pic(had to shut the blinds cos sun too bright) but the paints are all pearlescent and metallicy shiny. Colours used wolf gray/jetstream/aqua/surf. The garland is made using MS stencil that came with paints :D

Not sure yet if I want to add "Stuff" to give a more dimensional piece, we'll have to see :D

linking to The Butterfly Effect

Stamps & Fun = CREATIVITY#66 Anything goes

Anything Goes Challenge Blog#50 Anything Goes

Sharing a girlie moment...

Now I am perfectly aware that, generally, I resemble a startled rabbit. Startled by the fact that it's just been dragged through a hedge backwards and mauled about by hungry foxes.....

I've never suffered from "other peoples"opinion syndrome, but today the sun was shining and I was alone and relaxed. There was a free appointment at the local hairdressers(which I was passing with 3 bags of shopping.....and I thought "why not!!" So now I have "Grown up hair"!!!

Not sure how long it will stay like that :D They put "stuff on it to make it behave (after beating it into submission with a brush/dryer and straighteners). I think it's in shock haha!

I do like it, just don't think it's the real me...though my mum sisters and aunts will all love it.

I feel like I should change my clothes for a suit ;S

Blessings at Mabon! (2nd Harvest)

Today I wish you all a bountiful Harvest of love and health to carry you through the coming winter :D

Mabon/autumnal equinox/harvest festival is a time of balance, and the feast of the Healer/Bringer of Justice.

It is also the time when in past eras prisoners would be released from captivity(you didn't want to be feeding them through a bad winter)

Whatever our belief system, we all should give thanks for the safe gathering of the harvest...we all need food :D

It is also a time to ask for healing in our lives, to make us strong for the coming winter. This could mean many things, including the metorphorical healing of old wounds, allowing us to move on in our lives with a happy lighter heart. Try to let go of feelings of regret and sadness, they are not good bedfellows on long dark nights. Instead hold dear thoughts of joy and love(they are not just for christmas!!)

Give thanks for the joy our energetic children bring us, and the smiles of our contented elders.

A short prayer;

At this time of balance and healing, I ask the great Mother Godess(feel free to insert the name you worship) to give those of us with the will, the power to heal this world.

Let our wishes be for joy and happiness for all.

Let the harvest be bountiful for all nations in equal measure, and let rage and hatred be tempered with mercy.

I pray you guide the hearts of those holding others against their will, and that they be allowed to return to their families unharmed.

I give thanks unending for the glorious harvest in my life. For 2 strong sons, and a truly loving husband. And especially for the love of good friends, always in our hearts no matter the miles between us.

Blessed Be/Amen

Finished and gone!!

Well I know I've been a bit MIA lately, it' was because I wanted to finish my Sketchbook for the 2012 World Tour thingy I joined.

They keep the books in an archive library after the tour, so I've scanned all the pages before I posted it off.

Well it's gone now, but if you'd like to look at it, I've made a special page(tag above followers)

Be warned...I made myself cry making it, but am so glad I did it :D

There is still time to join up if you feel like doing one yourself(closes end of october, to be posted by end Jan 2012)

The words around the cover are a song we used to sing while travelling in Aus "Take me a ride in your car, car" a precursor to "the wheels on the bus" :D though I think it was originally an american folk song.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

Hi sweetie, just calling to wish you a very happy birthday :D

what's that......your having a linky party!

Just give me a minute to get my face on and I'll be right over.....

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmwha!! :D XXX

Linking to Amy's Blog and The Butterfly Effect(mythical creatures)

2nd test

Vandalism or Art!

Graffiti is a very touchy subject for most people, some is pure vandalism, while other pieces are seen as modern art using the world as a canvas.

Whatever your personal experience, there is no denying Street Art is now a recognisable "style", and can be very attention grabbing.

At The Butterfly Effect this week they have suggested Street Art as an inspiration point...

so here's my simplistic take on it.

I used a rose making template, and mica spritzer sprays to create the spray paint effect background(hard to see because of the shine), then drew over with black pen.

I coloured the rose and it's leaves with sakura souffle pens (fluorescent pink/orange/yellow/green), then edged the lettering with a silver pen. These sakura pens give a lovely opaque matt finish, and contrast beautifully with the sparkly mica splatter effect :D

I would like to enter this piece for the following challenges; (grief! it seems ages since I last typed that phrase!)

Alphabet Challenge Blog# P is for Pretty Pastels

DYSU#36 Texture

Allsorts Challenge Blog#120 Flowers and swirls

Sunday Postcard Art# Pink

The Butterfly Effect# Street Art

Another Rocking week!!

So much of last week was stressy, and even more stuff was awesome :D

Couldn't get near craft desk or laptap because of dust and muck and other peoples needs(whining and moaning done!)

But Friday came, and my bestest friend picked me up to go visit the Sheffield Archives, who had an open/behind the scenes day. We got to go in the vaults and ooow, aaah at the stacks of old papers and maps and stuff.

And then we were shown the repair room(not it's proper name , can't think of the word right now cos I'm rushing) where we were shown how to repair old documents and rebind books! Well cool!!

Saturday was a babysitting day, and my baby sister finally got over her "no images on the internet" paranoia, soooooo.....

here are a couple of pics from the ream I took of the kids at Yorkshire Wildlife Park :D

Me with 19month old neice.....

Her favourite thing in the whole park? The Rope!!!

And I was thrilled when Chunky Monkey asked if he could hold her. He has always been to worried about hurting her to play with her, but she is a mighty mouse(that could end up being her web name)

Looking forward to sharing all the scrapbook pages I've done of her :D

So it's Sunday! Had to go to shops with hubby for diy stuff...and as we're passing Hobbycraft...he says.... why don't you go in for a look round? !!!!!!!!!

So I pick up some stuff to share later, and as I'm leaving....he says....."see that drawing desk at the entrance...would you use one of them?"

Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrgh! I've wanted one as long as I can remember, you know the ones that tilt!(£95, reduced from £190)

"Well that looks a good price, do you want one?"

Aaaaaaarrrrrgh! again DO I WANT ONE?????

YES I WANT ONE!!!!!!

So he bought it me..........and no he isn't for sale :D

The lengths men will go to, to get us to tidy the bedroom hahahaha!

Linking late to Rocking My World Friday

YAY! I started my Sketchbook!

Don't know if I mentioned this before, but I signed up for next years "Sketch Book World Tour".

I hadn't heard of it before, and you have to pay to join in, and you have to donate your finished book to the Library when the tour is done...but I like sharing so I joined.

The idea is to create your own book of art, that the organisers then travel round the world with, and show to other people(travelling library style), so lots of artist/ordinary folks get to show and share their own style of art. There are a few limitations (durability issues) as your book will be handled by lots of people(hopefully:D), but style and content is up to you.

I chose the title "It's summer where you are", but that is just a starting point

You receive a blank sketchbook roughly 7 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches, craft cover and bar coded label with your details on back

There where too many pages for me, so I glued them together in pairs. This also strengthens the pages, but becareful not to glue the whole book shut :D

I also found the blank pages a bit intimidating, so I messed them up with some Tim Holtz inks(broken china and peeled paint)

Yet again I 've used my dad for inspiration, total sun worshipper as you will see :D

I printed some photo's off to use in the book as jumping off points for my hand drawings, and I though this one made a perfect cover piece :D(you can see the bar code thingy on the back)

pre prepared some photo images for inside the book....

Inside book pages all messed up with ink(blue sky/green grass )

Then glued pics in place on alternate pages, so book will be double spreads of memory picture with sketches of things I associate with it...

And started doodling on the cover( the words are an old song we used to sing as children when going on a road trip)

I've also written a verse, so I can insert lines amongst the pictures. Not sure if words are allowed, but if I weave them into the pictures they might let it count(there going in anyway).

You still have time to join up if you'd like. You have to sign up by the end of October, and the finished book has to be posted back by Jan 31st 2012

I'm really going to enjoy this project, and by keeping a record I will still always have the book to look at :D XXX

Linking to The Butterfly Effect (of which this project is a great example :D)

Sky watching,Moon gazing and more bargain furniture!!!

This week has been awesome for so many reasons.....

The week started with an amazingly blue sky(when it was supposed to be raining!!)

view across neighbouring gardens(facing east).

Proper fluffy white clouds :D ...

Then, on Tuesday, loads of crafty goodness arrived in the post, though these were totally surpassed by the awesomeness of my new "garden ornament" Gaia the moon gazing Hare....

She is just soooo beautiful (by Kathleen Minton, Spirit of the Green Man), even hubby thinks she is too pretty to be left out doors, so she will be living by the fireside(not too close obviously)

and then more bargain furniture!!! Upright armchair(barely used)

and matching rocker £90 the pair!!!......

and a lovely wood framed 2 seater sofa £75!! I prefer 2 seaters as the men folk just lay down on 3 seaters and they become 1 seaters. Chunky Monkey tried, but ha! Failed!

So my home is getting steadily tidier, my hope is to be tidy and comfy by the time winter comes....I know .....dream on...it's a real home not a show home ;D

Also Hubby started his new job this week, will let you know how that goes, I know he is looking forward to the new challenge :D

So how was your week?

Linking to Rocking My World Fridays