coffee dates

I am lucky to have some very good friends. I don't have a billion friends but the few I do have are of the very highest quality and carefully selected. I take my time with that. I have made some rubbish choices in my past and got involved with people for all the wrong reasons, resulting in chaos, something which I have worked hard to rid my life of.

I don't much like going our to pubs/ clubs etc, never have - they make me feel awkward. But I do like coffee and dinner dates.
At Christmas my friend Anna was given some money and as is her way, she decided to share that good fortune and invited us out for coffee at our favorite place: 'Boscanova' in Boscombe. A weird place with a high percentage of tramps and addicts (no joke), but also pockets of creative types and organisations striving to help those with their struggles.

It is such a creative space. I love the decor, and the coffees, lattes, chai and gorgeous healthy food are delicious (especially the mushroom halloumi burger).

It is my favorite place to have coffee, but I don't go too much or else it would lose its effect on me.

Today is Valentines, and I spent some time with Anna then went shopping with my daughter to spend her Christmas vouchers (finally). We are cooking up something delicious for dinner as a treat. Tomorrow we are off to London on an adventure. Can't flippin' wait (especially as I won some 1st class train tickets a while ago which we are using so no driving).

I'm single and happy by the way. Valentines normally hacks me off but I tried to make it a positive day with fun things planned, and to see it as 'love' day. One day I'll find my Wesley but until then I am seriously content.

Lots of love to you all, me x x x

Valentines Display

So I told you a while ago that Coastal Creatives asked me to make some canvases for them. Well, when I went back to hand everything in I took a few pictures of the window displays to share with you as my work made it into the Valentines display (in fact while I was taking pictures some ladies were commenting on my piece, saying how much they loved it!) sneeky peeks of opinion are great.

Spot them?

Also made the 'Love' canvas on the little stand. Yups, that's three of my pieces in the window!

Here's the whole shop. I am so grateful to be part of what they do, such lovely people and beautiful things in there.

This one just shows inside where my work has it's own little space with information about private commissions. So exciting!

I am also delighted to tell you that I have been approached to do a solo show of my work, both crafty and arty. More details to follow, but needless to say this is a dream come true!

Do you have big dreams?
Love, me x

and the winner is...

It's results day! I am so excited to be giving away one of my works of art. At first I thought 'oh my lord, no-one is going to enter' but they have:

There were a whole 5 entrants. (I like to think quality more than quantity applies here, right friends?) Here they are above.
I employed a very fair method of selection: eeny meenie miney mo. And the winner is.....

Congratulations Miss Chantilly!! :)

I was feeling generous, so decided I would also award a prize to the runner up, which was:

Yay for Amy!! (By the way you should check out Amy's Blog here.)

And then I decided that as there are only 5 entrants, I am going to award everyone the same prize! So well done everyone who entered :)
I will be contacting you all in the next week to arrange getting those prizes in your loving hands.

As for the rest of my weekend, I will be working on two commissions for delivery on Monday, spending some quality time with the wee-un, hitting the gym and visiting my Mumski.
What are your plans?
Love, me x

the first ever Re:Loved giveaway (eep!)

Yups it's giveaway time people.

I hope you have been liking my new collection of hearts, I have had lots of positive feedback about them face to face which is loverly. I thought it would be a great time to have a giveaway to say thanks for all your support both of my blog and creative persuits in general.

Sooo....friends, family, blog/  twitter/ facebook chums you are all welcome to join in to win one of my most poular art cards:

You can decide to send it or keep it for framing...I won't tell anyone :)

Here are the rules for the giveaway:

1. Leave a comment below, tell me if you will be sending a valentine this year

Optional extras for more chance of winning:

2. 'like' my facebook group then come back and leave a comment to say you have done so

3. follow me on twitter, then come back and comment

4. visit my etsy shop and come back to tell me which item is your favorite

5. follow this blog, and leave a comment

These are a lot of options, you don't have to do them all...

I will pick a random winner this time next week, and your card will be on it's way to you in time for Valentines.

Love, me x