Blossoms and Glass Slippers

Wow! Two posts in one day, just to alleviate the guilt I feel at not posting for two months-and to prove I'm not a lazy arse! The following pictures depict a work in progress, Sengen, the Japanese goddess of the blossom and Mount Fuji.

I've finally found a way around my inability to produce a proper finished drawing. Since line drawing is not my area of expertise I've decided that my sketches should be done using thread. Initially I worked via a process of rough preliminary sketches before moving on to final pieces. This process has been pretty trial and error, sometimes it works, sometimes I end up with a pile of crap on my canvas.

For some reason the process of thread sketching works for me. I'm not sure why, perhaps because it feels as though each one could stand alone as a piece in itself, or maybe its because I can explore shape, form and composition while still using colour. Who knows? The odd thing about this piece is I don't actually feel that it would work as a painting, perhaps the composition is a little fussy, but in this medium it works for me.

So anyway, there you go, let me know what you think!

Cards Cards Cards!

Its been a while since I updated this blog, certainly less than I had hoped, but as with all creative people on occasion real life rears its ugly head. I've been dealing with some things in my personal life which has meant creatively speaking, things have been somewhat slow. I don't feel any particular compulsion to over-share on here, but I would like to thank the family and friends who read this for everything they have done for me over the last few weeks.

So.... in the spirit of saying thank you....here follows a selection of the thank you cards I've been making- just to show that no matter how absorbed I've been in the madness of my day to day life I very much appreciate everyone else's efforts.

First up, this was made using a selection of products from the "Mira Colle" range by Brenda Walton for K&Co. I may have mentioned before that I'm relatively new to scrap booking products, not being a scrap fan, and I can't quite remember what it was that got me hooked-although I think Amy Butler's Sola and Belle fabric ranges had a lot to do with it!

This card marks the first time I've used one particular range of products exclusively in a piece. Often I tend to combine bits of my favourite ranges, but Mira seems to fit perfectly. I started with a base from the Mira matte pad, (at the risk of sounding ignorant, does anyone know what a matte pad is actually for? As I've said I'm not a scrapper) since this card is intended for a visually impaired relative texture is doubly important.

I then began adding embellishments. Rarely do I plan my cards at length, I'd had a couple of packs of Mira Lantern Grand Adhesions that I'd been wanting to use for a while, so I went with the string of lanterns idea presenting in the packaging. The copper wire is secured by brads, both supplied in the pack (an idea I will definitely be borrowing!) and I picked lanterns with plenty of raised patterns to feel, and tassels and ribbons to finish.

Since my background choice reminded me of a hazy summer garden I decided to go with it, cutting and trimming Mira glitter stickers in gold, copper and red to create flower stems in the foreground. The flowers were created using Mira Mulberry paper flower brads. K&Co Grand Adhesions and brads are usually made up of three layers-in this instance I swapped a few layers around, and only used to top layers of some of the adhesions to create different depths.

I then finished the whole thing with a smattering of embossed paper dragonflies and a couple of pretty birds on the wire.

Close up of the lanterns: I fell in love with this particular set of Grand Adhesions right away. Each one comes painted, embossed or foiled with different pattern which are incredibly multi-layered. They are all finished with little ribbons or tassels at the bottom- undeniably gorgeous!

Ah, the lanterns are back again! Those of you who have read this on a regular basis (my condolences, but thank you anyway :-D) will notice the similarity of this card to one I posted on here a few weeks ago. You would be right in assuming its the same, I did a couple in a similar way, but when I saw it against my more recent efforts I figured it looked a bit unfinished. I'm still not 100% convinced the composition works with its latest addition, but I do know the intended recipients will appreciate it and that's what matters.

This is possibly my favourite- Brenda Walton's designs come out again, this time in the form of dresses from her Dollhouse chipboard alphabet, and a few bits of Mira Colle too. The Dollhouse range is one of those collections that I think works better when mixed with other pieces, use together and its all a bit too sugary. Having said that, the alphabet box these shapes came from is absolutely one of my all time favourites.

Like with the first card I used a patterned page from a K&Co matte pad (McKenna I think). I decided that in keeping with my current love affair with the wire suspended on brads combination, to follow a theme that popped into my head every time I went rummaging through my crafty bits looking for chipboard shapes.

It might be a little obvious, but the pretty little dresses from the Dollhouse box lend themselves perfectly to being used as part of a quirky domestic scene. I added small strips of brown paper to create clothes pegs, and like in the first card I used Mira Colle glitter stickers to create swirly flower stems. The flowers themselves are a mixture of silk flowers, Mira cut-outs, and cut-outs from the "Smitten" range with various metal brads at the centres. I fixed some of the flowers using foam pads, while simply gluing others flat to create the illusion of depth to the composition.

Close up of clothes: One of the occasionally great things about K&Co chipboard alphabets and shapes is that they are all double sided. I say occasionally because often I like both sides equally, which results in the need to buy two of everything (such a pity!) and sometimes I end up with a major case of too much to choose from. Luckily in this instance I feel I made a good decision!

Ordinarily I would have put the least heavily embellished shape in the centre (the one on the left) but as its shape was similar to the one on the right I decided to aim for a little symmetry.

Close up of flowers: As I've already explained how I achieved this look I just wanted to give you a closer look at the patterns on the flowers, which may otherwise be missed.

Close up of Butterfly: Just because they're pretty!

Death by Jam-Past Works

I do so love to see how my work has evolved...or not as the case may be. This is a selection of past works, commissions, sketches, random pieces, and the odd bit that may find itself recycled into something else one day!

Very old Geisha painting, based on a pair of Acupuncture trainers. In keeping with traditional Japanese art the original images on the soles of my trainers show the Geisha during a somewhat private moment ;-) and this piece is my slightly tamer interpretation of that.

One of many pieces based on my trip to Australia. I realise I probably mention it a lot but I love the country and I continue to be inspired. On future trips I would like to experience more of Aboriginal art and Culture- while I think its great that Aboriginal art is finding its way into the mainstream I think it would be a shame to ignore the meaning behind a lot of the work, and certainly it would be a shame to forget some of the incredible early work that survives.

While on my trip I saw a great deal of Aboriginal art, (though not nearly as much as I would have liked!) and possibly one of the most incredible places for me was an amazing area called Kuranda, a brilliant fusion of Dreamtime stories passed on from ancestors mixed with modern day materials- even the rubbish bins were functional sculptures!

While there I picked up some stuff on Aboriginal X-Ray art (and fed a kangaroo!) which became the background behind the picture above. It is based on one of the main characters in the Aboriginal Dreamtime creation stories- the Rainbow Serpent- who travelled across the Earth creating Valleys, hills, seas and lakes as she went. The Rainbow Serpent surrounds three fishermen- not to cause harm but to symbolise the process of creation, the link between her and all things.

The piece is made from various fabrics and embellishments such as beads and sequins and is hand stitched. Unfortunately a problem occurred over time with the fabric glue I used to attach the piece to the canvas frame. It would appear that during the drying process it sets white and rubbery and actually seeps through layers of fabric. I do intend to recreate this piece on a larger scale in time, and for that one I will secure it to the frame using tacks!

This piece was originally part of a wall hanging I made, which I later decided I disliked as a whole and removed my favourite bits. The inspiration behind this picture is very personal. It acknowledges a difficult period a few years ago and since I tend to find I don't really want to create pieces that force me to dwell on any issues I have, this is one of the few pieces that have reflected a point in my life as opposed to something I'm interested in.

I created this work from layers of fabric embellished with glass beads, garnet, turquoise, and moonstone chips and gold thread.

This piece reflects my love of Hindu mythology, and depicts Lord Shiva on a background of red satin. The image itself actually started life as a sticker I found at a market, I stitched it to the fabric then used gold sequins as accents, before then stitching the whole piece to some purple velvet and surrounded the image with a frame of red glass beads.

The two sketches above occurred during my obsession with Japanese art, in particular the work of an artist named Junko Mizuno, who's work manages to be both beautiful, colourful and really disturbing (oddly I can't eat while any of her work is in my line of sight). Eventually I began to realise that the style was so far removed from my own that it was better to admire than attempt to emulate.
This is my "Art Attack" piece. (For those of you that don't know, Art Attack is a children's art programme that's been going for years-and I enjoyed it immensely as a student!) Basically the idea came after watching the presenter demonstrate silhouette art, so I dutifully got some canvas, some yellow paint, PVA glue, and a pot of black glitter and this is the result. At the last minute I decided that the owl shape would be better stitched onto felt, but I still think it works. I got quite enthusiastic and carried away during the course of this piece, there were a few other canvases rendered in the same way, however it became quickly apparent that this was best as a one time only piece (though I regret not sending it in to the show).



The two pictures above were both created for use by Peterborough bird Club on the cover of their field guides. Both were hand drawn, rendered in ink and then digitally painted using a graphic tablet. The owl image is the most recent and I think shows a definite refinement of technique.


Two sketches again reflecting my love of Hindu mythology. The first depicts Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and luck, surrounded by her symbols-elephants, the lotus, golden coins and a peacock. Lakshmi is a beautiful goddess and during the festival of Diwali she is honoured.

The second drawing shows Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas, mother of Ganesha the elephant headed God, and said to be the embodiment of all the energy in the universe. The story goes that Parvati created Ganesha from turmeric paste to prevent anyone entering her chamber while she bathed. Her consort Lord Shiva returned and was stopped by Ganesha, and during the ensuing fight Shiva used his trident to cut Ganesha's head off.

Parvati made him swear to bring her son back to her, so he vowed that because they could not find Ganesha's own head he would give him the head of the first creature he saw-which happened to be an elephant. Parvati was still unhappy and insisted that Ganesha be made head of the celestial armies and worshipped by everyone before beginning any activity.

Both of these drawings were intended at some point to make it onto canvas, an intention I still have, though I am currently unsure as to whether to do them as paintings or stitchings.

Commission piece from January last year- Beryl the Jack Russel surrounded by white lilies-the favourite flower of her owner.

Future Plans

Just a glimpse of future pieces I'll be working on! For a while now I've been collecting bits and pieces to alter, (this is just a selection) from lampshades to books, wooden bangles and all things in between. Over coming weeks I'll be posting pictures of these items in their newly altered state.

Several Deafening Chimes- Current Obsession

"The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things; of shoes and ships, and sealing wax of cabbages and kings, and why the sea is boiling hot and wheather pigs have wings" Alice in Wonderland

The doll in the picture above (number four, Ruby-May) was very loosely based on one of my current favourite pieces of literature- Alice in Wonderland. I was inspired by a mixture of the queen of hearts and the Mad Hatter (I plan to expand on this theme in time). I'm not entirely sure where the Australian postage stamp fits into this, a flamingo would have been more appropriate, but note I did say loosely!

New Developments!

Wow! Its been a busy couple of weeks here, (which explains the delay in posting!) I currently have two "projects" on the go, one professional and one personal, both of which I'm unable to say a lot about no matter how much I want too!

Professionally I am cautiously optimistic, I've been contacted by an exhibition organiser via Etsy, who appears interested in my work and I should hopefully receive a brochure soon.

My creative output this past week has been sporadic at best. I have completed a couple more art dolls, and I've sketched a painting outline onto canvas but I seem to have spent much of my time writing up endless lists of what I actually want to do, resulting in me sitting there wondering where the hell I'm meant to start. (Not to mention incessant dwelling on the personal project I have going on!)

I have tended to do this a lot over the last few months possibly due to a severe case of creative block, but it is something I'm gradually phasing out. I had thought that I'd finally shaken it off, but it looks like there's still a bit more work to be done. When I get these blocks I just get so caught up with ideas and inspiration in an attempt to feel like I'm actually doing something, that the actual process of creating tends to pass me by. I can literally while away hours making my ideas lists- but I'm finally working through them.

The doll above is called Butterfly Betsie, and is number three in the series made in a similar vein to the others but with the added inclusion of cut up postage stamps and glitter. As a general rule I prefer super-fine glitter, not that stuff that looks like shredded tin-foil. I am begining to find that this project has taken on a life of its own- I'm planning all sorts of dolls even as I type, and I'm open to suggestion so please comment me with ideas!

At some point down the line I plan to branch out into altered mini-books and from there I had thought that it would be kind of fun to create a larger art book version of of my dolls. I'm one of those people that doesn't quite understand the point of scrapbooking but at the same time I love art books, especially ones with lots of hidden sections, tags flaps and pockets (my sketchbooks never close properly!). All in all with so much stuff buzzing round me head its unlikely I'll be sleeping much in the next couple of months!

As for the other stuff- in the best tradition of cheesy lines- watch this space!

Ornaments-Yule comes early!!

Ok, so not really, but it will creep up sooner than we think so for once I decided to start preparing early! As with the bags and boxes these are made of cardstock, decorated with ribbons and shiny things!