Spring Posies

My evenings of late have been spent with my wool stash and crochet hook, creating these little corsages. What started out as an idle way to pass an hour or so (without having to think too much about anything in particular) led to a bit of a minor obsession.

I am to be found making excuses to visit much loved wool emporiums whenever the chance arises, losing myself for several hours in colours and textures that leave me in raptures! I know mere mortals will think I am beyond help, but fellow crafters and crocheters will nod in a deeply understanding manner.

I feel all this might be because March is upon us, and spring is busily springing up all over the garden whch has led to this burst of inspiration, this veritable love affair with crocheted little buds and posies. I am at the moment swooning over Rowan colour charts as I contemplate a blanket...oh yes, Im serious about this!! Anyway, you can find these little bunches of colourful deliciousness currently in my etsy shop!

Its a nice departure from painting, to have a crafting side from which to create as well. This Friday I am hoping to begin a new painting which I will share with you along the way - its one of the paintings Im hoping will be picked for the show, so Im keen to get started with it.

Im also keen for a break, a change of scenery! Its known to do one good isnt it, so Ive decided,I need a trip to the seaside soon, the kind of day trip that involves fish and chips, icecream and walks on gusty beaches...its been too long. Perhaps I shall bring it up in conversation this evening, there is only so much inland dwelling I can stand before I have to have my fix!

Im also searching for a picnic basket, the traditional wicker kind to take on these excursions, full of delightful old napkins, plastic plates and tasty treats - we have a toddler so the nice china stuff will have to wait 'til she has grown out of crashing absent mindedly across the picnic blanket and demolishing the perfect 'Country Living' scene :-)

So much to do....but what lovely things they are indeed!

Fitting it all in

'Little Red, kite flying'

You know the trouble with being a creative person is that there is always something else you want to be doing. Whilst working on my most recent piece; 'Well & Joy' I found my mind drifting towards crochet projects after purchasing some beautiful hand made ceramic buttons from this lovely lady at Incy Wincy Stitches with which to adorn some crocheted corsages!

Anyway, before I drift off into a reverie of buttons, cashmerino wool and the like, I felt I had to share my illustration piece with you, and in all its completed glory, here it is!! You can see a bigger version here.

'Companions'

'Well & Joy - the finished piece'

Id love to hear any comments you might have about my new work!

So, as is quite usual for me, I now have several projects on the go at once. There are neither enough hours in a day or enough days in a week to get everything done, but its ok. Its actually the delicious thoughts of creating all these lovely things that make the journey of life worth travelling. Corsages, illustration work, childrens art workshops, hand crafted cards...its all these little bursts of inspiration that make the duller parts glow. To overcome the frustration of perhaps bursting at the seams with so many things I want to do (and future projects include making a book bag with some gorgeous Amy Butler fabric and a blind for our kitchen) I have to make notes of my ideas whilst they're fresh in my head, maybe scrapbook some pictures from magazines etc too.

With the ideas and thoughts safely down in the art journal, I can happily return to wiping small jammy hands, laundry and other dismal sounding chores.

Its all about sparkling from the inside.

Spring, Cards and Art Randoms

Gorgeous tiny irises in the back garden

The other evening it felt surprisingly mild outside, well, for February at least so I took the opportunity of the good light and grabbed a couple of soul lifting, inspiring spring photos of things that are blooming in our magical garden. Just after I took this picture and decided to bring the washing in, a stunning little kingfisher flew over my head!!

Pretty 'Denim' primroses outside the back door

Now the season is on the turn and spring is very much in the air, I am turning my thoughts towards card designs for easter, birthdays and mothers day to name but a few upcoming occasions, and today I completed three cards. They are fairly time consuming, being totally hand crafted but much love goes into them and I thoroughly enjoy creating them. You can see a few pics below of what Ive been up to.

Handcrafted Wedding Invitation

'Vintage Heart' Hand Crafted Birthday Card

Vintage Flower - Hand Crafted Birthday Card close up

You can see the Vintage designs at my website where they are currently up for sale!

As well as card designs, Im also turning my attention to equally pressing matters, and that is the creation of 3 pieces of work which Im going to be submitting for approval to the lovely folks at the Great Sheffield Art Show. My selection day isn't til mid May but theres alot to do before that, as well as completing the said work I also have to get them beautifully framed (and Im always delighted by the gorgeous peeps at Curo who have worked wonders and miracles with my art work before!)

At the moment, Im dreaming up ideas, sketching things and jotting down notes. Ive chosen acrylic and oil pastel to work with on square canvas boards and the work will be of an illustrative nature. I can't share much more than that because the ideas are still pretty hazy but I'll share more along the way as things develop!

Time for a cuppa.....