My first exhibition

Finally I have some photos to share! In the end I popped back to the gallery to take some to show you, as it turns out the ones mum had taken from the opening evening were more a sea of heads rather than pieces! (You'll see what I mean later) I'm afraid these aren't the greatest of photos but I hope you'll get the idea...

I have shared the embroidery part of  the pieces you see above and below before..here they are finished with a pencil sketch added. These pieces are the ones I love the most as I put a mammoth amount of effort and time into each one (plus actual blood on occasion!)  But they also hold every element of what I love ...contrasts, layers, colour and texture..and magic too! Inspired by the saying "coming out of the woodwork" my active imagination wandered to animals stepping out of wallpaper....I have fantastic bamboo patterned wallpaper in the bathroom, and while brushing my teeth often smile at the thought of a panda just casually sauntering out from behind the foliage! ...

"Peering through the patchwork"

"A kingly stance"

"Seeing is believing"

I've been sharing parts of the beach scene over on facebook...I created them with the idea that they all sit together to create the scene but are individual pieces....they make me smile..and keep me dreaming of summer! 

It's the most amazing feeling walking past a window and seeing your work looking out at you :)

There are 40 individual pieces of mine exhibiting, including some books and soft sculpture birds. You've seen some of the pieces before and I've saved a couple to show you another time. I have to add I have never seen my home so clutter free! 

Here are the heads I was on about! :) 

Despite  nerves, the opening evening was incredible. Its hard to put into words how whole heart-FULLY blessed it feels to have people take time out of their own busy lives to come along and support little old me. Actually makes me get a wee lump in my throat at the thought. And still the support continues with visits from dear facebook connections and sweet emails enquiring. Just incredible, and amazingly humbling. So so grateful indeed.

                              
What I also take away from this whole amazing experience (apart from the dodgy photo! ) is the realisation and celebration that I have achieved something  I once thought was impossible...so watch this space for the next " impossible dream" to come true ..yipee!
Thankyou all for sharing this adventure with me too.

A comfortable place to be....

I'm quite used to getting the odd raised eye brow when I mention the full moon and the effects it's having.I'm no astrologer, but it makes perfect sense to me, the power of the moon pulling the tides..and the water/emotions within us. It's also been proven to me time and time again , by noticing the patterns of  my girls over the years ; their inability to sleep around a full moon and the behaviour that would suggest they've had the biggest injection of sugar! As a midwife I was always curious to see whether more babies would be born, or labours began.....still not so sure about that theory being true...

Anyhoos, this most recent full moon was no exception..and the feeling of overwhelm was S.T.R.O.N.G. To the point of near self combustion! The long list of things requiring attention, the very short space of time to achieve said things, not to mention the simple task of feeding the kids if nothing else ;)....overwhelm oh yes!
At least with the awareness that the moon was heightening this feeling, and that perhaps things weren't quite as overwhelming as they seemed (they never are!).....I took some comfort and waited it out, with as much calm as I could muster. I must add a big cuddly non ferocious bear at this point might have been a really nice place to seek refuge.

And like I knew it would..the moon is waning as are my panicky feelings that I have waaay too much going on. A little bit of balance is restored...till the next full moon :)

This piece "a comfortable place to be" I made quite a while ago now..but it seemed a fitting time to share. I also can't resist introducing this charming duo......"Betty Sue" and "Rita". Still loving those budgies :)

They offer no particular calming influences over the tugs and pulls of life (and moon) ,but they definitely bring a smile and a strong waft of spring!

So what do you all think? Have you noticed the effect of the moon in your life? Seasons ? Nature ? I'd be really interested to hear  :)x

Nudges

The kids go back to their normal duties of school and pre-school nursery on Monday..and I have to say I'm doing a wee hop and skip at the thought! Naughty mummy!

Suffice to say there's been very little creativity, so I'm dragging out some photos from a while back....which as I sit and type, I realise actually have a story to tell...

"Kite flier" my very first experiment!

                                    

When  I was at the Harrogate Trade Fair in  April, a very lovely and talented lady named Eve gave me some very astute and direct advice. I loved her ability to be cuttingly honest but extremely complimentary at the same time....this is a skill I want to develop! 

She felt my stitched girls were lost on the books I had on display, and should be pieces of art themselves. 

This matched exactly my feelings at the time...that I was leaning away from focusing on the labour intensive books and wanting to concentrate more on the blank canvas that they provided. Also that I was leaning towards stitching instead of painting...

So when I came home and digested the whole experience, the highs the lows, the feedback and advice I began experimenting...

I was loving the stitched girlies I had been creating, their simplicity and the pose that did the talking (as I had tried to capture in my paintings) but I wanted to add some more texture...just like the mixed media paintings.

What followed ......

"Wondering"

Each piece lead to the next. and I was feeling more excited about finding an outlet that covered EVERY aspect of creating that I love...paint, stitch, colour and texture...

The silent observer

It was this piece however that lead to the animals in stitch! ...who knew ducks looked good in stitchery 

form :)

"Hello duckies!"

This was the piece that started my "walk on the wild side" .... which funnily enough has taken off on a new life of its own....

Amazing where the twists and turns of life will take us...all beginning with a gentle nudge!
I've been meaning to email Eve and say thankyou for saying the words out loud that had been whispering inside. For the "permission" that sometimes we need to hear from someone other than ourselves.....it's time I did!

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

In a "fankle"

Sometimes no other words express the moment better than a Scot's one.....and in a "fankle"  is where I've been!

"Butterscotch and bunting!"

Highland cow's and stitched girls gone BIG.....

work in progress....with 8" hoop embroidery to show size!

A tweet sweet pocket notebook kit....

available in my etsy shop

 A lot of different things being created this week, as well as a sizeable amount of whispers from my heart and an equal measure of rebuffs from my mind ....and so the fankle!

I've always tried to steer clear of "shoulds", but sometimes without even noticing it sneaks in surreptitiously... and only on stopping and asking myself why I've gone down a particular road the  "should" makes itself apparent.

Sneaky thing!

This last month or so has been a rather large learning curve (in the shape of a loop-de-loop rollercoaster!)  when it comes to following my creative dreams..and I'm realising more and more, how much of my perception of a creative business is based on other people's notions and experiences, and how the decisions I have made have perhaps been more from a "should"...

Hmmmm...A good realisation to come from a fankle!

And while I fly by the seat of my (big girl!) pants and move along the twists and turns of the roller coaster, I've been reminded of where my true path lies. Yes it is inevitable that I'll look at other people, see their success and take note of their "methods"....but my heart is the key to keeping me on the "right road for me right now"...cue big old life affirming *sigh* 

So with the "fankle" over and done....I shall return..probably no differ to you than before..but to me a world has changed  :)x

Book kits!

       I'm totally going off track from the animal theme...but I do still have a few to show you...next time!
This is my latest project which I've been all engulfed by.. but am so happy to introduce my latest little venture..... Create -your -own -book kits!

                                          
When it comes to the whole "wholesale and retail" price side of things I've been really struggling with selling my handmade books.
Before I ventured into forging a creative biz I was rather naiive about all of this...and whilst having time to get my head around it all (and having to hike up my prices), it's all been feeling a little "not quite right" and I've been trying to find a solution that does! An online bookmaking workshop has been an idea for a while....but looking around there are so many e-courses going on I've not come up with anything yet that hasn't already been done....

It was a lovely chat with an inspiring lady who nonchalantly suggested book kits...just a "fling in" of an idea... but my mind and heart were saying YES! That's it! Eureka!! So thankyou Susie! :)

So what I've created is a little bit of me (a pre-made padded book cover with a choice of 2 designs) and all the materials to embroider/applique the cover, decorate the pages with YOU and bind the pages to make your very own book!

There's materials and illustrated instructions to bind the 60 pages (120 front and back),  make fabric flowers, ruffles, tags and pockets. There's sequins, seed beads, threads, buttons, butterflies, lace, organza and netting..oh and paper too!

examples of what can be made and added to the pages

Everything to make your very own book that you get to fill with the treasures that make up YOUR story!..and all for a snip of a price!

I'm feeling so happy with these kits..and I so LOVE the idea of sending these out into the world where a joint creative venture can be had!
You can check them out here in my etsy shop!

co-inkydink...

I do love me a co-incidence, not only does it make you feel safely wrapped in the hands of something greater but it also allows me to paraphrase The A-Team's Hanibal.."I love it when a plan comes together..." :)

Having taken a trip down south of the Border to promote and sell my wares, it dawned on me how  daft it is that I have never taken the time to see if the little local gift shop would be interested in my bits and bobs. 

Its the kind of gift shop I am never be able to walk past without a look in the window and see what inspirational quote is on display or little nicky nacky noo I'd have to purchase to make my home even more "homely"... I think you know what I'm on about! :)

So with a small child off to nursery I took my mini prints on blocks around to the shop (which I'm wondering..actually have I ever shown them here? Ah well first time for that too!)

 Anyway wouldn't you know ,through a wonderful twist of fate, Fiona (gift shop lovely lady) had been given a catalogue, picked up from the Harrogate Trade Fair, which after rifling through had found 5 artists that she wanted to do business with..and one of them was Love and Peas! 

What are the chances :)

Turns out she's tried to contact me without any luck..and there I turned up on her doorstep with exactly what she was looking for!
I love it when a plan comes together indeed!!!
My mini prints on blocks are available in my etsy shop and now in Bumbles gift shop too!! Thankyou Fiona! :)

ps..I'm taking a walk on the wild side on 1st May..hope you can join me! x

Blessings

 

breakfast in bed from my girlies on Mothers day :)

 

big girl birthdays and shiny new bikes :)

 

Spring has sprung..my most favourite time of the year. 

Yippee!

Hope the blessing are ABOUND wherever you are xx

How hard can it be..?

Famous last words...

I've decided there are 3 types of people.

1) those who don't even attempt to turn their hand at things they have no expertise in..

2) those who are prepared to give something a go if they realistically think its within their abilities, but will call on expertise when required.....

3) those who reckon it can't be that hard and reckon their novel skills can conquer anything!

Guess which group I come into?.. (aherm..)

So my latest thoughts were why not create a "lookbook"  kind of thing for my books/journals....a context for them to be presented in...a sweet vibe to draw in some appeal...something other than photograped objects on a white background...

So with a 10 minute window to spare.....cue Stu (the novel photographer), me (the novel model..but I had painted my nails!) and the courtyard (novel glamourous location)...

Once the words "all we're seeing is your chest" followed by " stop turning your head there's way too many wrinkles" were uttered, I really had to admit perhaps there was a bit more to this photo shoot milarkey than I had given credit for... 

 

 Cue  photograhed objects on white background....

 Dammitt!!
So come on tell me..what group do you come under...please tell me I'm not the only one :)xx