If in doubt......bake!

My creative time of late has been filled by baking.  Daisy and I have created cakes and iced them to our hearts content.  I love baking and I love baking with Daisy.  Teaching her things my Nan and Mum passed on to me, seeing how excited she gets when she bakes and watching her gain confidence each time we make a cake, is just out of this world.  Children are so pure it's beautiful.

Anyway, here's some of our latest efforts.

After watching the Great British Bake Off one evening, I decided to bake some fairy cakes after the programme.  The next day Daisy asked me why I made these without her....talk about being guilt ridden.  However, that was quickly forgotten as she tucked in!

I made this Raspberry and Coconut cake on a whim and it was a bit of trial end error as I made it up as I went along.  However it did taste delicious (Rona, promise to email you the recipe!)

And then Daisy and I made these last night before she went to bed.  Nice chocolate fairy cakes.

We also made a low fat Date and Apple cake the other day, but I wasn't able to snap any pictures of that one.  However I will be making it again soon and will share the recipe too.  And whilst I am on the subject of photos.....I have a really good camera but snapped these using my phone so apologies as they are not great (but when you've got cakes to eat you want to tuck in straight away!)

And finally, I leave you with a video of Daisy being Betty Crocker....just absolutely adorable.


Daisy being Betty Crocker from Helen Mills on Vimeo.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Helen xx

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

It may be a bit late in the day but I'm here for another Sunday Sketches.  Today's sketch is a little fishy.  Just doodles really and allowing my pen to follow my imagination.

I hope you are all well and please join me to look at the other entries, I just know they will be fab!

Happy Sunday to you all.

Helen xx

Happy Monday

Here's to a creative, fulfilling, happy and fun week to you all. Let's be creative, let's eat cakes, let's drink tea and above all. let's enjoy every day we have. It's all about gratitude.

Helen xx

A photo from the archives...

Yesterday I was thinking about the painting holiday in St Ives I went on some time ago....July 07 to be precise and how invigorating it was. How much fun I had being with creative souls, none of whom I knew at the start and how we all painted the same scene so very differently.

I need another painting holiday and I think St Ives is just the ticket. I mean just look at their studio (although I think it has been revamped now). Can you feel the history of the place.....smell the paint.....drink in the atmosphere? Heaven.

Have a lovely Tuesday!

I won!

The other day I won the blog giveaway from the very talented Julia Crossland. I never win things so suffice to say I was over the moon.

Isn't it a lovely print. I am in love. And the postcard she sent with it was wonderful.

Please head on over and say hello. Julia has a brilliant e-book out as well as prints of her work and other goodies for sale. Great for gifts, especially as an alternative to Easter Eggs.

Have a great Thursday and take care.
Helen x

Pip's journey continues

Last night I did some more to my Pirate Pip sketch, It's still a work in progress - I left it to dry and need to go back to add some lines to it.

I've enjoyed doing something different and not worrying too much about the outcome. That's one of the joys of a sketchbook.

Happy Wednesday - I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Happy Monday

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I'm still in the weekend mood and want to play today.....any takers?

Happy Monday!

My little sewing project

At last my little sewing project is finished....and here it is in all it's glory. Nothing exciting I know but after a lot of trial and error I eventually managed to sew a little cover for my banking pin pad.

It wasn't difficult at all, but I cut the felt wrong, made it all up as I went along and decided that I would not put on the embellishment I had made as it just looked silly. I don't like anything too fussy and I really just wanted something simple to protect the pin pad from all the dust and bits when it is kicking around my handbag.

And although it's not perfect I found the sewing very therapeutic and immensely enjoyable.

To think today I was looking at sewing patterns for a dress....talk about run before you can walk. Anyway, I love my little pouch and feel very proud of it.

Hope you all have a happy Wednesday. Tonight Jim and I are off to Notting Hill to watch a special pre-release of Elbow's latest DVD. Should be a good evening!

Tangled

Last night I reached for my felt, fabric and sewing box and settled down to create something. It's been a long while since I made something from scratch in this way - the last bit of sewing I did was sewing the names onto the Christmas stockings. It was so therapeutic to put the radio on and sew. It had been a bit of a day at work and my soul needed creative time.

It all went well until I reached for my white thread and saw the mess it was in. I have no-one to blame except myself and it took me a while to de-tangle it all. In the end I did have to cut it but hopefully didn't waste too much thread.

Then it was time to carry on sewing. It was all a bit trial and error really and it isn't quite finished yet but when it is I will post a picture, even if it is a bit hideous!

Hope your Wednesday evening was lovely and that you have a great Thursday. So close to the weekend too....hurry up Friday night - my best night of the week!

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

Doodling and sticking

Last night I spent some time doodling, cutting out and sticking and I think I may have just come up with a Christmas card design that I actually like. I have a few ideas for more too! These will be sent to friends and family and if the response is good then I may just create some more for next year and sell them.

Gotta love Wallace and Gromit!

I love it when ideas start to bubble and you start off thinking of one thing and then before you know it it's developed into something else. I will use these old gift tags for the next idea....I knew I kept them for a reason.

Hope you are all having a good week. I am off to see Elbow tonight for the Mencap Little Noise Sessions - an intimate gig in a church.....really looking forward to it as I LOVE Elbow!

Take care xx

Glittery Sunday Afternoon

Today it was foggy and pretty miserable looking outside, so once I had done all the dreaded housework, I promised Daisy that we would have some creative time. Out came the glitter!

Five year olds and glitter are an interesting combination and I have a feeling I will be finding it everywhere in days to come!

Daisy really enjoyed herself and I did too - once I accepted the fact that it's nigh impossible for it not to get everywhere.

Hope you had a good Sunday too!

It's Paint Free time!!!

Okay I am extremely excited as it's Paint Free time with the wonderful and inspiring Wyanne. This was my birthday present from Jim back in May and it's now time to take up the class. which has changed slightly as you also get an e-book.

I have wanted to do this course since it first began last year so this was a perfect birthday pressie. I am so looking forward to being part of this community, of learning new stuff and of course, painting!

I will share my journey not only in the private forum but on here too and if I've said it once, I'll say it again, I really cannot wait!

Talented people

It's Saturday morning, I do not need to get up early and commute in to London and here I am awake before 7am! I wonder if it's an age thing....needing to go to bed earlier so you are up earlier. Anywho I am browsing blogs through my google reader, drinking tea and eyeing up my sketchbook. I feel a doodle coming on.

I just wanted to share this post which I read yesterday. I absolutely love this brooch and it works so beautifully on this cardigan. I wish I had both of them!

You can read more about Kate here.

Well I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I shall be painting my hallway and stairs today, with my lovely Jim.

Have a great weekend!

Helen

Sneak Peek.....

I had a day off work today which meant I had time to be creative. Inspired by the wonderful Kelly Berkey, I had forgotten just how much I love using a palette knife (and only a palette knife) to create a painting. So today I dusted off my acrylics and started a painting. Here's a sneek peek! (more to follow in another post).

It's been so long since I have used a palette knife to paint and this is another painting I did a while ago with just the knife.

I love the textures it gives and I find myself getting covered in paint as I use my fingers to help the paint move on the canvas - and to me that is heaven. Which is probably why I don't mind using pastels.

You can click on the pictures for larger images.

Happy Tuesday everyone xx

Painting with Sting

Tonight I am painting at long last and listening to Sting. I haven't used pastels in ages and I am having so much fun. I don't mind the messy hands at all - I know lots of people don't like it, but as I am a messy artist anyway, I quite enjoy it.

I have music on, have a lemonade at my side and am painting a picture for the first time in a long time. Happy times.

Off now to carry on so have a great evening! xx

Not much time in the studio

I haven't had much time this week to be creative.... but you know, I don't mind. As much as I love painting and drawing, making sketches and doing what I am passionate about, sometimes you have to make way for other stuff....stuff which has to be done no matter what.

Exciting decisions are being made, projects are being planned and it is making me happy.

I hope you are all having an amazing week and letting it flow. xx

Maddie's invite

I’ve had so much fun this week making the party invite in photoshop. Lovely Jim helped me with some of the technical stuff I wasn’t too sure on and then came up with some great ideas to make it a really special invitation. It was fun working together with him on it especially as it made a really nice change to be creative using a pc and not a paintbrush.

I’ve been so tired too as going back to work after some time off over Christmas is taking it’s toll. But I will not let this stop me from being creative in the evenings and weekends....just need to make sure I plan things right and look after myself too so that I don’t burn out (ooh am I really living and learning from my past mistakes)!

Now the invite is done I will look at finishing the Esher painting I started some time ago, then there is just one more to complete in my series. And I already have a new painting project bubbling away which I will share once I work out the details. All exciting stuff!

Anyhoo, here’s the invite and if anyone would like one designed for them, just drop me a line.

Have fun and be creative x

Ps, I've changed some details to protect the innocent ;o)