Yay...it's Friday and I'm ready to party with PPF and APR

I can't believe that today I've actually managed to complete a piece of artwork. YAY!

After a great week weather wise with lots of fantastic sunshine, today turned out to be rather grey and that freezing north wind blew. 

So much so that it really wasn't a good day to be outside voluntarily...so I stayed indoors. 

After flinging myself around for most of the morning, ticking chores and messages off my never ending list, I decided to get tough with myself and finally sat down at the kitchen table to finish the kingfisher picture I started a few weeks back. 

Here's a reminder...

I tried desperately to be loose with it and not stress too much and for most parts it worked but old habits die hard. 

There's a few things that I'm not happy about...but I'll not mention them because maybe... just maybe you won't notice them. 

My main aim was to just get something into my journal. 

And guess what? 

I've now got an idea for what I'd like to do for tomorrow...whoohoo...so it looks like I may have kick started my mojo into action at last. 

I'm so happy that I feel like partying...so I'm linking up with Paint Party Friday and the Artist's Play Room.

Why don't you take a look and have fun too - just click on the blue writing above to be transported to the party.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone 

 

Are you looking at me?

Now I need you to be very lenient with me today? 

No I'm not sick or anything serious...it's just that I'm posting something that I don't think I should, but I'm doing it anyway! 

It's nothing controversial or in bad taste of course.

Let me explain....I've had terrible trouble trying to find time for art since we arrived back here in the UK, but I'm determined that I'm not giving in. 

I'm going to persevere and I hope you'll forgive me for being so self-indulgent. 

My wonderful friend Jenn over at the Artist Play Room will forgive me for sure, because she understands just what it takes to meet deadlines. 

Even as I'm posting this I'm emptying the washing machine, loading the fire with logs, and trying to come up with some culinary delight for tonight's dinner and all the while McMuffy is gruffing at me for attention.

Rest assured our meal won't include lamb 

(well not tonight anyway...it will all become clear below).

So I'm pushing myself to enter into the Artists Play Room, which I haven't done for what feels like years.

 Meet the clan...

 When we last lived in this house, the farmer brought his sheep and new born lambs into the back field and it was wonderful to watch all of their antics. 

The bouncing playful lambs loving life and generally having a wonderful time. 

We would watch them for hours and in fact they returned the compliment especially when we were in the garden or sitting at the window. 

Very often you'd suddenly feel like you were being watched, only to look out and see a small herd intensely concentrating on you...that is if sheep are capable of concentrating. 

Most of the time it would be okay, but we just couldn't eat lamb on such occasions. 

I'm hoping that the farmer will once again let us enjoy watching over his herd. 

The field is still empty so we're hopeful. 

All the other fields nearby are ploughed...so fingers crossed. 

If they do arrive I'll certainly let you know, plus maybe even taking a video to show their acrobatic skills and bouncing springiness! 

Oh I forgot to mention that this drawing isn't quite finished yet, but as the deadline was looming I thought I'd bite the bullet and post it anyway. If you look closely you can see the pencil marks...no maybe don't look closely on second thoughts!

There's no stopping me today and I'm being very tough on myself because for the first time EVER, I'm hoping that the lovely group called Paint Party Friday will allow me to entry their party.

Check out both APR and Paint Party Friday and see how much talent there is out there. 

It's so inspiring and that's what I want to keep me trying to allocate more time over the next few weeks. 

I'm hoping that if I find some kind of routine it'll all get a little easier.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Have fun and enjoy! 

What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday...WOYWW #228 and APR 'Time'

If only my fingers weren't frozen then perhaps I'd have been able to post this a little earlier. We've only 2 degrees this morning with a atmospheric fog clinging along the river and through the woods and fields. 

I know I'm a woos but what can I say...Guilty!

I know I'm always wittering on about how time fly's as you all know only too well...doesn't it for everyone these days? 

So as well as showing you my (temporary) desk for WOYWW (What's on your Work Desk Wednesday and what I got up to yesterday, I'll also enter the Artist Play Room. 

I hope they let me in because I haven't been there for so long.

Who knows...Jenn might have changed the locks!

This weeks theme is 'Time'

Here's the desk...which really isn't a desk at all...it's the kitchen table.

Note the binoculars are on hand for making sure I miss nothing. 

Yep as well as a woos I'm also nosy! 

I don't want to miss anything...especially when the deer wander into the field. 

I've also picked some of the Virginia Creeper leaves which you can see on the left hand side of the table. They are an amazing colour (which unfortunately doesn't show up in the photo)

I'm not sure what I'll do with them for now, but I knew I just wanted to keep a few.

There's also an Aga cookbook by Mary Berry from back in the 70's I think, because yesterday my Aga had her health check and now she's raring to go. 

I'm going to write a post soon about her and her history, but I was just browsing through the book yesterday and left it there. 

There's also my Derwent pencils too. 

I'm so glad I took this photo yesterday and not tried to do it this morning. 

At least you can see the sun is shining on this one but I'm hopeful that it will again today. 

So finally I managed a few minutes to do some drawing...and here's the result. 

I'm a little nervous to show you...but here goes.... 

It's not finished. I need to work on the eyelashes and the lettering of course.

(by the way the neesie natters isn't on the drawing) 

So there you have it...my desk this week. 

If you want to see lots of other desks from around the globe just nip over to Julia over at Stamping Ground and don't forget APR too.

Thanks for stopping by...it's always great see you and even better if you stop to comment. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone

Toodleloo for now

I've scored a hat trick...whoohoo...

I've always thought that I'm quite lucky...but today it has been confirmed!

Nope, still no lotto win...(well I can't expect to win really can I, especially if I don't buy a ticket!)

Why am I grinning like a Cheshire cat? 

Well, I have received three separate gifts from friends...how special is that?  

And it isn't even my birthday!

Two actually winged their way into my post box today. 

So of course I had to maximize the pleasure...I sat armed with a cuppa and a large white chocolate freckle that I bought at a Chocolatiere over the weekend. 

(More about that on my next post...once I get the photos to co-operate and transfer over...it's a work in progress and it's protesting at the moment...maybe I need to eat more chocolate instead of looking at it?) 

I'm not going to show you the pressies because some things I like to keep to myself...they are special and personal to me. 

Oh okay...you've twisted my arm...

I'll show you just one...

How fantastic are these babies?!?!

 I'm thrilled and excited but terrified all at the same time because I'm now going to have to use them...eek!

I don't want to rush it, so I'll wait until I get back from our next trip.

Oh yes our trips...

Last weekend, we went to the Yarra Valley for wine tasting and the weather was just perfect. 

Quite fantastic for autumn...beautiful warm sunny days and crisp nights.

The wine was incredible and we had a brilliant weekend staying right in the middle of a vineyard. 

I'll share a little of the trip with you soon.

In the meantime, I've got to repack only this time for chilly climes because we're off again tomorrow.
I know...there's no stopping us...and it's a wonder I find my way home. 

I can't believe that even though I've been busy and I missed the APR entry time... I did manage and enjoyed a little doodle in my journal. I don't normally like to show unfinished work but I thought today I'd be brave.

 I couldn't decide if I should zentangle him or not...and then I thought I'd like to try and add those fantastic peacock plumage colours...because let's face it that is what peacocks are renowned for. 

What do you think?

I took a whoosie approach and thought I'd photograph him at this stage, just in case he doesn't make the grade on the next stage...or it all goes pear shaped!

I'm going to add colour because I feel that a peacock's main feature are those amazing colours...plus I love them. I'm just hoping I can reproduce them. Wish me luck!

Why a peacock? Well...peacocks were the topic for last week's APR challenge...so if you'd like to see some more artists work then click here to visit Jenn's Artist Playroom.

I hope to visit the gang myself soon although times flying by and I actually fly out myself tomorrow! 

I hope you have a lucky day too...with lots of surprises....

keep smiling or better still pass it on

APR ~ Time is flying by...

Life is certainly flying by just now...with Easter already upon us. 

My friends have already been and gone, but we have some lovely memories to look back on until our next meeting later in the year.

So if I say today was the first time that I got a chance to look online or to check what's been happening out there in t'internet land....375 emails later, I finally got around to see what this week's theme was for Jenn's Artist Play Room. You'll know just how late I am...(I know nothing new here) but this time 

I'm REALLY late.

As you may have guessed (well the title kind of gives it away) the topic this week is 'Flight' or 'things that Fly'...so you can imagine how thrilled I was that a few weeks ago I drew up this little owl in my journal. 

 He wasn't going to see the light of day, but Jenn drew him out of me and so here he is for you all to see! 

A little cheat having a stand-in ready in the wings (HA... get it!) but otherwise I wouldn't have made it in time...

I'll be back soon but in the meantime why don't you nip over to the Artists Playroom and check out some really talented artist and their entries this week.

Happy Easter to you all.

Have a wonderful time and remember any chocolate eaten on Sunday has no calories...

I read that somewhere...or did I dream it?!!??!

Artist Play Room ~ What do you overlook?

Okay so here's the deal...I've just been reliably informed by Mo over at Twinkletoes2day that if I'm surfing blog land, doodling, drawing or painting then I'm not wasting time as long as I'm enjoying myself...Yay! That's just what I needed to hear. I mean who doesn't enjoy doing those things?

Phewph...that made me feel so much better because trust me there's so much I should be attending right now, but I decided to give myself a little break and enter into Jenn's Artist Play Room.
This week's challenge is 'what do you overlook' so brace yourself....I could really dive in here...but then I thought you don't deserve that...you've done nothing to harm me.
I mean I could tell you about how plants have been tortured and subsequently died over the summer months, whilst I was away having fun in the snow...or the mountain of laundry that seems to have taken up constant residence in a dark corner of the house. I mean really would you like to see my laundry? Not my dirty laundry of course, but boring enough to have you fall off your chair yawning!

So after much deliberation, I decided that I've been talking about trying to lighten up with my artwork for long enough but not actually doing anything about it...well not today. I just dived straight in. Scary stuff! Can you see the difference to my usual stuff?
Today I decided to draw my perfume bottle (It's not something I would normally draw either so again pushing all the stops out here). I actually have two bottles (spoilt I know) one for daytime and this one for night-time. This particular one is more potent and you have to be careful how much you put on, otherwise everyone in a 20 metre radius starts to either move discreetly away with their hand under their nose or they just keel over! It's not really the reaction that you'd want :-$

I've been talking to Tracey who gave me a few pointers in seeing the lines on the object that you wish to draw. She's brilliant at this and I felt very priviledged to be given a few tips. Bless you Trace :D
I didn't realise until I started to really study this bottle just how many lines there were. I think at this stage I'll just add that I had artistic license to leave some of the zillion lines for another day! Okay?
It's amazing what you actually see when you really look at something. For instance, I didn't know that the name was repeated on the front...in fact I'd seen that something was written there, but didn't bother to really look. How terrible not to use our eyes to their full potential. They are such a gift, we really should appreciate every little detail.

(hate the shading by the way ~ but I'll work on that next time)

As I got to know my perfume (strange but true)...up close and personal, I didn't realise that I'd moved its position on my desk. Note to self: once you start to draw DON'T MOVE IT! (such a numpty)
I couldn't help but have a little squirt too whilst I was there and now my dog thinks we're off somewhere for the afternoon! ^..^ Shame.
As often happens I didn't know whether to finish there or to carry on....yep...I couldn't help myself I decided to try and add some colour. Thankfully, I took a photo of the drawing first before attacking it with the Derwent Inktense pencils. I know...what was I thinking? I don't even like the pencils but I keep trying.
But then I became strict and decided I wouldn't add water to them...I'd just leave them coloured in.

Enough is enough!

I couldn't get the right colours but it's my interpretation isn't it? Can I get away with that do you think?

Which do you prefer?

Whoops I've just noticed the time...yes it just disappears when you're having fun! I've now realised that I feel very sickly too because it's 3.30pm and I've had nothing to eat other than a heavy portion of perfume since breakfast this morning...!
Well that's it folks...I'm done for today. I've got friends coming to stay this weekend and I've really got to get a wriggle on if I'm to be ready to be the hostess with the mostess.
I've three super king cotton bed linen to iron...towels to fold...chocolates to purchase for their pillows. (I bought new ones yesterday...pillows that is and not chocolates...they'd have disappeared by now if it was chocolates...you know me!)

Toodleloo for now peeps...catch up again soon

 ~ enjoy the day...it's a gift use it wisely ~

International Women's Day ~ Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch (APR)

The theme for the Artist Play Room this week is in honour of International Women's Day that took place on the 8th March.  

International Women’s Day recognises the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future and therefore I was determined that I wouldn't miss entering this week...unlike last week.

I gave some serious thought as to what my post would highlight and so many incredible women came to mind but then one in particular stayed with me. 

Her name is Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch AC DBE, previously styled as Lady Murdoch, and she was an Australian philanthropist. Obviously I'm assuming that you've heard the name Murdoch before but I have to admit I'd not heard of Dame Elisabeth until I came to Australia.

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (née Greene; 8 February 1909 – 5 December 2012), was an Australian philanthropist and an incredible woman, wife and mother.
She was the wife of Australian newspaper publisher Sir Keith Murdoch and the mother of international media proprietor Rupert Murdoch. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1963 for her charity work in Australia and overseas.

(Photograph courtesy of The Herald Sun Newspaper )

Born at the time when the horse and cart were still on the streets of Melbourne, she was privately schooled in the grace of giving from the age of 13, when she knitted her first baby singlet for orphaned children.

Her enormous capacity to give and to keep on giving —  to state schools and prisons, to dry-out centres for drug addicts, as well as the ballet and Melbourne's Botanical Gardens or hospitals — has been celebrated across the land.

When Dame Elisabeth died, aged 103, on the 5th of December last year, it marked the last chapter of a great love story and life of philanthropy. Dame Elisabeth — who supported more than 100 charities — died in her sleep at her farm on the outskirts of Melbourne.

It has been said that she's one of the greatest philanthropists Australia has ever seen —  not just in terms of money, but also the time she gave and her dedication to so many causes. 

She was always looking to give back and at no stage in her life did she say, ‘I’ve done enough’, even though she could have said that decades ago. 

The News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch told the scores of dignitaries and community representatives at St Paul's Cathedral here in Melbourne, that his mother's deep love for her husband and children shaped the family from the very start. "However you came to know her, what you remember is her strength of character that defined Elisabeth Murdoch's life," Mr Murdoch said.

"(But) Mum would never forgive me if I did not start by acknowledging a truth she repeated constantly throughout her long life. The most satisfying thing I ever did, she always said, was to marry my husband.

Elisabeth was just 19 years old when she married Keith who was then 42 years old.
All her life, Dame Elisabeth would say that she thought it was a miracle that Sir Keith would fall in love with her as hard and obviously as she had fallen for him. They married on 6th June 1928 and together they had four children. When Sir Keith died in 1952, Elisabeth was just 43 years old. In the midst of her heartbreak, she immersed herself in charity work, instituting, among other things, the world-famous Good Friday Appeal, which would go on to raise tens of millions of dollars for the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
It should be pointed out that Elisabeth was a Dame not because her husband was Sir Keith, but because the Queen personally saw fit to appoint her Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1963, to mark 30 years of service to Victoria's sick children.
  I could write so much about the wonderful work and dedication that Dame Elisabeth's gave to her charity work but that would take some time...if you are interested in all the various charities that have benefited from the Murdoch Institute, then click here....

On their 10th anniversary Keith wrote a note which said, 'It is an amazing piece of luck for me, that you were just you. Because I could not have been happy with anyone else'.

He gave Elisabeth a farm to his teenage bride in 1928 as a wedding present...Cruden Farm.
They remained married for 24 years until his death. Elisabeth was so absolutely in love with her husband.
She never re-married after the death of Sir Keith and never stopped wearing her wedding ring

Cruden Farm has been described as a breath of fresh air in the midst of suburbia, nothing grand but a delightful relaxed place.

From the 1960s she made Cruden Farm available at no charge to local groups, then to organisations large and small for fundraising or celebrations. One memorable late afternoon in 1989, 5162 visitors (excluding children) turned up. In recent years, scarcely a weekend went by without the garden hosting some event or other. Only in late autumn and winter did it take time off to breathe.

Everyone who comes to Cruden Farm finds a favourite place...It continues as inspiration in the couples shared love of nature and appreciation of beauty.

Over eight decades Elisabeth learned as the garden grew. She was it's hands on number one gardener. She worked with space, texture colour and masterfully she created long vistas, secluded nooks and crannies. She grew her own seeds and cuttings yet never stinted on professional attention for her trees. To the end she kept a keen eye on progress and could often be seen perusing amongst the plants.

I feel sad that I never managed to visit the farm whilst she was alive but have it on my list and if I do visit then I hope to bring you some of it's magic. 

She showed such generosity because she loved to share. She felt blessed that she was able to live with a beautiful garden and she did not think it right to keep it to herself.
The task for her descendants is to maintain the property in her spirit and as she would have hoped, while looking as she always did to the future.
 Dame Elisabeth has a rose named after her to which she described it as "tough as old boots just like me!" 

(photograph courtesy of Google Images http://www.pbase.com/image/38119964)

Now before you look at my journal entry today I need to make excuses (cough) explain, I decided due to missing last week's theme that this week I would enter no matter what. I had to create my entry within an hour or two today so here it is.

 (Another excuse coming up...I only have a travel watercolour set, so I couldn't quite get the right colours that I wanted...oh yes and I took this photo quite late on in the afternoon, so I'll have to retake it tomorrow when the light is better.
All that said...I'm so happy that I've managed to enter the APR this week, especially when I can pay tribute to this special lady and her beautiful rose.

 

(photograph courtesy of Google Image ~ www.fara.org.au)

 I can't help but think of my own grandmother when I look at Dame Elisabeth...like Dame Elisabeth she too was an amazing woman who influenced me greatly and I truly miss her...especially when I see a rose.

She too had a wonderful affinity with roses and had a stunning rose garden.
I hope that I can perhaps be such a gracious lady leaving a legacy to be proud of...wouldn't that be wonderful.

Blorange...Blue and Orange blended!

If anyone was to ask me what my favourite colour was, I'd instantly say 'cobalt blue'...but that's not strictly true because if I think about it a little more, I realise I like a wide range of blues such as aqua, turquoise, robin egg, sky, royal blue, sapphire, indigo, teal, baby blue, Persian blue, navy, peacock, electric blue...hmm the list grows the more I think about it. So maybe I should answer the question by just saying my favourite colour is 'blue'! 

On the other hand one of my least favourite colours happens to be orange. Now I really feel for orange because it's never done anything wrong or ever offended me...it's just we don't have that same connection that I have with blue. 

I'm afraid it's not only the colour...I don't like to eat oranges or drink orange juice!

Why? I cannot say...I just don't! Never have....

So when Jenn over at Just Add Water Silly chose 'BLORANGE' for this week's Artist Play Room  

I had mixed feeling. I mean my favourite colour mixed with my least?!?! 

How was this going to work?  

It's like asking my son to become friends with the hoover (vacuum)! It's a tough ask!

But who's going to refuse Jenn? Certainly not me...

So after a little procrastinating (I'm a natural) I dived right in to see where it would lead....

I'm aware I'm probably playing with your mind here (Mmmmwwwaaaahhhhhhaaaa) but I have to admit it it was rather fun. I thought I'd make the orange blue perhaps just a twist on the 'blood oranges' (with their red flesh) which by the way just happen to be my hubby's favourite.

I also took it one step further by mixing the blue actually with orange, for the leaves and the shadow. 

I'm not sure why but this photo is nothing like the original. 

The original has such an intensity that I prefer, but the above looks rather anaemic. :-( 

Maybe it's orange getting its own back on me for being so unkind.

I thought I might feel differently if an orange happened to be a blue colour, but I'm afraid I still don't like oranges no matter what colour they are....oh now I feel I've got a personal vendetta against the poor defenceless fruit. Shame on me!

Have a great day everyone and I hope to see you again soon...I'd miss you if you didn't pop by

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wanted to quickly mention Featuring magazine to you all...

It's a great mag for Mixed Media artists and it is starting a subscription service with the next issue... head on over to some of these links if you are interested in checking it out...

website

 http://www.featuringmagazine.com

you can buy issue 3 here

 http://www.featuringmagazine.com/archives/product/featuring-magazine-issue-3

or read what people have to say about it...

 http://www.featuringmagazine.com/testimonials

Artist Play Room....Books and Bookmarks!

Oh where do I start with this week's theme in the Artists Play Room.
They're something that make me feel all warm and fuzzy whenever I think about them! 

You could be forgiven for thinking I'm talking about chocolate here because as you know I'm a serious chocoholic and not afraid to admit it! But this time I'm talking about...BOOKS! 

Another passion of mine :D

I'm not sure how young I was when I first learnt to read, but I knew once I started I couldn't stop....nor do I ever intend to! I only feel comfortable when I have at least three books lined up and waiting for me. There have been occasions when my bedside cabinet has been so full, I couldn't even reach the lamp! 

I can also have the beginnings of a panic attack if I seriously think about how many books there are out there that I'll probably never get to ....(breath....breath....breath...) so I try not to think about that.

I have a serious compulsion to enter book shops whenever I see one, no matter what's on my plan, or timescale...everything pales into insignificance when I enter a book shop. I have also been known to hyperventilate too...although maybe I shouldn't divulge so much information here. But you get the jist.....

I LOVE BOOKS

Oh I know it should be shoes, handbags or clothes that sets me into a tizzy, but books win every time I'm afraid...no question about it.

I do love my kindle, but it's the feel, smell, turning of pages, bindings and their covers....in fact everything about a real physical book that can have me stroking it lovingly. 

Whoops....now that really is enough!

So onto Jenn's challenge....
Well having read the above (hopefully) you can imagine my quandary about what to do for this week challenge....so I decided to do some doodles, but also to include photographs from previous posts. I hope you forgive me for repeating myself if you are a regular visitor.

And so here's some book marks that I had fun with this week....I couldn't resist putting a few doodles together. Also I added some colour this time!!! SHOCK!
I know I shocked myself especially because I don't really like yellow, red and orange!
I'm more of a blue person.

We were heading for a thunderstorm last night when I took this photo...hence it doesn't show the white at it's best, but you get the idea I'm sure.

I was aware that there wasn't a tassle in sight...so I thought I'd let this little guy return to make an entrance....he appeared last year in the APR challenge, so I think he'll feel very at home.

I love this photo below...hence it's in my sidebar. 

I abore books, tea, and freesias so it ticks all of my boxes....how about you? 

What ticks your box? 

Oh I've just thought...it's not complete after all because there's not a chocolate bar in sight. 

What was I thinking??!!?!?! (slapping forehead with back of the hand)

 ...I had fun with this idea below and as you can imagine it took quite a time to construct! 

I went through my whole book collection to find the right size of book for the tree...AND managed to resist stopping to read any during the process...wasn't I a good girl? :D

It is part of my Christmas card collection now and last year I sent it to my book club friends.

This next photo was a very special reading corner in our previous house and now that I look at it, I realise just how special it was.

I haven't allocated a special reading place in this house, but then I suppose my studio has taken that place.

I'm aware that I'm not reading as much as I would like to, but what can you do? There really isn't enough hours in the day for me to fit everything in as it is...sigh!

So don't forget to hop over to Jenn's place (click here) and see what all the other artists have created for this fantastic theme.

This seems a good place to finish...in my comfy corner, so I'll leave you in peace and please let me know if you've a book recommendation that you think I should know about. I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Reading Everyone 

A Giveaway...Plus What's on Your Work Desk? WOYWW

It's Wednesday and I've finally managed to catch up with the WOYWW gang! I've been missing for a few weeks, but I'm back and to make up for my absense I'm including a link to my 'giveaway'...but you'll have to be quick to enter because the giveaway ends tomorrow. 

Click here for the details. 

It's very simple to enter...all you have to do is leave a comment on the post and Mufftypup might draw your name as the winner. She's raring to go for the draw because she knows that they'll be lots of chicken available if she does a good job ^..^

Check out the last giveaway draw.

Yes I know I haven't given you much time to enter and I should have told you earlier ~ sorry!

So let me explain for all of my new followers that WOYWW stands for What's on Your Workdesk and is the brainchild of Julia over at Stamping Ground. 

Nip across and check out all the various artist and crafters desks across the globe. They're a great bunch and very friendly...they'd love to meet you I'm sure.

Now I'm thinking that this could be a monumental week because not only am I involved with the WOYWW  creative, crafty gang, but I've been partying with the lovely Vicki at 2 Bags Full who has organised a mammoth Party Blog Hop! So if the two come together here...WOW that would be amazing!

Well without further delay (because WOYWW is supposed to be a brief post ~ which as you know I have great difficulty keeping brief...it's just not in my makeup apparently...see here I am waffling about keeping brief! (sigh)

So what's on my desk this beautiful sunny day? Well there's lots of wonderful light for a start! 

Apologies if the sun has left your part of the world, but I'll let you have a quick warm from mine ;D

 There are a few new things and one little package that I picked up yesterday from the art suppliers. Well I just happened to be passing but then how can you pass? If you know how then tell me...but on the other hand...never mind I don't think I want to know! Its harmless enough isn't it?

One of the reasons why I didn't make last Wednesday was because I'd made a card that had to reach the UK and I wasn't sure if it would spoil the surprise if I posted it before it arrived.

Now if I tell you my nephew has crabs I don't want any sniggers please! That includes you at the back there!

He has a beautiful tank and keeps sending me little video clips of all the latest inhabitants. 

So instead of sending the usual birthday card featuring golfers, beer or wine, or boat...not that there's anything wrong with those designs...but I wanted something different so I decided I'd draw something that was relevant to him....hence 'Hermit the Crab'.

 

Apologies for the quality of the photograph, but I quickly had to snap it and rush off to the post box in order for it to arrive in time for the birthday. 

Now let me explain...(or give my excuse)...this is only the second time that I've tried to draw with the ink nib pen set that my daughter bought as part of my Christmas present and I realised very early on that I need to spend time practicing. Especially with regard to the lettering!

So there you have it my entry for WOYWW but I'm also thinking laterally and joining in with Jenn's Artist Playroom which this week has 'Mail Art' as its theme.  Jenn will be pleased I'm sure because she's always encouraging us to think laterally! I'm a happy bunny because I've been missing from the APR too but today I've managed to tick quite a few boxes with double entries! 

Yay!!!!

My card has travelled half way around the world to keep me in touch with my nephew and I think that's special. I 'm thinking that post landing in the post box will delight him as much as it delights me. I don't think you can beat snail mail and since blogging I've had such wonderful post from very generous new friends from all over the world. I'm hoping my bright envelope with all the Australian stamps will brighten his day :D

So don't forget to enter for my giveaway if you're interested, or if you have the time check out the other links...there are lots for you this week.

Have a wonderful week everyone ~ whatever you have planned. 

Enjoy and keep smiling

Artist Play Room ~ Favourite Colour

Phewph...here I am again...'Tail-End Charlie'...(apologies Jenn)

All my good intentions to be ahead of the game this week seemed to disappear around Tuesday! 

Hopefully Jenn at the Artist Play Room  will be her usual wonderful, lovely host and let me nip into the room to join in the fun....even at this late stage.

 

Jenn decided for this week's theme we were to create a piece of art that celebrates our very favourite colour. This you would think might be an easy challenge, but once you really have to knuckle down and chose one particular colour it becomes very difficult....so I went with my initial first thought. 

The colour that I would usually chose would be 'blue'.....

but then which blue to choose? 

 

Oh my...but there are an infinite number of possible shades. Each shade of blue can be modified slightly by adding a new colour, the possibilities are endless. As far as we know, there are more than fifty thousand shades of blue. Air Force Blue, Celeste, Egyptian blue, Maya Blue, Royal Blue, and Ultramarine are a few.

So which to choose?...I did have a beautiful electric blue dress that was my absolute favourite years ago...I thought I looked the 'bees knees' in it (heaven knows where that statement comes from...'the bees knees'?) and was heartbroken when finally I couldn't wear it anymore...so whilst walking last week I came across the tiny Australian Fairy Wren who obviously feels the same about his plumage and rightly so...he struts his stuff on tiny, tiny legs in his spectacular blue outfit and is so cute that I thought I'd chose him to celebrate my favourite colour.

It seems right that I not only use the colour but also a beautiful little delicate bird too. 

So here is my entry....I hope you like him....I also thought I'd add just a touch of a 'tangle in the tail ;D

I couldn't resist...plus he's in my journal...so hey ticked a few boxes at once!

(apologies for the photograph...unfortunately I couldn't take the photo in good light) 

Then a friend (who knew that I was drawing the blue wren) brought me this photo from a magazine...

now let me tell you I haven't been able to snap a shot of this tiny wren myself because basically I'm hopeless...my camera just doesn't have a fast enough shutter speed...and this little chap doesn't sit still...ever!!!

But look at this shot!

I'd have been apoplectic if I'd managed to take this photo...I'd have been hyperventilating and shaking so much that it would have been a blur.

 I can imagine how the photographer Barb Leopald must have felt knowing she had that shot in the bag!

So that's it for this week folks...I hope you've enjoyed visiting me...I know I've loved having you pop into my place. So why not nip over to Jenn's place to see all the stunning colours and amazing art work.

I'm sure you'll be inspired by what you see...they're such a brilliantly talented lot!

That's where I'm off to now...see you there

Artists Play Room ~ Inspiration

This week's challenge set by the lovely hostess with the mostest Jenn at the Artist Play Room's is 'Inspiration'.

It seems to me that since I started blogging and creating art work again, that I see inspiration everywhere I look....

I'm being bombarded with ideas and feel that my head is about to burst if I don't get some of it out...unfortunately the battle is going on with so many other things too...

I've read so many incredible posts this week which expresses the theme brilliantly so why not take a visit to the Artist Play Room I'm sure you'll be inspired.

So 'ditto' the other artists wise words but I have to add two very important points of my own...firstly that I just can't express how thankful I am that my daughter encouraged me to start a blog. 

How ever did I manage before?

Everyday can be so 'inspiring' by what you see, read, who you meet and what knowledge, encouragement and friendship passes through the blogosphere. I think it's priceless!

But then not only did my daughter encourage me in this new steep learning curve she has always believed I should have kept drawing and creating all those years I just did mundane things.

Since she was a tiny tot with the colouring pencils we've shared this love of art.

We can talk about colours, subject matter, techniques, ideas, inspiration...you name it and we are on the same page. It's wonderful and I know the artists among you will relate to what I'm saying...that like minded people immediately 'get it' whatever your discussing. It's a fantastic feeling to have the same connection with creativity. 

So here's a painting and you'll see straight away that it's not my usual style....because that's just it...it's not mine! (I didn't want to fess up but I know as a Mother I should...Grrr)

It's my daughter's! As soon as she sent it to me I knew I had to enter it into this week's APR because she IS my inspiration. I love everything about this painting...and look how loose it is! (turning a little green here).

I had difficulty with the format so had to copy it and then photograph it so I'm not really doing it justice. If I work out how to change the scanned pdf copy into a different format that blogspot will accept, then I'll repost it.

I know this will come as a huge surprise to her....but that's the lovely thing about blogging...you never know what's coming next!

And on that note let me just tell you about one thing that happened during the last week....a cute little parcel arrived in the post. Now many will have heard me complain that I never get anything other than bills in the post but not any more because the cutest parcel arrived in my postbox. I carried it around for about an hour before making a cuppa and sitting comfortably ready to open it. (My son thought I was crackers but you have to savour these things)

What a wondeful surprise because the little package had travelled all the way from Canada!

Jenn had sent me a gorgeous chain pull, book mark and a beautiful letter. It was totally out of the blue and a wonderful surprise. The clasp is stirling silver and the embellishments a beautiful turquoise blue. (not surprising when its one of Jenn's favourite colours).

If you nip over to her blog at Just Add Water Silly she has an Etsy shop where you can see her fantastic crafts.

Apologies for rushing this post but I'm dashing off again this morning (when don't I dash?) but for a bumper boast of inspiration. I'm off to one of the biggest (and best so I hear) craft fairs in the whole of Victoria!

I'll let you know how I go and what happens but I may be gone some time 

Have a wonderful weekend, have lots of fun and enjoy the Playroom. :D

Artist Play Room....Illustrate A Word

Hey it's Friday...so let's play a little game today shall we? 

What about you have to guess the word?

I'll give you clues as we go along...and you shout out when you think you know what that word is ~ peeasers!

Let's begin....

It can start your day off just right...making you leap out of bed ready to take on the day whatever it brings 
(no not caffine, although that works for me)

When it's not around...we miss it so much we yearn for it...even travelling miles in pursuit of it.
(no not chocolate....although I possibly could... scaling mountain heights and swimming oceans...
oh bother, see now I've got to go and get a bar ...)

It needs to be treated with respect and we need to be careful how much we indulge
 (nah...red wine's good for you...I'm sure I read it somewhere?)

Getting warmer??? (clue)

We can feel full of life and become incredibly active...wanting to do anything and everything

(I have to say here and now...this is not me diving...

when I enter the water, I'm like an Olympian diver...there's hardly a ripple!...cough)

 

or just kick back and chill....

 now this is more like it....cheers! (any closer yet?)

Too much....(sizzle)...

And too little...(brrr)...you need to find the right balance...

There's nothing better than finding the right spot.....(Ahhhh)...and some have this skill better than others...

Did you shout something there...? I'm guessing you've got it by now....

Wonders can unfold under it's power....

And finally amazing sights can give a perfect display at the close of day...

You must know by now....the word is.....(drum roll please...)

'SUNLIGHT'

And so what was all this fun and hilarity about, I hear you ask...other than it's nearly the weekend ....

Well it's Jenn at the Artist Play Room's challenge for this week.
Illustrate a word! 

I bite the bullet and opened my new art journal...and let me tell you it was scary...all those blank white pages staring back at me...new journal...new pencils...new techniques....my oh my...Jenn really pushes me

 (but in a positive good way of course :D) 

I start out at the beginning of the week wanting to do something serious, but by the time I finish my entry it always seems to be whimsical! 

I'm now wondering is this my style...I'm not sure I'm happy about that...

I'd love to do a serious masterpiece...but I guess that's never going to happen. Ho hum...

Now take a peek at what the other entrants have submitted...I know you'll have a great time seeing all the brilliant artists work.They'll blow you away with their talent...they do me every week.
Have a wonderful weekend ~ whatever you get up to and let's hope that sun shines! :D