WOYWW on a Winter Wednesday

 

So, it seems that Winter is not quite ready to loosen it's grip on us just yet.  It is cold and I hear it is snowing in Wales, not five minutes from where I live . . . indeed the skies here in Chester look about ready to open up with goose-down as well.   That's life . . . each day a magical gift for us each to explore and enjoy.

This is what is keeping me busy this week . . .



First there has been a little Valentine Match Box for my husband for Valentines Day.   I had so much fun doing this . . . my brain was ticking the whole time and my heart was smiling and all a-flutter with love for this special man I am lucky enough to share my life with.



That's what a Valentine should be all about don't you think???  Love that makes your heart all a-flutter!

 

He is not perfect . . . but he's perfect to me and that makes us the perfect match I think.



Yes it is . . . very beautiful.

I have also been working on the final illustrations for the Children's book I've been working on.  Three more to go . . . which I will hopefully get done today!

 

I redid this one because I liked the softer feel of water colours for the book.   The first one I had done was in copic markers and whilst cute . . . I didn't like the feeling it put out . . . too harsh and bold.   I wanted something subtler . . . and I found it in watercolours.



You can probably tell it is a book about a sweet old lady and a cheeky cat . . . say no more!



Together they make magic . . . tis all I can say for now.

I struggled a bit with this one as I wanted to portray a night sky, but with my limited art skills it was very challenging.   I know other artists would have the know how to know how to add a night sky digitally . . . but I am also very technologically challenged and so I must do it the old fashioned way . . .

 

This week has also seen me playing with photographs taken . . .



My paper dolls . . .



And organizing my work space.   A typical week.

What have you been up to??   Why not hop on over to The Stamping Ground to see what everyone else has been up to.  There is sure to be something magical and inspiring to see there!  Such an amazingly talented group of creative people!

Thanks for looking!

What I've been getting up to lately. . .

I hadn't posted any new work in a while . . . life's been kind of getting in the way, but I thought I would show you the few things I've managed to get up to over the past month!



First up a Marie Antoinette Matchbox Doll.  Which fits inside a larger matchbox . . . a collage of Marie Antoinettes!

 

She turned out quite nice with flower soft garland and crown accents, and bouquets . . . a bit of sparkle here and there, notably on her shoes and ribbons and what would it possibly say on the back of her box . . . but . . . "Keep Calm and Eat Cake!"



Then this, a commission for a friend.   I love the way it turned out.  The little girl with the pioneer spirit, thoughtful and true . . . and her little orange companion who seems to be . . .



Totally basking in her attentions.  Best Cat I have ever water coloured I think!  I am quite proud of this one!  I turned it into a bookmark actually.

 

It would be sweet laminated I think . . . I may paint a little cover jacket to slip it into . . . one can never have too many bookmarks, I don't think!



Not a great picture because of the time of day it was taken, but this is another little matchbox doll I did, using my Christmas angel character.  I worked hard on this one.  She has gold glitter shoes and halo and iridescent glitter on her wings . . . snow on the ground beneath her feet and a small winter scene in the background of her box just behind her feet. Christmas Baubles and stars hanging over her head.  I quite enjoyed.   It was a challenge to copy her legs just as they were in the original . . .



But I think I managed it.  I quite enjoyed the challenge.



Another matchbox doll, a gift for a friend.  The challenge here was to figure out a way to fill her apron with actual hearts . . .

 

But I did, and she turned out quite nice.  I must make more . . .



The sentiment on the back . . . I apologize for the poor photos, again . . . winter light, wrong time of day!

 

More matchbox dolls made . . . gifts for treasured church friends . . .



I hope that they like them.

  

I finished my Christmas Cook-booklet and it's for sale over in The English Kitchen.


  

Turning sketches from the children's book I am illustrating into colour and bringing them to life.  I hope I am doing a good job at it.



I am enjoying it in any case and now the rush is on to finish it up.  I want to have them all done and handed in before I go to Canada in January.  I have no idea how long I will be there . . . but I do want to have them done before I go.  I have no idea if I will be able to do any painting when I am there.  I think I will be pretty busy taking care of my mom . . . the art may have to go on the back burner for a while.

 

There's been photos taken of brilliant moons . . .



Early morning mists and pewter skies . . .



And frosty petals . . .



And more than a few laughs besides.   I want to wish to each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas.  Thanks for visiting me here at the Artful Heart this year.  One never knows what the next year will bring, but whatever it may be . . . I hope you'll come along with me and

Find the joy.

  “Glance backward, look heavenward, reach outward, press onward” 
~Thomas S Monson

WWOYWW . . . Matchbox Dolls

It's been over a month since I have been able to participate in Whats on Your Workdesk Wednesday.  It's been a wild month of renovations and lots of tumult.  I've hardly been able to create at all.  Work on the bath finally finished for good today and things can get back to normal . . . whatever that is!!

I was lucky enough to go to a Craft Crop on this Saturday past.  It was my first time ever at an event like that.  It was a lot of fun seeing what everyone else was getting up to.  I think these kinds of things are wonderful, and you can learn a lot.

I hadn't been sure of what to bring, but I had had an idea in mind for a time for these little matchbox dolls and so that's what I brought.  Papers, inks, glue, mod podge, miniature prints of my own artwork, etc.  And by the end of the afternoon I had  four sweet little girls done.  (Those ones up there at the top of this post.)

Since then I've done two more.  Here they are in a neat little video thingie.  Enjoy.



I really enjoyed making them.  There are all kinds of little additions as well . . . flower soft used as grass and flowers by their feet. Painted matchsticks for their legs and feet . . . tiny touches such as a black cat behind the little witch inside the window at the bottom, a hat and scarf behind the snowman girl, etc.  The autumn  leaves at the bottom of the witch are Martha Stewart foil glitter, leaf colours.



Completely decorated inside and out and all around.  I'm really pleased with how they turned out.  What have you been up to?  I am sure it's something beautifully creative too!
In the meantime why not pop on over to the Stamping Ground to check out all of the other wonderfully creative people and see what they have on their workdesks!

Thanks for looking!!