Bread and Circuses

Dizzy

I 'm not feeling the best today - a dizzy head and it's only 4 days till the Christmas Market I'm in. So I've decided to go back to bed hoping that'll help.

I started reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - didn't realize when I bought it that it's a bit of a cult book - and I can't put it down!!!

Till later.....

Excellent Read!

I've literally just finished reading 'The Sensualist' by Barbara Hodgson - a mysterious illustrated tale for all the senses - a remarkable story. I've read some of her other books which are always first class but this is one I'll definitely read again.

Some of the reviews say "Are you ready to use all of your senses ... captivating and compelling, this book will hold you hostage" New Woman, and "Enigmatic and spine-tingling..." Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Cuff or Wristlet?

 
I made a cuff for myself to wear at the preview night of the Frugal Cool Eco Crafts Market. The cuff is black leather and black lace with a tiny bit of red, and a beautiful vintage diamante brooch - my lovely grand-daughter Alice modelled it.

I seem to be in a black lace mood and have found a really lovely dress with gloves to match - all in black lace! Will I be brave enough to wear the ensemble???

By the way, would you call this a cuff or a wristlet? 

 
 
 

Eco Crafts Market

I'm taking part in an Eco Crafts Market to celebrate Frugal Cool's 1st birthday with a 3-day showcase of eco crafts and design.

Everything is a one-off, upcycled from found objects and textiles or made from natural materials. All products – from 14 makers and designers.

Original artworks and handmade textiles will also offer visitors a glimpse of the creative talent within our community and the value of ethical design at Loretto Gallery, Musselburgh (near Edinburgh).

Here's a segment of the press release for me:

 This artist's paintings show an exuberant and dynamic personality. She works with random unplanned blocks of colour and develops her paintings intuitively into a structured conclusion. Acrylics are the mainstay along with ink, pencil, tissue, and mark-making objects. She likes to build layers of paint which can be scraped back into revealing the mystery beneath. Evie lived in Florence for many years and was influenced by the beautiful chalky frescoes in all their distressed beauty.

I've got a NEW SHOP

Knockout prices in my new Etsy shop - WeeArtThings!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8234611

FELICITA

Just listed a contemporary painting on etsy and hope you like it:

 

My new acquisition

Here's the notorious painting I bought -

Four hours!

I went looking for a winter coat yesterday and came home with a painting! Had to take a taxi home because it's five feet wide. If I tell you it took me 4 hours to hang it, would you believe it?

It was hard to screw the hangers onto the back - tiny Philips screws and no leverage on the screw driver and my battery powered screw driver's tip was too big.

I don't know why but I must have measured wrongly (3 times) to place the hooks on the wall and ruined the wall full of holes - just as well the picture covered that up.

And this great big bulky painting was finally ready to hang. Do you think I could get the hooks onto the rings ..... I was tired and had aching arms but I persevered and at last got it up. What a day!!!

I'm on a roll!

I've already taken over 2 rooms in my house for art and I have to be firm with myself because it could get worse! I just turn a blind eye....

I'm buzzing at the moment and my muse has moved in!! I've just listed another painting on etsy and here it is:

 

The Subway - new painting

Sometimes paintings get stuck and I have to stop working on them and go and do something else till my muse pops in! So it was so nice to have gone full steam ahead with this and no waiting.

It's on ETSY !

Great things and new painting

I had a really good time at the scrap store - very fine wool in olive green, fabrics, sewing supplies, and on and on... having to find space to put it all away made me have a clear-out of stuff I'll never use again and I have a big bag ready for the charity shop.

And I finished a painting which I listed on ETSY it's an expressionist look at seedlings:

 

I'm going to...

... a scrap store today. I always feel excited when I go there, you never know what you can find. I'm a bit of a magpie and rummaging is what I love and I can easily spend a couple of hours there. More later!!

My latest painting - landscape

Here's an imaginary view of Scottish mountains, almost surreal! It's listed here on ETSY if you'd like to see more pictures.

Watercolour Painting

I've listed a really lovely watercolour of Cyclamen - these colours are my favourites. It's here ETSY if you'd like more info. 

Christmas already!

I was amazed to see Christmas cards in the shops already - people must be buying them. So I've started listing my Christmas Holidays art quilts, the first is here on ETSY and more to come. 

Mimsy's Teddy

I've just listed 'Mimsy's Teddy' on Etsy - sweet child! 

Back from holidays

Just back from the beautiful island of Sardinia and a few days in Florence where I used to live. It was nice to go round my old haunts and do a bit of shopping.

I was interested to see the Autumn fashions and pleased to find that shoulder pads are back, but not the exaggerated power shoulders of old. Lots of sleeveless coatees - very chic!! Knitted long socks over the knee with a band of stretchy lace at top - a kind of 'bordello' look.

Here are some photos I took in Florence:

Birthday Tea

Here's a photo taken at my birthday tea on Saturday - and I'm off to Italy tomorrow, so no news for a little while.

Bad Hair Day

If you've ever had a bad hair day, this'll make you feel better!

New Art

I resurrected a piece of an old painting and used it for the background on this collage. The colours were a bit too vibrant so I toned it down. It's on Etsy - 'Going on Holiday':