Christmas Poem

Some of you may know that on occasion I take to writing poetry.  I thought about making small art each day for Advent, or sharing wonderful images of something... but errr didn't excite so didn't happen. However, I have written this poem, and decided to share it with you all.

Twas the night before Christmas

And outside the house

The cat brought home a present

A sweet furry mouse

The fire embers were glowing

Beckoning the pair

Mouse settled on the hearth rug

Cat in comfy chair

Pink toes and fur quickly thawed

Soon they were snoring

Distant sleigh bells were tinkling

Sweet Dreams until morning

The quiet night time shattered

Hooves screeched - scraped - bells crashed

Santa and sleigh on the tiles

To chimney he dashed

His sack full and so heavy

Next time not a bike

Elves memo go make Lego

Don’t care what kids like

Fairy was shaking with laughter

He fell on the floor

Silly jolly red faced man

She’d opened the door

Leaving the sack by the tree

Presents for all it hides

Nice not naughty on this list

Santa glows inside

Milk in a glass oh goodness

Wish it was brandy

But I’m in charge of a Sleigh

Stated rather grandly

Rudolph was stamping his feet

Quick let’s get going

It’s hard to park on a roof

When cold and snowing

With a snort and a jingle

Santa’s sleigh took flight

Guided by Rudolph’s red nose

And stars shining bright

Mouse awoke and stretched his legs

Home time through the snow

From his whiskers fell a crumb

Secrets does he know

He reached the door turned to wave

Fairy gave a nod

Cat uncurled and swished his tail

Mouse gave the door a prod

Was it Santa whom they saw

Or dreaming every one

Happy Christmas my dear friends

To all have lots of fun

Beverley

Falls Off Chair - its a Blog Post

Once again its been a while since I’ve posted.

However I have been busy with art work.

Having agreed to go on the Working Party for the local Art Trail, I found myself occupied with tasks, from meetings to phone calls, to writing documents.

The Trail itself was very well received in the town.

Here’s my window....

Next came making sure work was ready for The MaterialGirls Exhibition at Craft Arena. The Exhibition was entitled “Patterns of Inspiration” - with design work inspired by the art collections of Anthony Denney.

The work will be on display again, in a further and fuller Exhibition at Rainham Hall, Essex in February 2020.

My books on right

The theme has already been set for the next body of work by The Material Girls, so its research time.

I have one more event for the Girls.... as I will be one of the Members giving a talk to a local Embroiderers’ Guild in December.

And lastly I was sent the opportunity to alter a page of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.  This I duly did and as I write all the pages are being photographed for a book.  All the work is going on Exhibition in January in Scarborough.  You can see details here.

On top of all of this I discovered that I am not well, the exhaustion I was suffering from was not merely because I lack sleep.  It should be corrected by meds, but it will be a few months before its better.

I decided not to be involved with any more art trail organising, as always with these things a lot gets left to few volunteers, and I ended up with more tasks than I was willing to do.

I do not find it easy dealing with councils who seems to conspire to make the simple extraordinarily difficult, some double standards, and unbelievably slow to decide anything and ignorant on basic info they should have at fingertips.

Plus next year, if it happens, it is also likely to have deadlines around a time when I don’t want any outside tasks.

Not feeling on top form either, its time to have a rethink.

So it might be five minutes before I check in - or five months, we will all get a surprise - including me!

Coming Up - 2

As you can see The Material Girls are working towards their next Exhibition in October at Craft Arena.  Lots of exciting and innovative ideas to be revealed.
And keep this in mind, as we will back at Rainham Hall in February 2020.
Meantime at Rainham Hall, the Denney Exhibition has opened, with The Material Girls making three floor cushions which can be seen in the reconstructed Library.

So you can see, between the last post and this, I've lots to keep me occupied.

Coming up - 1

Well, I'm busy making, and for my sins am helping by being on the Working Party of

Rochford Art Trail

Click to go to Facebook Page

Please Like and Share

12th-26th September

I have been a part of this since the Taster event.  This year we are coming back stronger than ever.  Events are planned - Workshops which can be booked through Eventbrite - also guided Tours of the town and art work.  There will be Free Art Friday - with work from artists which is yours to keep - if you find it!  We hope to have a plethora of Postcards - from the Artists and local schools, which are yours to buy for a suggested donation of £5.  Also a photography competition, with super prizes, and charity auction.

You will find Links as we gear up via the Facebook page, which you can click on above.

Please support - at very least please tell your friends and share the FB page as much as you can.  Thank you.

Oh, and me... well I'll have work in Oak Dental which is right in the Square (the bus stop is outside) Actually I used to work in this building when it was a Solicitors office.  I'm displaying book art.

Dear Diary

Oi - are you reading

cute Spike on basis animals grab attention

Wow, wow, wow - half a year has gone by and I've not posted here.

Truth is I've been feeling out of sorts for a long time, and so the blog was neglected.
In an effort to recharge - few weeks ago I revamped the blog, making it a much simpler layout and style.  I've removed lots of extras, gone right back to basics, with the hope that simplified means I can return to more of a diary of my art life, leaving all the extra and more formal info on my website, and snippets on my FB page.

Soooo what's happened then?

Well lots and nothing all at the same time.

I have become involved in the Working Party of the Rochford Art Trail, which to date is very interesting, and reveals what talented people there are around, aside from beautiful art work, all sorts of skills are needed to assist with organising such an event.
I continue to be a Member of The Material Girls, with Exhibitions around the corner, which require work, of course for group projects and individual art pieces.
The Embroiderers' Guild is still a very important element, with shared interests, guest speakers.  I've been a guest speaker myself at Suffolk East Branch.
And along the way visited excellent Exhibitions both locally and many miles away - oh and bought some artwork too.

Trying to juggle all of the above in my head is my main difficulty, especially not feeling so vibrant as I should.  One week I had two committee events - was asked to look over legal based paperwork for another, trying to do work for a third group and asked to deliver info to yet another group.

fallen asleep yet - Bandit

So let's hope the blog will put me more on track, in terms of noting what is to be done, and what I am doing.

I will be back with some nice info - a poster for an Exhibition, and news of another event.  But I think I'll save that until anyone wakes up to see. Meantime, highlighted links above take you to the various Facebook pages, where you can find more information.
See you soon....

enough cute cats

Its 2019 (with closure on 2018)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Firstly time for a catch up.
I've not posted in such a long time - mainly because not really feel well, not ill, just not well, I chose to have a defined course of action elsewhere, for me.
It is always so difficult to share things here, because a lot of what I make is for Exhibition, and its only right that first look goes to those events.  So it can very much look like I'm not doing anything, when there is something going on.

Following the Art Trail and Art Fair events, I didn't have anything else planned for me personally.  However, I did help the husband with his entries into the Essex Open, one of which sold on opening night.

At a friend's suggestion I have become a Member of S.E.W. 

I was somewhat hesitant, not sure if it was for me, but my friend persuaded me to give it a go, can only try and see.  I also expressed that I was really wanting to find a group I could join which involved BookArts.
So I sent off my application, following an open call out, and to my utter surprise it came back with... Yes we'd like you to join with your Books!!!  So that involved happy dancing.
Its a new venture, so will await developments, it could be that I/we/me are not a good fit, but we shall see.  Its nice to have the opportunity to investigate though.

I've got an event coming up - well if you call 2020 coming up.  New to me again, but decided to stop being a wimp and give it a go, so said Yes.

And a piece which was in my local Art Trail, sold independently in November.  So this has a new home.

detail of Strata

In the pipeline for 2019 is:

~plenty of work for The Material Girls exhibitions planned and pending

~joining in the Sketchbook Project  doing a Mini Sketchbook this time

~local Embroiderers' Guild Branch Competition - not done in many years

~signed up to Lifebook 2019 - new to me starts today

~possibly an Art Trail - may be the Art Sale Event

~possibly get around to the list I made out in January 2018!

Don't know when I will be back here - but hopefully will, with something I can share.

Have a happy creative, and funfiled 2019

Busy Times

Well as per usual in my world, everything is quiet, then it all happens, and comes in at the same time.

I had assumed that my local Art Trail was not happening this year, as applications are usually due in during May.  So a surprise in August to get an invite to apply with only around 10 days to deadline.
A change in organisers and the event is much smaller this year, and with short gaps between application, deadline and Trail date.  I settled for using old works.
As always never know where it will be on show until venue is allocated.  So its turn up with work and see what fits.

20th-27th September 2018

Rochford Art Trail

Venue 12 Beehive Tea Rooms

South Street

22nd/23rd September 2018

Art Exhibition and Sale

Village Hall

East Hanningfield

and others and some portfolio pieces

In another week’s time I can judge the benefits of either.  Meanwhile I’ve heard about another Art Trail, which may take a different format next year.... seems many are having a rethink.

Oh and as well as the above, my name was selected to receive and review a book.  I have to put the review on Amazon.

Preparing for New Projects

So the endless hot days here are making it so anything is hard work.  We are not used to such here in the UK.  I even questioned if the radiators were on, as they felt warm to the touch.
The room where my stuff pending creativeness stash is kept is South facing, so its mega hot.
Anyway thinking the best way to get myself in a better creative thought process is to sort and tidy a cupboard not touched in years.  So here it is - boxes have been done, but all of this has to go back in its place, but way too hot to do that.  Today we've got rain predicted all day.

So I need to get ready, as I think there will be updates to the creative diary, as in new things and new deadlines.

One of these came about this past weekend.  Something which I had thought wasn't taking place this year, suddenly there's an email, a deadline 10 days away and an event a month away.
But, but but.... of course, it clashes with something else...
There must be something about certain weeks in a year, as I often find there is nothing for weeks or even months on end, and then suddenly two or more things crop up for the same date.

Its my local Embroiderers' Guild meeting this coming Saturday - I volunteered to help with any stitches people struggle with.  One which often crops up is French Knots.  I've stitched one or two....

The Plain Box Society

A short while ago I answered an invitation to participate in a project based in the USA.  The idea being that each person was to decorate a 3" square kraft card box utilising two stencils from the collection of StencilGirl®
I belong to the Stencil Club (and have been chosen to be a Stencil Voice in the past)  details of the Club can be found here  - I get so much pleasure when that envelope arrives every month with goodies.

To the project...

Being in the UK it was not feasible to use the same box as everyone else

I made my own - 350gsm kraft card

Next I painted with white gesso

I knew one stencil I wanted to use and so masked off areas using sticky notes

I had delayed making, because I had so many ideas, and they were getting in the way of actually doing anything.  I settled on wanting also to use a particular paint effect

Pebeo Dyna Acrylic - it is two coloured, this means it shows up differently on white to black.

So after auditioning I settled for using a StencilClub stencil

by Julie Snidle with black paint

Mask removed

I also auditioned the Dyna paints but the one which I found to show up the colour change the best was the Violet/Blue No. 356, painted over entirety

The stencil which had been in my mind from the beginning was a circle one from the founder of StencilGirl® - Mary Beth Shaw

Used with a sparkly gritty paste - Granite Paste by Cosmic Shimmer

The lid is Gran Perla and the sides Black Pearl

And here we have the result

You can find blog posts from other participants here:

Tina, StencilGirl® Columnist and Project Organiser

Mary C Nasser 

Josefine Fouarge

Debi Adams

Christy Strickler

Tracy Kruegar

Mitra Pratt

Michele Kosciolek

Erin Reed
Robyn Wood
Beth Soler
Kristie Taylor
Yvonne Yam

Memories

I am pootling along with arty things, but not for sharing, for some considerable time to come.

However, during the course of my top secret endeavours I decided I needed to have a play with my Flower Loom.
Now it should be in a drawer I says... him indoors helps me look. Its yellow I says.  Him indoors finds it - is this it?

As you can see, not yellow - but in my defence, I think I was recalling the one I had as a child, and that was definitely yellow.
The last time I used it was to make this...

Made from wire

This is the second thing we've turned the house upsidedown looking for, last one was a RED sketchbook, which turned out to be Blue.  Ooops.

I also tried to find some part done course work - but can't, may be I decided to start over and threw it away. It will be safely in an orange folder which turns out to be green!

Back to the drawer of hidden delights from long ago.  I knew this was in it, so out it came for a play - do you know what it is/does?  No points for saying a Thunderbird.

Its an Easy Punch

This particular version is battery operated.  I was reminded of it, because I've seen brand new ones launched as a 'new tool'.  I've had this since around 1980.  Effectively it punches through the fabric and leaves little loops of thread.  From my memory, unless you are careful, they all pull out again.  Its a bit like another lethal tool I own, never to be used - Tambour Hook.

So after finding the above and watching YouTube to remember how to thread the thing - tool yes, instructions no - its obviously died of old age.  No life was to be found in it.  So I might keep the needles, as it might work by hand, if I can be bothered, and the needle threader which is about 5" long, sure I will discover why I ever needed one of those.

Now if only I could remember what the gismo was which mother bought in the 70s, like a knitting machine but only 10" long - back in the days when K-Tel and Ronko brought out all these 'must have' bits of nonsense.

Late Spring Clean

A couple of days back, I came onto this blog, going through the info to be found on it, updating.  I always change the date at the top of the page when I've done any editing, so viewers can tell if there is anything new.

Today, armed with...

I've shut myself away for two plus hours and played with my website.  The majority of it is cosmetic, adding a fresh look to it.  The images etc could well do with updating and re-organising, but I've run out of tea now, so think that's a sign its enough for one day.
If you would like to, please take a look, by clicking here - and if you find any typos or obvious errors do let me know.
Thank you.

Little Makes

Mhmm, I think I live in a time vortex, blink and lost days, ha weeks.

Domestically I'm not in a routine which is conducive to intentions, and there is a lot of "today I'm going to..." and it gets sidetracked, 5 minute tasks taking hours, and the wretched Data Protection stuff, not only having to answer endless emails for myself, but sorting things for organisations I belong to.

For the first time in years I'm not participating in any Art Trails.  Not all of my making.  Having done so and enjoyed the whole process, I feel a bit lost over it all.  So I've been looking around to see if there are any other opportunities.

I have come across one, which is open to me, because I've enquired, but is also an entirely new process, to me.  One of these display work for a weekend and people buy there and then. Applications aren't open yet, but its on my radar.

I am also making something for a US based project, which I hope to share on the blog later.

I have finished off a couple of little pieces made at my Embroiderers' Guild Branch meetings.

First one, we had an afternoon inspired by Lynn, using scarves found in charity shops.  Lots of variety for end results.  I picked up some pieces and a single A4 piece of Khadi paper and made this:

Tore the paper in half, joined it back together and added some scrunched fabrics to make this little sample book.

Our most recent practical workshop was led by Jo - stitching on paper.  Now that makes my heart sing!
Lots of options, this is my finished piece.

Not how it originally started.I did some stitching on the map, but didn't like so cut it off.  I then cut out the paper flowers from the printed paper and stitched those on.
I've always wanted to paper cut a map, and having seen someone else do it, I decided to do that to remainder of my map.  As luck would have it, it fitted back together with the piece I'd stitched on.  So coloured in the patterned paper and overlaid. Not much by way of stitching, but several techniques.

Most of the group stitched parabolic curves, but I've already done several of those, take a look.

More Alien Hunting

Following on from last post.  This section of the Wanderlust course has been about people/portraits.  Totally alien to me as mentioned. I missed out the lesson on drawing a realistic face, I know its more about observing etc but not for me.

So watched the last lesson in the series and its a SELF PORTRAIT - not really super realistic and involved using some out of the ordinary colour.  I was hesitant, there will be an alien by the end of this one, for sure.

I don't do photos, its a very long standing almost phobia.  To say it makes me feel sick, hot, heart racing, tearful to have my photo taken is an understatement.  I usually get past this by being the one who volunteers to take the photos.  I'm trying to get better about it

I was supposed to take a pic, with eyes closed, turn the photo to black and white to show tones and then paint it.
Now even without the blotchy face from a cold, and the extra large suitcases under the eyes still looked like something from a horror film.

However, I have blue eyes, so decided needed a bit of contrast, so kept eyes open.  Also decided that as there were unusual colours in the painting exercise, using the computer and a paint programme with various effects wouldn't be too far a step away.

So my plan, get on with it, fast.  Take photo, alter it, share it, phew.  Big step but quick like ripping off a sticking plaster, walk towards the thing which scares you.  So here it is, not the painting/drawing exercise as required, but a lesson in grasping the fear, getting on with it and doing.

A n d..... I suspect this is the first ever selfie ever shared.  Not likely to be a habit either.

Looking for the Alien

What a mixture has happened since last writing.   Most of it is general ups and downs of an artistic life, so not very exciting, but better in one hit.

I was due to attend another Mixed Media course.... but it was cancelled because of low turn out.

But whoops I took my refunded class fee and spent it on art goodies.

Good news I won a set of stencils by 'liking' on Facebook. I need to have a play with those, bit of monoprinting I think.

I've gotten behind with the Wanderlust course.  Its not that I've been too busy, quite the contrary, but rather I've been fighting the lessons.  Couple of them are not me, and so I was going to do something 'inspired by'.  No pressure, of course I could... but even that was proving unsettling.

So eventually I decided, what are you learning by avoiding, or doing an alternative?  Why not also learn from actually embracing the thing you find tough?  So soon back on track doing the lessons as asked, or nearly so.

bit of a spooky muzak.....

Saw some images on Facebook, of people who 'can't draw' turning out exquisite images.  Found myself yearning for the same.

The truth is I spent two years in drawing lessons, I can do enough for something to be recognisable

what I still can't do is the recognisable quick sketch. (remember it took 2 years of weekly lesson to get to this!) 

My mind sees things like a detailed photograph, pencil in hand, its like a fly with inky boots walked over the paper.

Drawing also gives me a raging headache, I concentrate so hard, its not a pleasure.  So once again thinking, but I'm an 'abstract artist' is it any wonder realistic work is a struggle.  I am the person who did the 'drawing a day' project which was popular years ago, which soon evaporated into paint splodges and textures.

This is my comfort zone.

Still on catch up, imagine my horror to watch my next Wanderlust lesson and find it involves drawing people.  Yikes.  Last time I constructed anything other than stick people was 20 years ago.  So the lesson reminded me of the 'formula' for drawing faces, a bit more reading and I had a go.

Shocked, I did this, and it doesn't look like an alien.  Now don't ask me to make a face which looks like a known person, but I've stunned myself.  No wonder its being kept and stuck in my sketchbook.  Got to keep the evidence I did it, at least once!

Back to my comfort zone I've signed up for an art project based across the pond, couple of definites as to the what and including, but otherwise free to do as I wish.

I'm going to go back to this kind of thing, but with a layered look.  Our EG Branch is making Travelling Books.  I'm not doing the 'travelling' bit, but am using the book to do my own thing.  Sorted my design inspiration, now to play.

I call these 'pretties' because they have no thinking, no design to them, just play and do.
However, I should make myself feel they have more value by describing them as "intuitive art".
There's a thought to mull over.....

Essex Round Up

Gosh, I thought it was just Pinterest which snatched time, but looks like bloggyland has evaporated weeks as well!

I've been doing a lot of playing research on the likes of Pinterest.  Beginning of the year I wrote myself a list of arty things I'd like to explore this year, some of them are commitments to organisations/events, but still I've been trying to work out how to do what is needed, with what I want.
I couldn't settle, and I suspect its because the end solution wasn't the right one.

However, I've now got a good idea of directions to take, things which match my initial ideas, which ways to take them forward, and finally feel comfortable.  There's been lots of yes...oh... no.  As lots of this involves looking, reading, exploring, there isn't anything tangible to show for all this effort.
I haven't quite been lollygagging..... (hint towards my decisions)

Bandit - blogs need cat pictures

I've not been unproductive - keeping up with Wanderlust 2018. Some of the lessons have hit, right when a similar topic/technique is in my mind.  Other things are being sidestepped into a nod towards the weekly project, rather than slavishly following.

This technique appeared, but as I've already made, its not something I feel need to immediately explore.

I had a surprising afternoon, where in quick succession there was an email, ting, barely read it, when ting, a text appear, and then ting Messenger sent me something.  All of them art related, all of them unrelated, but requesting a 'can you'.  That's how it is, completely quiet, or everything hits at the same time, or ends up with deadlines for same month.  All of these 'tings' have been resolved or are in process.

So that's a little resume from the bottom of Essex, all that remains is to have another cat picture.  As they say blogs get more hits for furry friends, than legitimate content.

Spike - think he's broken!