Oooh a wedding....

It's been a while since my last post and things have been pretty manic.  I assisted Jim at a wedding on Saturday - how I love doing these.  I feel so privileged to be part of a couple's special day.  It's just the most fun ever and it's supposed to be work.  Get that!  Here's a little collage of some of the photographs.

I haven't had much time to paint which is terrible.  I have two commissions waiting to be started and fortunately I do not have an immediate deadline, although it may be better if I did!  I am kind of involved in a few projects which are taking up my time, which I will share in another post when the time is right.  I am also trying to learn wordpress (ssshh close your ears blogger) although I have no plans to defect, it's for one of the projects I am involved with.

But I am still here....doing the day job, being a step-mum and trying to fit in some creative time. I am tempted to keep a small sketch book with me so that I can fit some sketches in when I commute etc, but if I do I really musn't put myself under any pressure to fill the book.....just let it flow.

Hope you are well well and not flooded out.  It's supposed to be summer in the UK, but it appears to be monsoon season!

Oh and if you are in Excelsior Springs, MO, please do drop by my dear friend Kelly Berkey's art crawl.....she would love to see you!

Love and happiness

Helen x

Sunday Sketches

Another Sunday Sketches - wow this is becoming a very good habit :o) These are Lien's Converse - they are black but I just wanted to draw the outline. I am debating whether to go over them in ink and then use an ink wash, but I kind of like the simple sketch, It was fun to do and really relaxing too.

Talking of relaxing, I am so tired today after helping Jim photograph a wedding yesterday and we didn't get home until late. So entertaining a 5 and a half year old and an almost 4 year old is taking every last ounce of energy I have. We are off to the park in a mo, so hopefully they will run off some of their energy while we try and relax.

Please head over to Blue Chair Diary to check out the other Sunday Sketches.

Happy Sunday x

Today I will mostly be a photographer

I love working with Jim and today we are shooting a wedding which will be held at Ealing Abbey (pictured above courtesy of JTC Photography).

It will be a busy and tiring day but I really love photographing weddings......being part of a couples day is just magical.

Hope you have a good weekend and I will be back with some photo's tomorrow!

Sweet Magnolias

I had a lovely weekend. It included; family, children, sketching, sunshine, relaxing, Kew Gardens, photography, magnolias and best of all, no renovating a cottage. It was lovely.

The magnolias smelt lovely and they were out in full bloom, attracting tourists, keen gardeners and also students using them as backgrounds in their photoshoots. Mind you these trees are so beautiful it's no wonder they attracted such interest.

I hope you all had a good weekend. I can't believe it's all over and it's Monday again.

Have a great week!

Hurrah! - At last!

We've done it! After months....years even, Jim and I have finished the renovations on the cottage and it is on the market! The agent came round yesterday and it will be marketed today.

We worked so hard yesterday to get everything finished and poor Jim even had to stick his arm down a smelly drain to unblock it - the things we do for love. But it's done and I can't tell you how good it feels.

Selling it is a completely different stressful process, but it will be so worth it.

Another step towards our dream.

Happy Wednesday, I hope you are having a great week!

Pirate Pip - Here she is!

Good Morning! It's Sunday, the sun is shining and it's Mother's Day here in the UK. Wonderful. Happy Mothers Day to you all.

Here's the finished Pirate Pip sketch. I meant to post it the other day but the last few days have been a bit busy. I am pleased with how she turned out and I had fun using my gouache paints for this.

I haven't done a Sunday Sketches entry in ages, so I hope you don't mind me popping by and adding my sketch.

Wishing you all a lovely day. We are off soon to a kiddies party, then poor Jim is pretty much working the rest of the day editing a busy week of photography. Still, being able to follow your passion makes working at weekends worthwhile.

Have a fab day and please head on over to Sophia's blog to check out the other

Helen

Elbow and Happy Birthday to my Betrothed

Last night Jim and I went to see a preview screening of Elbow's latest remastered DVD's. We got ourselves on the guest list and made our way to Notting Hill to watch it. We are both massive Elbow fans and it was a lovely evening. Not only because we were watching our favourite band perform but also because we had a date...together....no children. It was lovely.

Unfortunately we didn't win either of the two signed canvas prints but we met some nice people, had a date and we were back home at a decent time - it was a 'school' night after all.

And it's my lovely Jim's birthday today, so happy birthday my darling and I hope you have a lovely day.......and I hope you all have a great day too.

Helen xx

Yay for Saturday

It's Saturday! Yay! Time to attend my best friend daughter's 6th birthday party, help Jim take the photo's and look after little Ollie. Cake, face painting, balloon modeling....not sure I'll have time to take the photo's ;o)

Happy Saturday to you all!

Ps.....wonder if Bear can squeeze his way out of the Penguins to come along?

New paints

You can't beat new paints. And these were just lovely (a Christmas pressie from Jim). And you can't beat being creative either :o)

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Happy Wednesday xx

Happy Valentine's Day

Have a truly wonderful day. Jim and I made each other our cards....and very last minute too!

Helen xx

ps....excuse my iPhone reflection in the image!

Easing my way into the weekend

Right now I am sitting here drinking tea and writing lots of notes in my notebook. Ideas for new projects, ideas for Jim's businesses and anything else that comes to mind. I have lots of exciting times ahead and I need to start making a few plans.

Good morning and I hope it's a lovely weekend for you all.

Helen xx

Time for a change....

A younger, slimmer me!

I’m going through a bit of a change personally right now. I am dead happy with who I am and my life as a whole, although I do wish to change some aspects to it but that will be another post for another time. But generally, all is great. However, it’s my health that I need to address and how I feel about myself. I am overweight. And this does not make me happy, give me any sort of confidence in public situations and therefore I don’t feel good about myself. I don’t shy away from going out but when I do I am just really self conscious that I am not looking my best. I have been slimmer and healthier in the past and have to get back there again.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis which can be painful at times and I know that being overweight isn’t helping the situation. I have some clothes in my wardrobe which I love but cannot fit into which is frustrating. And it ends up a vicious circle, I am not happy with my weight so I comfort eat, and the more I comfort eat the more weight I put on. Some of you may know where I am coming from.

So last week I did something about it. I signed up to Weight Watchers online and have started my healthy eating plan. I have my wedding this year and want to feel good about myself in my wedding dress. To be able to look back at the photo’s and not hate the roundness of my face, or the chubby arms and let’s not talk about the derriere!

I also want to make myself some dresses this year so I have another incentive – to make myself a dress like this one once I have slimmed down. Maybe take myself off to an evening dressmaking class and learn the right way of doing it.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve reached 40, but I am yearning for a new look. A change in hairstyle, whether it’s the colour or cut, change my wardrobe by buying some classic pieces and ones that I feel great in. And above all to feel healthy and fit. It can be done and I am lucky to have the support of my lovely Jim as he is also on a health and fitness quest (and is doing really well too!).

I know I am not the only person in the world to feel like this and I wanted to share this with you as this blog is not just about my art, but about me too.

Wish me luck!

It's been a while....

Hello!!! I'm still here! It's been a shamefully (is that a word?) long time since I blogged. Christmas Eve to be exact. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New year (a distant memory now especially as next week we are in February)! Since Christmas I have been getting over tonsillitis, renovating the cottage (The Never Ending Story as I now call it), spending time with friends and family, commuting into London for the day job which still completely tires me out and de-cluttering my life. A very busy time indeed.

The cottage is coming along nicely and I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even if one job that appears to be easy ends up being a right pain and takes longer than you think and tests the patience of my lovely Jim. It'll be worth it when it's done.

We have year end at work which means lots of figures for me and a busy time, not forgetting Jim and my own tax return to do. All of this hasn't left me much time to be creative.

However did you see the picture above of all the lovely books I received for Christmas (and one afterwards). Wow. I love crafts and I love books, so to get books on crafting and baking is pure heaven. I've had a good old read already and have lots of ideas and projects earmarked for the future. Once 31st Jan has passed I can get to it!

Most of the books were from my wonderful Jim, as was this gorgeous necklace he bought me which is made of real poppies in resin. Handmade and perfect. I am very fortunate to have him in my life.

Well I hope to get back in to the blogging world again. I've been reading others but just haven't had the time to comment or post anything. But I hope to show you soon projects I am working on.

Have a great week and I'll post my final drawing of Pip soon.

Helen xx

Sunday Sketches

Well I have made it for another Sunday Sketches - at least I am consistent with my inconsistency!

I haven't been sketching as much as I would like but I have been sketching some Christmas ideas and doodles, some for cards, some just so that I can let it flow and see what happens. Below are a couple that I did with a Christmas theme (strangely enough!).

Yesterday morning I was recovering from helping my lovely Jim out on an event he was working at. It was a long evening and I didn't get home until 3,30am but we did have lots of fun. From a mere people watching point of view, I loved seeing all the women in their different outfits and the variety of styles. And as for the shoes....wow......I think it was a contest to see who could wear the highest. But it was great and some of the men made a real effort too!

However, children don't understand a 3,30am late night and needless to say it required a lot of energy to keep going throughout the day. So I treated myself to a trip to Hobbycraft where I purchased a few goodies to make some things with.

This morning Jim has another photoshoot with a family which should be fun and then I think he wants to take a few pictures of the kids for the various relatives to send with cards - so a photography and creative filled weekend - perfect!

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and please head over to Sophia's blog to see the other Sunday Sketches pictures.

Helen

Little Noise Sessions

Tuesday night I went to see Elbow at the St John-at-Hackney Church as part of the Little Noise Sessions. These were curated by Radio 1's Jo Whiley in aid of Mencap. All I can say is WOW!

Both pictures courtesy of Jim Templeton-Cross

The venue was beautiful and so lovely to see such an amazing group perform to such a small crowd. The last time I saw Elbow was at the O2 in March, so to be at such an imtimate gig with them was really a wonderful experience and one I will cherish.

They are running these small concerts for the rest of the week and I think there may be tickets still available for some of the gigs.

Art and photography are my passions but I would be completely lost without music!

A wonderful weekend!

I had an amazing time this weekend at Catherine and Pete's wedding. They chose the most beautiful location in the Lake District for their special day and it was a truly wonderful.

Catherine and Pete met on holiday 22 years ago and she moved from Scotland to 'down south' to be with him. They now live in Preston and are just a truly lovely couple. It seems weird that after 22 years they decided to tie the knot but I am so glad they did. You could see the love between them shining through and I had many a tear in my eye. After 22 years both sides of the families knew each other so well, so the whole wedding was just a real happy, relaxing day (well except for Pete's nerves). It was strange seeing Pete who is normally so laid back, looking nervous.
As a wedding present my lovely Jim took the photo's and I assisted. I hope we have done them proud! (all these photo’s are mine….Jim’s are much better!)

They are off for a few days in the Lakes and then travel to Northumbria and as a surprise Pete bought an old V12 Jag for their trip. Seeing Catherine's face was just the best!

I feel privileged to have been at their wedding and I have known them almost as long as they have known each other. They are a lovely, caring and giving couple who have hearts of gold and I am overjoyed they decided to marry. Who says holiday romances don't last!

(I love the way Pete is looking at her in this picture)

Making changes

These last few months have been very up and down for me for various reasons. I guess with highs come the lows and sometimes I wonder why whatever you want becomes so difficult to achieve. I've wanted to bury my head in the sand, or migrate to a sunny, stressfree place where I can relax and have a 6 month holiday.

I wonder how other people cope with the constant day to day challenges of fitting everything in and still feeling like they have time to do little things for themselves. They say that getting what you want can be hard, but worth it in the end and I am really looking forward to that.

I am seeing some light at the end of the very long and dark tunnel and this week I have taken pro-active action to sort areas out in my life that were long over due attention. And it feels so very good. Taking control is empowering and wonderful and safe to say I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I am hoping that when the stress that has been hovering over me like a little black cloud completely disappears that I will have more energy to focus on my creative side. And I am not kidding myself that I won't ever get little black clouds again as life is full of them, but it would be nice not to have some for a while.

And to add to my feelings of happiness at making life changes, I am off to the Lake District today to attend as a guest and assistant to the official photographer (aka Jim) of one of my oldest friends wedding. Catherine has been with Pete for over 22 years and tomorrow they finally tie the knot. I am beyond excited for them.

I hope you all have a fab weekend and that whatever you do brings joy and happiness to your life!

Helen

Gruffalo party time

I made a Gruffalo invitation for my friend's little boys second birthday party recently and she asked if I could create a menu to give to the children so they could select the food they wanted in their little lunch bag.

So I set to work and instead of painting this one I decided to really try and get to grips with Photoshop. Over the years I have used it but I really do have a limited knowledge. Fortunately Jim doesn't and after installing a Wacom pen tablet on my laptop (which I have had for 2 years but never used), I decided to use it and have some fun. Again with help from Jim we got it up and running and then I just played about.

Here's the menu as it is right now. Not sure I will change anything else as my friend loves it....it just depends on how well it prints as I hope the background won't be too 'busy' once printed.

Hope you are having a great Sunday. Today has been lovely and relaxing so far with the family. Perfect!

Added to Sunday Sketches - please head over to Sophia's blog to check out the other entries,

Station approach

Jim and I went for a date tonight and as we were at Waterloo station waiting for the train home I took a quick snap of the other commuters by holding my phone down low and just pressing the button when someone came into the frame. This one happens to be my favourite as I love the movement.

I've got two days off now so looking forward to not setting my alarm for 5.30am!

Exciting news

Jim got down on one knee and proposed to me last night, 2 years after we met.

I said yes! I am the luckiest lady alive.......