Mad as a Box of Frogs!

Hi All,

just a quick pointer to tonight's PaperArtsy blog post by yours truly.

The clue is in the title!

Take a look at the blog HERE to see how this strange creature "happened".

Back soon, P.

Simple Die Cut Applique......

Hello All,

Some projects take a little bit longer than others.....usually the sewing

ones. I use die cutting for paper projects ( I like the delicacy of paper

cuts) but I have been trying out a few cutting dies with fabric for a

bit of a change.

This time I used a few Tattered Lace fabric dies, firstly for this really simple

mini cushion (it's only about 4 ins square). Felt is great, it does not fray and it cuts

well. Such pretty colours too!

The second is this really simple bonded applique cushion, with easy straight machine

stitching.

Just thought I would mention a "top tip" here: if you want to stitch a particular

shape and don't want to risk drawing on your fabric, cut the shape out in freezer

paper (I die cut this circle too!), iron it on and use it as a template to stitch round.

Then you can peel it off and not have to worry about any marks :)

Simple but it works.

Back on Saturday with a rather crazy PaperArtsy project.....

Bye for now, P.

The Eyes Follow.........

Hello and welcome back!

I have just returned from a short break in Italy, hence the blog gap.

Instead of making art, I have been able to spend my time gazing in awe

at the treasures that are everywhere in Italy, from the smallest churches in

the remotest hill towns, to the many wonderful museums and art galleries.

In the Musei Civici in Ascoli Piceno I came across a very compelling and yes

slightly disturbing portrait,( I carefully wrote down the name and artist ).

It was mesmerising......you know the old thing about "the eyes follow me round the room",

well they do!  You try it.

And isn't there something unworldly about her?

Ahh...the details....left them behind in Italy.....but I will add them as soon as I can track

them down.

I wish I had asked about photographs at the beginning of the tour because I would

have taken a lot more.

And for the Terry Pratchett fans out there

could this be Rincewind?

Bye for now, P.

The Perils of Journaling.....

Hello All,

I signed up for the Wanderlust course this year. I suppose it is primarily

about journaling........though many of the topics are certainly multi-purpose.

I must say it has been good value for money so far, and it is always good to

stretch yourself and try things that you might not normally enjoy.

Some time ago, I joined in with a textile project "Memories of Childhood". I

discovered then that journaling can be disturbing!

So when I saw the prompt for this week, I might have known:

                                                          "What I see in the mirror"?

Okay.....so that was the first word that came to mind. I don't like to look in

the mirror much these days really....but it's not a problem.

Anyway, I just didn't like the resulting page, but at least I tried.

I thought it looked too messy and over-worked, so decided to rub it a bit with

the modern favourite art tool: a baby wipe.

It's spooky......I disappeared completely but the words remain (X-Files music in

the background).

I like this better now, but am even more disturbed than before!

Hopefully the next prompt will be more cheerful :)

Happy journaling folks.  P.

A Bit of Fancy Lettering......

Hello All,

Enjoyed a bit of fancy letter doodling this afternoon.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it "Calligraphy" and there were a few smudges

along the way! (hence the artistic cutting out).

But it was a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours.

I based my letters on some Kim Dellow rubber stamps and coloured with

watercolour paints.

Will do more of this......

Best Regards, P.

Trying to Loosen Up with Dry Brushing.....

Hello All,

One of the reasons I signed up for the wonderful year-long class with Carla Sonheim

was to force myself to try different ways of painting......out of my usual comfort zone.

I won't necessarily like all of it, but you never know, I might discover something new

in the process.

My mini still life......try as I do it still comes out representational! Just HAD to put in

the drawn lines. But maybe it's a bit more free than usual.

I'm not giving anything away when I say that Carla is famous for her "find something

in a blot" sort of technique (it's not called that officially!). So I really had to hold myself

back in this puppy painting. Love the colours, and his one ear up.

"Just for fun" painting......I like it.

Bye for now, P.