To Kindle, or not to Kindle....

I don’t know what’s up with me this week, but I am sheer exhausted. I am definitely not over doing it, as I am having early nights, eating properly and taking care of myself, just as I pledged I would at the beginning of the year. Hoping it will pass soon.

I’m in the midst of a great book called Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, which is almost 1,000 pages long and to say it’s an epic of a book is putting it mildly. It’s a great read and I would thoroughly recommend it....but I only have one problem, the size of the book. It’s so big and heavy that it makes reading it on the train a bit cumbersome. Which has made me appreciate the new concept of reading books, via an iPad and Kindle etc.

My only problem with this advanced technology is that you can’t beat the feel of holding a book and reading it. No computer screen to look at, no battery to die on you....just the smell of the pages, the feel of the cover and the whole ‘reading a book’ thing to enjoy

I love the idea of having a Kindle as if I finish one book mid journey, I have another to hand, and it sure would make travelling lighter, but I was brought up in libraries when I was a kid. I love buying and reading books and the thought of not being able to do that scares me a little. How great it is to walk into a second hand book store and find the book you’ve been looking for, for years, as happened to me recently, and how great it is to borrow or lend books to friends.

As much as I love technology, I do hope we keep some traditional things going....

Hope you’ve had a great day,I’m off now to cook for a friend who is coming to dinner – take care x

Quilting and fabric envy...

I was looking at Julochka’s blog the other day as she has just started quilting and is using up endless fabrics she has purchased along with any remnants of previous projects ....and boy am I jealous. Not only because what she has produced is colourful, funky and unique, but because she has all this material to use up in the first place.

I love brightly coloured fabrics and I can’t wait to find some gems which I can store up like the squirrel I am. I am desperate....DESPERATE, to get out my sewing machine again and use that as my paint brush or pen for a bit.

I don’t know if you have seen any of the Kirsty’s Homemade programmes on Channel 4 but there was one episode where she used a free style technique on a sewing machine to create her teapot picture....it looked so much fun that I am dying to have a go. I watched them recently on 4OD so it’s well worth having a look.

So in between working my day job, I will create as much as I can, whether it’s by sketching, painting, crafting or sewing. The possibilities are endless!



I highly suggest you head on over to Julochka’s blog, as not only will you find it full of colourful pictures of her handiwork, you will also find a good read there too.

Hope you've had a great day - I'm exhausted, so off to bed now x

Sunday Sketches

I've decided to take up another challenge - got to keep those creative juices flowing - and join Sunday Sketches as hosted by Blue Chair Diary.

Other than keeping up my drawing and sketching ability, I also would like to fill up the billions (ok a bit of an exaggeration but you get the picture) of sketchbooks I have lovingly purchased and looked at over the years, but never actually filled with anything. Those for a penchant for art supplies will know exactly what I am talking about. So now is my chance.

I haven't a clue if one week they will be representational of the subject, a whimsical picture, or maybe even an abstract offering .....all I know is that it will keep my creativity in full force and on the path I want to be on. Exciting stuff!

So without further ado here is Lala...named by Ollie as he thinks this looks like his older sister. A whimsical start to the challenge. Not sure who she is, or why she is just standing there in her stripey socks looking mischievous...it was just one of those random drawings from within.

Please nip over to Blue Chair Diary's blog for the other sketches.

Have a creative and relaxing Sunday 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)

52 weeks, 52 photos

I've decided to take up another photography challenge which I feel more confident in completing. A picture a week for 52 weeks!

Last year I did the 365 photo project, but being ill for over a month kind of put paid to wanting to take a photo every day, and so I didn't finish it. I tried hard to not let it get me down, as I had managed to take a picture every day for ten and a half months before disaster struck! On the positive side I learnt heaps about photography, my camera and my subjects, so all was not lost. Plus the people in group I joined on Flickr were amazing, very inspirational and really friendly.

I also want to encourage myself to be creative every week in addition to taking a picture, so I have decided to give myself a theme of creativity for the entire project. Which means that every picture has to be of something creative, either what I am working on (which I aim to be working on something every week) or what someone else is working on or has worked on.

So without further ado, my week one picture is the mock up of my children's party invitation which I have worked on this week. I do realise that this picture has already been posted, so I have jazzed it up bit in Lightroom. The finished invite has been approved by the client (almost 5 year olds know what they like) and I will share that with you soon.

Have a great weekend and let the creativity flow x

It's Charlie & Lola time!

This week I need to complete a 5 year old girl’s pyjama party invite which may sound easy, but I am toying between painting it or using photoshop to create one. Painting it is fine as I have created a prototype and it works really well, (and the little girl is pleased with it) but I am worried how well it will look when scanned. The photoshop one will work better when printed but I will need to learn a few photoshop techniques from my lovely Jim in order to create it....and I don’t really have the time for that! Hmnnn decisions.....

The little girl in question is my best friend’s daughter and she is adorable so I really want to make her something she is chuffed with.

I will post an update when it’s finished but in the meantime, here’s a glimpse at the ideas so far.

Have a great day x

New year wishes...

Well we are a few days into 2011 and I have been thinking about last year and what I aspire for this year. And no matter where 2011 takes me, I know that I am very fortunate to have such wonderful family and friends.

Things I have learnt in 2010

It is ok to say no
Live in the moment and enjoy it
Sometimes you have to realise that it’s their shit not yours (and believe me, this has been a massive learning curve for me)
Gratitude is a humbling thing
Being creative is at my core and I will embrace it
Love, tolerance and compassion for others

To do this year

Learn to use resin on paintings
Fall in love with my sewing machine again
Keep in touch with friends
Follow my dream to be creative
Be healthy
Take an online painting class
Learn pottery
Embrace and celebrate my 40th
Be more creative
Open an etsy shop
Take my art to another level

I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.....and let the love flow :o)