Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everyone! I love Easter, but I haven't enjoyed the cold weather we've been having! I went out on Sunday while it was snowing to take some pictures before it all melted! This pot had been blown over in the wind!

As you can see, we didn't get very much snow, and within an hour of it laying it had all melted away! It lasted a bit longer in a few places, like along this rumble strip which runs up the middle of our drive.


I don't know where the time has been going just lately, but I have been busy keeping my art journal going, and creating new zentangles.

This is today's entry - some small zentangle boxes. I quite like the effect they have when they are joined together like this. I think I will have to try some more complex patterns based on this theme!

I've also been drawing zentangles on small tags. This is good fun as they only take a few minutes, but they look quite effective!

I'm hoping to try my hand at some more books later in the week ... I really want to try some coptic binding! I'll post the results when I've had a go!

Where did that week go?

My goodness me - where on earth did that week dissapear to? I can't believe it's nearly Sunday again! If I post all this weeks photos today this will be one very long entry ... so i'll just post the ones that I haven't put on Flickr.


This is the second hedgehog book I made last week. I was pleased with the overall effect, but dissappointed with some of the details ... more practice needed!

On Wednesday, I finally managed to successfully make a working Jacob's Ladder mini book! I have been trying for months, but couldn't get the balance right ( you need a certain amount of weight in the pages for it to work smoothly). But this time I got it right (old beer mats)!

It works beautifully!

In the process of hunting for instructions to make the Jacob's Ladder book, I came across another set of instructions for a Jacob's Ladder book which I used for a birthday card today. I forgot to take a photo before I sent it off, but I'll make another one soon, and I'll photograh that to show you. It certainly went down well. It's ten year old recipient reckoned it was his best card, and went round showing it to everyone!

Books and Pens and Washing!

After a busy Saturday, I had a really restful day today! I made my second hedgehog book yesterday but forgot to photograph it, so you'll have to wait to see that one! I put lined paper in it so that I could use it for writing notes.

I spent my WH Smith's voucher on Wednesday buying "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I've thought about getting it for a while, but couldn't decide if it was a good idea or not, so when I saw it on the shelf on Wednesday I took it as a sign that I should buy it! So I've just started my first week of the course. I'll let you know how it goes!

I treated myself to some new fine line marker pens yesterday, so last night I had to try them out! Here's the result -

Today I added this to my art journal -

Now I'm off to write my lesson plan for Tuesday's computer class!

Hedgehogs and Art Journals

I have finally done it - created my first hedgehog! The last time I did any serious bookbinding was ?? years ago when I was at Art College in Rochester. So I was a little rusty and very glad of this helpful tutorial from jackie at TJ Bookarts. But I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure I shall be making some more very soon!

That said, it must be very tiring work - I was half-way through uploading this post last night when I fell asleep! ... Must have been al that excitement!

Today I have been playing catch-up with my art journal.

Now I just have to catch up with my Paper Adventure layouts, and I'm right up to date!!

Winter sunshine on the beach

Today the sun was shining, so I headed off to the beach to take some photos! These are just a few of the photos I took. As usual, my landscapes look at shapes, reflections and shadows rather than traditional postcard views.

I really like the shape of this promenade shelter.

The shadows cast by these railings were quite amazing. Add the fact that the sand had been sculpted by the wind and you get some very interesting shapes.

In the winter, the sand is built up into high ridges to act as a sea breaker to the high winter tides. This makes walking difficult because of the deep soft sand, so boards are laid to make access to the lower beach easier.

I just really like the shape of these seats!

After an hour, my eyes were streaming - my ears were aching - and my fingers were numb! It was really good to get back in the car which was lovely and warm from the reflected sun.

Time to go cycling?

What a beautiful day it has been today - I started thinking about getting out my bike ... until I looked in the bike shed, that is ...

... then I decided I'd stick to taking pictures round the garden for now, and couldn't resist this lonely crocus in the sunshine.

But I will get my bike out later this year!

Mothers Day

Today was a sad day in many ways - my first Mothers Day since my mum died.

I thought the children were going to forget about it, but they surprised me with a card, some chocolate, and a W.H. Smith voucher - which I am very much looking forward to spending! Thank you!

My journal only has one page for the weekend, so I chose to do a page illustrating Mothers' Day.



I chose the daffodil as its petals are supposed to represent the six letters of the word mother. I miscalculated the number of petals on the first daffodil I drew, and so had to make a new daffodil to stick over the incorrect one. So todays entry is my first journal collage!

Being Creative!

I really feel that this year is becoming a properly creative year. Apart from the fact that I have managed to update my blog regularly since the beginning of this year, I have been trying out so many new creative avenues, and discovering abilities I never dreamt I had! My latest endeavour has been to start an art journal. The inspiration for this came mainly from the amazing journal entries published by Ann-D on the Creative Mom Podcast Flickr group pages.

I bought myself a greatly reduced page-a-day diary and cheated a little bit by creating this image of my word for the the year on the the page for January 01! Then I left lots of blank pages and made this entry for yesterday.

It was such a cold, windy and miserable day yesterday that I decided to create this warm sunny image to cheer me up! Both images have been created using fine line permanent markers for the outlines and Derwent watercolour pencils for the colour.