water birds

One thing that I have promised myself recently is that I will draw more. A lot more, so my art journal is doubling up as a playground to experiment with my drawing.  First thing this morning I opened my journal to a nice new page and quickly sketched n some more birds, this time three of them tottering on top of each other – bit of a metaphor for how life is feeling at the moment.  But what to do with them… I had a little think about how I’m feeling at the moment, trying to stay on two feet, living like a single parent during the week with two kids in primary school whilst running the house and a business.  It can sometime feel like I’m about to be swept away by it all…enter waves crashing on the tiny island of sanity my birds are standing on.  

I’ll probably tweak this page a wee bit yet, and I’m not sure if I need to journal on it.  I’ve used watercolours on this one and I’m falling in love with them all over again.  It’s been a very long time since I last used any. Then again, it’s been a very long time since I stopped drawing.  Feels good to start again.

Thanks for stopping by!

mop up page…

This weeks class, by yours truly, for UKS Art Journey is now up.  I won’t show the page or the class here, but it’s all about using acrylic paints (Liquitex Heavy Body in my case) and other permanent medium to create layers. 

As always I had extra paints and ink so rather than waste them I used them on a second page, adding in the spare scraps of papers that I used. Now I have a finished page, which is waiting for me to add some journalling to. 

The bird (not the prettiest is he…LOL), was drawn and coloured with neocolor II crayons, with some extra detailing with posca pens. I’ve used Dylusions Around the Edge stamps for foliage, stamped with Archival Ink in Blue Violet. Followed by a quick whip round the edge with a Jenni Bowlin Dabber – Spiced Tin, my absolute favourite dabber colour, and there are a few to choose from!

Now, what shall I rant about on this page…there’s plenty of room!

Thanks for stopping by.

getting ready..

 

…for the next class I’m doing for UKS Art Journey….

makes for a nice afternoon of messing about with paints.

looking for inspiration

One of my favourite pass times is to spend way too much time online, trawling websites, blog hopping and generally letting myself be bounced around while looking for inspiration. Colours, textures, techniques, things to help spark my creativity, leaving me with pages and pages of notes and idea’s and sketches for future projects (some very future projects looking at my notes) . 

Today though I wanted to share this video with you from Brett Weldele, a US Comic Book Artist, using Distress Inks and Stains and produces beautiful work with them.   Enjoy!

 

Brette Weldele Distress Inks

Time

Not a lot of creating going on at the moment as the lurgy is still lingering and leaving me somewhat shattered.  It’s the second posting of the “Journal Your Art” CJ next week, so if I do nothing else I have to get my pages done so I can pop it in the post.  The theme for this one is “Time” and this is a peek of my page. There is another Time CJ in the group so I’m looking forward to seeing how people interpret, and having done this one I have lots of idea’s for the next one. 

a little prima sneak of what’s due in store…

 

new trims

 

new pins

 

and papers..

 

The lurgy is starting to retreat now, and I’m hoping to get back to making a mess in the next few days.  Thank you to all those who sent me get well wishes. It’s much appreciated.

time out

Image by Karsten Schneider/Science Photo Library

We’ve been hit by the lurgy, so I’m doing my best to keep up with orders from the store and all the forums we sponsor.  Very sorry if I’ve been slow in getting back to you, hopefully normal service will resume shortly and I’ll get back to playing with inks and paints and all the things that make me happy.

playing with colour

This is a new double page in my large molekine note book.  I never used to like pink, but for some reason I love it in my journals.  It seems yellow has crept up on me as well.  So, I’ve spent half an hour today, playing with colour, a quick and simple page with lots of white space. Quite like it.

DIY Jenni Bowlin style

 

As a scrapper, one of my favourite alphabet sticker sheets are the 12x12 Jenni Bowlin ones.  I just love the style of the alphabet, so imagine how chuffed I was when I saw that there are stamps, in the same style! Yay!! Had to, I mean, just had to get them in for the shop.

 

At the same time as ordering the alphabet set, I had to get these Weekday stamps. So many “record your every waking moment” projects out there, you cannot tell me that these would not be well used and loved.  You can find both sets online in the store now in the Jenni Bowlin Stamps section.

 

Whilst on the subject of stamps – yes we will be getting the Whisker Monster stamps in from Stampotique.  Our order is already in we’re just waiting to find out when they will be shipping. We have restocks of your favourites and we’re adding some more designs to the range. 

 

Right then, it’s windy and that means we need a beach walk today. Post office first though for all those scrummy stash orders from you fabulous people!

works in progress

A couple of pages to share, they are both unfinished in that “it’s not done but I’m not sure I know what to do to finish it off" type not done. Although you’ll notice I have already journalled on the first page, so maybe it is done, or maybe I just don’t overly like it. I’ll look at them again soon and it will come to me.  In the meantime, here’s something to freak out the neatest amongst you….

ooooh, who works in a mess like this. ME!!  I do!!! Now do you see why I don’t do WOYWW! Hey-ho, feels quite good to have created though!

loving…..

 

More sneak from Prima, the new Nature Garden collection.  Genie Stones and Art Tiles. This also make me smile….

UKS Art Journey has begun

After huge interest on UKScrappers, UKS Art Journey was born, a series of weekly classes over the next six month to introduce you to the world of art journalling. There are lots of very talented teachers for the classes.  Each Monday will give you a heads up as to what you’ll need for the class on Wednesday.  Starting off with choosing a journal, or if you prefer, making your own.  Wednesday’s class is from the very talented Sarah Harris (AKA Flo), who will show you how to make your journals.
To celebrate we’re offering 10% off Moleskine Journals until midnight Friday, while stocks last.  If you’re making your own, check out our waxed thread, we have lots of colour available and it’s only 12p a meter.  If you’re only ordering waxed thread we will adjust the postage charges for you.
Happy Journalling!

CHA Winter 2012 - Prima Sneaks!

        

These make me smile!

ah….

Oh dear, a month since I posted. A month that has absolutely flown by.  Who said it could be January already…?  I don’t remember agreeing to that.  Not one spot of paint or ink to be seen either – that is not good.

Over Christmas we made a concerted effort to reorder the shop website and make thing easier to find. Some sections were just starting to take on a life of their own as we have expanded our product range so much since launching. It’s taken up a good chunk of Christmas and the New Year to get that done.  I’m waiting for bundles of re-stocks to come in and yet more extensions to the product ranges we have, especially all the new darkroom Door goodies we’ll be stocking.

I’ve signed up for a few classes and prompts this year as well to help get those creative juices flowing, and I will be taking part in producing classes for the UKScrappers Art Journey.  I have lots of things to prepare for that, and I have a Circle Journal which is now overdue! eek.  Luckily the kids go back to school tomorrow so it will give me some peace and quite to finally get on with stuff.  It’s hard to concentrate when you’re constantly hearing “Muuuuuuummmmm………”  My head sinks and I give up and go sort out whatever the current squabble is about and/or threaten to remove toys/x-box play time/remove chocolate privileges. One of them usually does the trick. You’d think I have teenagers, not kids in Infants!

I know it’s annoying to read posts that are apologising for not posting, which in a way this is, but I will be back to normal (I’m not going to try and define that, my head hurts already) soon. For now I must get on with it, so I’ll wish you a slightly belated Happy New Year and hope to bring you something more interesting next week.  In the meantime do stop by UKScrappers and check out all the new classes scheduled for 2012.  It will be a creative year indeedy!

If I lived nearer…

 

If you live near Bath, pop along to the The Holborne Museum to see Bruce Munro’s Field of Light exhibit.  It looks and sounds fabulous, sadly it’s a long way from here.

Field of Light consists of over 5,000 bulbs of light planted in the grounds of the Museum and flowing into the Garden Cafe. Acrylic stems are topped by frosted spheres which are threaded with fibre optic cables and lit by a colour projector. The result is quite magical, as both colour and light flow through the bulbs to create a uniquely captivating experience.

Yep, I wish I lived nearer.