Happy New Year!

May your night be full of love, laughter and .....circus ponies..! See you next year! **

Hanging with my sis

One of the great things about this Christmas holiday is that I've got to hang out with my little sister (only sister) quite a bit. It's really refreshing to have the time to relax and not worry about wasting a morning taking far too many photographs or browsing Etsy or drinking too much coffee..You know what I mean... Its nice to be just chilling... Especially with people you don't see very often, my family live in a different part of the UK to me and my sister was very very ill for much of 2009/2010, but now she's all better, and that's just so awesome... YAY :-)

( I really like all the fabrics in this picture, and I love those curtains)!

My sis is also on Etsy not as a maker (yet)! But as a buyer, she's pretty addicted to making treasuries too and has made some really good ones as you can see...

View Feline fine here


View Sly Ole Fox here

*Love you sis*!

PS: Blogger is playing up with my post layout *grumble*! Have a good eve everyone!

Happy holidays!

I hope your all having a lovely holiday time? We are back from Devon and our whirlwind family visiting trip. These photographs are from my boyfriends mums house where we stayed on Christmas day. I had a fabulous time visiting friends and family but am now enjoying a few days at home being healthy and organizing myself and my home... I can't quite believe 2011 is quite literally just around the corner...eeeek! I've started to think about the new year and my hopes and ambitions for it, it's good to sit down and think about what you've achieved in the past year too. I know I've achieved far more than I'd given myself credit for and I think that's possibly the same for most of us...So have a think and then give yourself a big pat on the back  :-)

Right I'm about to hit the lemon tea and a fruit salad...Yes it has got to that point! I need to restore some health before the nye celebrations on friday!

Good evening all ****

Happy Christmas and THANK YOU

****Sparkle****Sparkle***** Sparkle****

So have you got your glitter on? I hope so, I have, gold sparkly eye make up today! I am just about to head off to the countryside for the start of my Christmas celebrations. First stop is my little sisters house where my boyfriend and I are having dinner and drinks with my sister and her husband. I am looking forward to it, I'm also looking forward to seeing Otto my mothers Siamese cat that now lives with my sister, he is too cute for words and I can't wait to have some cuddles!

Collage Christmas card and hand felted felt star created by me :-)

I just wanted to say *HAPPY CHRISTMAS* to you all!! Also thank you to everyone who reads & comments this blog. Your time and comments are very much appreciated, I have really enjoyed getting to know other artists and blogger's out there. I love this creative space we have made out here on the web and I am excited for what will come in 2011 :-)

I wanted to say an extra big thank you to a few bloggers that have really encouraged and inspired me this year. So here goes...

Tami Cohen of Ah, Bliss & Tami Cohen Illustration  & Design. Thank you so much for all your help,inspiration and support...*Massive Hugs*!

Tera of Olive hue designs..Thank you for all your advice and support, you rock!

Kerry of the Seventy Tree... It was so great to meet you on the web :-p! I adore your blog and thanks so much for your help and support!

Kate of Kate makes it, thank you for featuring me on your blog and all of your kind words, thanks thanks thanks..!

Have a great Christmas everyone! X

Take a sneak peek ....

Hello all you lovely people!

I have been busy hiding away from the snow and ice and making making making over the past few days. I am *SO* excited about the new things that are happening and all the sparkly ideas that are yet to form into exciting things that are still just notes and doodles on paper...I am looking forward to a big redesign/restock of my Etsy shop in January. Almost all the current prints will be gone and replaced by brand new work. Only recent paintings such as this and this will remain. I'm thinking of selling the originals online too.... Although i'm not sure if i can bear to part with the original of 'The red horse took her home'..I may just love that one too much!

I thought I would share with you a sneak peek of the new work I have been doing..

New collage pieces...

New paintings...

My first Lino prints!

And there's a bit extra that I'm working on that I want to keep under wraps for now! So I'm busy but enjoying it very much. I hope everyone is enjoying the run up to Christmas as much as I am. I can't wait for my first glass of mulled wine..Today perhaps?!

Stay warm everyone, have a happy day!

An Etsy oufit!

So I was wondering if I could create an entire 'wish list' for an outfit from Etsy shops. I was sure I could so I thought I'd have a go. What better way to spend some spare time then finding amazing designers and items on Etsy?! Here is the Etsy outfit I would like to wear today, for last minute xmas shopping and hanging with my guy in cold snowy Bristol. :-)

Russet Justin Cowboy boots size 6 from Becky Drolen

Soy and Organic Cotton fold over leggings from Consciousclothing

Snake corset T by TheifandBandit

Bratislava sweater by LittleHouses

Ada coat by LittleHouses
sorry same shop twice I know but really, can you blame me?!

Hand printed string cuff bracelet by TheifandBandit

Jacinta paper earrings by essimar

Snow Rainbow mittens by RainbowMittens

Orchids and fairy lights KNITTING PATTERN from TinyOwlsMagicAttic

(Okay I also want that cosy jumper and skirt and the cute Labrador in the other photos for this listing,check this shop out)!

Now that was so much fun! I recommend you try it! Have a good day all :-)

A lazy day making treasurys!

Good evening all! The new 'Circle' tool on Etsy is so fabulous! I am discovering lots of new artists and crafts people, I have been home alone today with free time and I have been stuck to my laptop browsing Etsy for beautiful things for most of the afternoon...Oops! It's a bit addictive! You can view the above two new treasury's I created today here (Tickle your fancy with feathers) and here (Step into my dream wardrobe).

New work on the way..

I have been busy staining paper with coffee (I love love love making art on stained paper, In the past I have also used food dye to stain paper before working on it and I'd like to try that again soon). I have a whole set of new art works on the way. I want to update my website and Etsy shop in January for a fresh start for the new year. The above drawing will be in my Etsy shop in the new year, it is called 'In her dream she saw the stars fall from the sky.'... It is a painting on paper using gouache and water colour paint. (This is a cropped version of the final piece)

I hope you are all well? I am very tired and looking forward to the Christmas holidays and having time to  sleep in and make art work...

Sending happy smiles out to you all :-)

These are a few of my favourite things..

I have been cheering up the dark winter nights by hunting for things that make life seem that little bit more sparkly on Etsy. Today my attention is on art..let me share some of my favorites with you...

Sailing back to my world by Leililaloo

Up to you by Shelbyhealey

Playin with fire by Milkylane


She held her memories close even as her future surrounded her by Thisisalliknow

Braided horse mane by Lisa Congdon

I hope you enjoyed, stay warm and cosy everyone!

Grandads Camera included in a Etsy treasury

Grandads Camera available in my Etsy shop as a limited edition print

This print of mine ' Grandads Camera' has been included in a treasury by Ines, who has the shop 'Aramar' on Etsy. Thank you Ines!

I LOVE the quirky and fun painted designs on the bracelets Ines creates, take a peek...my favorite is this this one.... oh but this one rocks too..!

It looks like Narnia out there

You know, Narnia when the little girl (Lucy)? first steps through the wardrobe and meets Mr Tumnus? That's how it is outside at the moment ;-)

I have been rather quiet on the blog front lately, I have been having a time shortage issue (uurgh)! Life in December is a lot busier than life in November, or so it seems with advent celebrations and lots of family visits. I also worked this past weekend at the school as they had their Christmas Market, it was beautiful really and it's times like this that I regret not getting an iphone... I'm missing out on some amazing photo opportunities lately! So for now I wanted to share with you this drawing from a few days ago and I wanted to say that I am really really looking forward to the Christmas holidays (18th Dec onwards..Not that I'm counting the days or anything)! I plan to spend the days leading up to Christmas Eve just making art, drinking far too much coffee and being a hermit before the real Christmas craziness kicks in! I just can't wait to get going with the many ideas twirling swirling round my head :-)

I am horse what are you?
gouache,pencil,coffee

Silky sparkly snow shimmers - An Etsy Treasury

A snow themed Etsy treasury.........Brr it's cold outside! Take a closer look at this treasury here.

This treasury is full to the brim with beautiful art work! One of the reasons I love to make treasury's is that it is a great way to discover new artists that were previously unknown to me. Obviously I adore all of the artworks above but this piece in particular stands out for me today.

The land of snow bunnies by Pipodoll

I hope your all enjoying your Sunday! Stay warm everyone!

It's friday!

Good evening all! It's FRIDAY!! Not only that but it's also snowing! I'm very excited, I love the snow! Also I've also been making advent wreaths and paper tissue snowflakes at the school tonight in preparation for the advent Sunday celebration and the lead up to Christmas...So I'm feeling very festive!

When I got home tonight I had an email to let me know that my 'Donkey ride' print had been included in a treasury by Paradise Pie titled 'Donkey days', I really love this treasury and if you would like you can view it here.

Remember my Donkey ride print? It is for sale at my Etsy shop.

Paradise Pie has a shop that sells vintage items, I have my eye on this pendant made from broken china. Thank you Paradise Pie for including me!

Happy friday everyone!! :-)

Inspiration post - Outsider Art

I discovered 'Outsider Art' (also known as Art Brut, Naive Art, Intuitive Art) when I started an Art Therapy course many years ago and have been a big fan ever since. The tutor on the course lent me many copies of 'Raw Vision' an outsider art magazine that I recommend reading if you are interested in this type of art. One of my favorite artists is Bill Traylor, Traylor only started making work aged 83 and his preferred mediums were card, pencil and crayon. I wanted to share some of his images with you, I hope you like them as much as I do..

Great aren't they? I love the limited colours and basic shapes.

I hope your all having a good week? I woke up this morning convinced it was thursday and almost friday........OH DEAR...... It took me a while to realise it's only Wednesday.. :-/

It's been a hectic/tiring week so far at work, maybe it's the weather? I definitely don't cope well with these dark days, I imagine the children (at my work) don't like it much either! I'm looking forward to sunday and cracking on with some art work...I'm itching to get going with some lino prints!

Night night :-)

It's been a good weekend.

 

I hope all is well out there and everyone has had a good weekend? I started yesterday morning off feeling a bit rotten (one to many drinks and an extremely late night..oops).. However things soon picked up as I managed to do a lot of shopping for art supplies which definitely helped my mood! I purchased lots of coloured/patterned card and paper, some amazing glittery sequin style stickers (see above), patterned tape, a new cutting knife and a GLUE GUN (very exciting)! I also got the tools to start myself off Lino printing at home, I'm really excited about this! I can't wait to get down to some lino printing explorations! So all in all a good day.

Today i've done some art work that I want to share with you..check out the sequins!

This collage is called 'Above the city', I used acrylic paint, patterned paper,sequins,and pencils for this piece. Below is a glimpse of one of the Matisse inspired cut out pieces that I'm working on, I'll show you some finished collages soon. I can't get enough of the bold red horse shape!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!