Saturday 29 June 2013

June Craft Space Envy

This is probably a little too sophisticated for my liking but I do like how everything is all neat and organised. And far too clean and crisp. I need more colour in my life lol!

What I particularly like the idea of is how she uses magnets to secure her bottles upside down under the cupboards so that is pretty cool. Might have to try that one!


Thursday 27 June 2013

My Art & Craft room / Office "BEFORE" tour

We are in the new house. Finally. Whooppppeeeee!

We love it and it has felt like home since the moment we got in which is lovely. I haven't been arting for a while as I have been busy sorting stuff out in the house BUT... I do have a video to share with you.

This is a room tour of my new office / studio / art & craft space BEFORE it has been decorated and customised to my taste. This is exactly how it was when we got the keys. I thought it would be fun to show you!


Here are some stills for you too:

The filing cabinet, memo board, desk, shelves and lamp shade were all left for us by the previous owners. The bottle green mottled crapet and blue / lime walls are not to my taste so I am in the process of redecorating. Watch this space for after shots!







Sunday 23 June 2013

Playing in my new journal

I have been playing in my new sea journal. Want to see what I have done?

The background is alcohol inks covered with gesso using a palette knife and then the mermaid has been created entirely from oil pastesl.







Friday 21 June 2013

My new journals

I got me a new journal. Well actually make that two. No wait hold on make it three. Yes three. Definitely three.

Why three? Well isn't it the magic number!

Well I had already bought myself a plain spiral bound sketchbook and I was perusing a charity book stall when I came across two little beauties that for a grand total of £2 for both of them I simply could not refuse. It would be so rude not too right?

So the first one I bought was just an old unloved Readers Digest Novel. Nothing too fancy to say about it but I thought it was a nice pocket sized book.





The second one. Well I love it so much. It is called "Realms of the Sea" and is by National Geographic. Is is a lovely size but it was the cover that first attracted me to it. Inside it is full of beautiful photographs and text. I plan on keeping some of the photographs to intersperse amongst my artwork. I love it so much. I am going to devote this journal to mermaids and everything sea related. I can't wait to get started in it.







So there we are my new journals. I think I am going to use these simultaneously rather than one at a time so it might be a while before I can do a flip : )

Tuesday 18 June 2013

When do you journal?

When do you journal?

I am just intrigued to know. I went to write in my journal and I realised that I hadn't written for a while. It seems to me that when I am in a really good place mentally I don't need to keep a written journal but when I am in a not so good place or need to process negative feelings, the written journal comes out. I art journal all the time no matter what.

How about you?


Saturday 15 June 2013

June 2013 Book Review - Fashion Illustration

Its the 15th of the month again (they come round so quickly don't they!) so that means that it is book review time again.

This is another library book. I love getting books from the library coz it's free and it means that you don't have to worry about whether or not you are going to like the book or not. You know sometimes when you buy a book online and then when you get it home you realise that it is not as good as you thought. I hate that. No need with a library book though. I mean that is why I do these shares so that you can see a little of what is in the book first.

This is definitely one that I want to get for me for keeps because it is awesomely brilliant and a really good reference book.

Check out the video to find out why...


Tuesday 11 June 2013

Another finished journal - time to flip out!

Whoooo hooooo! I have finished my art journal so I thought it was flipping time I did a flip lol!

So I have done two flip videos to suit different tastes. I know some people like me enjoy a longer video with commentary on how the page was made, with what mediums and the inspiration behind the page etc and then there are other people who just want to look at the pictures. So no matter which of the two categories you fall into there is a flip for you!

The first one is the long one and the second is the shorter version (much much much shorter). Grab a cuppa and enjoy : )





Friday 7 June 2013

Story book bunny

Following on from my video where I showed you the story book bunny, I just thought I would let you know what products are available with this design over in my Society6 shop:

This is just a small selection but we have a cushion, tote bag and t-shirt (click on the image to take you through to the shop!)




Prints are available from my Etsy shop and also from Society6. You can also buy a stretched canvas and a framed print at Society6.

The original canvas is also listed over on Etsy and if you are reading this and head over it might still be there!






Tuesday 4 June 2013

Crayola Portfolio Oil Pastel Review and Artwork Share

For a long time now I have coveted the portfolio oil pastels from Crayola. When I was at college we were told to buy oil pastels but then we never ended up using them at all. Just as well I bought the mega mega cheap ones! They were so so cheap. I mean total cheapies at £2 for 48. Sufficient to say they were pretty useless too. They were dry and chalky not at all like oil pastels should be, all smooth and creamy.

Anyway I have never been that bothered that my oil pastels were next to useless but then I watched a video on youtube of a lady creating a page and she used oil pastels and I thought that they looked worth a go! (I can't remember what the video was now or the brand she used now).

I asked on the Art Geeks Facebook page if anyone had any recommendations for oil pastels and they all said the Portfolio ones so with that many recommendations I thought I had better get those ones lol!

Here is my review of using them for the first time along with a share of some of my artwork...


Sunday 2 June 2013

Summer - what is it?

What with all this manky weather we have been having, you know the rain, grey dingy skies, the cold etc. and generally not feeling summery at all I thought it was time to resurrect the quote I made last year and this year I have released it at Society6 so you can purchase it as a print, canvas, hoodie, t-shirt, tote bag, laptop case, etc and as a print in my Etsy shop so you can keep reminding yourself...


I think the bag would be great for the beach and other outings!


And the t-shirt and hoodie are pretty cool too!



Enjoy your Summer what ever the weather and whatever you do : )