February Art Journal

Morning...
I am currently listening to a bit of Radiohead and drinking coffee, and talking to you. Today is grey and melancholy...so cold for April (and I'm sick of saying it). Snow imminent.
What better way to while away an hour or so than to share my February Art Journal with you...there is no better way, and by-the-way I have moved on to candles, incense and Buddha Chants at this point in the blog writing process. Snow is now happening.

For February I wanted to use pink quite a lot, it being the month of Love and all...so you'll see a lot of that. As for last time I wrote about my monthly journal I'll comment below on approaches and materials...

Enjoy...

Materials: paint colour strips from B&Q, catalogue cover which was painted in black acrylic an scratched, masking tape, black marker

Materials: collaged papers, black ink

Materials: red and black pen, white acrylic on top of postcard and collage + stitch then scratched

Materials: other peoples shopping lists (I collect these from around supermarkets), stitch, black marker

Materials: pink marker, black marker, blue marker, glitter picked up on  sellotape

Materials: masking tape, black marker, pink marker, graphite pencil, date page, blue pen

Materials: washi tapes, blue marker, black fineliner, tipex

Materials: pink marker, blue pen, keri smith's 100 ideas 

Materials: red pen, photographs, black marker, washi tape, keri smith's 100 ideas



Materials: white acrylic, pencil, pink pen, black marker, black ink and pen, tip ex, tea  label, staples

Materials: tracing paper, ink and pen, date stamp, watercolour paint, grey marker, black marker

Materials: newspaper glued and ripped back, washi tape, grey and pink markers, keri smith's 100 ideas 

Materials: catalogue painted with black acrylic and scratched, washi tapes

 And there we have it...sorry it took so long I have been head first into a major project which I can now reveal to you, lovely reader:

YES!! For reals!!
I got a job in an International school, and we're off in August! I still can't quite believe it and keep having to pinch myself (not literally of course), I am still in shock. I have been thinking about it for many years, dreamed about travelling to SEA since I was a teenager, and after my travels to Cambodia the last few years it became and even more urgent desire. I am so delighted. We both are.
Don't worry, I will still be blogging for as long as I feel like that's what I want to do. I love my blog being something to look back on in years to come as well as interesting for you (of course).

It's Easter break for me, and this week I have done lots of sorting and practice packing (yes, I know...I like to get right on to things like this as soon as possible, there is so much to organise!). I guess for the rest of the time we will hang out, go to the library, have coffee dates and wait out this cold weather. What are your plans?
Love, me x

January Art Journal ----> Complete!

Hi Peeps...

It's time to share some more Art Journal with you. This time it is the completed January book which I am super pleased with! You can find a DIY on how I put this together and the things I use to create it here.

I am going to try and tell you a little about each page as I go. I get inspiration from a number of places: books, like this one I am reading at the mo, my students, pinterest, friends, photography and just looking around. I gather it up in my Creative-Mental-Filofax and then spew it all out in ways like this and others such as Textile Art ( I will share some of this soon). I am a creative being (as I believe we all are), and this is the perfect way for me to communicate and demonstrate what I have stored away. Anyhoo...I ramble:

 

Front cover: I took a quote from a song, and mainly used a fineliner, then stuck yellow tissue paper over the date, I wanted it to look a bit like highlighter pen. 

 

I used photographs and magazine imagery together with fineliner drawings and marker pen detail of a railing I saw locally. I stuck on the frame from a page of postage stamps and them printed a weave pattern using embossed foam and a stamp pad.

I stuck napkin to the surface with Pritt Stick (this is one of my favorite techniques), I drew Boscombe pier in felt pen, added watercolour. I used my stamp letters and full stops to make the text on the right and dots. I painted lettering in gold paint on the right. I used felt pen wording on the right too then watered it to make it run, working well with the tissue background.

I wrote a song quote in pencil and shaded around it. Here I like how some drawing elements from previous pages become part of what is going on. I love happy accidents.

I don't like this page. I used batik wax and waterclour pencil.

This is one of me faves. I used a song quote and black ink on a newsprint background. The blue was made with acrylic paint squeezed between two sheets of paper...a long time ago and made one of the pages.

This is just about my Photo-a-Day challenge and a bit of drawing. Oh and I see some date stamping there too.

I really don't like this page. I used a fineliner, calendar page, date stamp and receipts.

I used the tisue method again on the right ( a Costa napkin), fineliner writing using a different style, marker pen on the right to draw me plates-o-meat.

Fineliner writing, chinky marker word on top, watercolour around and ink and pen for the black bold text.

Finliner birds, chunky marker for the tree, fineliner writing, date stamp tree texture.

So that was goodbye January. The February one is coming along well but it is already trying hard to live up to the glory of January.

I am having a creative boom at the moment and want to make things all the time. Right now I am working on some Art Textiles pieces that I am very much enjoying. Half term is great for catching up with me.

What are you guys creating at the moment?
Love, me x

Art Journal - Freestyle it - DIY

Hey co-creators!
Today I will be sharing with you my new Art Journalling fad for 2013, and how to get started yourself. I have shown my January book to all my friends and even some students and they all have very positive things to say...that means its time to share it with the rest of y'all cos you might like it too ( I know how creative you all are).

1. an inside page
2. inside front cover resolution - I intend to write monthly goals in mine
3. back cover
4. front cover with quote for the month

So...for this journal I actually intend to make a new one each month. I decided on this after sitting down with my usual notebook style Art Journal to write resolutions and felt really uninspired, and it just came to me: make your own! I decided to set some limits (well more like limit - as there is only one)

- choose 10 different pieces of paper plus a piece of stiffer card for the cover. (Pictures 2 +3)

I will show you how I am putting together my February book:

Once you have your book together, staple one side (picture 4) - put quite a few staples in there as you will need it to stay together.

I then cover the staples with tape (picture 1) as mine seem to be quite sharp but you could leave them showing if you like the look.

the other 'rule' I would say although it isn't really it's just nice and sets the mood/ intention for your book is:

- use a quote for the front cover from a song/ poem or book.

1. Travel Art Journal Kit - my journals are always made to fit inside
2. My favorite quote book
3. You can see al my junk in here
4. Quote I might use for February cover

And that's it....you're off!

Here are some pictures of my travel Art Journal kit which I take with me everywhere:

A. Clear plastic case - I bought this on Ebay for £2 it just pops closed and keeps everything in, it also slides in and out of my handbag easily
B. Watercolour pencils or a pencil tin - good to keep pencils in and to stick tape to for later use
C. Drink stirrers - I think I collect these and have no use for them as yet
D. Glue - got to be Pritt Stick, various pens and pencils (these change all the time but must include - at least 2b pencil, biro, felt tips, marker pen, paint brush)
E. Date stamp and ink pad - bought in Cambodia
F. Mini stapler - also from Cambodia
G. Tape - this is the matte type - from poundland
H. reliable scissors and I usually have a craft knife too.

I will be sharing more of thos project as the year progresses :)
Have fun peoples,
Love, me x

There is no such thing as a bad day...

I have had a crud of a day. Well not really a day but a single moment in the day threatened to turn it all to crud. I am usually a very positive person, not much can shake me. But I work with teenagers so you can imagine this gets tested a LOT, sometimes much more than others and it can come from seemingly nowhere. I had a run in with an angry young person today and it really got to me, made me really angry. this is what makes me not a great teacher; I take too much to heart.

How happy was I to get home and read blogs, answer = tres.

I not only read lots of blogs to cheer me up, but forced myself to go out for a run and felt a million squillion times better.

As I was reading, came accross this little challenge, thought I'd hop on board and take the focus back to the positive.

The idea is that you share on your blog, or twitter, or wherever you like...three things you are grateful for at the end of each day in February ( I hate typing February, it feels so awkward). Here are mine for today, which I have tweeted and also will write them in my art journal:

1. the aching feeling in my body after a long run
2. a warm and cozy house on a bitterly cold night
3. blogs - I love them so much and they inspire me even on the most awful of days, today it's My Girl Thursday (who has herself been inspired by Sarah Rooftops.)

You can join in too: post your three things anywhere you like, if you use twitter tag them with the hash code #3thingsfebruary (grr there you go again darn feb).

Feel free to add your below...x

Resolution Update

Today is Saturday and I am quite happily pottering around the house, listening to Tony Blackburn's Pick of the Pops. It's 1981, and the music is so amazing: John Lennon - just like starting over, Barbara Streisand - woman in love, Stevie Wonder, The Specials, Adam and the Ants - ant music....a mad mix, things must have been so confusing that year.
Makes me think about my little life then, I was 7 and things were in turmoil in my life: my Mum and Dad were going though a hideous breakup and we had nowhere but my Nan's box room to live (three of us), but I remember lots of that year as so happy...I guess I was a kid and was in my kid-bubble.

Part of my pottering today has been to 'write lettres and post things', one of my resolutions. I have three to post, so better head off and get stamps :)

Over my shoulder you can see the cat card my aunty Linda sent me, she beat me to the first letter of the year. Do you write letters?

Love

me

x

P.s, Number one in whatever week it was in 1981 was John Lennon - Imagine

Revolutions

I just posted a tweet about how I never get any time to blog during the working week, and here I am getting a post out there at 930pm on a school night. Chuffed.

I just have to post my resolution list for 2012, I don't feel like the year has truly begun until it is out there. Olivia and I started a new tradition this year, on New Years Day we got out the art equipment: watercolours and pens etc, and made really pretty versions of our resolutions to hang up. She already went through my list last night over dinner asking me if I have done them. I have made a good start on a few.

I am excited to start working on these. Did you set any goals for this year?
Love, me x

Me first!

a strange range of wishes, including: lose weight, get a bookshelf, world peace, a campervan, holiday in Greece, vintage clothes, get the car fixed, a studio space, bike rides, more money and a new sofa.

Thanks Santa x x

Festive Top Ten: from me

It's time to say goodbye to the Festive Top Ten series of blogs. It has been a real challenge to go to work all day, cook dinner and blog every day...but I am proud of me for getting it done.

I am very grateful for those who have contributed, and left comments (always welcome and I will try and get back to eveyone).

Last post today is my Festive Top Ten. I decided to champion two loves of mine: Textiles and Etsy!

............................................................................................................................................................

1 - amazing hand made embroidered card

2 - beautiful art quilt

3 - very pretty little alice piece

4 - wearable art

5 - delicate vintage image collage

6 - little textile book

7 - kindle cosy

8 - fabric bowl

9 - embroidered bowl

10 - textile art

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This is totally a fantasy list. I wish I had enough money to buy things like this, I'd love to fill my world with other people's handmade lovelies. Of all of these things I would deeply love the wearable art neck piece, I would totally rock that with many an outfit.

These are just the things I like today, who knows what my wish list will be tomorrow?

What would you wish for today?

Me x

More Summer Sketchbook

Here are some more pages from my Summer Sketchbook, which has now become 'My Sketchbook' but these pages are from the summer. This year was a great one for my artwork, the weather was so bad it meant many gloomy days in with cups of tea. making a mess with art materials.

These pages follow on from the last I blogged, a mixture of: sculpture garden with Lisa and baby Amber on a very hot day, booking myself in for various craft fayres that were disasterous, Weight Watchers and booking Olivia in for her cycling proficiency.

The thing you can't really pick up with these pages it that they are cut out in places, maybe I should have photographed them standing up, looking through? I loved this page until later I drew a black pen page and it messed up the man's face on the left...now he looks like he has a rubbish moustache!
This one depicts: cold cold days at the beach in August, more raffles (hoping to hit the jackpot, only one a bottle of ketchup!), treats, and my journey to get work into Coastal Creatives.

Hope you like them...

Seeing as we are on a summer theme, thought I would drop an old picture of little Olivia when we used to live in the Caribbean. This, for me is the ultimate photo of a Caribbean child - so free and happy. She still loves Mangoes so much, even though we have to pay for them these days! This picture fills me with motherly love ♥

My little baby will be 12 next week! She has asked for a Soda Stream machine...I can't wait for her to get it so I can make one (hehe).

This weekend I will be sorting out her birthday requests, working at the It's All Been Done Before Vintage Festival, making final touches to my Coastal Creatives consignment...and maybe I might get time to drink tea, listen to the radio and enjoy some Autumn sunshine. Love, me x

My Summer Sketchbook

This summer I have been working really hard to open up my creativity, make bolder decisions and be more experimental with a wide range of media. This all came about because I attended an amazing workshop for Art Teachers at the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum (just one of my favorite places to be in the world, and where I learnt to draw with my Art School as a teenager).
The workshop was run by Dave Hulson, and on the day I noticed he had the most beautiful little book with him that he used to record drawings, words, feedback we gave him...anything. I really liked this idea of having a book for EVERYTHING. I have sooo many sketchbooks and I always try and keep one for proper pencil drawing, one for printmaking, one for collages and one for notes and ideas.

So I challenged myself this summer to break out of the sketchbook rut, and get into some of what Dave was discovering. Here are some of the pages I have created this Summer. Sometimes they link together as the pages are cut through.

This is the first page I worked on this method of using it for EVERYTHING, so you can see me making notes about meetings and financial stuff. I remember this day so clearly. It was sooo hot and we were in my friend Anna's garden, testing out her new swing seat. We were trying to work out my pay for next year, and not doing very well with the Maths, but it was fun! We ended up staying for lunch, which her boyfriend cooked and was delicious.
Anna always grows the most beautiful sunflowers, and she is my gardening-guru. I always come away from her house with a new plant to love...

If you look at the left and right sides of this one you can see where it links in on the previous picture. On this day my Mum took us out to lunch at Banana Wharf on Poole Quay. Again, it was scorchingly hot and we felt like we were on holiday in our own town! Such a gorgeous view, and atmosphere there. We are saving it for special treats. In this page as well, you can see my notes on this crazy game I was playing at the start of the Summer. I have been a long time fan of the Myst series of games. I love to get lost in them sometimes. I played the Revelation game at the start of the Summer and it involved lots of codes and sequences, lots of them were visual so I used my book to record them. I really miss the Myst world now.

I will post more pages soon.
Me x
p.s if you check out Dave's blog and have a root around you will find some amazing examples of the books her makes with classes.

The Scribble Project

The Scribble Project

Yesterday was a damp squib of a day, so I decided to use my newly re-installed printer to print me off the Scribble Project page and get on with it.

I have already seen the posts that have been updated to the page, and those that I have seen through Facebook and I was super excited to get started...it was the perfect day for it.

I am really pleased with the finished page, at first I was not sure how to approach it, and in the end decided that watercolour paint in the background would help me to link up all parts of it as well as making it super jazzy!

Now I have to work out how to get it on the Scribble Project page...such a novice!

It must have looked like fun because my 10 year old daughter decided to do it too! (hers is the bottom one).