It's been a while since my last post, so I thought I would share a lovely Treasury I've been included in with you.
I've loved birds for as long as I can remember,always enjoyed watching them in the garden as a little girl and never tire of hearing them sing, I think there's something really magical about birdsong.

I feel very drawn to use bird images in my art and I think it's about time I had a go at painting or drawing some of my own, so watch this space!

Once, when I was a girl,I found a little bird,I think it was a Sparrow,caught up in some wire in a bush. I untangled it from the bush, cupped it in my hands and carried it home. It was petrifying, feeling it's little heart beating so fast,I thought it might die of fright! I got my Dad, who I got my love of nature from, to free it of all the wire it was wrapped up in,and after checking it was OK, we set it free in the garden. I felt really privileged to have held a wild bird in my hand and to have been able to help it.

I often laugh now, when I point out a Raptor or a Raven as we drive along in the car, and my Daughter says, "Yes Mum! It's just a bird!" I don't think she gets my fascination with them! :)

Does anybody have a bird as their Totem animal? Seagulls are one of mine, along with Spiders and Ravens, but that's another story for another day, I just wondered.

'Bird art' by iseg

Cardinal Archival print of w... amberalexander $20.00	Found Feathers Large Archiva... amberalexander $30.00	The Gentleman BLUE Tit - Gi... eastwitching $40.00	Award Winning Print- AWAITIN... larryvienneau $30.00
Raven 6 - original charcoal ... MariaKitanoArt $70.00	Nuthatch Archival print- bir... amberalexander $20.00	Great Blue Heron Pottery Cof... JimAndGina $22.00	Mixed Media Painting, Birds,... JuliaPeculiar $28.00
Bird art print bird illustra... ChasingtheCray... $12.00	Feather Necklace, Black Leat... LoveAtFirstBlu... $50.00	Kingfisher Bird Watercolor P... CreatedByStorm $150.00	Feathers 1 11x17 Print anavicky $17.00
Large FINE ART Print Little ... Mirthquake $31.00	Hand Drawn Mug - Pigeon jimbobart $39.50	Raven LARGE moleskine cahier Champignons $11.00	Tea towel Hand block printed... papatotoro $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

This week's Featured Artisan

This weeks featured artisan is Kim - Va Beach Quilter. Kim has a wonderful selection of goodies in her shop. Quilts, table runners, coasters.. the list goes on and on... You can find Va Beach Quilter on:

Etsy

Artfire

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Tarara Boom De Ay!

Today is a good day!  I'm honoured to be featured on the lovely Taylor Lynn's blog - 'Dreams of Fae'. Check it out - http://dreamsoffae.blogspot.com/
Taylor Lynn is such a talented young lady, writes a fab blog and has an Etsy shop for her beautiful photography.

                                     One of the gorgeous prints available in Taylor Lynn'sShop

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75667469/8x10-fantasy-art-photography-youre-late
 I really don't know how she fits so much in to her day, the girl is a powerhouse of talent and it really is a blessing to know her.


More good news....I finished my latest paper doll,'Libby' and got nice sunny photos taken in the garden and got her listed on Etsy, yippee!

                                                                       Here she is
I'll share with you my first attempt at making her head.  I got a splodge of glue on her face by accident.  I was well annoyed and I wasn't as pleased with the second head I made, but hey ho,at least I didn't get glue on her this time!
 I think I'll make her a body and let her hang out next to my desk.

Here's 'Libby' # 1 tucked in a little inspirational quote I have above my desk, while she waits for a body.


I must say, the more mistakes I make, the better I'm getting at accepting them as learning and not having quite such a big cow about it!

Newest Paper Doll

                                                 This is what I'm working on at the moment.

Blogger's Unite Featured Artist

This Weeks Featured Artist is Creations By Moonlight

This weeks Featured Artisan is Allurynn - Creations by Moonlight! Alluryn has wonderful creations in her shop! A Must have for every jewelry box!! You can find Creations by Moonlight on:

Etsy
Website
Twitter
Facebook

Catching up and Faffing about.

Hello all.
 Ok, so I'm not a natural blogger, that's obvious, but I'm not giving up just yet!  Thanks to the wonderful Taylor Lynn ( find her fabulous blog here - http://dreamsoffae.blogspot.com/  )  I'm back in Blogland.  Taylors a natural born writer and her enthusiasm for blogging has given me the kick in the pants I needed to do a little catching up  :o)  Thanks Taylor Lynn!

Wanted to quickly show you how the plain canvas I showed you yonks ago turned out.  You never know quite where things are going when you're in the middle of a piece do you?, and I kept adding layers and layers and fiddling about with this.  In the end I loved how it turned out.

I  laughed to myself yesterday when I admitted to myself that when something I'm creating seems more fiddly and time consuming than it should be, it's because I've made it that way because I enjoy fiddling with details and faffing about.
The kids are home from school and College for half-term this week and with everyone home I can't get 'in the zone'!  to paint and such, know what I mean?  So, I thought I would make a simple garland.  I've seen lots of fab heart and bird garlands on Etsy and have fancied making one myself for a while.

                                                             Template and test cat

So...... the initial idea was, make a simple garland that is quick and easy to do.  what do I end up doing?  I decide to make a cat garland,because I like cats...then to make life easier I set about making my own templates,a heart and a cat.  Sounds simple, but, this is me we're talking about.  I spent ages sketching and re-sketching and making mock ups before finally making my template,"where shall I put the holes for the ribbon?" "Tail or no tail?" "Markers or watercolours?"  "How should I paint them?"

                                                                    Finished...finally!

I create the same way I talk, waffling on and on basically.  Something that could be said in a few words I  say in a hundred words.  A quick simple garland that someone else would make in half an hour, I manage to make last two days, and I moan, but I know really, it is that way because I want it to be that way!  I enjoy it!

I'm interested to know how you guys usually work on your creations.  Do you like to get things done or do you faff about like me?  Please leave me a comment and let me know xxx

Happy Robot Chocolate Cupcake Moo Day!

Hi all!  I'm so excited I could burst!  Postman Pat brought me two fantabulous parcels this morning that I just have to share with you.  Firstly,I am now the proud owner of an Evi Robot!  No, don't worry,I didn't order a Fembot.  My good friend sent me one of her groovy Robot wall plaques and I love it!

My photo doesn't do it justice due to the lack of decent sunlight and a moody camera.  It is just so groovy,I love the bright colours,his cute robotty personality and he's just the right size.  I've hung him above my work table to inspire and cheer me when it's drizzly and dull outside,which,at the moment,is quite often.

Evi's funky shop is here -

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/AedanSeppe?ref=seller_info 

 if you would like to get one for yourself or visit her on facebook,there's never  a dull moment when Evi's around  :o)

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/AedanSeppeetsycom/324794229744 

                                                         Behold my yummy Moo cards!

As if getting a robot in the post wasn't exciting enough, I also got my Moo business cards too,how lucky am I?!  I am so chuffed with them,they are even better than I hoped they were going to be.  I went for the 'green'option which are %100 recyled and recyclable and was a bit worried that the print quality would be a bit iffy,well I shouldn't have worried.  The colours are vibrant,the photos are sharp (well,as sharp as my photography skills) and they came in a yummy recycled pulp board case.  I keep picking it up and looking at it,getting some cards out,looking at them and putting them back. 

It doesn't take much to keep me quiet.

So there you go, two marvellous things in the post and now I'm going to make some vegan cupcakes.  When I say 'make'I mean open the box,add the oil and water and chuck them in the oven.  I'm using 'Cherrybrook Kitchen'chocolate cake mix,it is so yummy and really filling. (I know that sounds like a cheesy advert,but it's true!) I can normally eat three or four or five cupcakes in one go,but these are so filling I only eat one or two in one sitting, and the mix has loads of chocloate chips in, oh they are awesome.  Only problem is, all my (non-vegan) family love them as much as I do,so they disapear fast.  Luckily I'll have a headstart before everyone else gets home.  Yeehaaaa!

Top 100 Tutorials of 2010

Check out this fabulous list of Tutorials, compiled by the super talented Ellen of 'the long thread'.

I've just quickly looked throught it and already picked out several projects I want to try.  I think Ellen's done an amazing job putting it all together,definitely one to put in your favourites!

Top 100 Tutorials of 2010

Diving in!

Happy new year!

I hope this year brings you good health,love and joy.  I feel very blessed that I got to spend Christmas and see the new year in with my family.  I hope that this coming year will bring lots of adventures and those of an arty persuasion,I would like to share with you.

Thought I'd intersperse my waffle with a photo.  Yes,I know it's kind of a boring photo,but.....this is partly why I've started my blog. 

I am a big procrastinator and this year I am determined to do more,make more,learn more,well you get the idea.  I figure if I have a blog that is waiting for a post about what I've done then I bloomin' well better have done something.  Kind of scary but kind of exciting too.

I was finding it difficult to keep track of my friend's blogs without a blog of my own too, now hopefully it will be a little easier.

  I think that as this is my first post I should put down what my goals are for 2011.

My 2011 Arty Farty Goals

1. Start a blog! (I'm off to a great start ;o) )
2. Sell my art somewhere else as well as Etsy.(Doing well with this one,got my Folksy shop set up just haven't got anything for sale in it yet.)
3. Practice practice practice my painting.
4. Stop procrastinating and worrying about doing things perfectly or not at all.  Just get on and do it and embrace the imperfection and mistakes along the way.
5.  Learn something new.  Now I've plucked up the courage and finished not just my first but two canvases I feel excited to learn new techniques,well any techniques actually,I haven't got a clue what I'm doing,but that's half the fun,right?!

 I hope you drop in to say Hello now and again.  I would love to hear what your goals are for the coming year.  Hopefully,no, definitely, my next post will be up soon showing what progress I've made with my new canvas.

Thanks for dropping by and big up to my (as of today) one and only follower,the lovely Marie,who you can find here: http://thethingswefindinside.blogspot.com/2010/12/odds-turn-into-favours.html

Thanks Marie! xx