IS THIS how we are meant to be ?

Hi Everyone
Fantastic sunshine again - love this start to the day ! It's making me stay at my breakfast desk too long. Another cup of coffee is necessary and I'm feeling guilty about my lack of progress. I beat myself up everyday about being too slow and non productive. This must stop - as of now, I will erase this from my thoughts and just 'be' (no matter how long it takes). My positive thoughts are now in charge !!!!

My list today is the one from yesterday - saved lots of time there. I don't have to write a new one.

I've just read a great piece from someone called Lisa Sonora Beam Article here.
She talks about her minimalist studio. Here is a photo.



In the article, she talks about her struggle to be 'minimal' in terms of resources and work/life things. This made me think about my own studio. I have a struggle with space and all the stuff I have collected over the years. Some of my stuff is never used and I don't even know what I've got in total. It's time to get rid of things big style.
Lisa provides this quote as a way of making sense of where she is and I think it's a great one to hang on to


Like Lisa, I too, like to paint on wood and have this mixed media drive to incorporate lots of diverse things into my work. I get inspired and start looking for things which may help the next project. I'm now going to look in my own stash and find new things while chucking most of it or at least recycling where I can.

To finish for this week, I've just received a great little project


This is a 'me' thing rather than a work job. Will share the results. I was going to say good or bad but the new positive me would say when I have been creative with the kit ! No value judgement required.

That's it for this week.
Bye for now.

Surface Pattern Design ?

Hi Everyone
Fantastic day today - bright,bright sunshine and warm ! Lovely - I feel so much alive today.
Been busy with volunteer work this morning so am running behind. Lots of things on the list as usual and my big inspiration today has come from this
Read this article. It's all about a new designer called Emma Cowell. She's into this thing called ' surface pattern design'. The title had always confused me until I came across a number of online courses about the subject. This article explains the whole thing. My interest is the wonderful stuff Emma has created. Here is an example of her work. This gives me a great idea for my Aunt Jenny painting ( I talked about this yesterday). Am excited to see how it will turn out. It would be great if I could turn elements of the paintings into a 'surface pattern' - ready for fabric or some other material/application.



Top of my list today is to do another page for my book (From Scratch). It's coming together and 'a page a day' is beginning to work for me. It's not daunting and its easy to make it a habit. The cover still ongoing. I've come to the conclusion it's very different from a painting especially on wood. This seems very obvious, not sure why I thought it wouldn't be ? The fabric nature of the cover needs a different approach. That's OK but I need to treat the process in a very different way. For more details about my book 'From Scratch' do a search on the blog. I'm wondering about making a separate page on the blog about my book. I could then direct readers to a specific point for updates rather than repeating myself.
That's it for today, must go.

Bye for now.

Dolls Galore

Hi Everyone
I can report another mixed day of sunshine and showers. There is also a cold wind. I've been shopping for kids stuff and am pleased to be back home. It's taken most of my available time today. I've given myself a treat with a big cup of coffee.
I have my list of things to do which include some more words for my book. I am trying to move the book on every day. All is going well to date. I do feel the pressure even though its self imposed. I guess this is how I work best. Linked to this idea - I have a new piece of work planned based on one of the drawings I shared a few blogs ago. Here it is again for reference




I'm going to call the new work (based on this drawing) 'Aunt Jenny '. I've chosen the name in memory of my Aunt (who created the original drawing).
I'm linking this idea of working to a deadline as part of the piece.Aunt Jen, looks (to me) as if she has a deadline and thrives on such things !! I hope I can do justice to the original piece. I like the idea of using various fabrics in the dress. Not sure how this will work but I will play with the idea.




I saw this photo of three girls in shorts in the Pininterest links - I love these shapes. These dolls have also prompted me to redo a few of my Papersac Village people. Ive re drawn some shapes and will work on them over next few weeks.
Talking about dolls, another fantastic example of the doll can be found in Sarah Strachans work. I've mentioned her before but this is another one of her latest pieces Sarah Strachan




These dolls are dressed from inspiration from famous dress designers. Take a look at her site and be amazed at the quality of her art.
Another lovely thing to browse is this lovely work Article on Frankly
Here are a few images of work from the shop.








That's it for today. Bye for now.

Can LIFE be perfect ?

Hi Everyone
It's another lovely morning - bright sunshine and warm sun(as long as one stays indoors !). I am certainly feeling more invigorated with sunshine.
Today, I'm concentrating on finishing my wedding card order(see yesterday for details) - just need to complete the envelope and bag up. I don't do many cards these days so its lovely to get back to doing something which I feel very comfortable doing. I especially like the 'engineering' of the card. My aim is always to build a seamless and clean card. What I mean, is real attention to detail in all respects. No glue or lines showing or no bits too thick etc. I (almost) always prepare a mock up version to eliminate potential problems. I'm happy with the wedding card - so far !
FROM SCRATCH needs some attention. I'm doing great with the several stages of the book production but the cover is being ignored. I need to add a layer of something each day. It's my new resolution. Lets see how it goes.
My fitness is not going so good, I've had a virus and decided to lay off my running until I recovered. I'm OK today and will be back on track tomorrow.
I've also decided I need to get back to a quick blog scan each day. It's so uplifting to feel part of a community - I seem to feed from the ideas the blogs throw up for me.
Here is a great example of something I'm talking about - a stamp making tutorial. I've done a similar project before but have not had great results. I'd like to try again - as part of my FROM SCRATCH cover. Here is the cover to date - I'd like to introduce a unique 'stamped' image. Not sure what ?

Tutorial update

Tutorial




Will share the results - good or bad.
I didn't manage to make the scrummy pudding from yesterday's blog. The reason it didn't happen was I didn't have all the bits. I'm off to buy them today. I've also written down the recipe - so I can have it in my hand when I am coking this evening. Here is another picture to drool over








Well, if I achieve all these things along with some more words in my book. Life will be perfect.
Bye for now.

Today's Inspiration

Hi Everyone
Lovely day today, we have seen a dull patch early in the day but generally it's been good.
I've spent a great deal of time messing about with a system update on my IT stuff. Very frustrating to see all my photos disappear and then thankfully come back ! Lost the time, however !!!
I've also been spending some time finishing a card order. Here is a sneak look at the card (from several angles).







I made an envelope too but am not happy with it - so will redo later. That's about it for work production.

I've been making soup and stews etc. - couldn't face shopping so have cooked whatever I found in the cupboard. Smells great but I've run out of time to work. Will need to catch up this evening.

I do feel inspired with lots of ideas which have come froma very quick trawl of my blogs. My greatest inspiration Suzi Blu has a new banner - love it , she has also posted another one of her wonderful paintings



I try very hard to get my dolls to look as good as hers. Not the same but with the same 'feel' to them. I, of course, fail every time as she is so talented. Will use this to help me move on with my own work. I practice her take on faces and then try and develop my own. I can dream !!!!!

Another great inspiration isElsie and Emma ( I often mention this blog - a beautiful mess. Full of great lifestyle things.) Today, they are looking back over September and my boys are very taken with this picture



Very 'chocolaty' - may give it a go. I'm struggling for a pudding today !! This looks great and is probably easy to achieve. Will report on how I get on.

Must go , bye for now.