Firth of Forth

Happy Easter Monday to you all.

This photo was taken whilst traveling along the Firth of Forth road bridge... looking across to the rail bridge. I've travelled on both bridges numerous times as I travel up and down the country.

Here's a few details for anyone interested in bridges...

The Forth Bridge was the most prominent steel structure when it became operational in 1890. 

The cantilever railway bridge was built across the Firth of Forth at Queensferry, 14km west of Edinburgh. 

It still continues to remain a significant and admirable engineering structure of the Victorian era.

If you'd like to read more about the bridge then click here

There is in fact another bridge being constructed at the moment on the other side of the road bridge. 

Once again if you'd like to see details then click here

Today, I'm linking with Mersad over at Through my lens if you'd like to see more photographers work.

I'm also linking up today Wordless (on Tuesday at image-in-ing)

My Sunday Photo... Easter Cup Cakes

 It's a flying visit today because there's chocolates to be had... and celebrating to be done. 

So forgive me for rushing...

I'd just like to wish everyone that celebrates Easter, a happy peaceful holiday weekend.

For those who don't celebrate Easter... well there's always cupcakes!

These little bunny beauties were baked by my big sister, but unfortunately this is as near as I'm going to get to them, as she lives in a different part of the country. 

Now I'm thinking I'll just have to bake some for myself.

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo

Thanks for your visit and I hope you have a great weekend.

Whatever you have planned... have fun and enjoy!

Now where's that Easter Bunny hidden those chocolates?

Floral Good Friday... PPF

I'm going to keep today's post to the minimum because it is the long Easter weekend and the weather for today at last is fantastic.
I want to enjoy it because there's talk that rain is on the way tomorrow.

I thought I'd show you the finished 'Hello Spring' that I started last week.

I was inspired by watching the tutorial from Carrie's Misfit Artist blog.

Here's the link if you'd like to see more... click here

Plus I wanted to practice some lettering too. I did think I might have managed to paint an Happy Easter scene, but I went outdoors yesterday and cut the lawn instead. 

The garden is just waking up, so it'll be all go soon.

I really enjoyed painting these flowers and at some point that I'm not sure when, I took a different route and let my brush do as it pleased. 

It's always a little scary going off-piste, but then exciting things can happen. 

I'm pleased with the end result.

Keeping to the spring theme, I thought I'd take you on a little walk before you go.
Not quite an Easter egg hunt... that'll come on Sunday.

Here's Muffin enjoying the new smells of spring and taking an absolute age to walk 20 paw paces.
Stop and sniff on a whole new level.

But if there's sun anywhere... you can be sure she'll find it!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Happy Easter to all that celebrate.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.

As usual I'm joining in with the Paint Party Friday link.

Click above on the PPF link if you'd like to see more art. 

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting once again.
I'm also joining in with Alexandra's Sunday Sketches
For the first time I'm joining two new links... Try It On Tuesday with the theme of Nature
and lastly, the theme over at Moo Mania is spring.

My Sunday Photo... Erskine Falls

This week I've decided to show you a few old photographs from my time in Australia.

(The weather here hasn't been the best for taking photo's this week)

I made the decision mainly due to the fact that my brother and his family are over in Melbourne, Australia at the moment.
Seeing his photographs has reminded me of a trip we made traveling along the Great Ocean Road. 

One of the places we stopped to visit was Erskine Falls (aboriginal name Kitjarra Ngitj/Ngatanwarr) which is a magical waterfall, tucked away in the beautiful Great Otway National Park...just off the Great Ocean Road.

This is my daughter... she's not only into art, she also loves photography. 

Does that remind you of anyone?

I remember that I just couldn't resist taking a shot of this sign. 

I've never seen a sign like it before or since!

Erskine Falls is like stepping back in time to the Jurassic age. 

There is quite a descent to reach the waterfall, but it is worth it..

If you'd like to read more about Erksine Falls then click here

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo
and Through my lens

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for popping into my world.

I hope I'll see you again soon

Ahh ha Haar... PPF

To say I'm working in a fog today might mislead you.
It's not that I'm lost or having trouble in any way... it's literally that I'm IN a fog.
Because we had one beautiful spring day earlier in the week, we now have to pay the price here in this part of the UK.
It happens every year when the land temperature rises and meets the cooler air coming off the North Sea... the 'haar' (fog) rolls in and it hangs around for a few days.
For example, today we were only 7 degrees Celsius here, whilst if I'd have driven an hour inland then the temperature would have risen to 19 degrees Celsius!
What a difference the haar makes!
But I'm not letting it get to me (ha... who am I kidding) so I thought I'd carry on with the Spring theme. 

I need to work on my lettering, but I'm quite pleased with this work in progress.
Let's take a closer look...

I'm actually working on a project that's hush hush at the moment, but don't worry I will reveal all as soon as I can. But in the meantime I wanted to share something with you all, so I decided to do a quick tutorial.

I've been so impressed with Carrie's Watercolour Misfit online tutorials. 

I love Carrie's work and I can't believe just how much time and effort she must put into her video tutorials. She also provides free templates... so even if you have trouble drawing, you can still enjoy and take part. By the way I didn't us a template with this piece... I like to draw.

I'll be sure to let you see this WIP once I finish it, which hopefully will be tomorrow... especially if the fog lingers.

Talking of tutorials... as I mentioned last week I've enrolled in Tracey Fletcher King's Delicious Paint Classes even though I completed the classes last year. 

I learnt so much during that time and I know I will carry on building on those skills with Tracey's guidance.

(the under painting has opened up a whole new world to me... which by the way I'm using in the spring painting above) 

I thought I'd include some pages from the little booklet I created... for those who may not have seen the first time round. 

As usual I'm joining in with the Paint Party Friday link.

Click here if you'd like to see more art. 

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting once again.
I'm also linking up with Alexandra's  Sunday Sketches

Well that's it folks... it's time to party and enjoy the weekend. 

Have fun and I hope to see you again soon.

My Sunday Photo... Spring

Miraculously I believe spring has remembered us... 

She's slowly creeping in a little more each day...

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo

and Through my lens

Thanks for visiting my place and I hope you're having a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned.

Have fun!

Hyperventilating Art...PPF

This week I'm starting my post with a photo that if you're anything like me you'll be hyperventilating. It embarrassingly happens whenever I walk into an art supply shop and this one near the Greyfriars Kirkyard was no exception... because I came upon it unexpectantly. 

I think the shop assistants wondered who the dodgy woman was, with her heavy breathing wanting to take photos of everything, and grinning like a Cheshire Cat... unless it happens a lot. 

They smiled at least in that knowing way.

The crouching figure in the corner of the shot is my daughter. 

It's wonderful and very special sharing your passion with someone who 'gets it' whenever you talk arty!

Before I move on to my artwork for this week, I thought I'd show you this amazing mural.

It is located in the lane just down from the Greyfriars Bobby Monument

The plague on the side reads...

Diagon Alley

No setting could be more perfect for a magical school of witchcraft & wizardry

than the majestic gothic ....(sorry I can't read the next word) of this old toon (town)

so it is no surprise that J.K. Rowling selected Scotland as the home of Hogwarts, 

or that serial sites lie nearby this Diagon Alley.

How fabulous is that?

It is painted onto a very old roughly textured uneven wall too.

I've tried to look up the artist to give suitable credit, but had difficulty.

Whomever you are you're extremely talented!

...And so on to my work which is a token gesture this week.

 It's amazing how just by nipping away for the weekend, it can take a whole week to play catch up.

I'm still working on my kitchen table as you can see, but I will be returning to the studio soon. 

This week I am thinking elephants for no particular rhyme or reason.
I just love them.

I'm working on a mother and baby painting at the moment, but here's one that you might not have seen. My apologies if you have. I painted it last year.

I know there's a saying it's as interesting as watching paint dry, but really you'd think my studio assistant would try to hide her soporific tendencies. 

Finally, I must tell you about a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to start painting watercolours, adding to your skill or knowledge, having fun or just enjoying meeting like minded arty people (who possibly hyperventilate when they enter an art shop) 

My amazingly talented friend Tracey Fletcher King has started an online class that is open now. 

 It is a self paced course which has lifetime access and includes video lessons, text descriptions, lots of examples, PDF's for you to download and discussion boards.

Even if you've never attempted anything like this before, but feel you'd like to, or you don't think you could... as in Tracey's own words "Just give it a go..."

She is not only an amazing artist willing to pass on her inspiration, skill, and talent, she is so much fun and will not leave you, giving a helpful hand or word of advice along the way. 
She'll be with you and I can guarantee you'll have an incredible journey. 

Classroom is now open and you can enroll here

There's a great little video where you can meet Tracey and you'll see what I mean... she's a brilliant teacher and so funny. You can't help but have a fun time.

I hope I'll see you in the classroom, because I just can't resist... I shall be there with bells on.

As usual I'm joining in with the Paint Party Friday link today.

Click here if you'd like to see more art. 

It's the PPF's Fifth Birthday! 

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting once again.

I must apologise for my tardy visiting during this last week, but if you visited me then I shall be giving you a call... Have fun and I hope you have a wonderful weekend with lots of creativity in whatever form you choose.

Wordless Wednesday... Edinburgh Greyfriars Kirkyard and Castle

Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The view of Edinburgh Castle from Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Edinburgh Castle is an 11th-century castle and barracks housing the Crown Jewels and National War Museum of Scotland.

I'm linking up today with 

 

and Wordless (on Tuesday at image-in-ing)

Have a great day

My Sunday Photo... Greyfriars Bobby

This weekend we are staying with my daughter in Edinburgh.
We're being true typical tourists and wandering around the city stopping mid stride to take a snap, Obviously this is the done thing whilst stopping the flow of pedestrians. 

Risking life and limb to get that shot!

I wouldn't say that I'm a techy person, but my hubby is still back in the 70's.
He's only just getting used to the Sat Nav in our car... which miraculously delivered us to my daughter's address without a hitch... and much to his amazement.

But he's been completely blown away with my daughter's reports from her phone telling us that we've walked over 8,000 steps today, and to finish him off she used Uber to take us home.

(If you're not familiar with any of the names above, then perhaps you might speak to someone in the younger generation... They'll roll their eyes probably, but you could just remind them that we taught them to use a spoon. That normally gets them) 
There are lot's of photographs from today that I could have used for my Sunday Photo this week, but I thought I'd include a wee story. 

It's the story of Greyfriars Bobby.

 You can read the story from the notice board photo below. 

Just click on the photo to enlarge.

'Mascara alert'... you may need tissues. 

If you notice on the statue of Bobby, he has a shiny nose.

This is due to everyone touching his nose for good luck. 

Of course I did, just in case... covering all my bases. 

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo

and Through my lens

Thanks for visiting my place and I wish you a wonderful weekend and a funpacked week ahead. 

Flutterbys and Snowflakes... PPF

Unfortunately, I haven't had much time for painting this week, so I thought I'd show you the finished butterfly page from a few weeks ago.

Yesterday, I spent the day doing extensive spring cleaning which even included cleaning windows both inside and out! 

But I shouldn't have bothered because by lunchtime the sun had disappeared and the snow flakes drifted slowly down like confetti. 

They gained momentum until the ground was covered with a white blanket. 

I couldn't believe the difference from the spring sunny morning to an afternoon spent in a winter wonderland.

Here's a photo of Mufftypup having a very confusing time. 

She virtually slammed on the breaks as she went running out of the door to this chilly white scene. 

It was certainly time for just a splash and dash!

(My son took this video of the snow. The birds singing at the beginning of the video certainly indicates that they think it's spring...he then made it slow motion which makes the snow flakes look great but you don't get to hear the wood peckers vibrating noise as he pecks the tree trunk)

I'm sorry that this post has been virtually a monochrome page. 

Hopefully, I'll have lots of colour for next week... especially if spring wins the battle over winter.

I'd like to thank Eva and Kristin for hosting the Paint Party Friday link once again.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend with lots of creativity

I'm away for the weekend but I hope to catch up with you all soon.