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

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

Behind the scenes

While I wait for the printer to send my little christmas card collection (a whole 4 designs!), I've very little to share other than snippets of what I'm working on at the mo. I'm developing a range of new items which may even include cushions (Oh my!) .So I've been sketching a lot, and developing this further on the computer. It's purely experimentation on my part, seeing what works and what doesn't. I'm having a blast!

 

Mr Owly owl got some digital colouring...I'm not not too keen on him (sorry Owly owl!) Usually if  I keep going I eventually get whats in my head to match what I see..so it's back to the drawing board for now.

Anyhoos, hope your week is wonderful. Autumn is most definitely in the air!

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

A trip...

 
 

Have you ever heard the term Chinoiserie before? Call me ignorant if you like...but google has enlightened me on so many things ! Inspired by a beautful Kimono recently picked up from a second hand shop, I felt the urge to take a trip to the exotic orient myself..if not in body then in creativity!

And talking of trips I'm taking a little one away from bloggy land (and social media in general!)...

so I can fully enjoy the summer with my family. My youngest, Skye. is starting school after the holidays and I really want to enjoy these few months (and the good weather hopefully!) without the pressure of keeping up to date with blog posts and facebook updates. I'm pretty rubbish at it as it is!

I'll still be creating away and adding new works to my etsy shop and website (which has had a slight facelift after a pep talk from a lovely lady!), so feel free to drop by and see what I get up to from time to time!

I just want to end by saying THANKYOU all so much for your un-ending generosity in support and love..it really is incredible and I feel so grateful for it. TRULY.

Have a wonderful summer 

Let the good times begin :)xxxx

Seeing is believing!

Silly me.....I have one whole photo taken from my debut exhibition!..so until I ransack my mum's camera (who was very proud and quite the opposite in frivolity of photo taking!) I thought I would share this piece and the stages of it.....

 

I've told you about my love of bears before..and I'd been hankering to create a piece with a brown beauty! My hankering is still unfinished...there will be more!...but this piece is one of my current favourites and is currently exhibiting.

The colours began quite differently from the finished piece....and unlike the way I begin most pieces, I drew a sketch first off , to see how the winged bear would fit....

Not liking the colours, I dripped and shlurped some tangerines, blues and turquoises...a different colour palette  from usual, but I was liking it more this time! Once happy with the background, after adding a cloud pattern using gesso and a hand cut stencil,  I went and bought some embroidery threads to match.

I embroidered the edges first , then began the 26 hour stitch-athon..squeezed into every moment of small child's back being turned!

Above we have 12 hours in ..this is the photo I shared and sneaky of, where I had you guessing who the wings belonged to!

15 hours above

Now I'm 21 hours in...oooh and getting so close ....

26 hours and finished. Hallelujah!

Next was the pencil sketch and a wee spray of artists matt varnish to seal.......and there you have it!

"Seeing is believing" on  8" x 16" boxed canvas.

As Gorgon Ramsay would say..."DONE!"

Confessions of a creative!

When it comes to creativity, over the years I have probably immersed myself in every type of craft there is..from quilling to mosaic making, crocheting to candle making...the list goes on. It was always with joyful abandon ,excitement to learn and explore, that I would begin each project ....creativity = JOY!

 Having a mum that was the uber queen of creative nurturing as well as owning a craft shop as I grew up, really could not have been more perfect ..I mean how lucky?!

So with this in mind,  you can imagine the chats I have had to myself  when reading business advice which stipulates the need to create a brand, being focused , choosing your audience...key ingredients to making it as an artist. Blardy blar. I read these things alot! And I take on board what other people's knowledge and experience has been. I mean I'm grateful that they are even willing to share this...
     

But as soon as I read things like this my heart immediately crumples....because the truth is, if I can't fly with a whim to where creativity is urging me today , if I don't have room to learn  and grow, then I would be as well back working a 9 to 5 job where I felt restrained and unhappy. Really.

So I am here to say that I am creating my own recipe from now on!Working out my own ingredients that work best for me, where "happy" is the north point on my directional compass!

Why am I telling you all this? I guess to tell myself more than anything!
 Also because part of me feels I need to justify the things I keep sharing with you..the pencil sketches, the clay brooches, the fabric books, the paintings the stitches.....ALL the creativity that comes from me....and now my most recent experiment and learning...digital patterns and designs! :)
Last week I was chastising myself saying I really need to just choose ONE thing and STICK TO IT!..Oh my..who's voice does that one belong to?! Some draconian teacher from my yesteryears.
Today I am standing up and saying this is who I am, and this is all I will ever want to be....multi faceted and multi talented :) ......er well perhaps a little more practice on the pattern making first :)
It's very humbling sharing the beginnings but maybe it just may inspire you to experiment and follow your creative rumblings.... xx

Pencil sketches

I've got my finger in so many pies at the moment : getting orders ready and preparing for an exhibition in May ...that I've nothing complete to show you ..just LOTS of  half finished pieces. So I thought I would share some of the pencil sketches I recently did. I got the total " pencil urge!" over the Christmas hols and since it was a bit of time I'd promised myself to create whatever I fancied outside of the normal stitchery I went for it..... 

I do love using pencils, it seems to be the medium for me where I just kind of scribble away without much thought then suddenly something appears on the page and I am left pleasantly surprised ,but largely wondering where the heck it came from! 

These sketches have lead me to experimenting and creating some pieces for exhibiting...I look forward to showing you them in May!

Recent makes!

I love this squirrel... "Little sushine" is what I called him..he ended up in The Found Gallery along with the mounted pieces below...

"Song Bird"

"Un-impressed!"

"Call of the Wild"....seemed so fitting to have made this then went to see "Sky Fall" ...homage to 007..swoon :)

I apologise if you're a visitor of my facebook page as you'll have seen these all before! I've been very busy with projects and exciting new ventures..but alas none of which I can share right now.
I can however share that I'm off to the very grand (and recently rennovated) Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh this weekend with my creations...must remember to bring my camera this time as this place is STUNNING! Can't wait!
Hope all is wonderful where ever you are xx

Stitches with sketches

I thought I'd show you what I've done with one of the sketches I showed you in my last post.

"Woodland King"

The crochet hook even came out for these!

"Nature's stage"


I'm liking their simplicity, the layers and contrasts of different elements...and also that finally the frames that have been gathering dust are finally being used! More to come me thinks.....well actually there definitely  will  HAVE to  be more...the remaining dust gathering frames are giving me the evils :)


This last one I wanted to share because it just make me smile ..a big cheesy one at that!

"High on a hill"

       

Llamas in general make me smile and a stitched one seems to tickle my funny bone even more.....call me strange if you like :)

So thats all I've got for now. The kids are about to break off on their Autumn holidays already......

I am seriously struggling to keep up......won't be mentioning THAT word just yet though :)x

Autumn fruits and sketching...

I can see the sun shining but my nose and fingers are feeling a touch nippy...darn you autumn..!
However compensation does come in the form of autumn bounties......coupled with an urge to sketch...

Loooove the velvety insides of these beech nuts.

The oak is my most favourite of trees (followed closely by the silver birch), and I always  like to have a little "wand" of oak lying about..never know when it may be needed! Soon these leaves will be a falling so no time to waste....

I thought you might appreciate my high tech set up..yes that is an oak twig blue tacked to my sewing machine. That's just how I roll :)

Hope you're soaking up the last bit of growth and gathering before hibernation sets in xx