Dreaming in the darkness...

Sometimes we just have to have a bit of a clear out and/or revamp...

this includes in our arty stash, so you shouldn't be afraid to re-use past projects to make something more suitable than it had been...no matter how much you loved making it at the time.

If it's just sat gathering dust, dig it out and re work it!

Way back in June 2014 I was enjoying new techniques with an online class "Soulfood"

and made a great little altered lampshade, but I don't have anywhere to hang it. I also had a worked canvas that was fun to make for a class but "not me", so yesterday I decided to make them into something new...

I loved the happy little character flying through the stars.

I cut the fabric from the lampshade and peeled the plastic coating off the back(which was incredibly easy as it had perished lol)

 Next I stripped back an altered canvas...

 then replicated the dark night sky of the original piece.

 The canvas was perfect for this as it already had dotty texture from paste pushed through a stencil.

 I used buble wrap to stamp more white dots.

 After glueing the fabric down with matt medium I overlapped some of the white dots to blend the two pieces.

 The original lampshade had holes poked in it to let the light from a candle shine through, so I filled these with silvery pearl drops...

 I think she looks much happier flying through her bigger sky :D

Entering Dream in Darkness Challenge# June *While I wait for my new Rubber Dance stamps to arrive*

And LOC Creative Challenge#133

Enjoy :D XXX

A diamond in the rough...

This weeks prompt from A Dash of Sunny is

Imperfection is Beauty

I decided to use this image of a painting I made a couple of years ago because I love the 

Imperfection it embodies...mismatched limbs and irregular features and a glance between the two that speaks of fear and longing for companionship.

(Made in a class by Mitsi B)

The Beauty of Imperfection

They call a perfect diamond beautiful,

But a diamond in the rough

Glints of hope...

Hints of glory yet to be seen.

While a flawed diamond diverts light

to show it's hidden heart,

And shines in a way Unique 

in comparison.

Enjoy your Uniqueness XXX

Art as an obsession...

After a month of writing daily, I needed an art fix.

I decided to revisit one of the many fabulous Soul Food classes from early this year hosted by Sarah Trumpp.

These are the 2 pieces I made for her class and I call them 

"Hubby and Her"

 So I painted another little character onto a piece of ply.

These are watercolour pieces , so it was an interesting exercise on how the paint would work.

That is when it became a wee bit of an obsession lol.

I needed a greetings card for a dear friend...so I painted a selfie and used it as a card topper :D

(yes that is my William Morris bag)

Then it occurred to me this style would make a wonderful art swap with another friend...but you know me...

MAYBE.....this style would make a cute little doll...

 With a yummy floral dress...

 and a portrait to match...

 Meet Molly Mop :D

 Again I used the painting as a card topper...

 and Molly is now on her way to some place in the US :D

Enjoy :D XXX

Swimming against the tide...

Wow it's May already!!!

Blessed and Joyful Beltane to all :D

So it is time for my MAY journal page for

  Darcy's Calendar Challenge 2015

My May page had the fabulously flamboyant Rod Stewart on it ..in the perfect shirt for this moths challenge

1. Leave part of original image showing.

2. make marks by scratching or stamping into thick gesso or similar substance.

3. Include an image relevant to your star sign. 

Well I am Pisces...so I instantly went back to one of my fave Soul Food classes of 2014, when Roberta Laliberte (aka Prairie Faerie) showed us how to paint Koi in relief.

I used her original image and copied just one fish over Rod'd shirt.

 Next I filled in around it with white gesso...

 I added a translucent layer of "Tiger lily" orange pearlescent paint(Martha Stewart) to make my fishy shimmer...

And then started laying on thick swooshes of gesso...

 and scratching in texture for underwater plant life.

 While this was drying, I added some darker weeds with marine blue acrylic ink and a straw...

 Now building more dimension by adding colour to the gesso...

 and white highlights to the raised lines on the Koi.

 (and a few speckles)

 Now the verse from Poe's "The Lake"...

 I felt this rather fitting, as though I swim alone, wherever I go, I try to build a garden :D

Tiny sprouting plants made with Darcy's Stamp

 ...and just a close up of yummy overlappings :D

I knw this may seem a rather quiet page for me lol, but dark deep water is all about the quiet. 

Time to contemplate the garden.

Enjoy :D XXX

Whatever ails you...

Day 27 of NaPoWriMo with Magaly

Speak to your affliction

"Metaphorically" sit in front of the thing/person that "ails you", and let your poem tell it/them exactly what's on your mind.

( Soul Food class with Mitsi B 2014)

Best the Devil you know!

I don't like you!
You are spoiling my fun and interfering with my life!
Just when I think I have you beaten, I turn around and there you are.... just waiting for the perfect moment to stop me in my tracks.
I get all excited about getting fit and healthy.
I make the effort.
Just a few days in and "BAM!"
You just can't help yourself can you, you spiteful little pain.
But I will pick myself up,
smother you and try again.
You insignificant little symptom.
Two surgical procedures you've caused me, and still you persist.
But you will NOT best me!

Fiddle...de...dee!

Day 21 of NaPoWriMo with Magaly

This Poem is a Fighter!

Challenge the veracity of at least 3 negative thoughts

("La...La...!" painted for Soulfood 2014)

Back off Bitch!

How much do I REALLY care...

That I can't control my curly hair?

Jealous of your "flick" and flare...

Is wilder hair unfair?

How much DOES it matter...

That my hips have grown much fatter,

And tight jeans no longer flatter?

If I stamp, my foes still scatter.

How much DO I give a damn...

That at drama you are such a "ham",

And you "caring" is just a scam?

Not a lot...so SCRAM!

I though this one was going to be hard as I'm a pretty "positive" kinda gal. So I have to thank the mardy mare that is the main source of negative thoughts in my life for this one :D

Enjoy XXX

Sharing my thought process...

Day 9 of NaPoWiMo with Magaly

I Made This Poem

Inspired by something created by you....

well this was the hardest one yet lol

I have made so many things...from cards to gardens to children...how could I choose just one to write about?

So a bit photo heavy, but I thought I'd share a little of how my mind works as my hands create :D

The Art of Creation.

I made this, and I made this 

And then made this for you.

Then I made this, and I made this

And then another two...

I made this , and I made this

And then I made a third.

I made this, and I made this

And....Ooooow...

a little Bird!!!

Yes folks...I have no secrets...my brain and hands just run riot and make "stuff".

And as for writing....well I had written and scheduled the first 5 posts for this project on the first day...I guess I just have an over-active imagination lol

Enjoy :D XXX

I has been knitting....

I often disappear whilst knitting...I like to just get on with it and you can't type and knit at the same time. My friend Clare asked if I could possibly knit up a a pattern for her...this is my practice piece(not pressed and no buttons or ribbons) just wanted to test all the stitches before agreeing. I also used "unravelled"yarn so the tension is a bit suspect lol, but now I know it is quite straight forward I can make it for her in her choice of yarn :D

 tis a "capelet" :D

 Prior to obsessing over the knitting I was playing at Soul Food 2015 over at Community Thrive...

making messy papers...

 and things with wings....

 a shimmering kingfisher, diving into shiny water with Jeanette...

"finding" a sparkly angel/Faery with Michelle...

"B is for Bird" in a box with Cheryl...

Song Bird with Heather...

and a wing eared bunny with Mystele lol(Mystele made an angel, but mine turned into a bunny)

Now I am waiting for plaster to dry so I can finish this little clay bird for Heather's latest class

(I loves me some little birdies)

Feeling so blessed at the moment as I have a pair of tiny Goldcrests coming daily to the feeder outside my window

(this was taken from 8ft away on full zoom lol)

Hope you are all well and feeling blessed too.

Enjoy :D XXX