At Home

I forgot to share these earlier so thought I'd do so now. Another couple of 5x7 pieces with my cheery little houses which I made as New year's gifts. 

Pot Head

I think I have got to that stage in my life where I start saying, 'If I could have my time over again...'. Well, the more I make pots the more I believe I would love to have devoted a big chunk of my younger life to truly learning this craft. There is so much to understand, practice and explore that it really is quite mind blowing and I wish I had the energy of a much younger me to do it all! Still I am very grateful for the opportunity to go back to it now and remember what a joy it is. 

Here's three general purpose little pots I made a few weeks ago. I don't know the names of the glazes because the class I was at then didn't give that sort of info on them, but they are very pretty and I love the way the colours have mixed and broken.

 

Learning Something New

There is a wonderful new artists' community you may not have come across yet so I thought I'd give you the lowdown on it. It's called One Little House and is the brainchild of my lovely chum Jeanette House. It has a growing number of video classes - paid and free - with more to come throughout the year, including some by me! They're aimed at all levels of ability and there are discussion groups where you can talk to the tutors and other students in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

For starters, you might like my free tutorial on making the cute little tag above. So if you'd like to watch and try this or something else for yourself just follow this link to join in the fun!

My New Toy!

I finally jumped on the Gelli wagon! I've always loved printmaking so, better late than never, I got myself a Gelli Arts plate and started experimenting with different paints and inks. If you'd like to see the process here's a video:

I have to say, it is great fun to play with and I plan to do lots more trying stuff out on it. The prints I pulled will mostly be used as backgrounds and I'll likely add other elements to them such as stamping, drawing and collage. Might even make them into a small journal when I've got enough!

Antique Tag Tutorial

Here it is then, my very first foray into video making. If you'd like to know how to make a tag like the one in the photos take a look at the tutorial and I'll show you! And if you have any questions or thoughts please leave me a comment.

Hope you enjoy it!

You Know What This Means!

So, here is my new video camera, just out of the box and charging up. I am very excited because I've never had a camcorder before and now that I have I can make arty crafty videos! And I got a sweet deal on it at Tesco. Coolness! 

Neon Psycho-delia

A strange confluence of things going on here. I'm still battling with labyrinthitis which is affecting my balance quite badly and making me dizzy-woozy so I haven't got a lot of new stuff to show you. The doc gave me medication for it which helps but hasn't got rid of it. 

However, when I got round to reading the leaflet that comes with the pills I discovered that as well as being a treatment for seasickness and inner ear problems they're also an anti-psychotic used to treat schizophrenia and anxiety! Now I have suffered from anxiety for many years but not, as far as I'm aware, schizophrenia. So maybe if they don't fix my ears they'll stop the panic attacks huh?

Anyway, I digress slightly. I got meself a cool new stencil from Crafters' Workshop. Reminds me somewhat of a Bridget Riley painting. I tried it out on top of a background of neon pink and orange combined with some chalky lilac and baby pink craft paints. I think I'm on a mission to make things which once looked at will burn themselves onto your retinas in perpetuity!

I partnered it with a little tag which has a somewhat quieter feel and uses the negative imprint of the stencil, this time in distress inks. And bees - love this little bee stamp and I think the whole thing fairly buzzes so it seems quite appropriate.

Things I Almost Need

I'm sure I've explained this before but some of my sisters-in-artiness and I have this habit of being drawn to art supplies which we feel just have to be purchased because we 'almost need them'. So, I was in the art store the other day and, as always, perusing the paint aisles when what should I see but tubes of fluorescent acrylic paint! 

Normally I wouldn't go for such a thing, imagining these could only really be useful for posters or other in-yer-face kind of advertising projects, but I felt like a bit of experimenting so I picked up a fluorescent pink and orange and took them home with me. And you know what, it was a good call. They add a nice punch of unexpected traffic stopping colour on this tag and I'll be experimenting further to see what else I can do with them!

Pottering About

A very long time ago (well, 35 years to be exact) I did a couple of part-time courses in ceramics and fell in love with wheel thrown pottery. There is something addicting and magical about coaxing a form from a lump of clay, using just your hands, water and centrifugal force to turn mud into a bowl or a jug or a plate.

Over the intervening years I've often thought about going back to it but never have. Then a few weeks ago I was given the most marvellous birthday present: 3 hours a week of wheel time at my local FE college for a whole eight weeks!

I went back to it excited, but a little fearful. What if I didn't enjoy it any more and had lost interest, or, worse still, what if I just couldn't do it? Was it like riding a bike and I would still have the body memory to enable me to get back into the swing quite quickly, or would I have forgotten everything I ever knew about how to throw? 

Well yes, I did still love it, and no, I hadn't forgotten everything. Rusty, out of practice and lacking some of the arm and hand strength I once had, I discovered I could still produce things which pleased me and which will be used around the home. And here they are; timely little reminders to do what you love and follow your heart.

Playing House

Since my last blog post I have become a grandmother. Little Eben couldn't wait to meet the world and was born a month early. He is a beautiful, healthy boy and I feel blessed to know him. 

One of the things which this whole experience has brought to the fore is how much has changed in the baby world in the last 30-odd years since my daughter was born, by which I mean everything from attitudes to home birth, advice on pregnancy and beyond, and the range of 'stuff' available to care for mum and baby. To me, 36 years seems quite a short time, but I feel like a stranger in a strange land when I watch how my daughter equips and acquits herself when looking after his needs, and I marvel at it a little.

Of course, much is still the same as well, the basics never change and the most important things: security, warmth, food and shelter, remain. And, of course, love. A loving family and a happy home are surely what we all wish for our children, and their children too.

The pictures above are a couple of the happy houses I made as new year's gifts this year.