Is the Summer Over ?

Hi Everyone
At last ................
I think my Summer holiday is absolutely over !! Looking back , it's many weeks since my last blog. Most of the school holiday period we were away holidaying in the UK. Weather was great and we had a lovely time. Since returning, I've been fighting to get the house and the washing back into some shape - almost there. I've also got my work schedule up to date and my head is almost 'back to my routine'. So, it's very much 'almost' on all fronts.

Looking back at my last blog, I was in the throws of the Stitched Card Project. I finished my stitched postcard and sent it (while on holiday). Here is a quick look at the card



This shows the two sides of my card. It's posted on Flickr too. I'm waiting for my swap ie my card went to Australia and my swap will come to me. I look everyday. Will post the card on here, when it comes.

Major, exciting news :
my FROM SCRATCH book is in production. It's got a real structure and project deadline etc. will share bits as I go forward with the content. I've built on the longtime developed plan of my working FROM SCRATCH concept. The book will be a regular soft cover book and I have a new cover based on a Miss Mitchell design. I will focus on the book and will produce a number of prints (using book content) as well as three new big paintings. Prints etc will be available in my Etsy and Folksy shops. Not sure how big the big painting will be ? But - BIG ? That's it in terms of the next six months work.No pressure there !!!
It doesn't sound much but it's EPIC !
That's it for my mini update. Will be back into blogging - weekdays.
Bye for now

The Stitched Postcard

Hi Everyone
Another very lazy day has happened - its almost as if I've no control over my destiny !!! The weather has not been great, so it's been nice to stay in and 'create'. I've taken ages looking for things and trying out ideas on my stitched postcard. Here are a few photos to share :



I coloured my doll and cut her out.



I thought she needed a pattern on her dress, so I matched up the background and gave her an 'overlay skirt'.
I've placed her on the 'mock up' postcard with some word ideas, although much of the next phase will be stitched.



The paper cloth has been dried overnight and ironed (not something I get too involved with). I've cut two pieces and will sew them together. This photo shows one of the faces of the postcard.



I'm hoping to complete my sewing part this evening and then some extra painting.
I've enjoyed doing this project and feel slightly guilty, I should have been preparing for our family holiday !!! The date for posting will be while we are away, so I need to finish it before we go. Sounds reasonable !
There's always tomorrow, for my holiday jobs !

Bye for now.

Sketching Dolls

Hi Everyone
Another lovely day of sunshine and warmth !!! Just like holidays should be.
I've done very little of my planned day - yesterday's list will be the same as tomorrow ! Not sure how that happened ?
However, I've had a lovely day searching for ideas and making paper cloth and a little gardening.
I did manage a few photos and the stitched postcard project is underway - I'm happy with that. I've also done a brief sketch of a doll that will go on the postcard. Here are a few photos of the work done to date.












These photos show the beginnings and the end of the paper cloth process As you see it's drying (overnight) - I should be able to work with it tomorrow.
I was going to use this sketch for the doll ie the one without the legs.




But decided to draw another -




I hope to add colour and may copy it directly onto the paper cloth or stitch it on ? Not sure at the moment - will sleep on it. With that, I'm off to bed .
Bye for now.

Felting Talk

Hi Everyone
Great weather day today - bright and very warm. It's our second official day of the summer holidays and I'm concentrating on family and holidays things. We go away for 15 days at the end of the week, can't wait. I feel I need the break.
I'm hoping to get a range of sketching underway while on holiday. I always take lots of projects away with me and usually fail to do very much !!!!
This year, I'm going to be more focused and travel light. So a little thought needs to go into that today. I also need to get my 'stitched postcard' underway - my plan is there in outline and I need to make some paper cloth for the project - will get some photos of the process to share tomorrow.
I'm also going to review my blog today, so will tidy up any news or projects that have been missed.
We had a lovely (extended) family get together yesterday - at a local golf club. The event was a surprise for the boys (to celebrate the teenage birthday - still going strong after only a week - more to go) but I enjoyed it too. My brother reminded me that I hadn't completed a felted bird project ( from Christmas) - with this in mind I thought I may do this later this evening. Again, will take some photos of the process.
This is the bird project in Kirstie Allsopp CRAFT book.



As I looked through the book I did notice another project that I did complete and it sold in my shops. Below is my version (with a needle holder).





That's about it for today, will get to my ever increasing list of 'things to do' - its still a 'holiday day' ( in theory) !!!!

Bye for now.

End of term - at last !

.

Hi Everyone
Almost end of term and I'm slightly in that strange time between the end and the beginning. ITs not a sensation that I enjoy. I need to have a mini busy plan to divert my attention. I'm so tired too. Lots of extra things have been going on at the kids school and I've been full on with juggling work and home.
The weather is changing !! So we are told ? I'm yet to be convinced. As I look out of the window it's very cloudy and could rain any minute. Still I'm looking at a relaxing evening and a relaxed weekend. That's the plan !!! We all are suffering, a little, with some virus - probably tired too.
This week , I made some great tags for thank you gifts yesterday but forgot to take a photo. I liked them so much I'm going to make some for the shops. Will get some pictures up here as well as a step by step of how to make them.
This is a painting done by my eldest boy - its one of a series. He's so talented - all this years of making him paint (before he could walk) are paying off !!



Here is another great little piece of work. This one is from my younger son and has been in his file for some time. It first appears to be quite a simple, unsophisticated piece but when I look closely at each area of the work - it offers a great sense of 'life' and each character is unique, with a visual personality. I'm going to use the artworklater in the year. I love it.



I also came across a lady last week who keeps bees - she gave me this large piece of wax. I will melt it and use as a seal/top layer on some of my mixed media paintings. The result is a dreamy texture to the painting and is useful to combine / integrate 3 dimensional items which I sometimes include. I will post a picture when I use this wax to share the technique - a 'before, during and after'.


That's about it for now.

Bye for today.