Prismacolor on Ingres
I wish you all a very Happy, Healthy 2009. I really hope you all have a good one, enjoy your celebrations and keep safe :)
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Woodland Celebration - Happy New Year
Prismacolor on Ingres
I wish you all a very Happy, Healthy 2009. I really hope you all have a good one, enjoy your celebrations and keep safe :)
Monday, 29 December 2008
Dragons, Ladies and a touch of Spring!
I can remember this time last year making lots of Spring and Easter cards in the Christmas period. I haven't exactly done that this year, I have some work to do from home so am currently trying to get it all done so I can enjoy a break later in the week. However, I did make a few things in the run up to Christmas.
This card was made for my sons birthday. I used my dragon artwork for the image and some Once Upon a time papers for the background. I used various stamps in the background and a chinese symbol embellishment.
Then I also went for a spring time theme for the next two. I used some flowersoft for the first time and I did like the effect. Just something a little different for me and we can't have me becoming too consistent!
I make no apologies for this next one being YELLOW!. It is one of my favourite colours and just looking at it cheers me up.
Finally, I also bought myself my very first distress ink. I haven't got a clue how to use them but I had a play with some rather nice victorian images and produced these.
I am amassing ATCs a little bit but have decided that sometime over the next year, I will be brave and try to find a venue and exhibit a bit of my work. I shall use my ATCs as giveaways, well that is the idea anyway. I confess it is in the formulating stage at the minute.
What else have I been up to? Well Andy has been working the last few days so I have been too. But, for a little break here and there I take my camera up in the woods. Since my discovery of the woodpeckers I have tracked them down and am trying to get some decent shots. Up until now, I have only managed to see them very early in the morning and the light has been very poor.
So I am still awaiting that elusive shot but it does mean that I have had a very enjoyable time watching them - no matter that the neighbours all see me sitting by myself in the woods, looking up at the trees for considerable periods of time - I do believe they think iz nuts!
This card was made for my sons birthday. I used my dragon artwork for the image and some Once Upon a time papers for the background. I used various stamps in the background and a chinese symbol embellishment.
Then I also went for a spring time theme for the next two. I used some flowersoft for the first time and I did like the effect. Just something a little different for me and we can't have me becoming too consistent!
I make no apologies for this next one being YELLOW!. It is one of my favourite colours and just looking at it cheers me up.
Finally, I also bought myself my very first distress ink. I haven't got a clue how to use them but I had a play with some rather nice victorian images and produced these.
I am amassing ATCs a little bit but have decided that sometime over the next year, I will be brave and try to find a venue and exhibit a bit of my work. I shall use my ATCs as giveaways, well that is the idea anyway. I confess it is in the formulating stage at the minute.
What else have I been up to? Well Andy has been working the last few days so I have been too. But, for a little break here and there I take my camera up in the woods. Since my discovery of the woodpeckers I have tracked them down and am trying to get some decent shots. Up until now, I have only managed to see them very early in the morning and the light has been very poor.
So I am still awaiting that elusive shot but it does mean that I have had a very enjoyable time watching them - no matter that the neighbours all see me sitting by myself in the woods, looking up at the trees for considerable periods of time - I do believe they think iz nuts!
Saturday, 27 December 2008
A Boxing Day Walk Through the Woods
Yesterday was a lovely day and after the slight excesses of Christmas Day, Boxing day is always good for a walk. It was surprisingly warm, although a little crisp but because it was an easterly and we walked mainly on the west of the hill, we were quite protected. It was good to see in some sheltered spots that a few buds are now back on a few of the trees, it is always nice to think that Spring is around the corner. I am not a winter person.
It was such a lovely walk that I thought I would share a few images. We walked to the top of the Hermitage and took this photograph looking out over the town of Bridgnorth.
As we were standing there in the relative warmth of the sun, we also heard the sound of the steam train. The Severn Valley Railway runs from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, this shot was snapped just as it reached the bridge. I love the chug, chug sound that it makes as that old engine works.
The railway runs about 16 miles and mainly follows the route of the River Severn. Living in Bridnorth it is a familiar sound to us. However, the sound in the wood was mainly of birds singing. Although the next photograph is of a chaffinch that clearly was not impressed with our presence as he was chirping alarm sounds from the branches above.
As we walked, we coould also hear the unmistakable sound of a woodpecker echoing through the trees. Sadly although we stopped a while to catch a glimpse, he remained elusive.
The sky was an amazing colour and if it wasn't for the bareness of the trees, it could easily have been a bright summers day. It was lovely to take our time and just soak up the birdsong and kick leaves. Plenty of images were taken, I do tend to refer back for some of my artwork and the light was excellent.
I thought I would finally leave you with this one.I don't like it when people try to make money or attract votes by alarmist theories so global warming is something that I rarely discuss. However, Andy always says I am a tree hugger on the quiet and I do believe in protecting what we have, so here is the evidence, yep I do hug trees!
Photographs courtesy of AndyC
It was such a lovely walk that I thought I would share a few images. We walked to the top of the Hermitage and took this photograph looking out over the town of Bridgnorth.
As we were standing there in the relative warmth of the sun, we also heard the sound of the steam train. The Severn Valley Railway runs from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, this shot was snapped just as it reached the bridge. I love the chug, chug sound that it makes as that old engine works.
The railway runs about 16 miles and mainly follows the route of the River Severn. Living in Bridnorth it is a familiar sound to us. However, the sound in the wood was mainly of birds singing. Although the next photograph is of a chaffinch that clearly was not impressed with our presence as he was chirping alarm sounds from the branches above.
As we walked, we coould also hear the unmistakable sound of a woodpecker echoing through the trees. Sadly although we stopped a while to catch a glimpse, he remained elusive.
The sky was an amazing colour and if it wasn't for the bareness of the trees, it could easily have been a bright summers day. It was lovely to take our time and just soak up the birdsong and kick leaves. Plenty of images were taken, I do tend to refer back for some of my artwork and the light was excellent.
I thought I would finally leave you with this one.I don't like it when people try to make money or attract votes by alarmist theories so global warming is something that I rarely discuss. However, Andy always says I am a tree hugger on the quiet and I do believe in protecting what we have, so here is the evidence, yep I do hug trees!
Photographs courtesy of AndyC
Friday, 26 December 2008
Sprites in the Old Oak
I saw a fabulous painting recently entitled “pendlehaven”.
I loved it because it conjured up fantastic memories for me. As a child, I loved trees and woods. So, I got to thinking as to where did my fascination with them begin. As early as I can ever remember, they had a mystique, a personality of their own and I don’t fully recall where my imagination relating to trees was derived. Sadly, this month we lost a very famous story creator, Oliver Postgate. Some of you remember him for such creations as The Clangers and Ivor the engine. However, it was one of his earlier creations that first fascinated me in the guise of Pogles Wood.I know it was one of my favourites and although I must have been quite young, I can remember watching it, my favourite character being Pippin.
I was also a huge Enid Blyton reader, so much so that if my mum wanted me to behave particularly well, the promise of a book would always ensure my best behaviour. I cannot remember with clarity the Faraway tree series (I think I read so many, it became difficult to differentiate) but know that I loved them and once again they captured my imagination.
I have always loved fantasy fiction and even as a grown up I loved the idea of the walloping tree in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or the Ents in Lord of the Rings.
However, for myself I always had the idea that sprites and fairies live in trees. With this in mind, I thought I would create my own version of a tree house, it could only ever be one of two trees, my favourite throughout time have been oak or cedar trees. So here is my Sprites in the Oak Tree.
Prismacolor on Murano
I loved it because it conjured up fantastic memories for me. As a child, I loved trees and woods. So, I got to thinking as to where did my fascination with them begin. As early as I can ever remember, they had a mystique, a personality of their own and I don’t fully recall where my imagination relating to trees was derived. Sadly, this month we lost a very famous story creator, Oliver Postgate. Some of you remember him for such creations as The Clangers and Ivor the engine. However, it was one of his earlier creations that first fascinated me in the guise of Pogles Wood.I know it was one of my favourites and although I must have been quite young, I can remember watching it, my favourite character being Pippin.
I was also a huge Enid Blyton reader, so much so that if my mum wanted me to behave particularly well, the promise of a book would always ensure my best behaviour. I cannot remember with clarity the Faraway tree series (I think I read so many, it became difficult to differentiate) but know that I loved them and once again they captured my imagination.
I have always loved fantasy fiction and even as a grown up I loved the idea of the walloping tree in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or the Ents in Lord of the Rings.
However, for myself I always had the idea that sprites and fairies live in trees. With this in mind, I thought I would create my own version of a tree house, it could only ever be one of two trees, my favourite throughout time have been oak or cedar trees. So here is my Sprites in the Oak Tree.
Prismacolor on Murano
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Seasons Greetings to all from Shropshire
No Shropshire website would be complete without a view of the Wrekin I thought I would post one up that was taken last week on a frosty morning.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Greetings to all the blogging friends I have discovered since January earlier this year. My good wishes to all of you together with my readers who know both Andy and in person. I hope you all have a Happy and Healthy Holiday.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Greetings to all the blogging friends I have discovered since January earlier this year. My good wishes to all of you together with my readers who know both Andy and in person. I hope you all have a Happy and Healthy Holiday.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Oh Christmas Tree
We have only a small Christmas tree but as always I love it. There are bits and pieces that make me smile. Thanks to Andy for taking the photo..
I do confess that as I was decorating it the other evening I realised that my fairies a$$ is lit up, ROFL. Sorry people, I haven't even drank too much - yet!
I also thought I would share my favourite song of the season. A big warning if you expect shmulz, this one is The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, I get a bit tired of the cheesy niceness!
If Cal happens to look by, this one is for you :D
I do confess that as I was decorating it the other evening I realised that my fairies a$$ is lit up, ROFL. Sorry people, I haven't even drank too much - yet!
I also thought I would share my favourite song of the season. A big warning if you expect shmulz, this one is The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, I get a bit tired of the cheesy niceness!
If Cal happens to look by, this one is for you :D
Saturday, 20 December 2008
A Few Christmas Gifts
I have made a few of my gifts for people this year. As they have now been given, I do think there is a couple I can safely share.
I did have some fun, although trying to do something as a surprise can sometimes go very awry. For example, this drawing of a Jack Russell turned out to be quite something. I had in fact "borrowed" a photograph, thinking that this was the current family pet. However, it turned out to be a former one. Thankfully my friend is more than happy and she feels it is a lovely tribute. Nevertheless, I will be much more careful about planned surprises for the future ;)
This necklace was chosen with someone specifically in mind. I chose quite chunky, classy bead and incorporated the bronze and black colours deliberately as she wears a lot of neutral type colours.
I finally managed some time to pick up a tree yesterday so it was duly decorated last night, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas....
I did have some fun, although trying to do something as a surprise can sometimes go very awry. For example, this drawing of a Jack Russell turned out to be quite something. I had in fact "borrowed" a photograph, thinking that this was the current family pet. However, it turned out to be a former one. Thankfully my friend is more than happy and she feels it is a lovely tribute. Nevertheless, I will be much more careful about planned surprises for the future ;)
This necklace was chosen with someone specifically in mind. I chose quite chunky, classy bead and incorporated the bronze and black colours deliberately as she wears a lot of neutral type colours.
I finally managed some time to pick up a tree yesterday so it was duly decorated last night, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas....
Friday, 19 December 2008
Fridays Fable - A Christmas Wish
Joseph Farquharson (1846 - 1935)
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Nahum Tate(1652-1715), ca. 1700
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
"Fear not," said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind,
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind."
"To you, in David's town this day,
Is born of David's line
The Savior who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign:
The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid."
Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God and thus
Addressed their joyful song:
"All glory be to God on high
And on the earth be peace,
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease."
I have missed Fridays fable for a week or two and I apologise. I very rarely talk about my "proper" job, I am sure it would simply bore my readers, I confess I am quite a geek! I do at times become under pressure in terms of quantity and sometimes I can feel stressed if I have to give lots of presentations because speaking to an audience does not come naturally to me. However, I would say that all of this is pretty normal. I don't dislike my job, generally I am a happy soul and I work with a great bunch of people for which I am thankful. However, the last couple of weeks have been awful, so much so that unusually for me I have had sleepless nights as a result. Whilst I won't go into detail, because of various circumstances, I ended up in conflict with myself. I just found that elements of my job didn't sit too well with me as a person and without any apology, I rather like Chrissy the person!
Yesterday I ended up going to a rather lovely carol service for which I was reading a passage from Luke, it was about the shepherds. As I read it and sang the carol, I was having conversations with lost ones. Gradually, for the first time in a while, I felt at peace with myself and it was a good feeling.
So for this Fridays fable, particularly as we are now well into the Christmas season, I wish you all "Great Peace".
For those of you that don't know me personally, I apologise for my very short emails and sporadic visits to your blog. For those of you that do know me, I apologise for being grumpy and distracted.
P.S Wish me luck on the Euromillions later, it is the first time I have ever bought a ticket ;)
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Purple Dragon
No, I haven't been drinking wicked concoctions of alcohol, although it does sound like quite a cool sounding cocktail. I have been working on another dragon. I worked a little differently this time and did a line drawing to start with.
I hope you are having a good Sunday and not frantically writing Christmas cards like me!
I hope you are having a good Sunday and not frantically writing Christmas cards like me!
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Skywatch Friday - Another sunset
Well following my dragon post, I thought it would be great to choose a skywatch photograph that would be a great backdrop for dragons....Perhaps I will go a bit further with this one.
I almost forgot to say, this one was snapped last week on the day I went running up the hill, LOL.
Happy Friday.
I almost forgot to say, this one was snapped last week on the day I went running up the hill, LOL.
Happy Friday.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
A dragon a day
On the radio at the minute there is an advert that is driving me quite insane. However it did spark me into some dragon work. Here is the first of them:
There will be more, I am quite enjoying my dragonesque phase. I also thought that I would share the contents of one of my emails today.
END OF YEAR MAIL
As we move closer to the end of another year I wanted to thank you for all the e-mails you have forwarded to me over the past year.
I must send a big thank you to whoever sent me the one about rat p*** in the glue on envelopes, because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.
Also, I now have to wipe the top of every can I open for the same reason.
I no longer have any savings because I gave it all to a sick girl who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time. But that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates and Microsoft are sending me for participating in their special email programmes. Or from the senior bank clerk in Nigeria who wants to split seven million dollars with me for pretending to be a long lost relative of a customer who died intestate.
And I need no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me.
I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward emails to seven friends and make a wish within five minutes.
I no longer drink Coca-Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer can buy petrol without taking a friend along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.
I no longer go to shopping centres because someone will drug me with a food sample and rob me.
I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number and then I'll get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan .
I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my bum.
I can't even pick up the five bucks I found dropped in the car park because it was probably put there by a crazed axe murderer waiting under my car to grab my leg.
If you don't send this email to at least 144,000 people in the next 10 minutes, a large pelican with an acute case of diarrhoea will sit on your head and fleas from 12camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a most unsightly hairy ####.
I know this because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbour's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's plumber - and it was on Good Morning Australia.
By the way.... did you know that a South American scientist has, after a lengthy study, discovered that people with low IQs who don't have enough sex, always read their emails while holding the mouse.
Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.
It made me laugh... :D
There will be more, I am quite enjoying my dragonesque phase. I also thought that I would share the contents of one of my emails today.
END OF YEAR MAIL
As we move closer to the end of another year I wanted to thank you for all the e-mails you have forwarded to me over the past year.
I must send a big thank you to whoever sent me the one about rat p*** in the glue on envelopes, because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.
Also, I now have to wipe the top of every can I open for the same reason.
I no longer have any savings because I gave it all to a sick girl who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time. But that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates and Microsoft are sending me for participating in their special email programmes. Or from the senior bank clerk in Nigeria who wants to split seven million dollars with me for pretending to be a long lost relative of a customer who died intestate.
And I need no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me.
I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward emails to seven friends and make a wish within five minutes.
I no longer drink Coca-Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer can buy petrol without taking a friend along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.
I no longer go to shopping centres because someone will drug me with a food sample and rob me.
I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number and then I'll get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan .
I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my bum.
I can't even pick up the five bucks I found dropped in the car park because it was probably put there by a crazed axe murderer waiting under my car to grab my leg.
If you don't send this email to at least 144,000 people in the next 10 minutes, a large pelican with an acute case of diarrhoea will sit on your head and fleas from 12camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a most unsightly hairy ####.
I know this because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbour's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's plumber - and it was on Good Morning Australia.
By the way.... did you know that a South American scientist has, after a lengthy study, discovered that people with low IQs who don't have enough sex, always read their emails while holding the mouse.
Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.
It made me laugh... :D
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Some Wintry Photographs
Hi all, I am catching up again. I do have some art to show but thats for later in the week. Once again I am working about three days behind!
But, for now I just thought I would share some very cold photographs snapped over the weekend:
But, for now I just thought I would share some very cold photographs snapped over the weekend:
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Beautiful Art through my letterbox
Well as I stated when posting up my Skywatch yesterday, I have been a spoilt little missy all week.
First of all on Monday I receieved this lovely bracelet from Emma at Elf Creations. I think it is so pretty and such happy colours are enough to brighten the dullest December day.
Then on Wednesday when I was feeling just a shade grumpy fom my cold and battling into work, I had some more post. This time it was a thank you card, some fairies and a lovely ATC from the very talented Tina at Purples and Spurtles
I so loved this ATC, it is very magical!
Ok, well now you are beginning to get just how spoilt I have been..haha. On Thursday I received this lovely Christmas card from Nessy. Nessy's cards are always beautifully finished:
More of her cards can be seen on Nessy's Notes, you really do need to click for the close up version to see the detail.
Ok...but then, I got post on Friday too. I love Inrid's art, it is always so inventive and on Friday I receieved an ATC from her together with a lovely Christmas image. You might think that this lovely deer is stamped, I do think it probably is but Ingrid makes her own stamps!
I mean, just how clever is she? You can check out some of her work at KastleKaos Drawbridge
This is my fabulous ATC:
What made my day as well though was that even the envelope was great:
So there you have, spoilt one and what a fabulous diverse gallery for my pin board.
I have to say, you girls all rock! Thank you, thank you......you all made a tough week lovely :D
First of all on Monday I receieved this lovely bracelet from Emma at Elf Creations. I think it is so pretty and such happy colours are enough to brighten the dullest December day.
Then on Wednesday when I was feeling just a shade grumpy fom my cold and battling into work, I had some more post. This time it was a thank you card, some fairies and a lovely ATC from the very talented Tina at Purples and Spurtles
I so loved this ATC, it is very magical!
Ok, well now you are beginning to get just how spoilt I have been..haha. On Thursday I received this lovely Christmas card from Nessy. Nessy's cards are always beautifully finished:
More of her cards can be seen on Nessy's Notes, you really do need to click for the close up version to see the detail.
Ok...but then, I got post on Friday too. I love Inrid's art, it is always so inventive and on Friday I receieved an ATC from her together with a lovely Christmas image. You might think that this lovely deer is stamped, I do think it probably is but Ingrid makes her own stamps!
I mean, just how clever is she? You can check out some of her work at KastleKaos Drawbridge
This is my fabulous ATC:
What made my day as well though was that even the envelope was great:
So there you have, spoilt one and what a fabulous diverse gallery for my pin board.
I have to say, you girls all rock! Thank you, thank you......you all made a tough week lovely :D
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Skywatch Friday - A Bit Late
Here are a selection of photographs taken last Sunday which I do think are all suitable for Skywatch Friday. I apologise for being late this week and for the lack of Fridays Fable, I have had a really bad cold so didn't get as much done as I had hoped.
I apologise to all those of you that I haven't been to see for a few days or to those of you that have sent me beautiful works of art this week. I have finally managed to get some lovely photographs of it today all so I think it is time for an blogging art exhibition tomorrow. I have received a beautiful selection of things, I have been QUITE spoilt and it is great looking at the fanatastic diversity :)
I apologise to all those of you that I haven't been to see for a few days or to those of you that have sent me beautiful works of art this week. I have finally managed to get some lovely photographs of it today all so I think it is time for an blogging art exhibition tomorrow. I have received a beautiful selection of things, I have been QUITE spoilt and it is great looking at the fanatastic diversity :)
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