Saturday 30 January 2010

Archie in the Wallpaper Stash

Not really where I want him to be but I couldn't be mad at him because of what a cute shot it made, lol.

Been building up a stash of wallpaper samples for 3 years now, everytime I go into the diy store I get some more. Hoping to use them to patchwork on my bedroom wall. Collecting anything floral, vintage, shabby chic looking.

Art Journalling - Quote

On Freeing Your Wings group the prompt this month was to use a quote that speaks to our heart. I decided to approach it quite literally hence the lips speaking to the heart shape. The heart shape itself is a magazine image of lip sticks, following the lips theme.


My favourite quote - There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin

It reminds me of a time when I had to step outside my comfort zone, my bud, and take a night class in order to do something and meet people. The rest as they say is history, I went from being very isolated to having a wonderful group of friends, going on to university to study ceramics further, to then teaching and via that working in mental health, where I am now and I love it. It didn't happen overnight. It wasn't easy but boy am I glad I did. I was so shy, glad to say that I'm not now.

Incidently where I work had this quote on it's literature for prospective clients and I didn't know until I'd been there about a year. No wonder I feel so at home and in the right place.

I used alcohol inks, acrylics, masking tape, cosmic shimmer mist, oil pastel, magazine collage, stamps, white opaque pen and a Vpoint pen.

Friday 29 January 2010

Reminders of Memories


Today has been a day when I've really noticed reminders of memories. I saw a set of stickers in a newsagents window and was reminded how I just loved to collect stickers when I was growing up although it escapes me now as to the subject of the sticker collection.

Then having my lunch I was reminded of the awful Gearys bread we used to have when I was a child. Even if you bought on the first day in the grocers it still had a stale texture and always, but always had a burnt crust, yuk. I hasten to add that that bread was the total opposite of today's bread, which was beautifully soft and so a comparison was made.

Other memories were evoked today but now I sit down to type they have drifted away like smoke on a breeze. Oh to always have my sketchbook at the ready. But regardless of the elusiveness of the memories I feel good that I was noticing the connections today, listening, paying attention.

The day started with me getting excited over finding a large nail on the pavement on my way in to work. Normally I wouldn't get excited by finding a large nail on the pavement but I'm having some friends over for an art day next weekend and I've set them an art scavenger hunt (taking my cue from Sarah Whitmire over at http://sarahwhitmire.blogspot.com) and one of the items needs to be something you've found on a walk. Ya! Got mine!

Wednesday 27 January 2010

Frederick Arbuthnot


It's hard to believe that a year has gone by since Fred died. I still miss him. In his honour we have had Freddys Tuna Day, and all the cats have had a treat of tuna. Fred would have loathed the new boys, Mickey, Merlin, Archie and Bill. He tolerated Anya but I don't think he ever fully forgave me for taking her in. He loved me and was very jealous of any other cat taking up his space. He also loved chicken but instead of Freddys Chicken Day I decided to go with the favourite food of Mickey, the new head of the cat household, and so we had tuna.

Saturday 23 January 2010

The Other Cats or the Old Boys/Girl

I think it's only fair that I put up piccys of the other cats (studio assistants) in my life beings as little Bill has had a starring role on my blog so far.

So, sorry if you are are a felineaphobe (is that a word), just look away now.....


Above is Micky aka Bulldozer. He's the head of the household at 13 years old and the biggest cat I have ever seen, but a complete softy. He earnt the name Bulldozer because even if I lock the cat flap he is strong enough to just bulldoze his way straight through it. His favourite occupation is sleeping, followed by sleeping and pestering me until he gets the food he wants, particularly tuna.
Then there's Anya, the only girl in the pride. But she only got in because she was given to me as a boy and she was such a fluff ball as a kitten that it wasn't until I got to the vet and he said "Mmm, Maximus, strange name for a girl" that the truth came out. She's very opinionated and not backwards at letting you know it. She's eight and the only one who isn't a rescue cat. She can be a sweetie when she wants but tends to be aloof and watch the antics of the others. She is the one 'nominated' to get me up in a morning if I'm tardy with breakfast. One or two rasping licks on my face is enough, she's not subtle about it!


Merlin is now the middle cat, at 3 years old. He was in the rescue centre due to the credit crunch. A thinker, an eater and prancer extraordinaire. He holds his tail like a husky (must get a good piccy of it), most unusually. Likes nothing more than a still lap (and I mean still) to sit on and snooze. Normally found sitting in the garden picking up slugs on his furry belly, yuk!


Archie was found as a stray on my street and I still can't believe someone didn't come after him. A very, very friendly laid back cat, loves visiting all the old ladies in the area, so much so that a friend has nicknamed him the Community Cat. Apparently they love him and he has company when I'm at work. He is a very sweet boy, chilled out and big mates with Bill, being only 18 months old himself, he has the energy for the play fights, mauling and general mayhem that results.

I wouldn't be without any of them!

Sunday 17 January 2010

New Boy

Here is a picture of my new rescue cat, Bill Biggles. He's about 6 months old, a real sweetie even though he bites abit, hence I called him Bill after Vampire Bill in True Blood. He's biting less as he runs about and play fights with his big brother Archie. Hard to think that he was a stray, how could anyone turn him out. He was a well known character in the shelter, being called Mr Biggles and not just an ordinary name but the assistants didn't like handling him due to his 'playful' nature. Here he has just managed to jump up onto the bedroom window sill for the first time, an achievement worth a piccy! Notice the totally cute eyebrow whiskers.