Friday 25 October 2013

Peggy Harris' Workshop 19, 20 & 21 Oct 2013



Well we all started out all eager eyed and bussy tailed (a bit like that squirrel!!) it was the first time Id painted in oils apart from a disasterous attempt at school some few years ago!!  I struggled and struggled and as we were working under electric lights this poor little fella looked green to me......... in daylight he looks yellow so best to keep him in the dark till I get used to him.  The oils were kept in an airtight container to use later on in an attempt to finish him off.........or me!!  the latter being the case as they set hard and were useless so Im stuck with him now.  The only colour that would work was the yellow which I liberally daubed onto the leaves to give him an autumnal feel........

Day 2 and I was feeling optimistic that maybe the bunny would be a little easier to cope with........Hmmm all those well laid plans eh!  I was nearing the end and went to put the dark blue shadow on the back of him to show off the moonlight..........of course too quickly I realised that the fur hadnt dried out and was wiped clean away with the float of watery dark blue which was slapped over his back and hindquarters........  I do try honest I do!!  I blotted it off and reapplied the fur cause I didnt want a bald bunny and left it be till today (Fri 25th Oct)  when I was certain that the paint had dried!!  You cant float over wet paint........... he also got his fireflies tinted yellow and a few stars scattered in the sky.

Day 3 was supposed to be the easier of the 3 projects.......... Oh I got on great with the dragon flies, birds nest, eggs, feather and snail but the butterflies ........... couldnt believe what a mess I made of them.  Anyway I worked on them again today and they do look a bit better or rather more lifelike..........

It was so lovely meeting up with the ladies from all over UK looking forward to seeing them come next April when we'll be painting with Maureen McNaughton!!

Saturday 20 July 2013

I made myself a new blouse ...........


Well I couldnt find a loose blouse to wear over a tshirt and jeans and had all this fab material that Ive not touched in over 10 years so decided to get cracking and make myself one.  Its years since I had my patterns out and was really dispondent when I realised that none of my patterns were large enough!!!  I needed a size 18 (UK) so did a search and found a lovely site that is called PlusSizeLadiesSewingPatterns.co.uk and found 2 dress patterns and a blouse which I ordered.  They contacted me to say they were really sorry but the blouse pattern I wanted was no longer available so I replied to their email asking if they could recommend an alternative as I really needed one.  They were so kind and said they would send me this one for free!!  I set to and cut out the pattern ironing all the pieces then the fabric finding my interfacing fabric all screwed up in a poly bag then my trusty Gutterman's thread in exactly the right colour to match.  Set to and soon discarded the instructions as they were so complicated but I did better on my own.  When Id sorted it all out I decided that only covered buttons would suit and found a pack that must have come out of the ark as they had the price on them of 50p........... of course I needed 2 more for the cuffs so went to Crystal Peaks market in Beighton and bought 2 more buttons they cost me 50p.  Anyway I soon had them covered and sewn in place and am really pleased with my efforts.............. just wish I could get my photos to stay the right way round............. yet another thing to conquer although I wont hold my breath have been trying for ages to figure out why they wont stand up the right way round!!! 

My next project will be another birthday cake for a ladies birthday.........watch this space.............

Wednesday 20 February 2013

A Year Long Project







It took me many Monday painting sessions to get this box finally finished and I often wondered why Id started it.  The pattern was entitled Old Lady in a Shoe and was designed by Londi L Rowley CDS from her book The Merry Peasant Vol IV.  As a painting group we were all going to paint it but as the weeks went by I realised that if I didnt get on with it then it would never be painted as although the individual mice are charming a whole box full of them was too daunting for my fellow Monday Painters group.  Lucky for me Id picked up the box from a closing down sale some time prior to taking on this mamoth task, the design fitted it nicely so I set to painting.