Wonderful Workshops

I can't complain that I haven't had time to paint this week because I've seriously indulged not once, but twice! (GASP!)

Well for a start how could I clean the house when it's been so dark? 

At 3.00pm I've had to turn on lamps for goodness sake.

I dread to think what I'll see when the sun eventually does shine, but apparently that's not going to happen until at least next Tuesday... if we're lucky. 

So for now all my guilt is shut up tight into the broom cupboard. 

But can you guess what the subject matter was for my art group this week?

A Rainy Afternoon!!!! 

As you can imagine I was thrilled 

I have to say I struggled with this one, not only for the subject, but also trying to keep my piece loose.

I nearly freaked out trying to get a little precision on a building whilst using the palette knife.
I apologised to all my fellow desk mates but they seemed to think it was a giggle... so they're now off my Christmas card list!  

I definitely need more time to work on this... so I'm not going to show you it this week.

I wouldn't wish that on anyone never mind my arty friends. 

I'm still attempting to catch up after being away and had completely forgotten that I'd signed up for a workshop.

Thankfully I'd entered it into my phone diary so didn't miss it. 

I had a great time which was organised by the Jack Tierney Gallery in Cults, Aberdeenshire.

The very talented visiting Russian artist Sofia Perina-Miller gave incredible demo's (four in all) and her enthusiasm was infectious, so we all had a play too.

Her work is so incredibly vibrant and free flowing. 

No pencil in sight. 

Here she is painting a poinsettia. 

Sofia sees everything in intense colour and transfers that to her paintings.
If you'd like to see more of Sofia's work... click here or visit her Facebook page here

Her energy was tangible and listening to her talk about all of her projects, plans and future work left me feeling a little dizzy. She apparently only has about three to four hours sleep a night. 

(I knew that's were I would find some more time... now I just have to try sleep deprivation... although somehow I don't think it'll be for me... I'm a dizzy blonde already at times) 

I now have an extensive art supplies wish list for Christmas, but unfortunately I don't think I've been that good.... I'll have to work on it!

St.Petersburg White Nights Wooden Box Set
Shin-Gansai watercolour pan
600gsm cold pressed paper 
to name but three...

Here's a painting I managed to do within the time restraints.

I always like to outline in pen so was thrilled when Sofia said that we needed to do that on our finished paintings. 

Yay... I knew I liked her 

This second piece isn't finished but I'll maybe have a play with it using the paints I already have. 

It's so dark here so photographs lately leave a lot to be desired...soz!

I'll certainly be looking out for more workshops to attend and Sofia says she will return in the spring.
Roll on spring for so many reasons...

And finally and more appropriately my sincere apologies if you have visited me recently and I haven't returned the call.

I've been away twice in the last few weeks and there's still two little trips planned (although these aren't cast in stone) I will be revisiting my posts to catch up with replies as and when I can.

In the meantime why don't you nip over to Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday there's always lots to see.

I'm also linking to Dion Dior's Friday Sketches... click here to visit Dion

And the Artist's Play Room over at Jenn's Just Add Water Silly blog

Happy Friday everyone... have fun and hopefully I'll see you again soon
(I'll be concentrating on the Christmas festivities after this weekw)

xoxo

WOYWW...What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday #273

Today thankfully I didn't wake up next to a monster
Don't laugh because yesterday I did!

I turned to thank my hubby for my early morning cuppa and nearly dropped the cup.

Looking back at me was a red angry puffy slitted eyed monster.
Having someone look at you first thing in the morning and physically recoil from the sight of you, possibly isn't the best start to your day... or the fact that you have back to back meetings all day and look like you've been in the boxing ring all night.
But after anti-histamine and two days later he looks like he's just sleep deprived.

We're not sure what caused it... whether it was three excitable visiting dogs running throughout the house or the dust from yet more renovations.
Yep... we've moved into Phase 2 and this week we're changing all the radiators.
There are 18 radiators waiting to move in which means a little Pollifilla here, sanding there and a swish of paint in between. 

Anyway, I'm sitting here in the study on a 3C degree morning with the sun streaming through the window dreaming of hot showers and how long it might be before I can have one! 

I've lit the fire and I'm becoming increasingly cosy and comfy... at this rate I might not move for the remainder of the day, but before I forget I did promise that I'd show you my finished Highland Cow 'Hettie'

Yes, surprisingly I finished her and what's more I really like her!

(Painted using Daler Rowney Acrylic Artists Ink)

Here's my last WOYWW post that show's her in various stages of undress...click here

And below is a photo of a real HIghland Cow that I promised I'd take if I saw one on my rounds. 

I have to tell you that I did virtually everything to make her lift her head, but she was on a mission to consume as much grass as she could possibly manage before nightfall.

I haven't shown you my desk this morning because
1. My daughter is using it once more and
2. I've got my next drawing in the planning stage and it's a surprise.
I'll hopefully be able to show you that next week. 

If you'd like to see other artists finished work and their desks then there'll be lots to visit over at
 Julia's Stamping Ground. 

Click here to transport you

Have a great week and Happy WOYWW to one and all.

See you again soon

I've also linked up today with Jenn over at the Artist Playroom 

Feathers...done and dusted

 As promised I'm posting the finished painting from Wednesday and the WOYWW linkup. 

Instead of visiting everyone's desk today, I decided to use the time to revisit my own desk and finish the feather painting. 

Don't worry I'll get to visit everyone who visited me and maybe a few more if I can...hopefully later tonight when someone's distracted with the Commonwealth Games coverage. 

Here's the photo from Wednesday's post first for those who didn't see it.

(click here if you want to see the post)

(I'm still unsure who has lost the feather, so if you know then just pop my a line...I'm still thinking it's from a buzzard. 

We have quite a few living nearby and they often fly over the garden). 

At one stage I thought I'd ruined the painting, so I just took a deep breath and went for it... apparently that's what I should always do. It'll help loosen my work.

I've been stating that unfortunately it doesn't look like the real feather, but then I'm also told that if you want your work to look like the real thing...then take a photo! 

So here's the final piece

 I used Daler-Rowney Acrylic Ink which is a new medium for me. 

I'm enjoying exploring and discovering just how they work, plus I used a fine nib for the highlights. 

So there you are...finally a finished piece of work and with that in mind I'm linking to Paint Party Friday and The Artist's Play Room

I wish you all a happy weekend.

Have fun and enjoy! 

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

APR ~ Favourite Mug #60

How could I resist when I heard that Jenn's Artist Play Room challenge this week was to draw/paint something that is very dear to my heart! 

...My Mug!...

Not my face ~ not that kind of mug ~ the drinking kind.

So even though I have limited art supplies (well that's a gross understatement...I've a few pens, a pencil, eraser and a small travelling water colour kit) I've actually managed to complete a painting for this week. Although Jenn asked for our favourite mug or cup I've decided to show you one, but I painted the other. 

Yes...call me fickle I have two favourites!  

I love the look and feel of the Whittard of Chelsea china mug below. 

My daughter bought two as a present, but unfortunately one had an unfortunate accident during one of our many moves! It lost its handle.  

(Whittard of Chelsea (Anita Jeram) 2006)

The china mug is perfect for a cuppa but the practicality is that I need something more robust! 

A Denby pottery mug fits the bill...it keeps my tea hotter for longer. I'm one of those people that have to drink my tea at the molten lava like temperature. Even with this mug I can become distracted and it can 'go off the boil' as it were (now don't think I don't know that for a proper cuppa you're not supposed to use boiling water ~ I do know all about that ~ BUT I LIKE MY TEA HOT!!!

The only time that I can forget my cuppa is when I'm busy or engrossed creating art! 

At any other time it's my top priority :D

From my first cup in the morning to my last cup at night...it has my full attention.

Going back to the 'meecie mug' 

(HA! Neesies meecie mug...I like that...yeah I know...small things and all that) 

Here's the designs that sits around the cup. 

Aren't they cute? 

And here's my painting....there's lots of tweaks needed but time is of the essence as they say and I wanted to meet the time scale for APR...so perhaps I'll tweak later. 

Whilst I'm here I might as well show you some other things that have mysteriously arrived in my journal. 

I've no idea where I got the time, but I do know that they've helped to keep me in a sane state of mind in what has been a really terrible week.  

I've wanted to draw a Mandala. for quite some time. 

For those who may not know...a Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe.  

But I wanted to do my own version...showing my universe or at least some of it. 

It's my story so far...or at least some of it! 

There are lots of details contained within the mandala if you look closely....

I really enjoyed drawing and creating this pattern and thought it would be a great idea to do a Mandala for others...just pick 15/20 key things that are relevant to you and have them enclosed within your own personal pattern. Just drop me a line is you're interested.... ;D
I've also published the design onto cards. 

I've counted approximately 45 specific personal icons enclosed within my Mandala that are special in some way to me...can you spot any?

Well that's me done for this week...but why not head over to Jenn's Artist Playroom and see if you can see your favourite mug or why not pick a new one!
They'll be lots of different designs to choose from...

Tat tar for now...have a wonderful weekend everyone...see you again soon I hope

Autumnal Tree...APR #58

Today is rather a strange day...I'm in a new venue for sending my post. 

I've come to a local library and I must admit it's a little strange. 

It's the first time that I've sat and used the communal computers and I'm just thinking is it impolite to wipe all of the keyboard with antibacterial sanitising wipes before I begin? 

I normally have the radio playing when I'm blogging but here the tapping of the eight keyboards is deafening!

I've played footsie with the chap across the desk from me...the girl next to me is constantly chattering about everything and anything not working or going to plan, she's even muttered that heaven forbid they've let a small child onto one of the computers to 'play'! 

There's another chap who seems to have lost his chin whilst he concentrates on the screen and I'm now trying desperately to relax my own face...which isn't an easy task I can tell you! 

OH NO..he's now decided to pick his nose! Surely not :(

Oh please...it's like when you see a terrible sight but you just can't stop your eyes from revisiting! Yuk!

Now I wish I had used the wipes! 

I'm getting a little concerned about the chap sitting next to me who has slumped over the desk playing solitaire...he hasn't moved for the past 30 minutes! I do hope he's not peeking at what I'm writing.

Oh we're okay his time has just ran out and he's off...phewph!

The child playing on the end desk is accompanied by his Grandmother by the way and he's having a great time pressing every button on the keyboard because Granny just tells him..."I don't know darling...just press anything and see". Well it works for me :D

So with all of these distractions I nearly forgot why I'm here...
Oh yes...it's to post my entry into the lovely Jenn's The Artist Play Room. 
I've missed so many weeks what with gallivanting around New Zealand's South Island, plus packing up our belongings for the big move,  so I'm thrilled that I've actually got something to enter. I'm thinking that I will add colour because let's face it autumn is all about colour...but that will have to be later.
The only trouble is that I've already sent most of my art equipment away already, but I suppose I could add to my collection and purchase the colours that I need...they could always go via airfreight later.

 

 I've also another drawing (not in my journal) which I had hoped to post here, but unfortunately the usual daily business got in the way and it's still got some work needed. 

I've taken photos at various stages because I love that when I see other artists work broken down to show their techniques. Hopefully I'll be able to post that drawing soon. I'm quite excited about it.

In the meantime, I'll let my fellow 'puter people carry on...

Hormonal female next to me is still muttering...slump man has returned bring with him a rather odd odour (which I'd rather not dwell on) Happy feet across the desk is still tap dancing...and I seem to have missed the child leaving...maybe he's off for a nap now that he's been overstimulated. Oh yes and the chinless wonder has now found a tricky piece of skin near his thumb nail that seems to be putting up quite a fight!  

And so there you have it...today's post!

But before I head off for a well earned tea break, let me give you the link for the APR so that you can check out what the other artists have been submitting this week.

I can't believe I've been blogging for nearly two hours without a cuppa. Unthinkable! 

I'm off....have a fantastic Friday everyone and an even better weekend whatever you have planned. 

Have fun! 

 

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 ~

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