New Year, New Art

 Happy New Year to you all, sorry this is somewhat late. I've had a VERY busy first month at work, I don't quite know where it went to be honest, but it was creatively packed and I'm so very lucky and happy to be doing what I love doing. I work with some lovely people too so it's even more fun.

 I think I mentioned a little while back that I had some gift bags with my artwork on them coming out in the Spring in John Lewis, Weeeeelllll they're here, Yipppeeeeeee. I am over the moon with these little beauties, and so very proud to bursting to be in this store. I know they are very particular about what they choose design wise, so it's quite an honour.

 So there's me dancing around for joy last week, when I saw this little lot. I haven't got my hands on any yet, but it won't be long before I do. I hope you likes them by the way.

 And just to prove they're mine, I took a photo of the art, see above, I worked mainly in pastel, it was good fun. I had an idea of how they were to look and did a sketch, and some talented bod on the computer formatted them. I've been working more on the computer recently and I'm getting to grips with it more.

 I've managed a couple of days holiday this week, just for a breather after last month, phew, and today I've enjoyed watching and listening in the garden. It's blooming cold mind, but a little sunshine is out today and the birdies and the bulbs are out!

 This little robin in his finery was singing away in our oak tree, not very good photos sorry, the branch he was on was swaying around quite a bit. I stocked up the feeders as it's been so cold, I don't know how these tiny birds survive.

 And as you can see below, those bulbs I planted last Autumn are just peeping through. I've forgotten what I planted so it's doubly exciting to see what turns up. I can see the first ones are tulips.

I will try and post something again soon. I've been creatively messing around at home, trying out new things, techniques etc. We are also in the throws of moving house, which is scary after living in our house for over 18 years. We want to move more out into the countryside and possibly further North, but it's proving difficult to find anything and it's more expensive. It's really quite a challenge. I will hopefully keep you updated, but I may be without the internet, aaaaggghhhh No, for a little while! Which is also scary :)
Hope you all stay safe and warm in this cold weather, unless you're somewhere warm that is and here's to Spring and all the loveliness it will bring :))

Back so soon.....?

 Hello again, I had 2 very nice surprises this last week. I can't show much if anything of the artwork I am currently working on (at work) which sometimes makes posting 'Arty' things a little difficult? In the near future there will be quite a few new images coming through as a result of my new job, but for now, here are some images from 2 little religious books I worked on earlier this year. They look quite cute, I hope they will appeal to the very young audience they are aimed at. I think these should be available  to buy soon, if not now?

 Always so exciting to see your name on the book, It doesn't seem quite real? Although the work was very real, I found some of the wording hard to illustrate.

 This one above makes me laugh, those cakes and buns would tempt me :))

 I haven't done any more books since these two. I was asked to illustrate a Bible, with these same people, but I felt that it was too much. Books normally take about 3 months to do, and the final month can be quite an intensive work load!  Working on these books, I went through an agency that I was represented by, I am no longer with them now, my decision.

Below are some more examples of my work, currently in Clintons Card shops in the UK, I know it's a little early for Christmas, but it's never too early for Christmas where I work, Christmas 2015 is already underway, Hooray!

Hope you like my little artwork samples, see you again soon :)

One Potato...Two Potato....

Once again, I've been rambling about, it's been such amazing weather in the UK, well up here in Yorkshire at any road! So at every opportunity we have gone walkabout. The old pooch came on holiday with us again, see me above, he's a food fiend still, and likes to have lunch out, just like us. We are at one of our favourite tea rooms at Hebden in the Dales.

I took this photo above, as to me it looked like another country, Canada possibly?? It's actually the Forest of Bowland, quite intriguing.

We also chanced upon this little village, Bolton by Bowland, it was so charming, with a lovely church and tea room.

The old pooch, he likes to sit in the sun sometimes :)

I've been experimenting with my camera a bit (after reading the instructions) and this was taking on a particular 'Scenic' setting, I was quite pleased with it.

This however was a poor shot, but taken especially for my lovely blog friend Melody, as she likes a Thelwell scene :)

And at last, a little bit of art work, I fully intended showing the process of my Potato printing session, but forgot about the potatoes and they shrivelled up into black blobs very quickly, so this is just the resulting prints, I have yet to create something with them all.

I've had a dabble with the stamping too, so much fun, I never tire of doing this.

And there has been some gardening going on, my poor little Auriculas were badly neglected, as you can see above. They have been re potted and I'm hoping they survive and flower next spring.

I've also planted up about a dozen pots with bulbs etc, I didn't do this last year and I missed that wonderful spring show they put on, so I've put in daffodils and tulips and some alliums, and I've actually seen some little buds peeping because of the warm weather, which is crazy?? They need to hold off until spring, it would be weird to see them so soon.

We managed a trip to the coast, it was a glorious sunny, calm day, a bit like mid summer and not late September??

Camera experimenting again :)

This last weekend we were back at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, they have some weird and wonderful exhibits in the grounds, it was once again glorious weather.......

These Yew berries are positively glowing, I've taken a few photos of them this year, and painted some.

A new addition in the grounds, this 'round' little boat, which had some 'deep' meaning of basically saying you would get nowhere rowing this, but it did look lovely.

This is the main building at the Sculpture park, the metal walkway is all punched out lettering.

I couldn't resist this shot, patient pooches waiting for their owners to return, the young dog at the very far end wanted to play :)

I also couldn't resist a nice cup of coffee :)  Like the new boots?

Oh, and although this is a bit gruesome, we've had several visits from the sparrowhawk recently, I do feed the birds, and she must think I'm fattening them up for her. I just think they are stunning birds and feel privileged to see her when she calls by. This is my camera setting 'through glass'  which is taken from a bedroom window across to next doors garden, some distance away, so sorry it's a bit blurred.
Autumnal weather has arrived, some rain and winds, blowing all the leaves from the trees. It's not been too cold yet and I think we are returning to a warm 19 C again at the weekend, so another walk is planned:)
Hope you are all enjoying Autumn, or whatever season you may be having out there. Bye for now.

Off the blogosphere......

Well, I just knew this would happen. I disappeared off the radar for a while.
I've been quite busy lately, but not so busy as I couldn't come visit you folks out there, you are all much better than the tv of late for sure (especially the news).
Work is keeping me splendidly busy, my new job is lovely, I'm painting, pastelling, printing, collaging etc etc, it's just great fun! Then in my spare time I'm working as well? It's gotten quite busy all round, so I missed relaxing in all the heat, we've had a good summer so far.
I have managed some days off, as the photos show. I can't put any of my artwork up as yet, but there will be some soon. So here are a few photos of things I've been up to....

Ice cream eating at Monsal head, (Peak District) Banana and toffee, yumminess

In the garden, there have been quite a few new arrivals.

Lots of raspberry picking and eating, a good crop this year.

A little adventure in a Motorhome we hired, out in the Dales.

Walking on a very hot day, towards Linton.

Beautiful homes in Appletreewick (Apptrick)

Llamas in the garden? (like you do?) Husband thought they were stuffed, but no, they are alive.

Walking through fields of ??? corn? reminds me of where I grew up, we lived at the edge of a cornfield

So, is this Barley?? I puzzle over such things?

West Tanfield, the Marmion tower.

Bunting still out for the July 'Tour de France' event.

More ice cream eating at the Brymor Ice cream parlour

peeping in at the babies in the cow shed, at the ice cream parlour.

knaresborough on another sunny day, we've had lots through July :)

Staying overnight with the dog!! A lovely hotel, which was very welcoming, Forest of Bowland.

Lots of butterflies in the hotel grounds around the newly planted buddleias.

 So I've been out and about this summer, but working hard in-between these days out. We can't manage a long stay away, because the dog is quite old now (14 and I/2) and I won't leave him anywhere like kennels or back at the farm we got him from, they used to look after him at holiday time. His back legs are quite wobbly and he falls down, but doesn't seem to feel a thing?! This stay away with him is something new, and he did well, he particularly liked the goody bag and was not too phased by it all, so we may go again? :)

 See you all soon, these last photos bring me up to date with my activities, hope you've all been enjoying summer fun, it was so warm in July in the UK, but it's turned quite Autumnal recently, I'm hoping for an Indian Summer now.

I managed a quiet few moments in the bird hide in the hotel grounds and captured this nuthatch.