Getting Arty

 A few years ago I had a go at the 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge, which is run annually by artist Susan Yeates.  Although one can register to receive tutorials from other artists I decided not to and just see the daily prompts on Instagram.  

I started by sketchbook by taking some pages out of an old A5 sketchbook, folding to A6 and sewing the signatures on the fold using pamphlet stitch. So that’s the paper and for the sketching and mark making I am using my collection of graphite pencils, coloured pencils, fine line pens in different colours and a small palette of watercolour paints.   I have been posting onto Instagram daily, which has fed through to Facebook.

Below is the first 4 days

The first day was Fungi, so I drew a Fly Argaric mushroom. I added a mushroom washi tape stamp in the top right corner. I also had an ink stamp of a mushroom so added those to the space. Day two the topic was pens and I drew from my collection of graphite of fine liners and gel pens.  Day three was tea, for which I used a sketch pencil to draw a teapot, mug and tea caddy.  Acorns were the subject for day four. Like day one I also had a washi tape stamp and ink stamp for acorns. I used fine liners in different colours for shading.

The next batch are as follows

Cakes for day five, so I chose a couple of scones with jam and cream. Day 6 was an item less than an inch and I chose a piece from a jigsaw puzzle that was made up over Christmas. I draw around the piece and coloured in with colour pencils. Day 7 was something purple and I drew from my small knitting pouch. Day eight’s subject was exotic fruit and I drew figs from an image from a plant catalogue.

Last collection for now covers days 9 to 12.

Day nine’s theme was glass and I used a Sherry glass and wine glass as a model for these pencil sketches. Day ten was metal and for this I used a twisted wire card holder first with pencil and drawn over with fine liners. Day eleven was underwear and I used my camisole vest (sorry but the days were somewhat cold so taken to wearing a vest under my clothing).  Day twelve is something beginning with L and I used Lego leaves from my flower arrangement Lego kit.

I’m now up to Date 14 now and so far have enjoyed the experience and refreshing to do something for a few minutes on a daily basis.  I hope I can try to keep this up at least until the end of the challenge and maybe beyond, 

January

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Monthly marker for January and one of my Christmas presents, a Lego Chrysanthemum.  How was Christmas for you? After the busy-ness before Christmas it all went quiet. I’ve not been well with this cold that’s been going around but feeling a lot better now.

I’ve had more Lego to build in the form of the flower bouquet and this is the progress to date.

I like to savour making the kits over time rather than getting it all done quickly.

I’ve not got any resolutions make for this year, other than to try and finish projects and declutter as best I can (that’s a joke!). To this end I’d like to clear a hexagon project I’ve had going for some time. 

This is a pile of 35  (7 x 5) 6.5” squares. Most incude the 100 hexies 100 days from previous years. I have a name for the quilt already which will be Conversation Piece.

As well an existing project I had started something new, which is art based and called the 30 Days Sketchbook Challenge by Susan Yeates on Instagram.  I did this for a while in 2021 and hope that I can keep it up for the whole 30 days.  I make myself an A6 booklet from the remaining pages of an old sketchbook makes it a good size for achieving a small drawing each day. First day was Fungi so I drew a Fly agaric mushroom 🍄 less the spots, I did try to put some in. I added a mushroom stamp and a self adhesive washi tape stamp.

Day 2 is pens and I used some of the pens in my collection. I have quite a few gel pens.

Day 3 is Tea and I’ve done a pencil drawing of my tea pot and mug.

It’s quite refreshing to do something different.

I’ve made a small change to my craft room by getting a larger peg board to replace the smaller one and a cork board.  I’ve got a large banner which was made some years ago so I pimped that up with flowers which were stuck onto the cork board. There is a gap between both, which will have some small quilted/embroidered items. 

But I have the first finish for 2025 which is an Aran Cardigan. A bit of a cheat as I finished the knitting in November, but it’s proper finished as I added buttons, bought in Devon last month.

There’s a couple of knitting projects to finish this month, so I must crack on and get them done. Also I have my Yorkshire blanket to continue with, so enough to keep me busy in January.

Nearly there!

 I thought my last post would be the last one before Christmas, but this one is 🎄!

Our visit this weekend to exchange presents with my older son and his family in Sussex included a visit to Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, not far from Horsham, which my daughter in law booked to see the lights.

We were wowed by the light trail through the garden, along with music along the route.

Sculptures of animals like this owl

Translucent models with a wood skeleton, some had plain white light, some had colour changing lights

The Earth was projected above one of the lakes

And a view on the opposite side of the lake.

The tulips (which changed colour) on the bluebell bank are actually small trees growing in tubes as you can faintly see the tops of the trees in the light.

I liked the light on the tree trunks too.  

Including this one below on a Eucalyptus with peeling bark.

Finally this sculpture with lights on the grass near the end of our route.

It was just a lovely evening for our last trip away for the year and to look forward to Christmas

HAPPY CHRISTMAS 

🎄🎄🎄

Racing Towards Christmas

 Last weekend saw us spend a few days in Cornwall and we rented a cottage on a farm near Redruth.  We have enjoyed seeing the Christmas lights at Mousehole which are displayed in the harbour, in the water, around the harbour walls and in the hills above the village. 

We spent the Saturday starting out at NT Godolphin, which although an old building has modern features due to the house being rented out as a holiday home accommodating large parties.  The house was decorated for Christmas with the large hall, the Kings Hall decorated with a lot of paper origami stars.

We then went to Helston, the nearby town to have a wander and we found a Cornish Pasty shop which had a small Christmas tree decorated with miniature pasties, so I had to ask if they sold the decoration.  It’s actually a key ring.

But our surprise in Helston was the town museum. It’s free, with volunteer staff and full of quirkiness, so a must see if you’re in the area. All sorts of things from the lives of people in the town. Below is a paper dragon, suspended from the ceiling.

And an automaton of the dragon. You can just about see a baby dragon hatched from its egg.

There was some quilt interest in the form of a banner made by the ladies of the Royal British Legion in the town.

Penzance was just 6 miles away so parked the car and a little later took the small bus to Mousehole. It was packed. While waiting for the bus it was starting to get dark and we saw, for the first time ever, a murmuration. Only ever seen before on television and it was fascinating seeing the sweep of birds in the air as a big group then breaking into smaller groups and gathering together again. This spectacle lasted for several minutes.

The lights at Mousehole didn't disappoint. Displayed around he harbour walls and even in the water (the sea serpent and blue whale). There were a lot of people but between David and I we got several pictures.  Back on the bus to Penzance there are lights on display around Newlyn too.

On Sunday we visited another NT property Trelissick, following a disappointing visit to Truro. There were queues at the city car parks and the Park and Ride doesn’t operate on Sundays. The downstairs of the house is open and has beautiful Christmas decorations and further displays around the stables.  In the afternoon we had a walk around the garden and lovely view of the River Fal. The weather was cloudy but it rained towards late afternoon.  

Another Christmas decoration has made its was to our tree (remember we don’t need any more decorations!). In the art gallery at Trelissick we saw ceramic pigs in blankets, so one came home with us.

My brother in law and his wife have recently moved to Devon from Surrey so stayed with them overnight before travelling back home. It was a chance to see more Christmas trees at a festival in the town’s church.

Then on our way home to visit Otters Garden Centre near Ottery St Mary and more decorations to see.

They certainly go to town with decorations and is becoming the place to stop on our travels to the south west.

Everything All at Once

 November and December can be overwhelming with our birthdays and anniversary mixed up with the upcoming Christmas holiday, present buying and events all going on.  To add to this I’ve also gone and decided to buy a new (to me) car, so service and MOT’s will also have to be done in future Decembers.

I collect it next week and it’s my third Jazz.  This one is a hybrid and I’ll have to get used to driving an automatic, which I haven’t done for some years. New bits and bobs to get used to in a newer car but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.

So there’s not been much time for sewing, 

David and I celebrated our anniversary with a trip to Branksome (between Poole and Bournemouth) to see Christmas Trees at the local church, which is an annual event. It really makes Christmas for me, with none of the pressure of present and food buying. They are decorated by local groups and organisations. Below are just a few of the 50 trees on display.

Following seeing the trees we went to Westbourne and the arcade there has shops and what is notes to be the smallest cinema, which shows old films and often have vintage film posters for advertising. I was amazed by this one.

And you have to stay and watch the last 10 minutes of the film.  I’ve not seen a movie there before so it may be our must visit next year! 

It’s December 🎄

 This month’s marker

Hazel is getting to be a show off! 

And it’s not long to Christmas and the tree is up already.

Just before the end of last month I received something that I pre-ordered ages ago and you’ll think this barmy, but I bought an iron!! Not just any old iron…..

A fancy Tula Pink Oliso iron! Bright pink with little fishes on. It has a silicone shark shaped iron rest, an on/off switch, a bright light at the front to see where you’re ironing. It is a steam iron so it has the function to spray or have a blast of steam and the sole plate is non stick. All that in a small project iron and it’s quite weighty for its size. Just brilliant. 

With some birthday money I treated myself to a neck light.  I’ve wondered about getting one for a while for knitting in the evenings and it’s really good. It’s in purple but the photo shows pink ( especially when the lights are on.

The lights bright or dimmed (as with most LED lights nowadays. 

It makes a change for me to spend on new gadgets.