Fab Snail Mail Day

I had a lovely surprise when I got home tonight, the wonderful Anne of Nana Go-Go fame had sent me a great parcel out of the blue. Lots of lush fabric scraps for me to use in my artwork, all tied up with a pink ribbon :)

Some wonderful tartens and a lush tweed. I'll definately be using them in something soon, thinking cap on, muse charged with coming up with something fab. She's a real sweetie.

Then I knew that the next package, from Canada, would be an artwork from Nina. She sent me this lovely watercolour in a 1 for 1 swap. It's called 'My Soul Sings in the Night', I love it. I'll be on the lookout for an appropriate frame to put it in.

Then, earlier in the day, I'd had this magazine delivered to work, from the States. I got it on ebay (if anyone knows where I can get it over here in England, please let me know because the postage is sooo high). I'd read alot about this publication and from my brief flick through I'm not going to be disappointed. Off to bed now with it and a hot milk, might have difficulty sleeping due to a rotten cough and cold so at least I have something good to read :) Hoping you've all had great days wherever you are!

It's My First Time

It's my first time using Transfer Artists Paper and I'm loving it! It's like magic :) I was introduced to it on the Journal Making class with Carole at Madness and Mess

I think my Vintage journal has morphed into a Pre-Raphaelite journal, not that I'm complaining. I'm also having fun rediscovering the joys of handstitching, it's so calming and restful.

Even taught myself a new stitch, fly stitch I think, it's not very neat but I'm not after neat thank goodness.


Just adore this little birdie.

The only thing I used scissor on Carole was the 'imagine' tape, just couldn't rip it, honest. Gosh, she's a stickler for no scissors, lol

Journal Pages

It's been a while since the last journal from the International Journal Swap came through but this one is the latest. The theme is Connections and I chose to interpret it with the connections between the 12 artists taking part in this round robin.

I made small journals representative of the journals travelling around the world, between us, and used postage stamps to illustrate one of the ways in which we communicate, email being the other.


The small journals have themes, including India, Vintage and Postage Stamps. On putting them on the page I realised that I would have to find a way of closing them otherwise they would get crushed when the journal folded so I came up with attaching ribbons to the backs of them so it could be tied on the front, securing the tiny journals closed.

I had great fun using some of my favourite colours, in acrylics, alcohol inks and glimmer mists and used a plastic doillie as the stencil for the molding paste.

Last I heard my own journal was in the States and it's coming closer to it coming home. Can't wait to see it. This journal was bulging with beautiful work and it was difficult letting it go but it's now winging it's way to Lichfield to the next artist :)

Lots to Do

The latest journal in the International Journal swap is with me and my entry needs completing today so I can post it on tomorrow

I've laid an initial background of vintage book, music sheets and atlas pages

Above are my journals from the journal making class, hoping to get on with decorating the pages later.

And hoping to get some more canvases prepared. I've been reading Pam Carriker's book Art at the Speed of Life and one of her tips is if you're going to prepare one canvas you may as well do more whilst you have everything out and a gluey brush - hearing you Pam :) Then when the muse visits I can get straight on with the project.

3 little kitties sitting on a vintage book

These ATCs will be winging their way to Australia tomorrow for a swap on Milliande. I got the words from a vintage romance novel, nothing to do with cats but thought they fitted perfectly.

Billyboys Latest Exploits

Here he is, sitting on the china cabinet, grubby pawed, no idea how he's got that, hoping I open up the cabinet as he knows I keep his cat nip in there, as well as my crochet, and he does love a ball of real wool. But I digress....

I got a text from a friend/neighbour over the wall from me with a picture of a cat sitting in one of her hanging baskets. Is he one of mine, she asks. Yes, that's Billy I reply! What next??? Good job she likes cats and likes mine paying a visit.

Bluebell Woods at Easter

Went over to Bluebell Woods yesterday for a walk with some friends. The bluebells are really early this year and the ground was a sea of blue.

You just have to walk through them, it's almost magical and with us for such a short time

My friend gave me some lovely, yes, they are gone already, chocolate bunnies in a lovely cup and saucer, now esconced on the dresser.

And her daughter gave me some super little wooden cats with bells round their necks, (can't think why she thought of me, lol) in a darling little drawer string bag. I felt throughly spoilt :)

Hope you've all had a great easter, and if in England are looking forward to the next long weekend as someone or other is getting married??