Summer Of Colour 5 Week 4

The heart theme continues and this weeks colours lend themselves very nicely to it - 2 reds and 1 metallic.  I chose to use a primary red and cadmium red deep hue with gold accents.  The heart was cut made using some oriental text paper onto which I stenciled some gold flowers and added some red gems to the center.  I've stamped some random abstract designs around the edges of the canvas and added some red stars to finish off.  I may come back to this one at a later date as I feel it's still unfinished but for this project it serves it's purpose.

Want to see what other artists have created using this weeks colours?  Then head on over to TwinkleTwinkleLikeAStar's blog.

100 Happy Days Challenge Day 4

Who needs chocolate when you have cheese?  I love cheese and would choose it over any sweet dessert.  I bought this goats cheese from one of the regular stall holders at Altrincham market.  I also bought a creamy cheese wrapped in thistle leaves but I'll post that on another day.  In the meantime here is my plate of rather gooey goats cheese and poppy seed crackers.  #100happydays 

What is 100 Happy Days Challenge? You can find all the details here.

100 Happy Days Challenge Day #1

Day 1/100

Thank you card for one of my long standing friend who I don't see very often but when we do it's like we saw each other yesterday.  Artwork inspired by my friend Sarah from Wonderstrumpet.  Check her out she's awesome so is her art.

What is 100 Happy Days Challenge? You can find all the details here.

What's On Your Work Desk? Wednesday 284

Here we go again with another look at WOYWW - want to know more and how to participate?  Then pop over to the Stamping Ground where Julia will explain all.

My desk this morning consists of a painting I'm trying to finish for the Flood the Street with Art project - find out more about that and how you can take part on the face book page.  This is how I left it last night after adding black outlines around the flowers and painting the cogs green in the center of each flower - they were stenciled in using texture paste.  To the left there is a female figure cut out and painted in black which is now made up into an altered clothes pin (made this morning while my computer had a hissy fit).  Sitting on the handle of the pots at the back you can see the two dress altered clothes pins I made yesterday.

The finished clothes pin "Don't forget me"

That's it from me I'm off to see what everyone has on their desks

Anita

Create Art Every Day November Day 2

So it's day 2 of the create art every day challenge hosted by Leah over at Creative Every Day .  

I've worked a little bit more on the painting I started yesterday for Flood the Street with Art project.  I'm at the messy untidy stage where everything looks flat and has no texture or interesting sections.  I haven't planned this one in how it should look when finished I'm going to let it develop on it's own.  

The messy untidy stage day 2

From Day 1 the start of the painting

Anita

Another Gelli Print- Dark over Light

Yesterday Gelli Arts released a tutorial for printing dark over light and it involved letting the paint dry before adding the final layer of black.  I'm loving playing with the gelli plate but I don't like rushing and pulling the print while the paint is still wet as I find you can't control the design as much as I'd like to.  The other thing I like about this new technique is that you can really build the design in stages and maybe a little bit more refined - maybe I just like being in control.

Anyway here is what I did this evening.  It's not very detailed as I didn't have much time but I did enjoy the process and next time I'll give myself more time to plan out the design.

Ha yes I do have a messy desk and not so much space to work in but I like it like that.  

Anita 

#blogtoberfest14 day 17

Diwali Festival of Lights

#blogtoberfest14  day 16 - This time next week most Hindus all over the world will be celebrating Diwali - The Festival of Lights - I say most as not all Hindus celebrate Diwali as I found out when I was working out there a few years ago and depending on which part of India you are from Diwali is celebrated for different reasons.  

In the Gujarat where my family are from, the festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth - new businesses are also started at this auspicious time.  Diya's or lamps are lit in every household so that the Goddess Lakshmi will find her way to each house to give her blessings.  Another reason to celebrate is the return of Lord Ram and his wife Sita from an exile of 14 years.  You can read more about Diwali here.  

I haven't made any specific cards this year but I think my Gelli print OM designs can be made into cards and are suitable for the occasion.  I know many of the commercial cards depict images of the gods and goddesses and some of my family have mentioned that they would prefer to get something a little bit different.  

These are the original Gelli prints and below are the 2 cards I made by printing onto mat photo paper.

Anita

What's On Your Work Desk? Wednesday #279

Hello, hello and good afternoon on this rather grey but dry Wednesday.  I'm a tad late posting this weeks WOYWW post - want to know more about WOYWW or fancy joining in the fun then pop over the Stamping Ground where all will be revealed.

On my desk today are 2 shop bought cards............yes yes I know but these are so cute.  Well okay I'll let you into a secret I'm not actually going to send them to anyone.  I bought them to use as stencils!!! innovative or what eh?  Want to know where I got them from?  Ahhh heck okay I like to share and I'm nice like that hahaha - Paperchase yep good old Paperchase.  There were a few other designs but I opted for these two (for now) and at £2.50 each you can't grumble.  It's a nice weight so can easily get some good use from them.

Well that's me for today.  I'm going to link this to #blogtoberfest14 for day #8 of blogging - find out more here at Shells in the Bush 

Anita

Travelling Journal

Phew what a busy week it's been.  I've had a day out just for me then a day out with some ladies for a networking lunch, Saturday I went to the Stitch and Craft Fair in Manchester and today I added my page to a travelling journal.  

What is a travelling journal?  We are a group of ladies from all corners of the world (UK, USA, Germany) who are collaborating in each others journal.  The idea is to make a piece of art in each others journals by posting them to each other over a course of a couple of weeks - in an ideal world this would work perfectly but as we are reliant on our postal system to get the journals safely to their next destination it we have had a few hiccups along the way but this has added to the experience.

Our journals measure 5 x 7 inches everyone has sent a page to be worked on by each member of the group.  Some have made specific requests, some have given an idea of what they would like to have for example their favourite colours.  But the main focus is to put our own mark on the journal.

Here are some of the pages I've worked on.

Anita

I'm linking up with Handmade Monday and Creative Mondays  I hope you'll pop over to these lovely blogs and see what other crafters are getting up to.

Manchester Market

I've had a totally chilled out day today.  First on the list was an hour and half of complete indulgence at the Clarins Spa set inside Selfridges I had one of their Rebalancing massages which I'd booked well before my holiday.  You really don't want to have to leave the spa it's like being in your own little cocoon but all things have to come to an end.  

After my massage I set out into St Anne's Square in Manchester where they are holding the Manchester Markets.  There weren't as many craft stalls on today but there was food and drinks which is always welcome.  After walking around and sampling some of the food on offer I finally decided to have my lunch at Elsie Mays which is a pop up tea room serving afternoon teas and cake - you can follow them on twitter.  I'd already bought a small bruschetta with tomato and goats cheese but indulged in a glass of Pimms at Elsie Mays - well it would have been rude not to especially on a lovely day as today.  I was looking at some of the food which was being served at Elsie May's and I think when I'm in Manchester again next week I might try one of their food selection instead as they looked really nice.  

One of my finds today was a stall selling handmade marshmallows I love marshmallow and this was just scrumptious.  Well who can resist Champagne and Blackcurrant, cookies and cream and cherry bakewell.  You can see more of these goodies on their facebook page Sugar 245 

So do you want to see photos?  Here you go - 

I'm off to have a marshmallow or two

Anita

Take A Hand or Two or Maybe Even Five

Do you remember when you were little and you traced around your hands and then coloured them in?  Well this is the same thing only you now have bigger hands and the art is a bit more sophisticated.

Why am I tracing and decorating my hands?  Well why not it's just another shape of paper/card on which to create art and you might as well make it unique............right?

I've made these for a swap over on ATCsforAll (Artist trading card site).  It's nice to have an alternative shape other than your basic shapes.  I think they add a different aspect and design element and also makes you think about how and where to place your designs.  I can't wait to see what I get back in return.

So what do you do with them I hear you ask?  Well you can make them into an altered book, add them onto a ring binder or even hang them up as a mobile (hence the decorated backs) or string them like you would bunting. The possibilities are endless -I've had mine on my art wall before packing them up - I'm hand delivering these to the host of the swap..................yes your eyes aren't deceiving you - I'm off to Rochester NYC in a few days for a weeks holiday and art weekend with around 20+ artists.

So here are my hands all using mixed media - acrylic paints, neo II colours, rubber stamps, etc. there are too many to list.

Even the backs have been decorated.

See you all soon.

Anita

Pink, Apple Green and Dark Green

This post brings me up to date with the Summer of Colour 4 challenge which is being run by Kristin over on Twinkle Twinkle Like A Star 

The colours for this week is Pink, Apple Green and a splash, splosh dash or Dark Green.  I really like this colour combination and is one of my favourites.  The image I used was from Paint My Photo.  I really liked the shape of the fallen palm leaf.  I hadn't started this as an abstract but that is exactly what it has turned into if a little bit alien.  I have it sitting on my wall as I write this and I keep looking at it wondering where and how my mind was working whilst I worked this painting.  I guess sometimes you just have to let the unconscious mind take over.

Colours for week 4 Pink, Apple Green and Dark Green

This is the image I used a Fallen Palm Leaf by Andrea Muller 

 

Here is my version of the fallen palm leaf.

Aqua Blue, Yellow And A Splash Of Hot Pink

Here it is the first colour combinations for the Summer of Colour 4 Challenge.  Aqua Blue, yellow and Pink.  The 2 main colours are aqua blue and yellow with the 3rd being an accent as either a splodge, splash or as in my piece drawing the eye to the centre of the picture.

This is still a work in progress as there's just a little too much of the yellow for my liking.  Not quite sure where I'm going with it yet but it will be interesting to see the end result.

Aqua Blue, Yellow. Pink

My work in progress. 

If you'd like to join in the fun why not pop over to Twinkle Twinkle Like A Star 

3 Eyed Green Monster

Since the 29 Faces Challenge finished I've had a bit of a withdrawal week or 2.  However I've joined in with a daily drawing thread over on ATCsForAll and this weeks challenge is to draw Halloween monsters or Autumn scenery.  The challenge starts on a Thursday so we have the weekend to draw something.  There are no prizes and you don't have to draw everyday.  It's a group of people who want to practice their drawing skills, get feedback and generally get support and encouragement and most importantly have FUN.

For my card I drew (or attempted to) a monster but I think it's more of a cute monster than a scary monster.  Its painted with Polychromo pencils with a hint of white acrylic paint.  The background was coloured using Pro-markers.

Here's my monster with her 3 Eyes.

Have a great weekend

Anita

Accordion Card

I've been wanting to make one of these cards for some time now and finally I had the the time today to sit down and play.  The idea and design isn't new to me it's just that I've not made one in a long time.  Don't you think it would make a lovely Valentines gift?  

I made this lovely lady again as she always proves popular when I make her.

Purple Butterflies

I love butterflies!!!  They are so pretty and delicate.I made this card with two of my favourite rubber stamps.  I have many butterfly stamps but I keep going back to these two.  I've embossed the cluster of butterflies directly onto the base card -you can just about see them.  The tag has the same cluster of butterflies and the larger single butterfly has been stamped, cut out, glittered and wired.

Look What I Woke Up To Today

These earrings now live in the USA.  This morning I woke up to find this lovely message waiting for me.  I LOVE it when my creations bring so much pleasure to their new owners.

This was the message -

 I just wanted you to know that these lovely little drops have been my go-to baubles 

the entire holiday season. They mix nicely with everything from pearls to silver to diamonds,

 dressing up jeans and leather or velvet and lace. 

I just LOVE them -  Lorien Shaw

Moo Houses

I created these for trading at www.atcsforall.com.  These will be on their way to new homes soon.  I'm really pleased how these turned out and I think I will make greetings card with them - well prints of the houses as I won't have the originals.  This way I can mix and match them.  If I get time I may even make some more and sell the originals.

Christmas Card Designs for 2012

New designs for Christmas 2012.

Balanced Heart Project

I seemed to have lost the will to write any blog posts since March.  I guess sometimes you just have to leave things alone and not get too stressed.  This doesn't mean that I've not been creative.  I have carried on with a couple of art projects and handmade card orders.   

Jewellery making has been put on hold since April/May after an accident at work which caused an inflamed tendon and using any of my tools is very painful.  The ultra-sound hasn't helped so I am now waiting on having a cortisone injection which I am NOT looking forward to as I don't like needles.

Anyway like I said earlier I have been creating artwork and since May I have been involved in a project that has been started by my friend Ang West over on The Balanced Heart Project .  Every month myself and 4 other artists create 2 pieces of artwork which incorporates "hearts" as the main feature.  The inspiration for this Project, is Ang's little boy, Andrew who passed away on 22nd of October 2001-please pop over to the blog for the full details.  My involvement came about after Ang posted on facebook asking for artist to collaborate in a heart project.  At the time I didn't know what it was about only that "hearts" were involved and as I have a rather lovely collection of "heart Art" I thought this would be a great way of collecting more original artwork.  It was only after hearing Ang's story that I remembered how art and the support from my artist friends had helped me through a very dark time a few years ago and I wanted even more to "help" Ang with her healing.  I am honoured to be part of this project and hope that my "hearts" help her in her journey.


Here are the hearts I sent to Ang for May and June.

 

Hearts for May

Airdry clay hearts for June

These are the hearts I have received from Ang -

 To see all the hearts that have been created for May and June by all the artist involved please pop on over to The Balanced Heart Project blog.  You can also read Ang's full story there.

  

I hope to be back on a regular basis with more updates of the last few months.  


Thank you for visiting and please do leave your comments - they are really appreciated.


Anita