The Beast from the East and other offerings....?

Flowers buried under the snow!

I just wanted to share with you my spring flowers that had braved the cold and peeped out. Unfortunately the snow had other ideas and I woke to find them buried, I do hope they are keeping warm in there? But I have the feeling they may be a little crushed. We are experiencing the 'Beast from the East' apparently, as cold winds blow in from the East, Siberia, and meet warm wet weather from the south west, giving us more snow.I'm pretty sure I've shown you snowy pics before, and so now I would like to move on into spring please?

Back Garden birdies.

The birdies in my back garden are getting extra food at the moment, as I have the feeling they have started nesting and may have chicks. The Blackbirds are carrying away beaks full of soaked raisins, so I hope I am helping to keep little baby birds alive??

 I had wanted to show you folks out there, some of the work I've been doing recently. I took a photo of my latest book illustrations along with some pages of sketches, there are 29 little illustrations, a book of 'Blessings' for little girls. But I'm afraid that I could be sharing something I shouldn't just yet. There is the possibility that images could be copied and it wouldn't be right for me to risk that. So as I'm currently working on several book projects, another 'Prayers' book on similar lines, a set of 4 covers on fairies, a 'Dance' book for children, and a book about a 'Puppy' I probably won't be sharing much artwork.
 However, in-between waiting for feedback on sketches/artwork etc, I've been playing around with some stamping. I just love doing this. I seem to like all print processes, I've yet to get my screen that I bought into action too. These little stamps are all sort of Christmas foliage, I'm hoping to get time to format these in photoshop next week, after I've carved them all out.

I like this bit of freedom to experiment and play with different techniques. My time is totally taken up when I get involved with the book illustrations. Sometimes I get frustrated at how little time I'm given to illustrate a book? I panic somewhat after agreeing to do something in such a short space of time, I really cannot fathom why there should be such a rush. I obviously don't know all the inner workings of what book publishers get up to, but they should understand it is time consuming doing A3 size illustrations? If anyone can explain I'd love to know??
So I've actually had this weekend off with this time to play at stamping, snowed in practically, freezing winds blowing outside. More snow to come by Good Friday apparently, when will the winter end?? I hope to bring some sunshine when I next write, my posts may be infrequent as I work my way slowly or quickly through my books. It will be an absolute joy to see them when they are done though, I know! Then I can share some images. :)

Birthday Boogie

Hi folks,

My Birthday today, had a lovely day, sun shone, lots of cards, choccies and a bit of a twirl to one of my favourite songs, turned up nice and loud, and dancing with the dog!! :) He looks at me bemused, but knows it's HAPPY time. Hope you like the tune, I think it will have your toes tapping too. Go on, it feels good. I will be back with something arty soon.

Sunshine at the Sculpture Park.

Price list for Mark Hearld's work

 I made it to the Yorkshire Sculpture park today, just in time to see the Mark Hearld exhibition, which finishes tomorrow. There was some frenzied buying going on of the exhibited work, quite fascinating! I managed to drag my husband along, although he didn't go into the exhibition, he stayed outside with the dog, and we had a good long walk afterwards, IN THE SUNSHINE!! Yes, it's actually been sunny the past few days, and it has felt so good. This seems to have been a long long winter, cold wet, snowy and MUDDY. So much mud. When you walk a dog, you see far too much mud.

 Anyway, to the exhibition...which I'm not sure I saw all of, in my flying visit. I like Marks work, and the way he uses different materials in it, collaging all sorts of bits and pieces. This exhibition appealed because it was 'Birds and Beasts' and I love his birds and beasts, the simple lino cut shapes and the movement he manages to capture so simply. Quite different I feel.

Beautiful collage work!

Wonderful birds swirling around.

 I have to admit, that I don't find many of the sculptures appealing in the park?? In fact, as I walk around, on each visit, I am always drawn to the trees there. They are wonderful, some are so huge, and such lovely shapes, set in the sprawling estate. The view above with that tree and off in the distance, the   wind turbines, well I find that more beautiful to look at than either of the sculptures below! I feel like an arty fraud when I'm there, as I could just criticise so many of the exhibits, but there you go, each to his own I guess? I tend to find the exhibitions inside the building more to my taste.

Walking back, sunset sky and snow on the distant hills.

We had a lovely afternoon, even though it was still very muddy. The cold weather which has gone on for ever, much like I'm doing now, has brought these lovely little visitors(below) to my fat feeders in the garden. They are such sweet little tiny birds, pink in colour, they flit about, usually in groups of about 6, but 2 come to feed regularly. Today there was even a gold crest, such a tiny bird, how they survive I don't know, I've not seen one on the feeder before, hope I helped to keep it going. I would just like to add one very exciting note, I have won a 'Giveaway' on this delightful bloghttp://trowelandpaintbrush.blogspot.co.uk/Gosh, I am thrilled, I never win anything! Kathleens work is lovely, delicately painted, natural images.
See you all again soon.

need to blog.....?

Hi there, it's me, hope you haven't forgotten I exist??

I have had some rushed book work on recently, I can't blog about this as yet, and I have some steady book work on, which I can't blog about either? So art subject wise I am a little stuck.

However....I did do some work recently,(see right) which I thought was a good idea, only to be shot down in flames, as I think me and my hubby are the only people that like it??
I worked on some denim, to get some fantastic texture, and to include it in the clothing the guys are wearing! I gave it a caption of 'For he's a jolly good fellow' and thought it might suit a masculine card design????? But it seems not?  Too much texture possibly, too like book illustration?? I had loads more ideas to run with using this material?? Oh well, it was worth a try, what do you folks think?? No takers so far??

My one photo of the Spring Fair.

So feeling really fired up?? I headed to the 'Spring Fair' down in Birmingham, a huge fair that brings many of the countries Greeting Card companies together to sell their wares. I had a good look round, it was smaller than in past years I have been. I saw a few lovely people I know, had a word with a few of them, and came away feeling anything but fired up!!

Onwards and Upwards I say to myself, I have inspiration still up my sleeve, the day I run out of that, I shall know to pack in, but until then......out with the watercolours my girl, get sploshing about, always good fun!
Hope to see you here soon, let me know what you think about the above if you get chance?

Earth was hard as iron....

Frozen pond

Beautiful skeletal trees in the frosty mist

Teazel bowed with the frost.

This a before shot with bountiful berries...

and now stripped bare in the depths of winter!

Pooch with dandruff? :)

I've not posted anything for a while, I've noticed a few people missing from the blogs, maybe it's just that time of year? It has been freezing here and now snow to boot, it makes me want to hibernate really. Sometimes when I'm working away in my little room I feel like that, I walk the dog on a morning and sometimes see other dog walkers, but then I don't see anyone for the rest of the day, while I work away in my room. I think I actually really like this solitude, it's much easier to concentrate when all is quiet in the house. I took some photos of one of my walks this week..see above, I still can't get the hang of positioning text and photos, I am thick!
I've been very busy with work, which is good, I'm doing some more books. They are different to the last book, 30 little designs in total, so I'm steadily working through them. I've had quite a few books offered, but had to turn them down as they were too short notice for me, I cannot fathom why this should be? However, I am also doing some front covers for a company to take to the Bologna book fair, somewhere I would like to go!! I have 5 projects on the go right now, my room is in chaos as usual!

My Mother's day cards will be in the shops now, as I saw some today in town. So this is my offering to show you, hope you like? See you again soon.

Happy New Year

Christmas card from my Son,Snowflakes dancing above the fireplace :)

Trip to York, Merry go Round

Gallery  display, Love that Fox!

York streets and their quaint windows.

Sparkly window display

Oxfam Bookshop tree of old books.

Hello there blog friends, just a quick hello to say Happy New Year! Before Christmas is packed away until next year, here are some snippets of Christmas from my part of the world. We have not had snow as yet, just lots of wet weather, up to my eyes in mud, walking the dog. Christmas always seems to be such a rush heading into it. I've worked most days, being freelance does that. But I have just taken it steady on the whole, which has been good.
I Hope you have all managed some Peaceful time, and had wishes come true. Now here's to an exciting New Year, which may hold a few changes?? My very good friend from Sark has moved now to Sydney,Australia, so big changes for them, I'm already enjoying seeing what life is like 'Down Under' and it looks pretty good and sunny!! Bye for now, see you again soon.

Festive tidings, blog friends.

Greetings of the season to all you blog friends who visit. I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and the very best for the New Year 2013. I was going to show my new Mother's Day cards, but I think this is more in keeping for now. The cards above are in 'Poundland' whoooweeee. I did this little range earlier this year, and wasn't sure where they were headed, but I found these samples on a recent trip to the beautiful City of York. I actually did about 8 artworks,all to have different captions, some of which you can see to the left and below, but I could only find these 2 samples. The display rack in Poundland is abysmal, everything is just thrown in, mixed up, upside down etc, after fishing through a load of cards, I came up with 2, and it is 2 for a pound, so an absolute bargain!! I worked in pastel on these as you can probably see, quite time consuming, I don't think most people realise that cards are done as artworks? I may be wrong?
I don't think I will get chance to write another post before Christmas, so I wish you all the very best, and I hope Santa stops by with goodies for you all. See you again soon.