...Welcome to Zazar-land

Joe (Betty) Carstairs

2011-01-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

When I heard that Marlene Dietrich had nicknamed Carstairs "the Pirate" my ears pricked up. Back in 2008, I had a real thing for dressing up in Pirate garb. A very good friend even created a treasure hunt around Norwich for me to follow!

I'm definitely intrigued by Carstairs...she was doing androgeny back in the 1920s - long before Bowie became Ziggy Stardust. She led an extremely bohemian life in London and Paris, before decadently lording over an island called Whale Cay in the Bahamas.

In 1934 "Joe" Carstairs, the fastest female speedboat racer in the world. After that, the publicity she got was more to do with her being a cross-dresser who favored women. After an affair with Dolly Wilde - the niece of Oscar - she dallied with a string of actresses, Tallulah Bankhead among them.

But the love of her life was a rare thing indeed - a leather man-doll, about a foot high that she was given as a gift. His name was Lord Tod Wadley. Wadley was a boy who would never grow up. Carstairs had dozens of studio portraits made of her doll: one shows him alone with his reflection in a mirror and is labelled "Narcissus". Wadley was everything to Carstairs: companion, protector, alter ego. She showered him with gifts: suits from Savile Row, shoes from Italy, golf clubs, cowboy outfits, sailor's suits, a wristwatch that ticked. Poems were written and sculptures made in his honour. "We're like one," she said. "He's me and I'm him. It's a marvellous thing. If everybody had a Wadley there'd be less sadness in the world." What I particularly admire about this is her refusal to live a conventional life and her reluctance to grow old gracefully ... it seems like her childlike wonder and restlessness was ever present. And there's a lot to be said for only needing a doll to make you happy!

Sources: http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/1998/sepoct/lsjournal/book_review/book_review_1.html
http://www.richmondreview.co.uk/features/summer01.html

Craft Studio

2011-01-16T02:04:00.000-08:00

I've been having a bit of a spruce up in my studio - in preparation for my Imac arriving! Made some curtains to celebrate and now it's framed by them, as if on a stage! Had resisted the lure of getting a Mac for some years and but I've finally bit the bullet. No regrets at all..it is beautiful and just so responsive. *sigh* Below are some pics - the last one I took just now:

Tea cosies, a hot water bottle cover + a corsage ...

2011-01-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

Well the beginning of the decade's been all about jumping back on the social networking bandwagon after a long (3 year!) hiatus. Decided that Facebook and Twitter may well have a place in my life again, but determined that it'll only be a small one. Having a smartphone (no it's not an iphone!) means I can check in on the move ... so it's not anywhere near as intrusive as it used to be. So you'll see (eyes right!) that I have a Twitter page now and you should be able to find me on Facebook too.

Otherwise, here's what I've been making recently:-

The hot water bottle was a present and I have made two tea cosies, here's my favourite ... which I have decided to keep:

Will put this one below on Etsythis weekend:

Been updating Folksy too ... Dawanda is getting there with stock aswell ... phew hard work all this listing lark!!! Almost forgot ...also been making crocheted corsages again:

Favourite Illustrators

2010-12-31T03:47:00.000-08:00

There are too many to list in one go but someone I keep checking in on (her blog is consistently brilliant!!!) is Viviane Schwarz ...do check her out here The pic is from this blog - just to give everyone a taster of what they can look forward to! Obviously this is for promotional purposes only, it's copyright protected so - even thought it's an ace pic ...no nicking anyone!!! Check out her Shark and Lobsters book - it's my favourite! I shall be keeping up the artist name checks - so look out for your name here soon all you arty ones!!!

Adventures of Jemima

2010-12-31T03:18:00.000-08:00

Hoppy New Year to one and all - a time for reminiscing ... so here goes:

When I was a little girl I had a rag doll who was life size - actually she was bigger than me for a time with hair made out of wool and a big wide open expressionless face. One of the things I did while I was off the radar for a bit was to make a mini version of her for my desk to cheer me up when I was feeling demotivated or dispondant. I ended up giving her to my Mum for the top of the Christmas Tree in the end, but this is a pic I found of her not long after I made her - which is why she's only in her undies! I have just uploaded 3 prints I did of her in some hand-drawn settings to Etsy: here ... as if she was off on some wild adventures ...particularly liked the idea of a brocolli forest or beaches with giant pine cones instead of shells. The magic flying skipping rope also seemed like a good idea at the time...! I'm going to revisit this again this year and make a set for her and do an animation maybe - be good for me to get back into animation anyway!

Get your applications in to World Book Night - Deadline Tues 4th Jan!

2010-12-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd post some of what I wrote in my application to become a book-giver on World Book Night (Sat 5th March 2011) I chose Beloved without hesitation:-

If ever anyone could harbour any illusions as to the impact of slavery, then this book will blow them cleanly and effortlessly out of the water. A beautifully eloquent book with imagery so vivid it positively burns the retina of your imagination. The song 'Strange Fruit''s immediately conjured in my mind when I think of this book and its endless pathos... I believe this book both deserves and must be read by all those wanting to feel they have experienced (if only vicariously) something of the horrors of the slave trade.

I'm back!

2010-12-29T07:52:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I know this may appear two years and 4 months in the pipeline...I suppose it is! Many of you probably gave up hope a long time ago, but I'm finally back on the blogging bandwagon. The break was much needed to get my career on the road ...and now I'm back refreshed and raring to go with even more energy than before! Uh oh!

Sure my ridiculous new smart (note-HTC!) phone should help me keep it going this time and I shall try and give you some catch-up posts so that you can see that I haven't been idling my time away these past two years...

Actually, it's been crazy-hectic, but also lots of fun along the way...promise to be back with a bit of a picture diary of my doings...!!!

Ohh... such a great book!

2008-08-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

I really did like this book and just thought I'd share the love - read it if you are feeling philantropic but feel like directing some of the man-love towards the green stuff as well, as it's man doing good by man - through nature. Spurred me to get planting some apple trees on the allotment ...

When it rains it pours

2008-08-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

... on the allotment. I have to report a hiccup more the scale of a big bellowing belch. All is not too well in the good life of Gardnerville ... we've been attacked! We feel a bit like this owl I drew since we discovered that all our sturdy little seedlings have fallen to the jaws of ... what we are pretty sure be wabbits. Manu has decided we must've gone wrong not warning them about Manu's Frenchness. I'm sure they wouldn't have been so foolish had they known about his nationality's carnivorous tendencies: "Si'l bouge, on le mange." My mock (fish eating) vegetarianism clearly stops me condoning such behaviour, but I can't say vengeful thoughts have evaded me! So our befallen carrots, greens , oh and our tomatoes have succumbed to an unidentifiable sickness that might well be down to too much bloomin rain!!!! Dash these wet summers ...

Did have a real hoot at my parents though over the weekend. I met my little sister Libby (as previously seen sporting my wellies below ...!) in London and we went to see Taking Back Sunday who we're brill! I managed to arrive earlier that morning to trawl a few museums and galleries and still had the energy for some moshy pogoing! Saturday found Libby and I hama beading it up in bed before a brunchy garlic mushroom and veggie sos breakfast... (will stick on here for the pisces and swan I made later..!) and then we ate melon in the sun while they harvested the fields in the distance. Yes - the sun came out just long enough on sunday - was quite lovely weather in the end between the showers. Anyway. it's midnight so I'm going to take my elf off to bed now. More to come...

Rain rain go away!

Face painting fun!

2008-08-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Today was my forth week on the face painting circuit! Here's some pics of the face fun I persuaded my lovely fellow face painters to adorn me with ... and one of Grace in a Hawaiian style get up I bugged her into letting me do!

Latest bird drawings

2008-08-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

As a continuation from previous bird installments - here's the latest doodles of feathered ones.

The diagrammatic style appeals to me but in fact it's for a purpose - these drawings are to inform my next brooch/necklaces.

The stuff of memories

2008-08-19T05:13:00.001-07:00

Memories Chest in progress ...

The finished piece...

I've been to London again since my last post to celebrate Lovely Lioness Juliet's BIG (30th) birthday (it's actually today - Happy Birthday Missy!!) ... and boy did we find plenty of ways to make it a roaringly good and certainly memorable birthday weekend...more of that shortly!

As it was such a monumentus birthday for Juliet, I really wanted to give her something she could keep and use as an 'aide memoir' of all the happy times we've had together as friends since we met (nearly 20 years ago!!!) and so I decided to fashion a memories chest for all the photos an mementos of fun times past.

I actually got rather carried away by the process which was almost like putting together a jigsaw puzzle...I went back over all the old letters and stuff we had from college and gallery trips etc and created a collage on a lovely old chest, of which only the back remained free for me to write a little personal message!

So what of this memorable weekend, anyway?! Well it all started with a customary fancy meal at a great choice of restaurant: Moros in Exmouth Market and was followed by experiencing some pretty impressive belly dancing - at very close quarters!

Exotic (in the best possible taste ;-)) dancing!

Juliet laughing at my attempt at exotic dancing!

"She's my friend, she is!!"

As you can see everyone (well, Juliet and I especially!) got into the Moorish spirit at Darbucka (world music club) in Clerkenwell afterwards. We waited till the lights came on before ambling (slowly after all the hip wiggling!) to the Queen Boudicea and then topped the night off (actually it was well into the morning by then) with a rickshaw ride across Waterloo bridge. I have a vague recollection of saying: "awww - isn't this romantic?!" as I sat squeezed alongside Juliet and Henry and we all giggled at the notion that we were taking the noble way back to get on a night bus!

The next day we braved it out (worse for wear) to visit take in a bit of aquamarine life and some (not so lively) taxidermy at the Horniman museum in Forest Hill - which was actually a nice stroll from Juliet's pad in Gypsy Hill. There was also an amazing temporary exhibition about Chinese symbolism in silk which I got rather excited about - check out the amazingly radical head wear...!

Fetching Chinese day head wear - is it based on a pig I wonder?

I even got to get up close and personal with one of my favourite mammals - a real life goat - who got up on his hind legs to munch leaves from some seemingly unreachable branches and must also make mention of a dodo which was all smiley and charming - just a shame he wasn't as animated as the goat!

Like the friendly dodo, this kingfisher
looked so real I had to stand and
stare for a bit just in case!

Greens, sparrows and a sneaky squirrel!

2008-08-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

I've been beavering away on the illustration front and above is one of the ones I did today. Direct observation all the way of course (have a rather scary red taxidermy squirrel called Gladys who willingly posed for me this afternoon!!!)

Promised some birds in my last post and so here are some that I did for Manu's mum - who reminds me of Edith Piaf. Moineau is the French name for a sparrow and is interchangeable with Piaf (although this is really slang!) The puffy sparrows brooch I made recently were also modelled on the sketches I did below ...

In allotment news, I planted some spring green seeds today ^^ ... in anticipation of some lovely bright green soup! The carrots and spinach are coming on nicely and will need thinning soon. We picked the first of the beans in the picture below (only at matter of a handful though so far!) The peppers are starting to turn orange too. The rain fell so heavily today that an inch fell in half an hour!! Needless to say didn't need to worry about watering anything - was actually surprised there weren't any puddles.

It really feels like we're starting to make a break through on the growing front, even though there's so much left to so on the clearing side of things. We've decided to get the right hand side sorted first as then tackle the dreaded brambles on the left. Here's some pictures to show the progress to date ...

BEFORE ...

AFTER ...

Mmm - sweet!

2008-08-11T03:24:00.000-07:00

This great illustration is from a very exciting website I signed up to be a member of today - daily candy which describes itself as being at the ..."front lines of fashion, food, and fun." Sounds (and looks) good to me! As far as remits go I thinks that is a pretty good combination of interests - especially the food and fun side of it!

Allotment therapy!

2008-08-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

Our dwarf beans are growing nicely!

Have been feeling a bit worse for wear today as didn't get home till gone 4 this morning! Had a really fab night out with lovely lady friend Claire and her buddy Cathy who came up especially from East Dulwich to eat an absolutely delicious crab supper a la Claire's fair hands. We ended up in Mustard (in the club not the sauce!) and some pretty liberated dancing was had by all! ^^

In between trying to distract myself from a sore head and recuperating with my uke* (played it virtually all morning!) I took a clothed outdoor shower (in the rain!) followed by invigorating fresh air gulps down at the allotment. I've also been doodling birds this evening. Now have lots of bird drawings which I ought to scan in and stick on here tomorrow when I'm more compus mentus!

We had potatoes from the allotment for dinner with 'macedoine' (diced veg and mayonaise!) which has made me feel a whole lot better this evening!

Here's what we had for dinner!

Decided the allotment blog was a bit of a non-starter so going to keep you up to date with gardnerville on here from now on! You're free of the burden Manu!

*Motivated by last weekend's trip to the Innocent Smoothie fete to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, as you can see we got pretty up close and personal ...

The 'Karauke' group were an unexpected and hilarious diversion - this (fuzzy mob) pic was taken after we all voted to hear 'the final countdown' and were treated to kazoos and everything!!

Postie paranoia & brown paper

2008-08-05T10:43:00.001-07:00

The Postie (is that how it's spelt?!) delivered me some exciting packages I ordered from (American) Etsy sellers today, but not before gauping at my feet for what seemed to be inappropriately long time! I'm already rather conscious of my feet and so this has just stoked the foot fire - much like walking on hot coals!! The strange thing is I was just wearing what I consider to be rather non-descript tai chi shoes - tell me, do my feet look weird in them...?!? I got them from a great shop in Norwich called Feet on the Ground! Maybe he's into tai chi and was wondering if I did too. Whichever, he was intrigued enough to take a second glance before he left! Funny long haired fellow...he's got me thinking about taking up tai chi again actually - i do miss it!

Anyway, I'd love to show you the exciting things that were delivered to me but they're for birthday presents and so I don't want to blow the surprises! At least there are some rather nice stamps for you to see - mmm stamps - maybe it's time I reignited that geeky philatelic thing I used to be so into. Heady days!!

It was my best bud's mum's birthday the other day and found out that's she's turned 70 (I was shocked - she really doesn't look it!!) ... so inspired as I was to by the exotic brown paper envelopes from USA (so different from dull Jiffy ones!!!) I made her this card today ... I love gypsy caravan art and so I thought I would try and sneak a bit of that in to a typographic number!

Fine and dandy

2008-08-04T01:22:00.000-07:00

What - ho?! Here's the new banner I've designed for us crafty band of brothers: Fine City Friends!

Also, I've updated my website home page today with an illustration with a bit of a radical notion ... go see if you're at all feeling deviant! Otherwise lots of Etsy uploading etc. to do today so better get to it...

Summer break

2008-08-01T01:21:00.000-07:00

Dress down for the allotment? Oh no!
My sister shows how to pull off allotment chic ...
pre-orangen-saft henna!

Decided to take a bit of a recess for summer on the old blogging. We so rarely have a reasonable run of good weather in Blighty that I've been trying to make the most of it down at the allotment and getting out and about on my trusty 'cheval de fer' (Rupert). I thought August 1st was as good a time as ever to get back on the blogging bandwagon!

As it's been a while I'd better just give you a quick roundup of what's been happening in Gardnerville of late, in no particular order ...

***NEWS IN BRIEF!***
⇒ Spent a week in Nantes (France)
⇒ Stayed in Sam & Mark's flash new Cambridge pad
⇒ Had my littlest Sister to stay*
⇒ Sold handmade goodies at 'Clutter City'
⇒ Got a new job as an Arts Technician
⇒ Worked for 'Kidzone' as a face painter
⇒ Acquired a bike trailer + baby bongos!
⇒ Ukulele practice significantly up!

Also nearly worked as a steward at Latitude but was in France when training was on - *boohoo*! But France was actually better than ever this time round ...here's some pics from Manu's mum's retirement celebrations ....

We were lucky enough to be in France for the Bastille Day celebrations. We were completely blown away by some great live music and fireworks, not to mention delicious crepes and cidre brut!

My sister Libby and I had a really fun week and this pic shows her admiring the new (perfectly working + completely wondrous!) typewriter she picked up from the car boot sale we went to mid-week. We talked about sharing it and so I'll get to use u it whenever I go home ....

At last Saturday's Clutter City (at Norwich Arts Centre) craft fair there was talk abound about Fine City Friends starting a house band!! I'm dead excited - suggested a bit of a skiffle affair as not many of us play 'poper' instruments. It was a scorching day so the turnout wasn't too great early on but picked up later on after lunch. There's lots more pictures of all the fun stuff on show at the Fine City Friends blog . I've got plenty of stuff which is wating to be uploaded to etsy and dawanda - best be getting onto it, I suppose!

*Made her turn orange - her hair that is ... she's now a carrot top like me and proud! We almost look like sisters!!

2008-07-07T03:02:00.000-07:00

On Friday I worked my first short stint behind a bar - at the fancy pub/bar/cafe(!) that is my local - the Horse and Dray! Was a bit petrified but I managed to keep the ales reasonably lively and still in the glass! I actually had a brilliant time and even got to knock off early in time for top notch Jonny Cash tribute Irish fellow - Paul who rocked the joint! Thanks Leanne and Jaime for a really tooting time!

In case you didn't work it out it was a Independence Day Party and I'm an Indi(an) or Native American for you pc die hards!!

****

Also forgot to mention that we set up another blog last week... http://finecitygardening.blogspot.com/

When I say 'we' I mean: Manu and I, (Oxford Comma - love that song!!) and I'm hoping that Monsieur Frenchy will get stuck in as I will struggle with keeping three blogs going I think!
Go on Manu - don't be shy!!

The blog's in the bud stage at the moment but promise it'll blossom soon!!

****

Carnival & Music Festival Fun!

2008-07-07T02:18:00.000-07:00

Had such a top weekend that I feel rather elated today! I've been working as a Steward at the Music Festival in Norwich's Chapelfield Gardens as part of the Lord Mayor Celebrations. The weekend long event went without a hitch or a punch up(!) and even though it rained a lot on the Sunday, everyone was completely determined to enjoy themselves - Dunkirk spirit lives on! Not that much determination was needed really - the music line up was so impressive that you couldn't fail
to have fun!

Here's a picture of the procession - the carnival festivities were in full swing by the time the headliner - incredible Rio (flown in from Brazil especially!) band Monobloco were joined by the samba group - the rammed stage was throbbing and we were completely entranced! The audience were enjoying it so much that buzz was electric! One of the best music experiences I've ever had and to think I'd been working as part of it - feel so privileged! ^^ I met so many lovely people (*gush!*) over the weekend and I'm now really looking forward to being a Face Painter at the up and coming KidZone events!

Wish I could do this right now...!

2008-07-02T02:35:00.000-07:00

I discovered this great site the other day and got rather excited about designing an altogether different kind of bird - a nani! Anyone fancy joining me in making a geometric birdie too? It's got to be worth a go! Better than playing rubik's cube (darn that alluringly colourful yet infuriating cube of frustration!!!)

Here's where you can have more fun playing with paper an scissors instead: http://www.nanibird.com/

This extra lovely one is called Mamy and is designed by Natascha S Rosenberg

I'll stick all the pics of the end results on here so just give me a shout if you're game!

I really have too much to do this week, so I'll have to wait till next till I get going on this
*big sigh* :-(

King Fisher crazy

2008-07-02T01:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I may have gone a little King Fisher crazy of late but I put it down to mild desperation - it's been ages since I've seen one and I'm
getting withdrawals!

To remedy my predicament I made another plush bird brooch - of the king of bird's himself!
Guess he'll have to compensate for seeing the real thing for now. I look almost trance like in this picture (I wasn't actually meant to be in it!)- I think it's all the happiness of literally making a new friend ^^ Embarrassing as this picture is (zero make up, freckles and all) I like the way it captures my little elfin ear and contrasting honk - the latter being so big it didn't even fit in frame!!

This is the colour illustration for the card I think I mentioned in a previous post...

Bird zine has taken wing!

2008-06-30T01:11:00.000-07:00

Finally got my batch of Zazar Zine's printed, folded, packaged and up on Etsy! Now alll my bird doodles that may never've seen the light of day have a fun outlet! Having said this the cover illustration is poised to become a full colour greetings card. So he'll be more than just the electric blue of the card cover!

We've got an allotment!!

2008-06-30T00:46:00.000-07:00

Woopy dodah! Finally collected the key for our allotment on Friday and with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, Manu and I surveyed what will soon become our home from home (especially when we get a proper shed!) Our excitement was almost uncontainable when we thought we'd found our plot - with veg patches already planted. We knew it was too good to be true when we spotted some very contented looking chickens at the far end. No, ours was predictably wilder than wild with nettles towering above me and rampant to the point of covering most of the plot. This minor (hah!) blight aside we did discover some globe artichokes like thistles - some of them had already gone to seed, but we did cut a few heads off and will have try them for lunch today.

Yesterday, our first proper day on the allotment, we got a bit giddy at the fun of it all! First we got to meet our neighbours (two very lovely couples called Chris and Lou + Ellen and Nathan) and then we later made a very fortuitous discovery - a tayberry bush!!! Goes without saying that we had a good old munch to make sure they were in fact tayberries - cross between a raspberry and a blackberry! Never expected to be eating fruits from the allotment this early on - definitely given us a taste for it!

I'm now trying to persuade Manu to start a blog otherwise I fear I will have to change the name of this blog the the Gardener of Gardnerville! (And yes, that is me running through the wilds!)

FCF Zine...

2008-06-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

It was Norwich School of Art's Private View this evening and quite synchronistically, I finished the pseudo-stalker (!!) map I'd been working for the FCF Zine today which includes a sketch of the art school (top right). It was strange being back at the place that brought me to this *fine* city - it felt like a different life time that we were at the school, even though it was only a couple of years back. There seemed to be the very same throng of people packing out the street, except this time it's all been pedestrianised - which is darn great! The lovely weather all made it feel quite Mediterranean - everyone just standing chatting in the street - top evening!

Awww blushing

2008-06-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

I got a really sweet message the other day from a lovely lass called Coki asking if she could post about my antics and here's what she said about me: - http://milktoothrain.blogspot.com/2008/06/zazar-bazaar.html

Thanks Coki for such a lovely write up! ^^

Exciting discovery...!

2008-06-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

This morning I got really carried away with excitement having stumbled across this luscious crafty site: - http://www.allthingsoriginal.com - go there now for your instant crafty curiosity fix!

Otherwise will keep this short as have an allotment key to collect (wey hey) and a Fine City Friends meeting!! Before I dash off I suppose I could confess to breaking the emotional attachment I had to my wee moineaux (sparrow in French!) and finally got around to putting him on etsy - not before one last perch on my shoulder though...!

Tash tastic!

2008-06-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

Managed to persuade my sister to don my 'tash and patch combo - I hardly recognise her!

Happy father's day to my owl fan of a Dad who would have received the wee brooch in this pic by now - hope you like it!?

Jemima montages ...

2008-06-14T06:15:00.001-07:00

I've been persuading my new handmade friend Jemima to strike poses for me! It was dead difficult getting Jemima to look as if she was actually in the painting. Nothing worse than that super imposed look unless of course there's a reason to want to create that impression - in which case it's gotta look deliberate! I'm hoping I've made the images look like they are an organic whole. Anyway, there's still one left to do with a bird in it (well of course!) ...

Cigar guitar!

2008-06-12T07:53:00.001-07:00

Just came across my next instrument of choice (once I've mastered the ukulele that is!) - especially because it's only got 4 strings... check out this incredible guitar! You can see more of this stunning musical masterpiece at: kwithrow's page on etsy (don't let the photo-shopped arm hair
put you off!!)

Arrrr!!!

2008-06-11T01:59:00.001-07:00

Just finished making some radical pirate 'tashes and patches to go in my new pirate packs for all those aspiring to look like the handsome gents below! I've discovered there's a real advantage to the the fake 'tashe for the ladies (apart from the disguise thing) and that is that they double as philtrum warmers!!!

This all started because I made one for a friend of mine last weekend and on the night out to celebrate his birthday everyone ended up trying it on. It was hilarious watching everyone larking about for photos so I thought I'd take the idea a step further and make super colourful ones - that are reversible to boot - arrrrr!

This is the swashbuckling fellow really pulled off the look!

Lovely as a summer's day ...

2008-06-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

Yay!! We finally got some nice weather today and as we got invited to a BBQ felt like wearing one of my most exuberant dresses. I tried it on and Manu gave me his most diplomatic 'please don't wear that' look! I did agree it was a bit larey especially with the knee high green sox I wanted to wear it with!! Anyway even though I didn't wear it in the end it did come in handy as I was inspired to make the flowers you see laying on my dress above - when we got back from the Barbey!

Tried to visit the allotment today and I won't need to worry about anyone pinching my rhubarb - it was like a fortress but despite not getting to see the plot I think I may have answered the burning chicken question - um sorry - don't worry no chickens to be burnt at the stake!! I mean it looks like we can keep chickens there -because we saw some ducks right near the entrance!!

Anyway this evening I've been busily hand scalpelling those plectrum stickers - they are a bit fiddly but I've been enjoying myself - I really rather love cutting (crafty things only - mind!)

Make a little bird house in your soul!

2008-06-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this marvellous bird house by Ryan O'Rourke which makes me yearn even more than I already do for a garden - well this week I got the next best thing...an allotment - wooohooo! I'm so darned excited especially as there's a chance I might be able to keep chickens!!

Don't you just love the detailing of the 'gargantuan sparrrow'?! Sparrows are altogether pretty stupendous if you ask me!

Hawaiian plectrums in progress...!

2008-06-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

As the weather here's so un-summery I decided some Hawaiian themed plectrums might just cheer me up a little. They will be stickers and maybe even real life plectrums eventually! For now the general idea is that you will rush out to buy a ukulele so that you can stick these stickers on it!!

Manu's new breakfast set...

2008-06-03T03:49:00.001-07:00

This is the rather kitsch breakfast set I picked up for Manu from the 'vide grenier' last weekend. I was soo excited when I found it - there's racers on it and everything!! He assures me he's pleased with it - but hasn't used it yet and didn't use it this morning. He claims the cooked breakfast was too big for the plate! Mmmm...cooked breakfast!

Dear old boys

2008-06-03T02:58:00.001-07:00

Met the loveliest elderly gent this morning sitting outside a charity shop while on my way to pick up some bread (was going to make some but fancied an early morning wander!). Manu was up for making a cooked breakfast and I really fancied a (fake!) bacon butty - so some chunky white bread from the co-op was in order. Really glad I bought instead of baked because I had the wonderful fortune of meeting the charming fellow in the picture above. He told me his accordian was from 'Czechoslovakia'. "Well it's an extra special accordian, seeing as the country doesn't exist anymore" I replied. I don't think he quite got but it may be because I didn't speak loudly enough - he had hearing aids on both ears.

Wished I'd remembered to ask him his name. He was soo old - must've been in his late nineties but played with such vigour and empathy. Proudly told me how he'd won competitions at holiday camps, of which there were photos stuck into a file where he had his scores. I told him "thank you for playing your wonderful music" and he replied with a empatic "no - thank you!" Aww - he really got me thinking about volunteering to work as a carer. He was soo sweet. Would you believe it that a few paces from home I ended up bumping into Mr Mumble (another elderly chap who has such a thick Norwich accent that it sounds like he is mumbling - always stop to try and understand him before he scuttles off determinedly in the direction of Great Yarmouth!) Maybe it was a sign - may well see if I could do some home support work - not too keen on working in a home ...

Jemima's been born!

2008-06-02T02:19:00.001-07:00

Look - I've given birth to a doll - ohh err!! Inspired by the doll of the same name from my favourite (until Thunder Cats came along!) childhood tv programme - Play School, and also a reaction against those bloomin' hideous Bratz that my neice mysteriously has such a hankering for! Motivated aswell by watching Science of Sleep - so completely moved me - the horse was just adorable and mesmeric.

An unexpected bonus is that I now have someone to talk to other than George Lamb (bi ekk he's yummy!) on mighty radio 6 when I'm working! Still neither are great at talking back! Though George did read out a text I sent him last Thursday - was dead chuffed - thanks Georgey!! ^^

Anyway, next step is to create a love interest and animal entourage for Jemima (not one and the same!) + some illustrated backdrops to photograph her against - awww soo exciting!!! Must get down to getting stuff together for Pikapackage now though - craftiness/ scene designing must
wait for now!

Twitter talk

2008-05-30T08:41:00.001-07:00

As mentioned on numerous occasions, I really dig birds! This week I've been narrowing my birdy drawings down to some Norfolk classics, with a bit of observational wit on their names - here are the three I chose... and yes it's true Oyster catchers don't eat oysters - silly name choice or what? They'd actually much rather a mussel! Oh -and Black headed gulls are often mistakenly called hooded much to their discontent!!

Here's my preliminary sketch of the Oyster catcher - I looked at a lot of sources to see the different facial/body characteristics. Got confused about his beak which I realised wasn't curved at all and the neck too because the American Oyster catcher which looks pretty similar has a much longer neck, but it could just be that the Norfolk variety is prone to contracting his!

Bzzz!

2008-05-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

Started working on a book with a bee theme today - here's a sneaky peek of the preliminary sketches ...

La Mome

2008-05-27T14:04:00.002-07:00

Over the bank holiday weekend, we finally got round to being mesmerised by 'La Vie en Rose' - that stunning Edit Piaf film. I knew it was it going to be good but it really was truly compelling and Cotillard was just totally engrossing. It was soo upsetting that I felt an immediate desire to go and make a sparrow brooch. It's known as 'La Mome' in French (Piaf's stage name when she first got noticed). Always loved sparrows and their budgie like chirping that I used to wake up to in our neighbours overgrown garden in London... The poor little fellows are endangered now so it's not just about my interest in the bird, the singer (who I incidentally have more songs of than is healthy) or the film, but to bring greater awareness of the plight of this sociable little bird. Here is a sketch I am using as a guide for the brooch...

Wowsers...!

2008-05-27T04:44:00.000-07:00

I've been getting busy doing stationery the last couple of days - here's a voucher I've just designed to be sent out with my orders ...

Incidentally I have free postage until the the end of the month on Dawanda at the moment - only 5 days left!!

Anyway, must keep this short as have a blue corsage which needs posting...!

Clutter City Crafty fun day!

2008-05-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Excitement abound! It was the second Clutter City Craft Fair yesterday at Norwich Arts Centre and boy - what fun we had! We were 'clap bang' in the centre of the main performance hall and met lots of lovely new people on surrounding stalls (Amy 'Heavenly Hotcakes' McLachlan Sayer) who's scrummy cakes I got to eat all day long - including the cherry topped one above!!

Also nice seeing regular fellow crafters, like flame haired Flamingo Amy looking as glamorous as ever with her stunning hair pieces and also lovely Jessie Begley and her sweet handmade books! But mainly it was a day of welcoming new yet old faces to our merry band. Friendly fellow Art school chap Dave Bushell (yes - that's him in the photo pondering what he's let himself in for!) became the latest human FCF member to offer up his wondrous talents - returning all the way from Canada just so he could get involved!! I was also dead (sorry!) proud to introduce a new taxidermy member - Gladys the Red (squirrel) who got introduced to Larry the Grey. Was more amicable than expected 'though eye contact was strictly limited to side way glances. We braced for it to kick off between them ... (looks like Gemma's cowering slightly in the above pic!)

Altogether a top day - especially because I ended it in the best possible way - dancing my blue tights off all night long at a friends 50's - themed b'day bash held in Take 5's Crypt - a darn fine start to bank holiday weekend. ^^

Fellow local Illustrator of major talent

2008-05-15T01:53:00.000-07:00

Just had to get a heads up on a great artist, especially as we seem to share the same interests - brown paper and birds being right up there! This is one seriously talented Illustrator ... go look up Sweet Loon Bird and also check out her website: Olivia Jeffries.

Bob takes off on a long migration

2008-05-13T05:57:00.000-07:00

Some thing very exciting is happening to one of my favourite creations - Bob the Blackbird. Yesterday, a lovely lady bought Bob from Etsy and now he is winging his way to live with her - all the way across to the other side of the world, in no other than Tasmania! I have to admit that there is a smattering of envy emerging on my part - imagining the exciting adventures he's going to have in such an exotic place - Tasmania is after all the stuff of legends!

Well I wish Bob the very best of luck on his long journey. I know I won't be the only one to miss him. I just hope I manage to bring another like him into being!

In other news I went to the cinema last night to see Private Property a French film which left me with so many questions (nothing unusual for a French film I guess) but I must say that I really enjoyed the mystery and also the great conversation I had with dear Creative Writer friend Claire. And to top it off I even ate tempura halloumi. A pretty good day all in all. Oh and this morning I doodled some rabbits for a secret project...(it's a present for someone!)

Baaaah!

2008-05-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

It was my neice's birthday last week and as we have some ultra cute lambs bounding about in a field near us, I thought it would be a nice idea to make Charlotte her own little baby sheep!

Her mum used to have a floppy tiger at around the same age as her and she doted on it so much that I was inspired to make my first proper plush toy. I drew quickly first (as you can see) and then just went for it and was actually surprised by how well it all came together in the end.

I made the little fellow from an old dressing gown in that ultra fluffy toweling material - that I decided to recycle because I had tea stains on it in places that wouldn't budge! The ears were also made out some brand new (too small!) brushed cotton pijama bottoms - so she's the perfect eco friendly bed fellow!

There was something bizaarely magical about watching the funny thing seemingly to come to life out of nowhere - it almost felt frankinsteinian! When I gave it to Charlotte I explained that the wee lamb actually had the same birthday as her was aged 0! She was a bit confused but it was great to see how much she loved Daisey (wierdly she named her this after I had spent that very morning drawing and making daisys - spooky!) and aparently she hasn't slept without floppy wee creature since her birthday last wednesday. I think it's sparked something off - watch this space for more cute creature antics!

We went twitching today!

2008-05-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

Bank holiday weekend has been such gorgeous weather, so we decided to make the most of it and go for a bit of twitching! I've been meaning to get down to Strumpshaw Fen for ages because it sounded like the perfect bird reserve - half woodland and half wetland. We cycled (only 6ish miles each way) there and with binoculas in hand strode out in high spirits anticipating bird action of some description. I think we may have been a little overly optimistic. We're not seasoned bird watchers but it wasn't like we were expecting them the put on a show or anything! Just would've been nice to have been able to say for certain what we saw!

Everytime we caught sight of something and pointed our binoculars in the general direction, the little blighter would duck behind a branch or fly away!! We might have seen some warblers and a fly catcher. We definitely did see a shadey looking robin who looked like he's been in a territorial fight - not at the reserve - but from the pub garden bench we sat at enjoying an ale afterwards!! A nice reward for a day of not quite seeing some birds! I was inspired to sketch a comic pic to express a bit of irony!

Back from Holiday!

2008-04-28T22:52:00.001-07:00

Morning all!

I was up at 6 this morning and woke to see the sun's orangey golden rays to welcome me to the world - all is good! Just got back from a holdiay in France - was wonderfully relaxing but decided it's a good idea to get back into getting up early again now as I can get lots done in the mornings! We had lots of fun and capers including seeing a carnival not mention visiting the relatively new Machines de Nantes a place of mind blowing spectacles. Imagine a giagantic elephant beautfiully crafted in wood and metal stomping alongside you - that's just the begining for this incredible project inspired by Jules Verne. I just can't wait to see the massive tree house they have planned...! In other exciting news from my partner's home town - the brilliant Velibe cycles rolled out across Paris last year have also now arrived in Nantes - yay! Not out till next week, when I'm sure like in Paris, they will take the city by storm! They're called Bicloo and I think they look even nicer than the Paris ones ...

Fresh Fine City talent!

2008-04-15T06:32:00.001-07:00

Must tell you about a talented gal called Kate Seaward I met on Saturday at the 'Everybody Likes eggs' fair - she is the newest member of Fine City Friends and just like Gemma, Anthony and Helen, she is darn lovely! She seems to like pens a lot, and also tea and cake which I think is no bad thing! I think her website is well worth a look - go have a butchers there now!

Thinking of dodos

2008-04-15T04:09:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days my mind been full of birds! They seem to be everywhere at the moment and as a bit of a geeky bird fan, it's got me wanting to indulge in some bird story ideas. One bird in particular keeps coming to mind - the dodo! So I've done a little dodo doodle!

Weirdly I 've just discovered a band of the same name and completely love them - I take that as a sign if there ever is such a thing! Someone on emusic described the band as 'psych-folk-pop with a blues rock twang' which is a pretty accurate description of this top drawer band! Go look them up - they're super great!

Fine City Friends Craft Fair Fun!

2008-04-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday saw Fine City Friends - a happy band of crafters, which I'm lucky to be involved with, set up shop in what looks like a brothel setting!! We were in fact at the end of a well disguised notable bar called the Playhouse on St. Georges Street. This prime artsy venue is turning into a regular jaunt for Fine City Friends and long may the fun, taxidermi, Greek/stripey bags and not to mention good times flow...!

Blog discovery - 7 Morgen

2008-04-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

I've been busy getting back to one of my great loves - bird admiring (not so much watching avidly)! Today I discovered some beautiful artwork by someone who seems to share my passion:

www.7morgen.blogspot.com
http://en.dawanda.com/user/SiebenMorgen

Crafty space

2008-04-09T00:37:00.000-07:00

It's under a week before the Fine City Friends Craft Fair:

*** this Saturday April 12th!!! ***
(at the Playhouse, St Georges Street, Norwich)

... and I've been beavering away even more than usual in my Crafty studio. This means it's been getting messier than ever - I'm just amazed at how quickly chaos is unleashed!! But I now have a cotton organiser which must be helping a little because look - you can see the wood of my work bench!!! And it's nearly a week since I last gave it a blitz - waoh there!!!
The pictures of the russian dolls etc are by a Spanish lady I really admire - check her work out here: belula

Lovely Andrea and her pigeon friends

2008-04-04T02:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I walked along the riverside with my work buddy Andrea and I felt like I was in Mary Poppins because I met so many of her pigeon friends! Andrea had a bag of bread and was scattering handfuls of the stuff as we walked, which made it look like the pigeons were after us as they swooped and swarmed in around us from every direction!! I discovered Andrea (a kind and warm hearted bird and animal lover) does this almost every lunch time and so they are always expecting her! They seemed to flock from everywhere and nowhere but apparently they roost in the Cowe Tower (a derelict red brick artillery tower). There were even a couple of doves and half pigeons - half doves (doveons!). There is normally one with manky feet that Andrea had made such good friends with, it would come and sit on the bench next to her and eat out of her hand. It wasn't there yesterday and Andrea was worried. I hope he's there next time. I would rather like to make friends with him too! I thought I'd do a little drawing of one of the lovely pidgeons!

Eye popping poppadoms!!!

2008-04-03T02:50:00.000-07:00

I was mooching about in my lunch hour along Norwich's answer to Brick Lane (Magdelene Street) yesterday and I just have to share the wonderful poppadom packaging I found in one my favourite shops. The actual poppadoms were sooooo hot that our eyes were almost falling out!!

The funny pink bunny reminded me of the Crusha advert that's out at the moment ... cute but sinister kittens working out - it's absolutely mesmerising!!!

2008-04-01T07:12:00.001-07:00

It's a beautiful day!

2008-03-29T02:08:00.000-07:00

I've spent the week getting completely soaked to skin and I woke up today to the most gorgeous sunny morning. Had the most delicious breakfast sunbathe while sipping my darjeeling! Munching on apricot jam on toast, I almost made myself believe I was on holiday. It's put me in such a good mood - seratonin levels must be restored!

Well off to post off some crafty bit now...and hopefully catch a few more happy rays while I'm at it!

Got my skates on!

2008-03-27T17:08:00.001-07:00

Just got back from a particularly good roller skating session and totally wiped out! Wore bright red tights and gold sparkley leg warmers tonight and got some funny looks cycling! No one batted an eye lid at skating though! ^^

Also had an exicting thing happen - sold my first ever item on Dawanda today! Yay! Dead pleased as only joined a week ago today! Here's what I sold:-

Otherwise, I found another Etsy-esque place of wonder for all you craft lovers. Here you go! Looks like it might be pretty useful promotion-wise!

Etsy isn't just for crafting

2008-03-25T15:08:00.001-07:00

Don't you know!?! There are some really exciting Illustrators to be found there too (horray!) For starters check this dude out, he's awesome!! I like his profile blurb too - refreshingly to the point too! Collage is a mighty tricksy business to get right, but this fellow has nailed it as far as I'm concerned!! Watch Larrison Go!

Dawanda's a wonder!!!

2008-03-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a little blackbird I made today!

Hey - guess what - I'm now on Dawanda! It's Europe's answer to Etsy and it's blooming great - go there and get lost in the wonder of it.

I'm to be found deep down in it's lovely depths here: Zazar's Bazaar

It's snowing!!!

2008-03-23T02:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!! And a white one at that - can't believe it's snowing - yay!!

On another note - I'm just staggered by how many exciting blogs I've been coming across lately ...Here's another great one worth a scout - some brilliant research on design, illustration and photography which I discovered while reading about a fellow Etsy-er Ashley or Kitty Genius, the seudonym she rather modestly blogs under! Actually she comes across as a darm nice gall! Happy snowman making all you English folk. I shall
venturing out a little later for a Sunday roast and might well get stuck into one myself!!

Missing

2008-03-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

The above brooch has been lost! I was wearing it one minute and it was gone the next :-( If you find the little blighter while roaming the streets of Norwich (you not the brooch!!) Please do let me know. It was a home protecting charm brooch (catchy!!) so hopefully my home will be alright - better make another one now I guess (just in case!!)

Corsage collection

2008-03-21T05:04:00.000-07:00

I've decided to concentrate on corsage making today. I'll let you know how I get on ...

In the meantime I must tell you about some exciting blog finds - they're already listed on my blog roll (titter!!) but they're so good that I feel they deserve a proper mention here - well done Lupin (Etsy name) Amy (Pikaland) and poppytalk - all uniquely beautiful and exciting! Check them out, why don't you?!

Busy brooch making

2008-03-19T01:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo I took of my latest creations. I've got really into rosettes and now thinking about doing some more animal cameos ...

Already been tucking into easter eggs - darn it I love Easter - best excuse ever to gorge on chocolate!!!

I've also been busy getting my Etsy shop up anad running which you can see a snap shot of on the right. Otherwise click here to have proper snout about!

Rosetti- yey!

2008-03-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

I've been having fun making baby rosettes! When I was little I was pretty obsessed with horses and really wanted one. Had some riding lessons but never did enter a gymkhana...so this is as close as I'm ever going to get to getting a rosette! I've tried to make it cameo-ish so they are quite small - about 4cm not including the ribbon. This is the first one but will make some more in different colours.

Clutter City

2008-03-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

I'm rather excited about a new Norwich venture which is setting out to propel all things hand made to the fore. Clutter City is a brilliant idea which promises to do great things for craftsters, artists and designers etc... of every kind across our Fine City!

Last Saturday was the launch of this psuedo-market or Fair of sorts at the top notch Norwich Arts Centre. Sadly I was away, so didn't make it down on the day, but thank you again to Miss Correll, pack leader and all round good egg of Fine City Friends for taking along my crafty bits to display alongside hers.

It was an altogether successful event by all accounts with an exciting array stalls selling everyhing from hats to zines! I am planning to make lots of exciting new things ready for the next one on Saturday 24 May. In the meantime, I'll also be at the next Fine City Friends craft fair which is in a little under a month away now on Saturday April 12th. Hope to see you then!

Cool Beans!

2008-03-14T10:20:00.001-07:00

I've been researching beans for some paintings I'm doing for a Health Food shop - and found some really exciting colourful runner bean beans!

Probably inspired Jack and the Bean Stalk because they really looked magic!

Been long time ...

2008-03-06T07:17:00.000-08:00

Oohhh it's long time since I wrote a post! Apologies - been ever so busy crafting and also been away in Switzerland - snowboarding! It was amazingly - scarey but such brilliant fun that most of the time I overcame the fear!

I miss the mountains - Norfolk seems flatter than ever! Even the 'hill' I have to cycle up to get to work seems more like a micro piste now!

Here's a pic of some of my work at the last craft fair we had - my stuff is the badges all the way round the edge!

Got the urge to do some egg painting/sewing ...! Better get to it!

'Sucker for Love' range!

2008-02-01T05:41:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up at 6 and was inspired to begin a new crafting range especially for Valentines. I planned to get it done before breakfast and almost did - only had two cross stitches left which I finished while munching on my frosties!!

When I showed it to Manu - he looked sad and I tried to explain that it had ironic overtones because cross stitch is twee and sweet normally and which was what I was trying to subvert!!
But he wasn't convinced! So I took it to work and stuck it on my imac screen to see what reactions I'd get. It was all positive so I'm going to take it (and the rest in the range which I shall finish tonight) to the craft fair tomorrow!

I don't think I'll be enjoying many Zzzz's tonight ...!

P.s: Bingo was hilarious!! More on that later ... must eat banana on toast now!!

Roll up , roll up!!

2008-01-31T04:18:00.001-08:00

Thought I'd better remind you that this Saturday is 'The End of the Line' Craft Fair! See you down at the Playhouse (St George's Street, Norwich) from 10a.m ... be sure of lots of lovely handmade stuff to make you smile! :-)

Jesus!

2008-01-31T02:14:00.000-08:00

Something miraculous happened yesterday evening - I found a photo of Jesus!!!! I love the way it was all damaged - especially his face. I thought it was quite fitting that religion is on the wane and so symbolic that it was all battered. I think it is a rather beautiful find. Manu said Jesus must have been a hippy with his long hair!!!

I'm not religious, but I really like the use of symbolism often found in religious stuff. Been looking at amulets a lot just lately and they have given me lots of inspiration for lucky charm brooches I've been making. The weather has been so bleak (it's almost apocalyptic out there at righ now so we've shut the shutters in the studio to block it out!!) that have not had enough daylight to take nice pictures of them - might just have to make do with the old tungsten. Will try and post them on here when I get home tonight. I'm going to bingo tonight for the first time ever - with guys from work - think it could be fun!! Tell you all about it later ...!

Gemma Correll is a busy delicate bee

2008-01-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to congratulate Gemma on getting lots of her Illustration work published - she has been such a busy bee of late and all her success both now and in the future is sooo justly deserved. You can find some of her wonderfully illustrated stuff here:

It's Nice That
Print Pattern
Gemma's Portfolio

Go Gemma!!!

Gardenville of Eden

2008-01-21T02:31:00.000-08:00

How symbolic is this - My bike lock takes on a whole new Eden-esque quality alongside the lovely flower left for me by a someone I don't know - who says you shouldn't like strangers! Not me!

I am glad to tell you that I've already broken one of my New Year's resolutions! Promised myself to try to read books before seeing their film version - but I just had to watch 'Everything is Illuminated' last night! And no regrets - was incredible! Moving and funny at once - tragi-comic I guess you'd call it! I discovered it because of the soundtrack (Gogol Bordello) and which goes a long way in making it such a succesful film. It was playing on one of Milan Kundera's philosphies that you only benefit from the past by reliving it - heavy! One of the other themes I thought it was driving at was that we are defined by our actions. And that this is how we derive meaning from our lives. I really felt an affinity with Jonathan the Collector - I can't help collecting stuff - symptomatic of liking too much!

Speaking of which I can't tell you how completely over the moon I was to discover that someone had left a geberra on the handlebars of my bike only the other day- I left my bike in town and went to collect it Friday evening to discover the selfless offering - I shall live off this for weekes to come - thank you whoever you are - I am touched!!! Zxxx

Curb your enthusiasm!!!

2008-01-17T03:54:00.000-08:00

Really really excited (can hardly contain it!!) ... I've just booked some crafty days at the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich! Will finish this in a little while ... as gotta get me some work done...!!!

... Here I am again! Well it seems the names of the artists running the courses I'm going on is a great source of amusement to my boss who overheard me quoting their names - Fernando Marques Penteado (who's the artist in charge of the Fictional Stitches course on Feb 8th) and `Biddy Rychnovsky' (April 18th: Knitting Text) who I once met when I had an exhibition at the Bally Shoe Factory on Hall Road in Norwich (Fringe 2005). They sound really fun and if it's something anyone reading this might be interested in - here is where you can find out more:
http://www.clothandculturenow.com/exhibition.html
http://www.scva.org.uk/whatson/

Comics really do rule!

2008-01-16T12:30:00.000-08:00

I've got comics on the mind and have just finished doing a story board for a series called 'Love's Comic' (hehehoho)! You wouldn't be able to make head or tale of the very busy doodles, I don't think, so I'll wait to show you some visuals which aren't quite so rough ... in the meantime the above is micro bit of strip art with a sentiment in keeping with how I feel right now! I drew it a while ago but it seems synchronistic (yet again!) that I discovered it my box of drawings today ... anyway back to the drawing board for me now!

Don't you just love synchronicity?!

2008-01-14T04:34:00.000-08:00

One of the Lovely chappies (who I share the studio with at work) said "better to be weird than forgotten!" And then I found this by accident - synchronicity - don't you just love it!?

I thought I'd do a silly/naughty (no ref. to anything except that I like the expression - so delete as appropriate) little doodle to accompany it too ...!

How lovely is this ...?!

2008-01-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

I was so impressed with the winning entry (by Erin McGuire) of the http://joinred.blogspot.com/ competition that I just had to show you!! Does anyone else think it is very Elspeth Zwerger - composition wise?!

In other news, I am crafting crazy at the moment (will upload pics to FLickr when I've made enough to photograph!) It's like an illness - an expensive one at that! I spent sixty squid on patchwork material and buttons (well there was other stuff too) ...but it's made me more excited than ever!! So much so that the list I wrote on today's list may not happen till next week now - crafting comes first ... !!

Competing list book!

2008-01-12T01:39:00.001-08:00

My littlest Sister Libby gave me a really amazing handmade pad for Christmas made up of loads of great sheets of paper in varying madcap patterns (80's theme seems to be dominant!) she'd deliberately crumpled. I used it yesterday to begin writing what I need to do to organise my 'Oh So Kitsch Apre Ski Party' and realised that it could compete with my other lovely Book of Lists (made by Anthony Zinonos - see my first ever blog post!) so I've decided to compartmentalise!!! Libby's will be for long term planning and my skirt one for short term - blimey how glad am I that I've sorted that one - can get on with my day now - off to town...it's blazing winter sun out there and can't wait to get me some rays!

It's alright - there's nothing ablaze in the background and no my hand hasn't doubled in size! It's Manu's sneaking into the picture (he's such an attention seeker!!!) I just love the handpainted Ukulele, Libby - the on the hoof angle and bubbley shape + the way it can stand up on it's own like a card - it's top drawer lil' sis (even in fear of sounding patronising -well done you!)

I feel a ditty is in order ...!

2008-01-10T23:26:00.000-08:00

Laid in bed last night and thought about the elusiveness of creativity and how even the wiff of self doubt gets in the way of it ... so I decided to write a little poem about it! I might turn it into a singing ode and try and play along with my ukulele!

Ode to Creativity

It's being in the thing

You're doing

All seeing

Not just viewing

It's letting minutes

Tick unheard

Not waiting

Or reviewing

Unhesitant and brave

Sharing and amusing

But more than that

It's simply using

Everything you've have

But only what you need

We're going on a 1950's girlie weekender!!!

2008-01-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

Lots of excitement at skating tonight about booking up the following ...

[It's going to be frickin' rockabilly tastic - can't wait, but guess I'll have to find a way 'cos it's not till May!] The poster seems to be for the one in October - join us at that one if you miss this one!

Schott-style bed making

2008-01-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

I've been making like Ben Schott of the famous Miscellanies and taking to my bed to create! The way I see it, it's wholly reasonable - I haven't been feeling too well of late and it means I get to combine two great loves making and sleeping. Mostly at different times.

Def. comes highly recommended on my part - though there's always the danger of getting too comfy and falling asleep! Surprisingly, it's not happened yet but then I have been keeping my mind busy with list writing, ode writing and corsage making - not to mention reading - Kite Runner at the mo... I really want to see the film but desperately holding off till I've finished the book. It's a kind of New Year's Resolution to read the book before the film as much as poss. Mmmm - we'll see how that goes! Might be one for the breaking before even the month's out!

Anyway I feel my bed is calling me for sleep this time ... it's got pretty late with all this creating!

P.S: How could I forget(?!) - my stitched craft tags arrived today - yey!!! I'm darn ;-) pleased with the way they've come out ...!

'Fine City Friends' rock socks off animals!

2008-01-06T11:04:00.001-08:00

Suitable warm and fuzzy photo taken at the last Fine City Friends Fair 'Lets all jump over animals'

I must tell all about this amazing new venture spearheaded by Gemma Correll (my lovely delicate friend) and her band of fluffy animals and Illustrators. I count myself very honoured to have been invited to join the last and first Fine City Friends Fair thrown at the PlayHouse - top notch Norwich art venue (and previous home to the cutting edge Arts Cinema. Speaking of which I'm off to now - gotta dash catching the 8 o'clock veiwing of Lust, Caution ... hope to see you there!

P.S: Don't forget to come along to the next Fine City Friends Fair - check in at the blog

Lazy Recovery Sunday!

2008-01-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

I've just finished writing my list for tomorrow having not achieved a great deal today - well I am getting over a nasty bug! And at least I got some more corsage photos updated to Flickr + I've contact a few bods about my scarey birthday party (gonna be 3-0 - not 3 nill unfortunately, I know it's hard to believe!!;-)) on 23rd of next month - determined to get it organised early as loads to sort out! Got lots of fun ideas...but keeping stum until confirmed pre party venue!!

I got very excited today over a tea bag! Yes, well if you'd seen so would've you. I think it might have been made out of silk and the tea that came out of it so didn't disappoint - the packet said 'use creme fraiche' like everyone has that languishing in their fridge! Luckily there was some creme that's been hanging around since before christmas (didn't taste gone off!) so I glugged a bit of that into it instead. All I can say i get out there now and get your mitts on this tea - it is seriously good ... I must thank dear old friend Sammy for buying these for me for Christmas - a real treat. I'm just trying to think of a way of re-using the luxurient tea bags now. My only gripe is the brand name - tea pigs - yeh not the first thing you'd make an association with frankly!!!

Diary?

2008-01-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to see this blog as the perfect Diary/ journal substitute - there is a real ease to it. Really lends itself to immediacy...

Anyway I've got the lergy! Euch! The winter vommitting virus has hit England and I hear that 50 hospitals have had to shut wards to contain it. It's nothing sinister really (well that's what they're telling us to stop any hysteria)! Whichever, I'm making the most of being bed bound and have my laptop near me to reach for between bouts of nausea! It's really rather cosy and I have had plenty of time to think today which is such a luxury :-)

One thing I was thinking about was how at Christmas we tend to write lists. Why not do it all through the year like seem to have the urge to do! I've decided to keep all my lists this year and tick everything off as I go to keep me motivated. I've started small with a dinky handmade book (see http://www.buyhandmade.org/!) I bought from a print making designer boyfriend of a friend called Anthony Zinonos (great name!) It struck me as perfect because it actually contains snaps shots of lists (inc. indexes and key lists from lots of exciting sources like wood work books etc...) It's also pleasingly retro which always gets me going! Already contains two of my lists and it's also a handy reminder for letter writing, most especially to the Majestic Dave Grinstead, prolific and talented Illustrator friend of mine (promise I haven't forgotten you!) which I always mean to write and illustrate to, but always don't get the time because of grand plans to make decorative envelopes and paper etc!!! I must think simpler! A letter is always a treat whatever form it comes in ...so no more putting it off till I get a printing press!! In the meantime, here's some pictures of my Book of Lists...

Devi the Diva - if in doubt wear red!

2008-01-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking about how I need to get me lots of arms to get everthing done this year I need to do!!! Well, seeing as that is about as unlikely as making friends with the moon from the Mighty Booosh (I'd like that too!), I suppose I oughta work out how I am going to juggle my many interests. Is it really possible to be a designer, illustrator, crafter, comic book artist, ukelele player and candlestick maker (made the last one up) and still have time to to spend with loved ones, friends and family, not to mention just 'be' from time to time? I know I can't expect to become who I want over night. And some of what I want to do might never be fully realised. I just have to make what I want ever I want most (whatever that is!) happen - will alone is all I can rely on. I suppose desire and the belief that I can do it will make this possible. If I've exhausted both of those and don't get where I want to be in life then I guess it just was't meant to be.

Not that I'm religious, just into philosophy really - and the New Year is a great time to reflect on what and how we're going to change our lives for the better. Will we ever get to the bottom of this task? In the words of that hilariously silly film I need to 'be the miracle' rather than look for it elsewhere! I really believe everthing we have is all that we really need or want for the time we are experiencing it in our lives.

She was the ultimate Mum! Forget that lame 'Yummy Mummy' coinage! Really chaotic people manage to find a way to be amazing mums - it's all about prioritising what's important! This mummy talk doesn't mean I'm thinking of having a getting a bun in the oven, Miss Correll, not planned anyway!!! Phew! Boy did I get carried away but how therapeutic it felt?! Sometimes its good to ramble - if in doubt wear red like Diva and be plain honest with yourself and others!

One of my New Year Resolutions was ...

2008-01-02T12:05:00.001-08:00

New Year Revelries ...

2008-01-01T07:52:00.001-08:00

What a New Year's Eve!

It really was one to remember and without all the hass that normally comes with going out NY eve. We avoided the undeniable draw of a party in a big old house up in Nottingham (twas an offer we didn't want to turn down, Mim and Jonny)! But reality set in and we just knew it would be hellish getting there so instead went to a party in our local - and what a night it was!

Awesome band V8 Rumble wowed us with an astoundingly good set and everyone honoured the staggering performance with some serious shoulder and hip shaking! Just hoping the year lives up to such a blindingly good launch party - have a feeling that with a reasonable amount of effort and a bit of luck this year might just pan out to be a stonker! Roll on 2008 - the year of infinity and beyond! Here's wishing the very best for all in 2008.