Bread and Circuses

It's Christmas!!

Well I thought I'd write a couple of very funny quips but I can't remember the punch line - some things never change!!

Have a fabulous Christmas everyone!!

Is it time?

I wonder if I can bear to put my art stuff away so as to be tidy for Christmas. I get withdrawal symptoms when I go more than a day without doing something creative. But I suppose I must.

I've been making some 'munsters' and have listed a few new items including some paintings on folksy and here's a sample:

 

 
  

Trying to tidy up for Xmas

I have actually started to clear the decks for xmas - but what happens is I seem to be moving stuff and making mess somewhere else! One thing's for sure, I need a bigger house but that's not going to happen 'cos I love it here.

It has started to snow in the suburbs this morning and it's supposed to start in the city this afternoon - can't wait!!

xmas lights are up!

Yesterday I put up lights and tinsel and it looks so pretty that I might just keep them up all year!! Can 't find my camera ....

A Pat on the Back

What a lovely gesture - on the bus this morning there was a big tin of Rose's chocolates by the driver for all the passengers, and then on the way home the driver was dressed in a Santa outfit complete with beard - but I think the glasses were his LOL. It warmed the cockles of the heart....

Been painting

I'm getting ready for another Xmas market on Sunday - all ticketed and raring  to go!

Here are a couple of new paintings:

 
 
   

 
  
 

I'm published in ...

...Stampington's Art Quilting Studio due on the news-stands tomorrow. I'm so happy and honoured to be included in this magazine. I've scanned some pages so you get an idea of what it's all about.

Painterly Compositions

 
  
 
  

Eco friendly shopping bags

I've been sewing some really nice shopping bags that are built to last and can be used again and again. They're on ETSY where you can find out more about them. Here's a sample:

 
 
 

Birthday

Today I was at a friend's birthday lunch and had a lovely time eating scrumptious food and the bubbly wasn't bad either!!

To give you an idea of the present I made, I've scanned the image - a lined pink cloth bag with a stitched 'burdie'. I need to practise freemotion words more!

Twilight and market

I realized ,after I*'d said I was reading this book and couldn't put it down, that it's a teenager cult movement - but I don't care - must be a young at heart grandmother! and I have all 3 books!

I've been busy at the sewing machine getting ready for another Christmas Market. It's housed in a converted church in the heart of the Grassmarket in Edinburgh called the LOT. Hope to see you there!

Fabric Covered Journals/Notebooks

I've been developing a new line - these are A6 notebooks with a fabric jacket which is re-usable. I've started listing them on etsy and here's a sample:

     

"life is short, eat dessert first"  "dranunculus"

 

"you always have a friend in me"
 

 
 
  
  

Success

The 3-day Christmas Market ended yesterday after a really well-attended event. The venue was an art gallery. I was very fortunate to have sold some top-end paintings and lots of little things too.

Here's a picture of part of my table:

Dizzy

I 'm not feeling the best today - a dizzy head and it's only 4 days till the Christmas Market I'm in. So I've decided to go back to bed hoping that'll help.

I started reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - didn't realize when I bought it that it's a bit of a cult book - and I can't put it down!!!

Till later.....

Excellent Read!

I've literally just finished reading 'The Sensualist' by Barbara Hodgson - a mysterious illustrated tale for all the senses - a remarkable story. I've read some of her other books which are always first class but this is one I'll definitely read again.

Some of the reviews say "Are you ready to use all of your senses ... captivating and compelling, this book will hold you hostage" New Woman, and "Enigmatic and spine-tingling..." Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Cuff or Wristlet?

 
I made a cuff for myself to wear at the preview night of the Frugal Cool Eco Crafts Market. The cuff is black leather and black lace with a tiny bit of red, and a beautiful vintage diamante brooch - my lovely grand-daughter Alice modelled it.

I seem to be in a black lace mood and have found a really lovely dress with gloves to match - all in black lace! Will I be brave enough to wear the ensemble???

By the way, would you call this a cuff or a wristlet? 

 
 
 

Eco Crafts Market

I'm taking part in an Eco Crafts Market to celebrate Frugal Cool's 1st birthday with a 3-day showcase of eco crafts and design.

Everything is a one-off, upcycled from found objects and textiles or made from natural materials. All products – from 14 makers and designers.

Original artworks and handmade textiles will also offer visitors a glimpse of the creative talent within our community and the value of ethical design at Loretto Gallery, Musselburgh (near Edinburgh).

Here's a segment of the press release for me:

 This artist's paintings show an exuberant and dynamic personality. She works with random unplanned blocks of colour and develops her paintings intuitively into a structured conclusion. Acrylics are the mainstay along with ink, pencil, tissue, and mark-making objects. She likes to build layers of paint which can be scraped back into revealing the mystery beneath. Evie lived in Florence for many years and was influenced by the beautiful chalky frescoes in all their distressed beauty.

I've got a NEW SHOP

Knockout prices in my new Etsy shop - WeeArtThings!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8234611

FELICITA

Just listed a contemporary painting on etsy and hope you like it:

 

My new acquisition

Here's the notorious painting I bought -

Four hours!

I went looking for a winter coat yesterday and came home with a painting! Had to take a taxi home because it's five feet wide. If I tell you it took me 4 hours to hang it, would you believe it?

It was hard to screw the hangers onto the back - tiny Philips screws and no leverage on the screw driver and my battery powered screw driver's tip was too big.

I don't know why but I must have measured wrongly (3 times) to place the hooks on the wall and ruined the wall full of holes - just as well the picture covered that up.

And this great big bulky painting was finally ready to hang. Do you think I could get the hooks onto the rings ..... I was tired and had aching arms but I persevered and at last got it up. What a day!!!