Works in progress

This is a corner of my submission painting which Im putting forward for the Art Show, its called ~ 'Can we come too?'

I had an Art Day yesterday, a whole 5 hours of painting. When it got to around 3 o'clock, I came away from it for a while, I like to do this to get a sense of its direction, its so easy to lose yourself in your work and then lose track of where it was you were hoping to take it so I make a point of leaving it alone and sit it somewhere I can see it as I pass in and out of the room, this way I can see what needs changing etc.

Im going to have to try very hard this week to paint in the evenings - I have my sister and her family visiting and they are staying with my parents in a nearby village so the next week will be mostly spent with them. At the same time I cant ignore the itchy need to create and complete this painting so I resolve to dig out the daylight lamp and get busy in the evenings - lets hope I can find the energy eh?!! :)

The other big thing Im working on is a summer blanket, I was inspired to follow the pattern on Attic24's blog and Im up to 14 squares. Im loving the colours, Im loving the wool - I dont know how long it will take me to finish it, Im just enjoying the journey of creating something that will be large, colourful..taken on picnics, to the beach...to wrap ourselves up in when we watch a movie...or to just fall asleep under on a rainy sunday afternoon.

A little heirloom blanket, for my little family.

If you like the look of the pattern, you can see how to do it here.

See you soon, have a scrumptious weekend!

Just for the joy of it

I mentioned a day or so ago, that me and the little one had made a yarn basket - well here it is in all its wonky marvellousness!!

We are both very pleased with our first effort, and for some reason the sight of the yarn bowl as it dried clinging to a rotund balloon in a mixing bowl, brought no end of hilarious delight to the child each time she saw it. I must say that the novelty of pva glue sticking to her little hands wore off pretty fast, so it was Mummy who ended up finishing it but nevertheless, it was a joint effort and we thoroughly enjoyed making it. Im considering making a more rounded one for some pretty scarves I have, in shades of blue, purple and aqua.

Later in the afternoon, we both got busy making a lucious lemony drizzle loaf cake. There is something sublime and delightful watching chubby hands grasp a wooden spoon and stir up the ingredients. Watching bright eyes twinkle mischievously as a finger is dipped into the mixture, a large dollop popped into a little mouth followed by a loud "Mmmmmmmmmmmm!"

Something warm and fuzzy happens when you make things with a little one - my girl is not yet 2, but she has a natural curiosity and an earnest need to help. I love my painting time, I love my hours spent crocheting or making bits and bobs of jewellry...but I love, love, LOVE this stuff we do together - watching her learn and grow.

While the cake was baking, she got very excited and kept wanting to look in the oven - we would open the door and peep inside and she would clap her hands in delight and shout 'Cake!'. Little people remind you to see the joy in the ordinary...its priceless.

This was what we made - not much left now though!

I have an Art Day tomorrow which Im really looking forward to, Im going to be working on the first of my submission paintings - did I tell you its called 'Can we come too?'

I'll post pics soon, promise :)

Til next time...

Simple Pleasures

This weekend we took ourselves to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales. We had foolishly ignored the weather forcast (fierce winds, hail blizzards and freezing cold temperatures) thinking that as normal they'd get it wrong and packed up a bountiful picnic with all hopes of discovering another gorgeous little place.

And it was - gorgeous I mean, inviting little lanes and cobbled entrances leading into secret yards, clusters of cottages with pretty gardens, friendly cats and dogs, shops like the Rustic Rabbit whose window lures you in with its tempting array of goodies so its almost impossible to leave empty handed.

There were little galleries, Emma Bridgewater pottery (heavenly!) and all this would have been the best day out had the little one not decided to be horribly carsick on arrival, and then after a clean up and cuddle operation getting well caught out in the hail storm to beat all hail storms, complete with wicked blasting wind that scratched your face and a cutting icy cold wind that chilled to the bone. We reluctantly retreated to the car, but very firmly decided that when the weather was warmer we would return for walks and another picnic.

So it was time to head home, to more relaxing pursuits...

Being very inspired of late by the fabulous Attic24, I took inspiration from one of Lucy's beautiful projects and decided to crochet my own jam jar vase cover, making a colourful little addition for the kitchen and any pretty flowers that might find their way home in my shopping bag.

I am also beginning a blanket, and Im six squares in already...its addictive and Im afraid the painting has been put on the back burner of late! Wool is the current inspiration and I cannnot ignore the lure of it - today, me and the little one made a yarn basket (I'll post a pic once its dried out) after reading about them on Soulemamas blog some time back. Im also going to invest in her book - The Creative Family after being completely delighted by her words and pictures, check her out!

So, typing with bits of dried pva glue still stuck to my fingers, I am relaxing and loving simplicity today - I love my daffodils in my crocheted vase, I love the little yarn basket drying on the kitchen window sill, I love the fact I have an art day this friday and I love that Im meeting an old friend on thursday whom I havent seen since last summer...I love that the daylight is slowly stretching itself into early evening, I love little purple crocuses, the kingfisher on the river and this lovely tatty little house of ours.

Sending you love today xxx