Tuesday 30 April 2013

A little Pixie Magic!

Haven't painted one of my "bubble people" for a while...and I did promise Pixie one of her very own :D

I got a great bargain at the Works this weekend, can you believe this pack of little canvases only cost £1.99!!! (I bought 2 packs lol) They are wonderfully sturdy and a great size for posting art to friends(5x7) :D
 covered the canvas with a piece of home painted paper(made for collage work), and drew in the figure...
and started adding colour.
When I think of Pixie, I think of purple and gold...bright and smiley and magical :D...and full of energy :D

...a layer of yellow glaze added a warm fuzzy feeling ...as making things for friends should :D

Absolutely had to be shimmery and shiny....
...very shiny in the sun!
Hope she likes it lol
I would like to enter this as my "Piece a Week" over at Rita's blog, and in my friend Manon's Paper Saturdays Challenge (home made paper base layer)

I am now feeling all happy and smiley after spending so much time thinking about how many friends I have since joining the online community :D
Enjoy :D
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Friday 26 April 2013

How "Family" colours our lives.

This month, for ARC, I am reviewing "A Portrait in Sepia" by Isabel Allende
I was a bit nervous starting this book, as it was a gift from a dear friend who thought it sounded like the kind of book I would enjoy. What if I didn't like it? How would I word the review without offending someone I love?
It is an historical novel set between 1862 and 1910, and is written as a memoir of Aurora Del Valle, an independent young women living in Chile.
The book is written in three parts...
Part 1 covers the years before her birth, and is written in quite a confused manner(for which Aurora apologizes at the beginning). I struggled with this section until I realised that the format was more that of the kind of conversation you overhear at a large family gathering, where everyone is adding to the stories, no one person ever having all the pertinent information. At certain points the story get's passed to Aunty so-and-so and then to uncle whatsit and so on. We get details and information through the eyes of each character, some only brief mentions, others seeming much more relevant.  I could see how this section would be quite frustrating for some, but being a keen genealogist it is how I see my ancestral past, little snippets and delicacies of information, that later prove a clue to the next important link.

Part 2 covers Aurora's childhood and events in the world that effect her upbringing. The story again jumps in and out of other people's lives, but in a more organized way, as more information is readily available through her own observations.

Part 3 is written in what I consider a more conventional style and pulls all the facts and loose ends together beautifully.

Underlying the "memoir" is a fabulous "shout out" to the strength and character of the women of Chile during the building of a great nation. It is not coloured by feminism, but instead shows us the formidable patience of women working "behind the scenes" in the shadow of their husbands. It is also filled with the most wonderful stories of love and devotion (and several beautifully written scenes of a sexual nature). This is in no way a classic "Mills and Boons" type romantic novel...the emotions evoked are much deeper(I cried 4 times).

All in all I have to thank Magaly for gifting me this book....I found so many moments within it's pages that reflected things in my own life, not least my desire to keep memories alive for my children and their children, and their children's children. And I hope to live in their memories as vividly as Aurora's amazing ancestors are now engraved in mine.

My art piece is a 20"x20" stretch canvas, painted in the style of a Victorian family portrait with muted and faded colours. Battered and faded, it shows tantalising glimpses of Aurora's history :D

Enjoy :D XXX

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Wednesday 24 April 2013

Psst!..you didn't hear this from me right!

This weeks theme at Inspiration avenue is "Talk to the Animals"...
and this pair of dodgy characters appeared while I was painting today :D 
" A little bird told me..."
though who told the little bird is another story :D

Lots of layers to this piece, inspired again by Jeanette at One Little House ning, but this is class 04 from her Paint What You See class
Acrylic paint over masking tape(applied with fingers)...

picking out shapes with red paint and blue "circles"...

Sploshes of ink and dabs of white...

black pencil blended with matt medium...

and teeny pink dots with Martha Stewart stencil :D

...And now just paint what you see!
I saw a cigar smoking dog leaning over the shoulder of a little birdie :D
I think the birdie looks rather nervous about being caught talking to this particular animal, don't you? :D
I will be entering this as my Piece a Week for Rita, and Inspiration Avenues "Talk to the Animals challenge
Enjoy :D XXX

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Tuesday 23 April 2013

FB = Forgets to Blog

Tis that time of year again, where I start disappearing into the garden, and because so many blogs are now linked to Facebook I am forgetting to post on my own blog *smacks own head on desk*
So I thought I better share some art before you think I have abandoned you all completely :D
Inspired by Jeanette over at One Little House ning group...
I have collaged on watercolour paper with scrap paper (drop sheets) and a paper bag...

followed by a layer of stencilling with my new Martha Stewart stash :D


I used a thin film of white gesso to pick out the facial area, and water soluble pencils to draw in a few butterflies...


and then decided to "knock back" the background a little with a thinner layer of gesso :D


Then it was just a case of blocking out shapes and adding definition.


I wanted to keep this image quite soft and translucent, while still keeping the colours quite bold. Finishing off with a few white stars on the background using another stencil.


Inspired by Jeanette's "Make a wish"...I call this "Butterfly Kisses"
Enjoy :D XXX
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Saturday 13 April 2013

Fact or Fiction? Happy 4th blogoversary to Pagan Culture!


So....today is Pagan Cultures 4th blogoversary, and I was supposed to make a special something and post it today.....but something sparkly and crafty distracted me....and today is here already, and not next week!!!!
I had a short story in my head, but it ran off with the sparkly...stories tend to do that. You should always make notes as soon as the words pop up in your head, notes don't run off with sparklies. They may hide in your craft stash occasionally, but they never run away....run away....

"RUN AWAY!!!!!" the Sparkly screamed as the giant Witch's hand lowered slowly over Table Top meadow. The Wordies slithered and slid amongst the blades of grass, and vanished into the soil as if they had never existed. Paper Dolls grabbed each other by the hand and fled without question, but Pencil just lay there, frozen rigid with fear.
Bravely Scrap Paper threw herself across Pencil, trying to hide him long enough to regain his senses, only to be snatched up by the Witch, crushed into a ball like so much rubbish and cast down into the pits of Bin.
Sparkly looked on in horror, as the Witch jambed Pencils foot into the fiendish blue barrel, twisting and scraping until the bone was pointy and sharp. It was with utter disbelief that Sparkly then watched as the giant Hag dragged Pencil around, depositing stripes and swirls of blood from the open wound onto Notepads faded lines....
Notepad was old and worn out, and shuddered as bits of Pencil crumbled against him. He tried to wriggle free, but his skin tore under the pressure of the giant hand. Notepad cried out, feint raspy sobs like softly rustling Autumn leaves, and Sparkly could take no more...
She was only tiny, some might say minute, but she was fast!
 A mere grain of glitter....could she distract the giant Witch long enough? 
Would the others follow her lead?
 No time to think...she shot out from behind Paint Tray, twinkling and twirling as hard and fast as she could.
The giant hand stopped, transfixed by the magical dance of the minuscule Sparkly, letting Pencil drop to the ground. The Paper Dolls jumped into action and rolled Pencil silently to the edge of the meadow, hiding him amongst the endless rows of discarded and neglected Paintbrushes left scattered after the giant Witch's last visit.
 It wasn't much of a rescue, but it was all they could do for now.

As quickly as she had appeared, Sparkly vanished back behind Paint Tray, and the Witch turned to pick up Pencil, blue barrel in hand...."What the.....?" quizzed the Witch. "Where's my pencil?"
Notebook was swept aside as the giant hand lifted and dropped various item on Table Top Meadow, vainly searching for her favourite sketching implement, but the hapless Paintbrushes held him fast.
Just as the Witch was about to find Pencil a cry was heard from the outer realms...."MUM!!!! Washer's finished!!!"
...and with a huff, and a muttered "oh bum!" The giant Witch disappeared from view....


Hope you  *cough* enjoyed my little story for "Witches in Fiction...to the Bone"

Enjoy :D XXX




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Thursday 11 April 2013

A picture in time...

Almost done with my Pay it Forward gifts for 2013...well the official ones any way lol. Made this one last week (possibly 2 weeks ago), but forgot to post it !!!
It is for Susan Foulkes, I know she is a book addict, so the design is meant to feel like a mysterious photo of a beautiful lady...wonder what adventures she will have with Susan? :D
I made the background design using a technique shown by Daisy Yellow, but I can't find the vid link now so you'd have to go ask her :D...well worth a visit anyway :D

Next I added definition using black inktense pencil and slodges of white paint :D


White Posca paint marker(which I luuuuurve) was used to add faux stitching, which gives the cover a leathery feel :D


and I just couldn't resist painting this miniature portrait in the centre panel...

                                               
She looks like she was on a fabulous outing...


I know your more of a Red fan Susan, but this book just wanted to be with you :D
And I think I better make this my "Piece a Week", as I have gotten behind with linking to Rita :D
Enjoy :D XXX
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Tuesday 9 April 2013

Well I didn't see that coming! Lol

Well I can hardly believe how quickly the last 6 weeks have passed!...Only one more week of Simona's fabulously invigorating ChakrART free workshop left!!!!
She has very kindly set each weeks class up as a pages on her blog, so if you feel inquisitive why not pop over and have a try...you never know where it may lead you :D
So this week is the 6th chakra...Ajna or the 3rd eye chakra.
I use mine quite a lot, but in times of stress (or anger) my vision becomes cloudy and tainted with "wishful thinking"
I was truly surprised by the image my meditation brought so clearly...a yellow dragon, flying through the air...twisting and somersaulting. And the air was more like long strands of silky grass, streaming passed as the dragon raced by....weird or what....but all the time I kept getting "close-ups" of the bright shiny eye.
I decided that what the image symbolised, was the intense effort I was having to use to activate that particular chakra, because of all the cluttered thoughts that had built up in my head...causing tension headaches.
I used to use a sparkly purple geode to enhance my 3rd eye...when I got it out of the box, it had turned black!!!
I guess I have some serious focussing to do, to re-energise my poorly little crystal...my chunk of purple amethyst however(in the background) was as sparkly as ever :D
Enjoy :D XXX
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Saturday 6 April 2013

Make every day a Special day :D

...And today is extra special as it see's the first...
from my fabulous friend Manon....she even gave us a free cut out Popje to play with, just to get us started :D
But Popje looked lonely, so I googled "free paper dolls" and found her some playmates :D

I also googled April 6th, and found this crazy list page and it had this info

April 6th
National Caramel Popcorn Day
Plan Your Epitaph Day
Sorry Charlie Day
Teflon Day
World Marbles Day

I will be bookmarking this page as a source of inspiration for those days when you just don't know what to do. 
I had also planned to add Popje and her entourage to Pagan Culture's "...to the bone" party, and being "plan your epitaph day", well mine would just have one word on it...

"DANCE"

I bet you were all expecting something dark and meaningful...but I will be dancing on the otherside, and it has the added bonus of pissing off anyone who was planning on dancing on my grave for malicious reasons :D
Naughty Gina mwahahahaha :D

Enjoy :D XXX

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Thursday 4 April 2013

My favourite quote ...for today anyway :D

Just the one picture today :D
Dawn's Journal Journeys challenge this month is "Quotes"
and this must be one of my favourite and most positive quotes I gained from my American friends through the Wonderful world of Web :D 
...it always makes me smile :D
Enjoy :D XXX
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Wednesday 3 April 2013

Don't be invisible....

Today I am sharing my art journal page for Simona's FREE ChakrART class, the 5th Chakra "Vishudda" or the Throat chakra.
It is the chakra that is about communication, expression and creativity...and I don't think it is conceited of me to say I don't have much of a problem with any of those aspects of my personality :D
So I focussed on giving my opinion of "giving your opinion"...
The first image that came to mind while meditating was of someone in chains apparently being martyred.
I guess that is how I see people when they are (in my opinion) over reacting to someone else's opinion. I am not talking about seriously horrendous matters that effect society as a whole, but stuff like a preference of style or technique or even a colour combi....geesus...the drama!!!
So let's just remember folks, You don't have to be a drama queen/king to have an opinion, nor does it make you a drama queen/king for having an opinion. It is how you express that opinion that makes it a drama!
At the same time you don't need to be invisible for fear of being of a different opinion to your friends...the truth, however quietly spoken, will be heard. It is never drowned out by the shouting of lies.
Sermon over :D Enjoy :D XXX
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