My first exhibition

Finally I have some photos to share! In the end I popped back to the gallery to take some to show you, as it turns out the ones mum had taken from the opening evening were more a sea of heads rather than pieces! (You'll see what I mean later) I'm afraid these aren't the greatest of photos but I hope you'll get the idea...

I have shared the embroidery part of  the pieces you see above and below before..here they are finished with a pencil sketch added. These pieces are the ones I love the most as I put a mammoth amount of effort and time into each one (plus actual blood on occasion!)  But they also hold every element of what I love ...contrasts, layers, colour and texture..and magic too! Inspired by the saying "coming out of the woodwork" my active imagination wandered to animals stepping out of wallpaper....I have fantastic bamboo patterned wallpaper in the bathroom, and while brushing my teeth often smile at the thought of a panda just casually sauntering out from behind the foliage! ...

"Peering through the patchwork"

"A kingly stance"

"Seeing is believing"

I've been sharing parts of the beach scene over on facebook...I created them with the idea that they all sit together to create the scene but are individual pieces....they make me smile..and keep me dreaming of summer! 

It's the most amazing feeling walking past a window and seeing your work looking out at you :)

There are 40 individual pieces of mine exhibiting, including some books and soft sculpture birds. You've seen some of the pieces before and I've saved a couple to show you another time. I have to add I have never seen my home so clutter free! 

Here are the heads I was on about! :) 

Despite  nerves, the opening evening was incredible. Its hard to put into words how whole heart-FULLY blessed it feels to have people take time out of their own busy lives to come along and support little old me. Actually makes me get a wee lump in my throat at the thought. And still the support continues with visits from dear facebook connections and sweet emails enquiring. Just incredible, and amazingly humbling. So so grateful indeed.

                              
What I also take away from this whole amazing experience (apart from the dodgy photo! ) is the realisation and celebration that I have achieved something  I once thought was impossible...so watch this space for the next " impossible dream" to come true ..yipee!
Thankyou all for sharing this adventure with me too.

Seeing is believing!

Silly me.....I have one whole photo taken from my debut exhibition!..so until I ransack my mum's camera (who was very proud and quite the opposite in frivolity of photo taking!) I thought I would share this piece and the stages of it.....

 

I've told you about my love of bears before..and I'd been hankering to create a piece with a brown beauty! My hankering is still unfinished...there will be more!...but this piece is one of my current favourites and is currently exhibiting.

The colours began quite differently from the finished piece....and unlike the way I begin most pieces, I drew a sketch first off , to see how the winged bear would fit....

Not liking the colours, I dripped and shlurped some tangerines, blues and turquoises...a different colour palette  from usual, but I was liking it more this time! Once happy with the background, after adding a cloud pattern using gesso and a hand cut stencil,  I went and bought some embroidery threads to match.

I embroidered the edges first , then began the 26 hour stitch-athon..squeezed into every moment of small child's back being turned!

Above we have 12 hours in ..this is the photo I shared and sneaky of, where I had you guessing who the wings belonged to!

15 hours above

Now I'm 21 hours in...oooh and getting so close ....

26 hours and finished. Hallelujah!

Next was the pencil sketch and a wee spray of artists matt varnish to seal.......and there you have it!

"Seeing is believing" on  8" x 16" boxed canvas.

As Gorgon Ramsay would say..."DONE!"

Published!

I don't normally pop back so soon ...but when this lands on your doorstep...

with bits of you inside.......

squeeeee-diddly-deee! :) Super- happy dance commenced! x Thankyou Stampington & Co! x

Clay pieces

It would be wrong not to return after the last post with more samples of where my creative rumblings have been taking me....I have been having sooo much fun!

(and thankyou all so much who left a comment and shared...so heart warming to know I am not alone!)

In between the framing , final touches and invitations for my exhibition in 6 days(eek!), I've been finding relaxation and calm through these tiny pieces....some of which have ended up in my little shop..and some which sold within minutes of placing them in my little shop (wowzer!).

I sewed the ribbon part of this piece as I watched "The hobbit, an unexpected adventure"..it was quite without intention but made me smile ALOT on realising :)

I'm so looking forward to sharing some of the new pieces I've created for my little show,next week...but first I am off on a well earned jolly with my little sis and mum for the weekend to Glasgow!Yipee. Hope the sun is shining where ever you are :)xx

Confessions of a creative!

When it comes to creativity, over the years I have probably immersed myself in every type of craft there is..from quilling to mosaic making, crocheting to candle making...the list goes on. It was always with joyful abandon ,excitement to learn and explore, that I would begin each project ....creativity = JOY!

 Having a mum that was the uber queen of creative nurturing as well as owning a craft shop as I grew up, really could not have been more perfect ..I mean how lucky?!

So with this in mind,  you can imagine the chats I have had to myself  when reading business advice which stipulates the need to create a brand, being focused , choosing your audience...key ingredients to making it as an artist. Blardy blar. I read these things alot! And I take on board what other people's knowledge and experience has been. I mean I'm grateful that they are even willing to share this...
     

But as soon as I read things like this my heart immediately crumples....because the truth is, if I can't fly with a whim to where creativity is urging me today , if I don't have room to learn  and grow, then I would be as well back working a 9 to 5 job where I felt restrained and unhappy. Really.

So I am here to say that I am creating my own recipe from now on!Working out my own ingredients that work best for me, where "happy" is the north point on my directional compass!

Why am I telling you all this? I guess to tell myself more than anything!
 Also because part of me feels I need to justify the things I keep sharing with you..the pencil sketches, the clay brooches, the fabric books, the paintings the stitches.....ALL the creativity that comes from me....and now my most recent experiment and learning...digital patterns and designs! :)
Last week I was chastising myself saying I really need to just choose ONE thing and STICK TO IT!..Oh my..who's voice does that one belong to?! Some draconian teacher from my yesteryears.
Today I am standing up and saying this is who I am, and this is all I will ever want to be....multi faceted and multi talented :) ......er well perhaps a little more practice on the pattern making first :)
It's very humbling sharing the beginnings but maybe it just may inspire you to experiment and follow your creative rumblings.... xx

holidays and a change...

A change IS as good as a holiday..indeedy. However I might add  a change coupled with a holiday is the total remedy! Oh yes, a self imposed sewing ban alongside the spring term school break has given my weary fingers the full recuperation they required and I'm good to go again!

Of course with 2 girls (and myself) to keep occupied over the bitter cold days where the fingers and toes could only sustain short periods amidst the elements (alas, picnics have been few and far between this year), I decided clay would be a fun thing to play with. 

We started off trying out paper clay,but I'd bought it as a powder and think I'd added too much water as it was quite tricky to work with and VERY sticky....aherm...so another trip to el Hobbycrafto and the faithful airdrying clay seemed to work quite the trick.
Skye sat for an age with a rolling pin and lots of old play dough tools, and made quite a collection of "beads" which are now awaiting some paint. Maia also sat for an age and made this incredible little model below of one of her favourite charcters "Totoro". She's a BIG fan of Studio Ghibli and Japanese animations and this little fellow features in one of their animations...(yep, it's been a learning curve for me too!)

I was so impressed by the minutae of detail, and luckily for her the proud mumma hormones were in full swing on realising his whiskers had been created out of my ancient but all time favourite hairbrush!!

Deep breath :)

I had sooo much fun with clay playing too..... took me straight back to the days when I made brooches and earrings as a teenager, which my mum would so sweetly let me sell at the craft fairs she exhibited at.

As you can see from the top photos I made brooches (and dinky ornaments) in spring colours to brighten my surroundings. I got carried away and made so many I'm deliberating whether to add them to my shop.....I have 3-4 weeks for the brooch blanks I have ordered to arrive and decide!

Thought I'd end on the sunny and recent decor that graces my living room window sill. Skye set them up and insists they remain in their row. I feel like I am about to be serenaded by some yodelling alpine chicks :)

swooning over Michelle Morin

Gilded nest

I wanted to share the incredible work of Michelle Morin. If you haven't had the fortune of stumbling upon her work..you are in for a treat! It's the detail and patterns within the detail that draws me in the most..like painted pieces of fabric all glued together to form a stunning and intricate mosaic. Oh yes I'm a gonner..hook, line and sinker!

Exotic moth

Dove diamond

peacock platter

Five whales stacked

I'm really being drawn to whales at the moment, and this piece fuels that urge to create something whale-like..the charm and character of each beauty just jumps out at you!

You can see more of her beautiful work on her website, own a piece of art from her shop, or catch up with what she's upto on her blog.

Amazing right?! :)x