Little Red on a Paint Party Friday

Not a lot to show you on this Paint Party Friday.    I've been working on this newest paper doll.  Little Red.   I want to do a stand up background for her that is summer on one side and winter on the other.   Real life keeps getting in the way though.   I wish I could just spend all my time playing in my studio, but alas . . . I cannot.



I would love to be able to spend all week in here channeling Mary Englebreit and Joan Walsh Anglund and Susan Branch, my three art heroes . . .

 

I think sometimes I just have too many fingers in too many pies . . . but I have always been the sort who gets bored easily of the same thing day after day . . . so I need variety.  Variety is what feeds my soul . . .



I think I just love creating . . . be it a cake, or a cupcake wrapper . . . or a fairy or a little girl, or a paper doll . . . or a cloth doll, or a canvas . . .

 

It has been ever so and I hope that it never changes.



May I always see the world around me through the eyes of my creative spirit.

For more goodies to fill your eyes and soul, hop on over to Paint Party Friday to see what's on everyone else's creative mind this week!  There's a lovely featured artist there as well.   I am in awe of all the talent that is about.   Aren't we creatures just so amazing???

WOYWW - Cupcake Toppers and Easter Goodies

I don't know why but the other day Easter was on my mind and so I painted these little cupcake toppers.   They just came out . . .

 

First the bunny hopped in . . .



Followed closely by the chick . . .

 

And then the spring lamb . . . and they brought such a gentle spirit with them.  I fear I am quite in love with them . . . so much so that I couldn't resist . . .



Making a little spring coat for them to wear in the form of a cupcake wrap.   The verse on it reads:

"See the land,
her Easter keeping,
Rises as her Maker rose.
Seeds so long
in darkness sleeping,
burst at last from
Winter snows."

Now I'm all set for Easter Treats . . . but I have been working on a few other cupcake toppers and wraps as well.  Stay tuned . . . also for a new paper doll.  Watch this space!

 

In the meantime do hop on over to The Stamping Ground to see what all of the other peeps have been up to!

Paint Party Friday

My goodness but the weeks seem to roll around quickly.   It's no sooner Monday than it is Friday again.   I have quite a few things to show you for the Paint Party today!

First up a new paper doll.

 

This is FiFi L'amour . . . she's a romantic paper doll with the heart of a CowGirl.   I have had ever so much fun doing her and plan on adding to her clothing range as time goes by . . .



At the moment her wardrobe is sadly lacking as I have been rather busy this week finishing up these . . .
 yes, it's more illustrations for the children's book.



This one was a bit challenging as there were so many faces in it and I wanted to make everyone look a bit different . . . like people do, no two alike.

 

This is one pretty amazing cat.   He reads.  He also looks rather lazy in this . . . but as we all know dogs have masters and cats have slaves!

 

Magic blanket anyone???



This was the real challenge . . . getting it to look like a night sky and like they were actually flying above a city.  I wish so much I could have gone to art school, because then I would actually know what I am doing.

 

This is one of my favourites.   He's sleeping.   I wish I could sleep that contentedly!



This has been a really fun project.  I still have a few more drawings to do . . . but it won't take long now.

I hope you've all enjoyed your visit with me here today.   Please hop on over to the Stamping Ground to see the rest of the Paint Party Friday participants.   They are a real talented bunch!

Happy Paint Party Friday and thanks ever so much for looking!

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!

Paper Dolls and Paint Party Friday

This week I have been working on creating a special page for my paper dolls so that I can sell them as pdf downloads.   If you look up just under my header you will see the link which will take you to them.  I'm really excited about my paper dolls.   I always adored playing with them when I was a girl, and I used to love to collect the ones in Mary Englebreit's magazine . . . so long ago now.

This week I created a new page of clothes for BlueBell and ButterCup and they actually fit both dolls.



I really love creating new outfits for them.  It's so much fun.  I feel just as if I am shopping, but . . . it's costing me nothing but my time and imagination!

 

I've been enjoying playing with them as well.  BlueBell is all dressed up for school here, and check it out!



She's ready to party on!  I love her.

Today I took some which I had printed at a printers into the Gallery in Town for sale there.  But you can buy them to download and print out yourself in my BlueBell and ButterCup shop.   I will be adding lots of new pages and accessories too as time goes by, but that's not all . . .

 

They also have a new friend, and I think she's just as cute as a button . . . so anyways, that's what I am sharing for Paint Party Friday this week!




The Stamping Ground to see what everyone else is up to!  Thanks for stopping by and having a look.  Happy Paint Party Friday y'all!

BlueBell, The little girl that's a paper doll

This is what I have been working on this week.  A series of paper dolls.   I always loved paper dolls when I was a girl.   I did not have a lot of real dolls, but I had a whole big box filled with paper dolls.   I would spend hours playing with them, drawing and colouring new clothes for them.   It was so much fun.



Bluebell also has a friend.  Her name is ButterCup . . . but I haven't done her clothes yet so I can't show her to you . . . but she's a redhead, just so you know.

 

I envision them having all kinds of adventures together . . . and I GET TO DRESS THEM!
How fun is that?



I can't wait.  I'm so excited about that I could almost squeal with delight.   I see tea parties and trips to the zoo and holidays . . . I see all sorts in their future.    It will be so much fun.

 Of course, I'm not selfish.   I'll take you along with me on the journey.   I hope you enjoy it too.

Edited to Add ButterCup, BlueBell's bestest friend.

 



 

This is my entry for this week's Paint Party Friday.   Hop on over to the Stamping Ground to see what everyone else has been up to.   You are sure to fall in love with something.  I always do!

WOYWW . . . Your Heart and My Heart

I found this quote the other day and fell in love with it.   There are a few people in my life I feel this way about.   You know who you are.    I think it would make a great card for a sister or a friend . . . for a special  person in your life.



Something else I did just recently.   I don't always just paint.  Sometimes I pick up my needle and thread and sew.   I love her little red shoes . . . her dress (of course!) and that wistful look on her face.

 

My sister thought she looked a bit sad . . . perhaps she does.   I just think she's a little bit apprehensive about the journey she's about to take.



I think we can all get like that from time to time . . . uncertain futures can certainly strike dread into any heart.  I hope she's packed her toothbrush!

DO check out the other talent for this weeks WOYWW over at The Stamping Ground.

Thanks for looking!   Happy day to you.

Paint Party Friday . . . I Choose Happiness

This is my entry for this week's Paint Party Friday.   It's done in watercolor instead of the copic markers I usually use for my girls.   I've been using my water colors a lot more lately and I think  I am getting more of a sense on how they work. 

Happiness is my mantra for the year, and choosing it daily.   I think being happy is a choice.  We each of us have the chance to choose it every day of our lives . . . my glass is half full.

Coz that's the way I roll . . .



Check out Paint Party Friday to see all the other participants for this week . . . and Have a Happy Day!

Chickadees and Questions . . .

This is very much a work in progress here.  I started this yesterday afternoon.  It's a pair of chickadees . . . and quite far from being finished at this point.  I've only used the one colour so far . . . black in varying shades.   I am almost afraid to touch another colour to it for fear I will ruin it.

What makes an artist an artist?   I find myself pondering that question these days.   I did not have the benefit of going to art school like I wanted to when I was younger.  All that I do is very much hit and miss . . . education by accident, and hopefully I learn more from my mistakes than I ever would have learned in school.  

I only know for sure that I am compelled to create.  Does that make me an artist?

WOYWW 187

Here we are the first What's On Your Work post of 2013.  I hope to participate each week in 2013.  That's my artsy resolution!  Forwards and upwards and onwards we go.




These past few weeks have seen me painting and working on the illustrations for the Chidlren's book I have been asked to illustrate.  A few years ago I would have been daunted by the prospect . . . I would never have thought myself capable.   Which just shows you how much I have grown over the last few years.




The thought of doing something like that no longer scares the bejeezums out of me.  That's called progress.
It's a good thing.

That's whats happening in my work space this week. What's happening in yours??  I'd love to see it.

If you would like to see what's going on in another lovely bunch of artsy spaces check out the WOYWW post on  Stamping Ground.