Hooray! I've got my mojo back! :o)

Since Christmas, I've been feeling totally 'stuck'. I'm never at my best in the Winter, when it's cold and dark, but usually manage to get in the groove eventually, but not lately.

Thank goodness my muse returned to me yesterday and I started a little collage on a piece of chipboard I had in my bits and bobs box. I got it finished today and am really happy with how it turned out.  I love the photograph of the lady I used in it.  She is from a vintage Musical Theatre magazine that's just full of fabulous photos.
Now if the clouds let the sunshine through tomorrow, I can get some nice photos taken and list it in my Etsy shop, that (shame on me) has been closed since before Christmas!!!

Feeling very postive now about getting lots more done for my Etsy and Folksy shops. Now to finish my coffee and read a couple of chapters of my current read, 'The Crimson Rooms' by Katharine McMahon, it's fabulous. I highly recommend it.

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