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

happy flappity holidays!

Here's hoping wherever you are and what ever you are doing, you are feeling warmth in your bones and love in your heart. HUGE hugs to you and yours xxx

Dancing Queen

I'm loving where my creativity is taking me....this mix of paint AND stitch feels like I'm home....

I have always alternated between the 2 ....a bit of painting then Jeanie my wee machinie would start a calling! Not that I need to tell you though..I'm sure it's been fairly obvious over my bloggy history!

So here is the biggest piece I've ever worked on......"Dancing Queen"

A 16" x 16" mix of paper, fabric, paint, freehand machine stitching and hand embroidery on canvas...

oh and a stamp from Hong Kong too!

The words at the bottom read "No-one but the birds to see her dance in her polka dot dresss"!

Its my homage to the solo dance-offs I have in my living room when the door is closed and there's

no one home! ...Come on..I know I'm not alone :) 

I'm still having fun with the stitched animals too.....maybe all this stitching will help deplete some of my fabric stash..it's getting a touch unruly! So yes...all good in the hood here!

available in my etsy shop

I'd like to end by sending  big shout out to all my new followers....HELLO Deers! and Welcome!

So lovely to have you join me in this little creative corner...lets all have a Panda parrrtay! :)x

Sunday Sketches

There has been little time to do much more than a couple of sketches here and there and so I thought it the perfect opportunity to join in the fun over at Sophia's blog where there are a lot more lovely sketches to see.

The snow keeps a-coming here and so many spanners have been thrown in so many works that I am having to take a several deep breaths and reeeelllaaaxxx!! We missed our trip to my little sis's and her family up North because of weather conditions... so disappointing...so I have eaten my weight in chocolate to compensate... :) Just getting into training for christmas day!

However the frown was quickly turned upside down with the antics of my 2 year old. She was playing this morning and gave Stu instructions "now, you be Jovis and I'll be baby Cheesus"...heehee!

Reminds me of the time Maia my eldest used to sing "Away in a manger no crisps for a bed"

Don't they just make your heart swell with smiles :)

I'll stop rambling now, but I'd like to end on a big THANKYOU for all the wonderful comments you have been writing. I'm so delighted you are all liking the Joy Journal and joining in on the giveaway. Xx

JUMP...and join in!

Its probably safe to say from my recent painting that I am still hankering after spring and summer :) However as much as I drag my heels along with the fast approaching winter I am being reminded that autumn and winter is just as important and soul nourishing...

While I'm not keen to do it, this time of year does invite us to slooooooow down! The early dark nights beckon us to keep warm and together. Our focus becomes more introspective and for me thoughts of where have I come from (this past year) and where do I want to go? arise... the space to take time and dream is made...

So yes....just as vital as spring and summer :)

I always seem to embark on a project (or several!) at this time of year, and having been introduced to the extra-ordinary world of blogdom I have discovered quite a few projects to get my teeth stuck into!

The infectiously sweet and gorgeous Tam from Willowing and Friends is doing an "Art, Heart and Healing workshop" over the next 4 weeks. If you are at all interested in whimsy or just want to take part in something with a WHOLE lot of love then join in! Its free!! Yes FREE, I say!!! Amazing!

Another wonderfully radiant sun- shiny lady called Andrea Schroeder is running her "Creative adventure" course which runs for a whole YEAR and is also FREE! Woweee! Its full of positivity, encouragement and support to help you recognise what your dreams are and make them come true. I'm ALL for that!

Today is also the day that the "big stitched Postcard Swap" begins, run by the very lovely Beth Nicholls. I discovered the last one Beth held just as the swap had finished and everyone was sharing the postcards they received.....some amazing ickle works of art and stitch....such a brilliant idea...and so I vowed to join in next time!

So do any of these tickle your fancy? Come join in...... :)

Taking Flight

We all have wings, some of us only dream of taking flight.

I'm not sure when I first became aware of "wings" but there is an obvious introduction which dates back 16 years ago when I spread my wings and flew to the other side of the world on a quest for adventure. It was on this adventure I had the blessings of meeting Shelley-fairy, creator of Fairy love ,who so gracefully let me fly alongside her for a while, sharing her creativity and tips on actually making wings.

With this inspiration I leapt and spread my love of magic and wings far and wide, making all manner of things that can fly. I continued to take flights myself with my own wings but somehow, somewhere along the way these flights became less and less and eventually my wings got forgotten about. So much so that I only caught glimpses of flying through my dreams.

Until recently.........

It's impossible to say what triggered the memory of my wings, what spurred me on to finally set my wings a-fluttering again....a synchronicity of events which all combined to bring about their emergence...a visit from my dearest soul sister, a big change in my work life, Kelly Rae-Roberts e-course funnily enough called "taking flight" ! :) The list could go on... However, the single most important thing is that I am no longer dreaming of taking flight, I am actually USING my wings!

It's a small flutter at a time, I'm having to re-learn how to fly...but that feeling of expansion and freedom is enough to set the heart soaring and aiming for higher heights!

Aaaaah, such a wonder-FULL feeling :)

This weeks artwork has been inspired by Mr Toast's Creative Tuesday topic of taking flight. Thankyou Mr Toast for creating the opportunity to share my little story :)

(photos are of my good friend George and I as we frolicked in our fairy wings all those years ago on my magical adventure :) )

Raspberry Red

This weeks colour challenge is Raspberry Red which immediately brings Prince's "Raspberry Beret" to mind...brilliant song! So it seemed fitting to use my found treasure from the beach- a tattered old lid. (Prince's "beret looks like it comes from the second hand store....can you see the connection?!!)

I did struggle this week for inspiration even once my starting object was found...but this accordion book kind of metamorphosized as I went step by step with what I felt the urge to do! Surprisingly enough I ended up using water colours over a glaze sakuri pen, which i have never experimented with before but always fancied. Water colours are my least favourite medium probably because I have no idea how to use them and therefore they scare me! So I give a pat on my back for trying something new out and a thanks to this Creative Colour Challenge for not only urging me to create when i don't feel inspired but for facilitating the use of new things/techniques/experiments!

ps. check out http://www.flickr.com/groups/creativecolorchallenge/pool/

for other raspberry creations X