Stay at Home CJ - Shakespeare

I've just realised that the 5th month deadline of the Stay at Home CJ is looming and I haven't shared last months yet. Whoops!

The CollaborArt "Stay At Home CJ" is a project where  all the participants made just one background and come up with a theme for that background. We then sent our background  to our host, Sarah. She photocopied them and then we all got a full set of backgrounds (and our originals) back to work on. We all work on the same background each month - to the theme set by the backgrounds creator.

January was Virginia's gorgeous background. Her theme? Shakespeare! Oh Virginia - how you like to challenge me. 

Virginia's background

I haven't actually read any Shakespeare. I've been a little scared I wouldn't understand it to be honest. I've seen a couple of films which I did enjoy...

So trotting along to Google I went and searched Shakespeare quotes. I knew I wanted to do a skull but not go down the obvious "Yorrick" path. I like the "Double, Double" quote - didn't realise it was Shakespeare though. Colour me chuffed!

On further googling since, I don't think the quote is quite right. Sssshh.  I still like it! I'm sure Shakespeare won't mind. 

I cut and collaged the skull from an old book page. He's highlighted with oil pastels and Posca pen. The text is Posca pen, written three times because I remember somewhere that being a magic number and the skull and words together make me think of a spell book. It's much more readable in real life - it was a devil of a job getting this to scan.

 

I have to thank my 6 year old helper who insisted I add eeeeeevil red eyes. I think it finishes him off perfectly and makes me think of Bob in The Dresden Files. (A ghost who is trapped in a skull.) 

So, after initially struggling with the Shakespeare theme, I've come away wanting to actually read some... or at the very least watch more films to ease me in gently. So thank you Virginia for that and for the gorgeous background to work on. If you'd like to see what everyone else did with the theme, click here. 

The theme this month is "Innocence and Experience." Crikey!

Thank you as always for stopping by :)

Rocking My World Friday...

Getting into the habit of doing this on a Monday rather than a Friday aren't I? I'm going with the notion that - as long as I take time to do it - it's all good! Welcome to the list of things that made me smile this week.

First up - my ultra high-tech security system. Nothing passes the eagle eyes of these two nosey buddies.

Half term means we all get to go and play... but who are the biggest kids here? Hmm? 

We took Ruby's friend too - no pictures of those two as they were gone in a blur of squeals and whoops!

Another budding artist. He so loves to draw. YES! *Punches air* Not sure Craig is so pleased - he's hoping to win the Bear over to fishing and such-like boyish endeavours. Not another messy arty type in the house. Teehee!

What else? What else?

• Half term! Yay - lovely seeing the girls, playing out in the sunshine.
• The sunshine! Yes - they had decent weather to actually get out of the house and play or, now that they are getting older and a bit more independent, can go out with friends.
• Having washing out on the washing line rather than draped over every radiator in the house.
• Visiting Craig's Mum in Hastings. Always lovely. Driving home in daylight rather than darkness now that the days are getting longer.
• Half term ended! *Double yay!* I get time to do my stuff and try to fix the disaster zone that the house has become.
• A good old catch-up and chinwag with my friend, Cas. The two older monsters were away for the night so it was an uncensored catch up, without ears a flapping! Whoo!
• Dairylea Spring Onion flavour cheese spread. My new addiction thanks to Craig's Mum. (It's on offer for £1 a tub at the mo in Morrisons)
• Walking. 
• Crocuses and daffs dotting the roadside.
• Blogs, YouTube, Art books, classes and you lot! Keeping me super inspired. Wish there was more time in the day!
• My shedio -  I might moan that I wish I had an indoor room to lock the door (from the inside) but I do love my little 5x6 cocoon.

That's my lot this week - come along with me to Virginia's while I link up. While you are there - why don't you play along with us? Focussing on the positives really does make the World of difference.

Thanks for stopping by today - how has your week been?

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday...

Hold the press! I have something to show you on my shedio desk this week... and I'm not talking about the Christmas Tree! Still quite a tidy one but in use all the same...

I cheated and took this picture yesterday - just as proof that I do actually go out there because...

Today we are tidy again. Ms. Mermy is sat waiting for me to decide what to do. She's at the stage where I was fiddling and adding and adding more and just a bit more. So am stepping back to have a think. She's a long overdue promise for a friend so she has to be right. 

Oh, and the Christmas Tree? That's Fred. We bought him last year instead of dragging out our 6' artificial black tree - The Logey Bear is scaling everything at the moment so we thought teeny Fred, out of reach, would be safer. He's in here because it's still a bit nippy and we don't want him catching a chill. 

Thanks for stopping by - and if you want to snoop and rummage through more, many more, workspaces - be sure to go visit Julia with the overflowing link-up list :)

Tata for now!

Soul Food - Lesson 7 - The Birds with Zorana

Lesson 7 of Soul Food involved a whole lot of bodging and faking on my part. The technique taught by the lovely Zorana was a kind of patina effect using Golden fluid iridescent  bronze paint.  When she added water the paint separated into a deep bronze colour and a gorgeous green patina colour. I am still yet to purchase any Golden paints and the bronze I have certainly did not react magically to water the way the Golden branded one did in Zorana's lesson. I also didn't have a marks all pencil... so used a watercolour one. Hence - fake and make do.

We were encouraged to draw some quick simple bird shapes and wash over with this beautiful, beautiful wash. I think this is the first time I'd tried a Gesso resist too... well, a delicate one anyway. I've scraped tons of the stuff through a stencil for texture but this was very delicate. I do like the effect.

All birdies:
Gesso
Watercolour pencil
Acrylic & Watercolour paints
Posca Pen
Stencils & Stamps

I've faked my patina colours with bronze paint and green watercolour. I do like the effect but am definitely going to indulge in a bottle of Golden iridescent bronze at some point. Such a cool effect.

Thanks for stopping by for a peek today :)

Rocking My World Friday...

It's that time of the week again - a look back at what's made me smile this week. 

First up. Brace yourself. This. Is. Sunshine!

 And blue skies!

Which meant that we could go for a pleasant walk and blow the cobwebs away. Gave Logey Bear's reigns a test run. He loved it!

My Mum's mini daffs are starting to bloom which makes me think Spring is finally, finally on it's way. We can but hope! The tub is getting a bit tatty now and we might need to repot them soon but I don't like to, it's nice thinking she planted them in there.

This boy makes me smile. He is at the stage where he is climbing up everything and in everything. This includes cupboards, the tumble dryer but his favourite - evicting Cooper from his dog bed.

Signing up to this swap on UKScrappers.  To make an angel spoon like the one featured in this months Craft Stamper magazine. (March issue, page 74) I'm going to do two - one to keep and one to send. It looks a lot of fun! Sign up is still open if you are on UKScrappers and you fancy playing along.

Picture stolen from the swap thread

• Having done more art in January and February than I did in about 6 months towards the end of last year.
• Getting back on track with my word for the year - Organisation. After having a wobble for a couple of weeks.
• I won a pen! A cool twisty pen.
• The beautiful photo of my friend's little tiny newborn that arrived in the post! (NO! No more babies! Stop asking, Ruby!)
• It's sunny again today!
• Craig and Ruby getting an unexpected lift home from school in the torrential rain from another parent. People can be nice.
• My back has returned to normal.
• Galaxy Ripple bars are 4 for £1 in Morrisson's. Why did I not know how yummy they were before?
• Ruby singing Katy Perry's "Roar" over and over in her monotone singing voice but with such enthusiasm. So sweet but so funny.

And that's going to do me for this week. Fancy playing along and picking out the nuggets in your week? Then head over to Virginia's for the link up list. We'd love to see you.

Thanks for stopping by - how was your week?

Soul Food - Lesson 6 - The Owl & The Pussycat with Lisa Patencio

Liquitex & Kaiser Colour Acrylics
Posca Pens, Biro & Pilot Perma Ball pen

Lesson 6 of Soul Food saw us playing with one of Lisa Patencio's favourite poems. The Owl and the Pussycat. We were to make a mini accordion book and illustrate it with our own version of the poem.

My owl and pussycat are in love and, overseen by the silvery moon, sail off in their pea green boat. My owl was helped along by this little instructional, found on Pinterest from the Graphics Fairy. My pussycat is one of my non-dominant (left) hand drawings. The moon is my favourite in this little book - but I do have a fondness for moons with faces. I can trace that right back to my childhood, to a colouring-in picture with Sleepy Care Bear snoozing on a smiling moon. The things you remember and that influence you, eh?

Another lesson that helped me loosen up and just let go. Also made me look at the colour wheel a bit more closely too. Need to get me one of those!

The Owl and the Pussycat

by Edward Lear

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
   In a beautiful pea-green boat:
They took some honey, and plenty of money
   Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
   And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
   What a beautiful Pussy you are,
            You are,
            You are!
   What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
   How charmingly sweet you sing!
Oh! let us be married; too long we have tarried,
   But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the bong-tree grows;
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood,
   With a ring at the end of his nose,
            His nose,
            His nose,
   With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
   Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
   By the turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince and slices of quince,
   Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
   They danced by the light of the moon,
            The moon,
            The moon,
   They danced by the light of the moon.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

Welcome to my little space. If you've happened along and are wondering why I'm showing photos of my desk - it's because we creative peeps are a nosey bunch and like to have a voyeuristic snoop around other peoples work spaces. Oh... you do too? Well, once you've had a rummage here, be sure and head over to Julia's place for a list just bursting at the seams with desks, studio's, floors, sofas, and walls.  All of them at some stage of having something painty, sparkly, fabricky, inky... you name it - thrown at it :)

I don't resize these ones so if you are especially in the mood to snoop, just click the pictures for a close-up look. So my desks today... 

Inside...

One Little Helper.
Couple of books I'm reading.
Obligatory mug of tea (urgent re-filling required)
Some birdy art work for the Soul Food class I'm in. (To be blogged later)

Outside in the Shedio... 

Diet Cola - my shedio is often used as an overspill fridge! Yep - it's that cold at the mo.
Guillotine and heat gun plonked to put away after using them in the house (in the warm!)
Pile of rags on the shelf - to soak up the mini leak through my roof which I really cannot complain about.

Wednesday always seems to catch me quite tidily - I'll have to try and be caught mid-project next week. This gives a false representation of neatness which would have people that know me rolling around the floor in hilarity.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Soul Food - Lesson 5 - Woven Sunset with Jeanette House

I've skipped lesson 4 of the Soul Food class. It involves making an art journal from scratch - something I've never really done apart from the sellotape tons of paper together jobs when I was younger - so I've downloaded the video's and will be coming back to that one when little hands are not in the way.

Lesson 5 was with Jeanette House. Her lesson showed her creating a kind of abstract sunset using multiple stencils, paper weaving, embroidery thread etc. We created two pieces of paintiness and wove them together. One in blocked colours, the other in stencilled.

As is the case in most of these classes, I don't have pretty much all of the materials that the teachers use. But that's OK, it's all about working with what you have and making the techniques work for you. I didn't have embroidery thread so, logically in my mind, the next best thing was modelling paste. 

This is my finished piece and I've gone from "aaaargh, what am I doing?" to really loving it. 

Liquitex Acrylic Paint
Modelling  Paste
Various stencils
Perfect Pearls Mists
Liquitex Satin Varnish

I'm loving how in nearly every class I have taken so far I have been following the class, thinking it's all going wrong but by the end of it, loved what I've done. Shows me that I'm to hasty in stopping perhaps and just need to keep trying new things till it goes right!

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Rocking My World Friday...

It's that time of the week when Virginia rallys us all to look back on the past 7 days and be thankful for all the positives that have happened. I haven't done it again for a couple of weeks and it's time I did. I feel myself slipping back into old habits - getting into the doldrums. Feeling sorry for myself. Naughty! I have much to be positive about! So - this is a look back over the past... however long it's been since I last did this.

So... firstly. New stash! Ooh! Helen is to blame for the stencil - I've spotted her putting it to good use recently and pestered her to tell me where she got it - I wont bother telling you as they are out of stock and won't be getting it back for the foreseeable. Mine was purchased from Crafty Charlie. Actually - just went to get a link and they are out of stock now too. Oops. Honestly though - it's the best quality stencil I have purchased to date. Love it. 

The pens - I've seen recommended on various blogs. Pilot Permaball pens. I couldn't find them singly very cheaply but Amazon UK was doing a deal with 'damaged' boxes. They are just a bit scuffed is all, pens inside are perfect, Have to say - the recommendations were right - I love them. And then. Happy sigh. A starter box of Sennelier oil pastels and a diddy box of their Iridescence oil pastels.  How long have I lusted after these? Let me count the ways... Well. A lot.

A combination of my Christmas pennies, a generous Craig and an unexpected survey payment allowed me to be in stash Heaven last week. Look at these scrummy colours...

Nom nom!

Sneaking out for extra thick milkshakes and a cake when the girls were at school. We aren't totally mean - we'd treated them to one at the weekend and were drooling over how lovely they looked. So after doing the big shop Craig treated the Bear and me. Yum. Try not to look at the state of me - I've been feeling peaky and my back's been playing up - so am hurting a wee bit here. Am not just a miserable mare. Didn't help that these were stealthily taken photos by Craig so that he could text "nya-nya-nya-nya-nya" pictures to Devvie. I was an unaware, oblivious accomplice! Honestly - he's a big kid! Didn't stop me enjoying that milkshake!

Talking of my back - a new back support and some vitamin tablets plus a skip load of super strength paracetamol seems to have got me over the worst of my blip. I think I'm coming back to my normal aches and pains which is a welcome relief. So "yay" to that. I am trying my hardest to stay away from anything stronger for as long as possible.

Other things that are making me smile...

• The Soul Food class. I'm loving that each lesson is so different and I've learnt a few things while rediscovering some old things too. Just having fun with it! Got a few bits to blog in the next few days :)
• Craig, who took over the school run on my worst back days and made me lots of tea. He doesn't make tea as a rule. And a few G&T's too. Big love.
• Chunky chickpea soup, vegetarian moussaka and sage & onion (fake) chicken slices. New yummy things we tried this week.
• Reading some of the art books I got for Christmas
• Winning a new book on Twitter
• Someone telling me in an Amazon comment that a review I'd written had persuaded them to buy a book and they have to be very choosy with their pennies. Chuffed moment.
• A few blogs I've been reading lately have either cheered me up with the subject matter or glorious art (or both)... and there has just been a bit of serendipitous reading. Love the Blogosphere.
• Getting out with the kids, even if just to the local ball pit type place. 
• Some glimpses of sun.
• A roof over our heads and a warm dry house - our thoughts are with the people up and down the UK who have been suffering in this terrible Winter we're having.
• Only a tiny leak in my shed - easily fixed when we get a bit of dry weather and only above the window so nothing was damaged. A miracle really considering the wind and rain battering it's had.
• Speaking to my sister. All be it by Facebook - but we are both terrible at keeping in touch and her shift patterns mean we can sometimes go months without talking. It's been nice to chat a wee bit Mel. *hint, hint*
• Craig pestering me to start scrapbooking again. Makes me laugh - how many other blokes would be like that? But I agree with him, we need to get the photos off the PC.

I think that will do me as a getting started again post - cheered me up already it has! If you feel like taking a feel good look back on your week then do stop by Virginia's and link up. We'd love to see you!

Thank you for stopping by today - how have you been?