Can Can Girls!

I've recently started keeping a journal again. This was something that I used to do, but gradually got out of the habit, and it lapsed.

It sounds quite posh calling it a journal, basically its a note book where I jot down my mind chatter and somewhere to doodle and sketch and try out some ideas. It also acts as a scrapbook for anything that takes my interest, whether its ideas for home decor or inspiration from other artists found in magazines.

Quite often I will happily copy someone else's art work. I don't apologise for this, as its all art practice for me. Something in their art work has inspired me enough to pick up my art materials and do something!

While I'm busy using computer graphics for the majority of my art work, simply copying a drawing or watercolour allows me to enjoy drawing and painting as a way to relax as well as practicing my art skills.

I did a little favour for a friend recently. She had a greetings card which featured a line of can can girls, illustrated on the front. She wanted it enlarging and then framing. Unfortunately, I didn't take note of the artist's name so I'm sorry but I can't credit the below image.

I thought the image was great fun and I couldn't resist doing my own version of the first can can girl, in my journal. Here she is.

I hope to post a few more of my journal extracts soon.

Its Been A While!

Hello again! Yes it's been a while since I last posted here.

This is mainly due to being a bit mad busy with my sister blog Design and Elegance. I have been creating different sample wedding invites so that I could build up a small portfolio of designs. I've also had the opportunity to create some bespoke samples for, what I'm hoping will be future clients. It's all been quite exciting.

Things have finally calmed down a bit and I've enjoyed a week away on holiday too.

On my return from holiday, my creative side was itching to do something. I fancied soothing that itch with a bit of colouring-in. It's probably my way of kicking back from all the computer graphics that I've been doing lately, it's also very therapeutic too.

I have a little sketch book just for this sort of thing, it's only small so nothing in it can take very long to complete. On a clean page, I doodled some simple flowers. Once these were drawn I could get on with the fun of colouring them in. Sunday morning was blissful.

You're Invited!

I am very pleased to announce and invite you to my sister blog, Design and Elegance.

Due to the success of my designs for Emma and Leigh's wedding stationery, I now have a second commission! A guest at the wedding is getting married in June and has asked me, if I would like to design and produce their wedding stationery.

This is giving me so much pleasure that I have started a sister blog dedicated to wedding and special occasion stationery. Here, I will be able to showcase designs that have been used for weddings and special occasions, with the client's permission, as well as bring you new designs and idea samples for hopeful future clients and occasions.

Please click on the invitation.

Happy Mother's Day

A very happy Mother's day to all you Mums out there. I hope you are having a lovely day and enjoying some sunshine. The clocks have gone forward too, so that we can start to enjoy some lighter nights and look forward to summer.

I think all Mums like a homemade card whatever age you are, well that's what they tell us anyway, so I've doodled one for my Mum....this is how it went...

a doodle

with some text added

and a bit of colouring-in.

Happy Mother's Day, Mum x

Crafty Moods and Artist Trading Cards

Recently my crafty mood has just wanted to play.

I think this stemmed from watching too much create and craft when I was ill and off work for a few days. I was itching to get out my craft supplies and watercolours! When this sort of mood takes hold, I generally end up creating Artist Trading Cards.

Artist Trading Cards or ATCs are tiny 2.5 x 3.5 inch card featuring original art work on one side and the artist name and date of creation on the other. The only rules with an ATC is its size, after that you are free to use any media, technique or materials you desire to create little masterpieces. I find creating these are great if you want to experiment with different ideas or use different materials.

Here are a few that I've done recently...

I generally start off with a particular stamp in mind.

 Then create some sort of background using craft papers.

The image is then, either stamped directly onto the background or onto another piece of paper and added to the background.

Colour is added by way of different craft papers or watercolour.

And then, I usually add something else as a finishing touch. e.g. the button to the dress makers dummy, pearls to the blossom and even a glossy varnish to the ladybird's shell.

Because of their size ATCs do not take long to create and a few can be done in an afternoon, giving you chance to try a few different ideas and satisfy that crafty mood!

Butterflies at the Wedding

Thankfully, not too many of the nervous kind!

As promised here are a few photos from the recent wedding. Emma and Leigh made a lovely Bride and Groom, and everyone enjoyed sharing and celebrating their special day. The setting was quite magical, the wedding venue overlooked a quiet lake and we were lucky enough to have sunshine on a chilly February day.

The wedding breakfast room was set out beautifully and my stationary looked the part. I know Emma was very pleased with it, which pleased me immensely.

We did, however, have a small laugh together when we saw the alternative way that the place name butterflies had been placed on the glasses. We didn't worry, they still worked well and impressed the guests.

The food was scrumptious, the wine and bubbly flowed, we all enjoyed the speeches and toasted the happy couple.

It certainly was, a lovely day to remember.

Spring Blossom

Now, I'm no gardener and my recognition of different flowers is very few, but that does not take away the pleasure of pretty gardens, wonderful woods and trees with beautiful spring blossom.
I mentioned, in the last post, the lovely blossom of a couple of trees at the front of my house. I decided it was too lovely not to share a photo with you.

By the way, its some sort of crab-apple tree!