A collection of love x

  I can't possibly start without sending out a heartfelt THANKYOU to those who left such dear comments (here and over on facebook), words of support and sweetness that celebrated my business birthday alongside me. It never fails to astound me, that a single individual has the capacity to fill another up with so much love and support...and this can be with someone we have never even met! I am so GRATEFUL. (insert very smiley face with a wee tear in the eye and holding a hankie!)
Maybe Cyril can say it better....here is a flower for you x

Love from Cyril

                

I'm not sure if you noticed, but I've turned the comment option back on too.
I had turned the comments off way back in the Summer as I was feeling bad about never replying to the lovely messages people had taken the time to leave. It was a time thing...not enough of it and having to use it wisely, which my polite upbringing struggled with. It was also to help create a bit of space for me to allow new things in , new style, new items, new approach, without outside influence.
Its a tricky thing this social media, or atleast I find anyways...that slight need for external validation..do they like this piece? Oh I've only got 1 comment this week, maybe this piece is not so good...and so on!

Anyhoos.....the reintroduction of comments for the giveaway (and then left on accidentally afterwards) has made me realise it's no fun being in a vacuum. Quite lonely in fact! Its not so much the comments that I missed but more the feeling that when I write a post someone somewhere will actually read it. Without the comment option I knew it was just for me and frankly I'm over that self indulgence! So if you ever feel like tinkling on those type keys, tinkle away....or not.  I'll feel delighted to know you are out there either way.

Side by side

So if I can draw breathe after this long ramble...I just wanted to share some of the new card designs that will be accompanying me to Pulse Trade Fair in May. These 3 are all about the love....

Beauty-FULL

Which I am sending out to you all tenfold xx

A song burst of celebration!

Its been 2 years today, two years since I left midwifery and became a self employed artist.
Just writing that feels pretty amazing.

New card design that's gone off to the printers.

                       
It's quite a feeling to remember the lead up to that date and the utter fear of failure (and being poor!) that surrounded it, and to be sitting here now knowing that everything has worked out beautifully so far.

I had a dream during the "fear" phase where I told myself to write down a list of all the miraculous things that have happened in my life ( I get the odd "prophetic" dream so am inclined to listen!) I'm grateful I did, because once I'd searched my memory for all the things that had occurred/ magically happened/ worked out in miraculous ways, I was overwhelmed with the proof that life really is set up for good things and that it conspires to have it all work out for us!
The "fear" phase left pretty swiftly after that.

There have been other phases of course...the "excited but really have no idea which direction where I'm going but I'll just keep creating and put my name down for a Trade Fair even though I don't know what I want to sell yet "phase. Surprisingly that worked out.

"Phase 1" 2012

Then there was the "blimey these stitched pieces seem to be going down well so I guess I'll sell them and go to a Trade Fair too" phase...that worked out also! 

"Phase 2" 2013

Now I find myself back at the Trade Fair scenario for year 3, but it's a new phase called the "realising winging it is maybe not the greatest business model, so having a little more purpose,clarity and direction is a good thing...and I'll launch my new work at Pulse Trade Fair 2014" phase. (or Phase 3!)
Hmmm feels like the best phase yet...and I'm kind of hoping the track record keeps its momentum ...that things works out too :)

I've never considered likening my business to the growth that we experience, but I'm realising that's precisely what my business and I have been experiencing together....birth, vulnerable and still developing, exploring/touching/tasting everything, first steps, starting to walk, learning as we go, making better decisions, maturing a little.....
I don't think we're much further than that....but not bad considering we're only 2!
And I have to say I'm so delighted and thankful to be here, because the prospect of the future and the rest of our growing together is really exciting, and so much BIGGER than what I could have imagined at the start of this journey 2 years ago.

So yes, I'm celebrating!
I also have to end by sharing the other phase I've entered , inspired by receiving not 1 but 2 of these diaries as crimbo pressies. (I did tell you I am "inclined to listen"!).....

Designed by Rachel Bright

The "becoming ruler of the universe and eating cake " phase (otherwise known as "Phase 4"). Oh yes! Consider yourselves duly warned ;)xx

2 year Biz Birthday GIVEAWAY!

Hello lovelies.
It's been almost 2 whole years since I left my job and began making my living from my creations. What a feat!
I'll save a post for sharing a little of the journey till the 31st (the official birthday)...but today I wanted to let you know about the giveaway I'm having in celebration.It has to be a foxy one of course....cos you know I'm owning that right now,albeit  in a Wayne's World kind of way! ;)

You can leave a comment below (I've opened the comment section especially!) or you can pop on over to my facebook page and leave a comment there too! You get extra entries for every social media site you comment on....ohlala!
I'll randomly pick the winner on Fri 31st Jan.

                     
                          

THANKYOU ALL so so much for joining in my celebration with me, it would be a very empty and lonely adventure without you all by my side xx

*ADDITIONAL EDIT on Fri 31st JAN*
The winner of the giveaway is Jacqui Aldi
Yay!
THANKYOU all soo much for joining in...there were nearly 100 names to randomly pick from..my ceremonial teacup had to be replaced with a measuring jug! Amazing xx

Foxy love

I'm delighted to share with you a few new items I am unleashing to the world!
They've been a work in progress for some time, so it's a GREAT feeling to have them finally  put "out there".
I'm loving also how their release into the world coincides (kind of!) with valentines day.....so for a bit of fun I'm putting out a little "foxy lady" love with these...I mean if it's good enough for Jimi Hendrix it's good enough for me!

First thing I want to share is this cotton cushion with pom pom trim! It's a 2 sided design that's been digitally printed onto thick cotton fabric and sewn together by me.

Here is the other side of the cushion......so you can alternate between the 2 , depending on how much

fox you want in your life! You can find the cushion here in my etsy shop.

 You may remember the Fantastic Mr F I sketched a while back?...well I made a print of this sweet fellow to match the cushion..
 

..and turned the  foxy cushion design into a print too...matching set! Both are available here.


 Next comes these 2 sweet foxy prints that I originally created using acrylic paint,gouache  and pen. They come as a set of 2 small 7 x 5"  prints  with the black border or can be bought individually in regular A4 size.....love the boldness that comes from the limited colours used.

Amongst the foliage

Countryside Queen

I've been working on trying to take better photos of my items...somewhat a long way to go....! There have been so many comedic moments along the way which I'm very relieved no one else witnessed! I have to include the one below purely for that reason as I grappled with wind and wire and flying leaves. You will never know my pain ;) 

Each foxy item comes with a little foxy tag...as a special Valentines treat....everyone needs a little reminder of their true foxy-ness grrrr! :)xx

A pleasant little interlude...

"Admiring from afar"

To counteract the feeling that everything I'm trying to put together is taking so long, it felt great to do a bit of tearing and gluing, painting and drawing, and end up with something to show for it...albeit  a bit teensy!

(A little jiggery pokery computery collage added to the mix!)

"Footprints"

I am really excited about showing you the goodies I almost have ready to launch into the world. But for now I offer you these little mixed media pieces. I love how they have turned out, especially the bear below..but you know I have a soft spot for these furry fellows!

"Friend..?!"

The tea bags even got involved in these ones...yet another excuse to pour a cup!

Hope you're all getting back into the swing of things again after the hols...did they even happen?! xx

Christmas Cards!

Hello lovelies! Can you believe it's November?

Hope you had a fun halloween...ours was suitably spent face deep in green jelly fishing for eyeballs and dooking for apples..oh and doing the Monster Mash of course!
Stu and I had a movie night watching World War Z...zombie apocalypse meets Brad Pitt and block buster..hmmmm interesting mix...though I'm such a light weight I did miss a lot of it hiding behind my hands.
Why do I put myself through it?!
Anyhoos just to change the subject completely, my christmas cards have returned from the printers and I can now show them to you! Insert little star jump *

"All is bright"

"Warmest wishes"

"Secret Santa"

"Winter Wonderland"

I'm really loving these little cards, my homage to to the festive season. I don't tend to dive right into the full Christmas shabang, but I do value the sentiment of love and togetherness this time of year brings, which hopefully is captured in these cards.

They are all available in my etsy shop if you are extremely organised!......

which I must add is where my christmas organisation stops.Damn!;)x

Birdie plates!

I'll quickly swing past the fact I haven't been around for a few weeks (it's been October school break) and still haven't got xmas cards to show (printers getting something fixed)... and jump straight into talking plates! I've had a growing collection of miss-matched plates for some time now, some vintage, others just in need of rescuing from the local thrift shop and given some love. The plan was to add my own designs either using decals or ceramic pen/paints. 

As with most intended projects, the plates have gathered dust  (hangs head in suitable shame!)...but I did paint some little designs over the summer hols with plates in mind ,which I thought I would share.

This has a painted background and digital coloured bird in the foreground. Experimenting again! It's called "The great escape" 

I've mocked it up roughly on a plate below........too nice to eat off of I think!

plate photo:Photo: Kristina Schuster (Flickr)

This second design is entirely paint and aimed entirely to make the eyes zing!It's called "morning glory". 

Below is another quick mock up.......

Loving the colours against the porcelain! And feeling suitable inspired to dusting off that neglected crockery! x

Mr Fox...

I do love this Fantastic Mr Fox...because yes, the film is in my top fave list of films (and I am quite selective when it comes to films!)..but I mainly love him because of the time I spent drawing this...and the gentle but wise eyes that looked back out at me and soothed as I sketched absent mindedly and thought of my Granny who is getting ready to leave this world. 

Art is healing, as is nature too....I always knew it, but am reminded again.

I hope you are keeping cosy on this wet wintery-feeling day. Sending lots of love from me and Mr Fox for anyone who needs it xx

Playing with flowers

This summer I've barely picked up a needle and thread, the need or desire just hasn't been there since the sewing marathon for my Solo exhibition. I'm happily going with it and enjoying the urge to simply paint and draw..and draw and paint some more, developing new pieces, new work. It's liberating and exciting to be following the flow of inspiration. I've been playing with photoshop too, getting to grips with it a little more. It never fails to boggle my mind the limitless possibilities that it provides. In a good way!

I set myself a little challenge last week to draw a flower a day, and managed to keep it up (pat on the back for me!) Some samples below.......

Loving playing on picmonkey too! (home of  washi tape and sweet birdie!)

I wanted to see what I could do with a pen and ink sketch on photoshop...

This is as far as I got! The bit I love most about photoshop is that I can try out colours that my paint/fabric stash doesn't include.....and change them again in a flash! 

Looking forward to sharing some more soon!x

Loving lanterns - wordage wednesday

(c) Jenny Blair 2013

One of the changes I'm making here on my bog is to show up more! And to share more of what I like too...you know like the pretty little things that make you go "ooh"?!

So right now it's lanterns that I'm loving..they are everywhere and have been for some time so I'm not exactly "on trend"...but the array of colors, shapes and patterns tick all my boxes....and inspired me to get the paints out. 

I also likee like words...some singular ,some joined together to create sweet reminders or motivational mantras. So welcome to "wordage wednesday!", where if I have some lovely words to share I'll be doing it ...you got it...on a Wednesday! 

And on that earth shatteringly genius note, I'll leave you with some lantern loveliness.......

1. Silly old suitcase 2.Briony Williams 3.My fling with textiles

Dottie Angel does lanterns in her own inimitable style!

There's a great tutorial on how to decorate and create your own unique lantern here: DIY decorated lanterns

Hope you're shining your little light :)x