Art dolls are here!!

I have had so many ideas going through my head, but lacked the time/get up and go to get them done. well I finally got around to one idea I had, to make an art doll. I have made art dolls before, but not this way. I used one of my images from my original paintings and used transfer to put it onto calico cotton. I then stitched and embelished, stuffed and stitched. I ended up with 2 made, took me all day as me and my sewing machine don't always see eye to eye...lol, but we stumbled through, and I am really pleased with how they turned out, and want to make more!!

Off to London!

My bestest Christmas pressie ever is what my Hubby has got for me this year. He is taking me to London for a 3 day break! The hotel is just around the corner from the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is somewhere I have been longing to visit...didn't he do well??? Also our eldest son has treated us both to tickets to the theatre whilst in London, we are going to see the Lion King, which is meant to be an amazing stage show!
How they managed to keep this quiet I don't know, although I knew they were up to something...lol
We go 5th -7th Jan, so fingers crossed the weather is ok!

I have been taking a suziblu online course which is all about Angels, so how could I resist? here is my version of one of the lessons.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I would like to wish all my followers a very Happy Christmas and wish you all the best for 2010 :)
Thankyou each and everyone of you for all your support and encouragement over the past year, you have no idea how much each little comment has meant,

More Journal pages

Gosh this journal making lark is such fun!!I have done a few more pages, I am not saying they are all completely finished as yet, but almost.The pink one with art, create on is the front cover and is well from being finished but I wanted to show you it, as I love how its shaping up!

Feeling the creativity!

I have been a bit uninspired recently and felt I needed to spark my creativity! I found the most wonderful videos by Teesha Moore, on how exactly to make an art journal, bind it, paint it, collage it and embellish it! so I was inspired and felt I had to give it a go!
Well I made the 18 page book from a large sheet of water colour paper...yes really!, bound it and had great fun painting all different colour backgrounds. The cut out pics from magazines and collaged, and then finally the pen work, all on the first 3 pages!! I loved it! I have a lot of trouble letting go with my art, I can be very up tight, so this is a good excersise for me! I followed Teeshas examples, so the next few pages will be more "me"

Heres the link to her videos on youtube

Take time out for Christmas

I was asked ( or was it conned?) to sing in the choir for the WI Christmas carol service. well I have just got back and it was the most delightful service ( even our singing was ok!)
As I sat there I looked around the old chapel, the organ, the carvings in the wood, the pews, the lit candles, the arched ceiling and thought of all the people who had been there over the years.It was lovely to take a pause from busy life, to sit in the quiet, to listen to poems and to sing out those wonderful Christmas Carols.
Take time out to reflect, go on you will feel much more in the Christmas mood, I know I am!!

News....

Well I finally gave in and joined twitter!! I had refused for a while, but someone tweeted one of my items from my etsy shop and the views jumped from 27 to 45 in a matter of seconds!! so I was persuaded, heres the link
I got a sale last night from twitter, so I was really pleased.
Also I will be busy today as I have 2 custom orders to do, some book marks and some cards.

I still have my sale on,
Hello!!! I have this offer.......
20% OFF EVERYTHING IN MY SHOP UNTIL MONDAY!!!!!!
just convo me and I will adjust the price, or I will refund via paypal, just mention 20% in the comments box so I know...thanks!!!

Sales and new painting

I amhaving a sale ...20% off anything in my etsy shop, until 30th November, so if you are interested, nows the time to get a bargain :)

I finished a new painting today, which always makes me feel good, I like how the colour combintion has worked. Its woodburned, then painted on wood , with lots of layers and collage. The words are hope, special,promise.

Some people are just so kind :)

I am constantly reminded of the goodness in people on here and on etsy. I come across people who are so encouraging, people who want to help others, people who go out of their way, people who bring sunshine to others, and people who you just want to hug!
Here is an example of someone who calls me an Angel, when she is one herself
stitchnmomma

Thank you everyone who reads my blog, encourages me, and restores my faith in mankind...I love you all x

These are 2 paintings I have done as a commission for 2 sisters.

Five dollar sale!!!

I am part of the ibuy you buy thread on etsy, which is a wonderful place, where people really try to help each other out! We are having a full weekend of a $5 sale, I am taking part and have at least 10 items in my $5 section, so if you fancy bagging a bargain, then go check it out;
heres an example, a book mark $5 free shipping

Art doll

I made this art doll for a swap I am in, I am not the best with a sewing machine, we seem to fall out!, but I can hand stitch :)
I transfered one of my paintings onto cotton, and cut out the face, and then stitched onto the doll, so she is really unique! she has wild purple hair and a fabric crown. I hope who gets her loves her :)

Etsy update and new painting

I have just listed 3 items in my shop, 2 bookmarks and a set of 3 cards.
The cards and 1 of the bookmarks feature my brand new painting "star".

What happened???

Well I couldn't get on blogger yesterday, at all!! it was so annoying, but today its here :)

I had a lovely surprise the other day, the winner of my giveaway, Michele, from soggibottom, actually rang me to say thank you for the bag she received! She was so encouraging, it was lovely to talk to her and get some feedback, she made my day!! - thanks Michele :)

I have given my cards to the gallery, and put a few items in the local shop "Treasure". Treasure is a lovely shop run by Jenny. It is a jewelery shop and bead bar ,where you can buy alsorts of beading goodies, and there are workshops you can do, or you can call in and sit down and make an item of jewelery- what a fab idea! She also sells local art and crafts, and believe you me there are some lovely things in that shop!
So for me its fingers crossed that they now sell....please send me positive thoughts :)

I have made a few note card sets, one is for sale in my etsy shop.

Gallery cards!!!

Well I finally got them done! here are 4 of the designs of cards that I am giving to the gallery, fingers crossed they sell!!!

NEXT ONE!

So I managed to get the next painting for the cards for the Gallery done last night.Its the Madonna with child, I was thinking along a christmas theme, and this popped into my head :) I love the rich colours, I never set out to use a certain colour scheme, it just evolves with the painting!

new designs for Gallery

So the Sayle Gallery, here on the Island want me to do 4-5 designs of cards for the Gallery shop,
I finally got one of the new paintings done and would like to share it with you. As the design is exclusive to the gallery ( ie can't buy that design any where else) I can't use this design elsewhere, which is a pity, as I think I really like it :) I have tried to use vivid colours, so they show up well when they are printed out smaller for the cards.I have 2 more ready woodburned and the faces done ( I always do the faces first), ready to paint.

Win-it-wednesday!

Lovely Jacki of christiecottage.blogspot.com has so many things going off on her blog, she is amazing!!! every wednesday she has a giveaway called " win it wednesday" and this week the prize is one of my artblocks!!! so drop by and enter, you could win this purple Angel

The gallery they say yes!

The Lady from the big gallery on the Island got back to me yesterday, with a yes the rest of the committee love my work and want me to do 4-5 exclusive design cards for them for the gallery shop.
The next preview night is 4th November, so I need to get busy! The only thing is that they want the images to be exclusive to them, so any image I use I can't sell any where else. So I need to get some more Angels/ fairies done!
If it all goes well and they sell ( please send more positive thoughts- it worked last time!) I could have more of my work in there!

The winner is!!!!

soggibottom!!!!!
congrats!!! I shall get the Frida bag off to you in the post as soon as I have your address.

I said I would give a second prize if I had alot of entries, which I did, so second prize goes to Cara!!! well done :0

My son Ollie helped me by drawing the winners- thanks Ollie !
and thanks to all who entered :)

Spread the Love Giveaway!!!!

So I finally hit my 50 sales mark on etsy, I am so pleased, and with the sucess of my craft fair at the weekend, I feel its only fair to have a giveaway and spread the love!!

I am going to giveaway this cotton tote bag which has my Frida artwork on it.

To enter all you need to do is leave a comment here on my blog or on my facebook fan page
If you are a follower or fan please let me know as you will automatically get another entry.
Make sure I know how to contact you if you are lucky enough to win!
I shall draw the winner on Sunday 18th October, as I want to get it in the post on Monday, before any postal strikes start!

If I have lots of entries I may give a suprise second prize :)
Good luck!!

Success!

Well the craft fair was a success, but not quite in the way of sales, I did sell some things, a canvas, a few pendants, magnets and cards, and I got a couple of orders.....but the best bit was that I got asked to put my art in a local shop and 2 local art galleries!!!! HOW COOL IS THAT???

One of the galleries is a small local one, but it was nice to be asked, but the other is THE big gallery on the Island. The lady said she loved my work and would I do some exclusive things for her...erm well YES! but she can't promise me anything as she has to go back to the others on the board, and if they like it I am in...so here's fingers crossed that they do.

So I think you can say it was a big success exposure wise. here is a photo of me and Mum on my stall ( Dad took the photo, sorry its a bit blurred)

Arrrrgggghhhhh postal strikes!!!

So the postal workers in England have voted to go on strike, now isn't that just great!!! It could mean no Christmas cards or presents, it could mean no etsy sales ( as I won't be able to guarantee delivery), it could mean I can't buy things off etsy. Geee I am so mad!!

Any way tomorrow I am doing a craft fair, and I am very nervous about it. I keep having dreams that I don't sell anything!
So if you would like to think of me tomorrow, pray for me or send me positive vibes, I REALLY would appreciate it.
I will let you know how I get on!

Here is a bag I recently sold in my etsy shop. I shall be adding more soon, and I think I may have a pre- strike sale....lol

I am in ArtTrader magazine again!!

I am so pleased to have one of my atcs in the art trader magazine again!!
It was from the whimsical Marie swap, its this card,
Go check out the magazine, its FREE, you just click to download, and then you can read at your leisure or print it off.
Its full of artwork and tips and ideas
this edition has the following;

• Metal Manipulations
• Artistic Journeys: Artful Aprons
• Walk-Through Art: Fine Art Pears
• Art for All 2009 - Art Weekend Highlights
• Critique Corner with Andrea Melione
• Design 911
• Creating Mixed-Media Paper Beads
• An Introduction to Art Markers
• Portrait Art with Markers: Blending for Faces

heres the link http://www.arttradermag.com/

Engagement!

My son Oliver and his girlfriend Katya have got engaged,
so last night we went out for a family meal, with my Parents .
They are both very young and know they have a few years of study ahead of them,
but I think it shows a maturity that they are thinking of a commitment and that they plan to marry in 4-5 years,we are very proud of them.
We wish them all the best for the future :0

Celebrate!!!

Lets celebrate as today 1st October is world vegetarian day!!
I would like to send all my blogger friends a big **hug**
I have been a vegatarian for 19 years, and thought I would celebrate by making an etsyveg team treasury on etsy, why not check it out, it shows the variety of things you can buy on etsy;
Treasury

New Angel

I have just finished this Angel;
I had such fun painting her, I think she is collecting hearts.
She is actually bigger than the scanner allows me to show, the edges have an antique effect with gold. The canvas panal she is painted on is 10 x 12 inches. I love how I never know what colours I am going to use, I just go for it, and hopefully the end result works!

Fairy with Manx black cat

This little fairy is holding a black Manx cat ( see no tail!). she is painted with acrylics on a canvas panel. She has a whimsical, folksy feel, and warm colours. I enjoyed painting her :)

Where did the week go?

I can't believe its Tuesday already!
The Boys are finally all back at school, and I am trying to get back into my routine.
It is lovely to have the house to myself, I haven't had that for a while, and didn't realise how much I had missed it :)

I feel a giveaway coming on....not sure what yet??...watch this space :)

Don't forget that if you are a follower of this blog or a fan of my facebook page, you can get 20% off anything in my shop, just convo me first so I can adjust the price!

Did I show you the hand needle felted brooches I made? I really enjoyed learning this skill at the weekend artfest I went to in June.

Little houses

My new Lil'house series;
I having wanting to make some little house for ages, and finally got time to make some. I have called them my Lil'houses. I have made them out of polymer clay, then painted them, added a word from a really old book, and then sealed them. They stand about 2-2 1/2 inches tall, so are really little!

Thankyou!!

Thankyou to everyone who follows me on here and on facebook;
I am so grateful, and would like to offer, anyone who is a follower of my blog, or a fan of my facebook page 20% off anything in my etsy shop :)
Just covo me first, before purchase, and mention the word "fan" and I will adjust the price for you!
Heres my facebook page.
The photo is taken at my birthday lunch!

Its my Birthday!!!

Well today is my Birthday.....{{{happy dance}}},
I guess I am 21 again..lol

Here is a painting I finished last night.
It is called Freedom and is acrylic on canvas..


I am off out for the day, Hubby has the day off work and we are going out for lunch and then the cinema later!!

Meet Gloria.

May I introduce you to Gloria?

This is Gloria the Angel and she is woodburned , then painted onto reclaimed wood. I love that she is making use of an unwanted piece of wood. I have made it so the beauty of the original wood shows through. I think it adds to Glorias charm :)

Oooh and I nearly forgot to say that my 16 yr old got his exam results today, he got 6 A* s, 4As and a B. He had the highest results for English in the school!! Well done Oliver!

New artblocks

Check out my new artblocks, blocks of wood, with my artwork on them. Just the right size to sit on a shelf or table, and a lovely size to collect.
only $7.50 in my etsy store

Trip out on the tram

On Friday Toby and I took a trip on the tram- the Electric railway-
It runs from Ramsey where we live in the North of the Island to Douglas the Capital in the South. We travelled half way, to Laxey, home of the famous Laxey wheel. It travels along the coast and you get some dramatic views. We had refreshments at the Laxey station, then had an hour to wander around before catching the tram back. We walked down by the river, and to where they have restored a simular wheel to the big Laxey wheel. We saw lots of late summer butterflies.
A lovely trip out!