I dont believe it!!!!

When I lived in Ann Arbor Michigan i did some film work for a group of University of Michigan students studying Film/Media Studies..... and hubby actually found one of the films that I narrated and had a small part in. So here it is for your delight..... I cant believe it. Ciao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXsKZCy1cro

The Lost Collage..........

Here it is .... the lost collage! Unfortunately the top photo is a bit shiny, but anyway its just to give a flavour. The bottom photo is how it started out with lots of papers and images... I cant show the finished product yet at it is a birthday gift and the recipient hasn't got it yet..... I've really enjoyed creating this piece, I should mention that I have used a 12 x 12 approx of mdf which i had lying around and it has worked rather well with some coats of gesso for priming.
I've also been catching up on other blogs from creative souls who went to the Stitches show in Birmingham... seems that all had a great time. Maybe I will get to go another time. Ciao

Collage,

Claudine Hellmuth....wicked lady

What can I say about this wicked lady.... amazing, funny, friendly. Had a delirious day at AFTH . Met some old friends, made some new ones. We were split into groups I was lucky! to be in the group with Dyan..... there were 5 in our group. Everyone had to pick colours and then the rest of their group had to use the same colours and make tags. It was great fun, seeing different styles and how we could use Claudines paints and mediums. Unfortunately the morning went far too quickly and it is was over!!!!! Claudine was so generous with her time, ideas and support. We thank you Claudine so much and Dyan as well for arranging such a super time. I forgot to mention Emmi made tea/coffee, we had coissants(?) and Ben was serving us girls in the shop and trying to sort out a large delivery... which had the Tim Holtz new book..... a mad dash was made for that. Of course I came home with a hole in my purse or should I say hubby's bank account!!!!! Dyan and Claudine then went off to Birmingham to meet up with Tim, Suze to do the Stitches show.... what a heady life they lead!
The top picture are of gifts that I made for Claudine and Dyan, I added some ribbons to both . . really enjoyed fiddling to alter these hearts using recycled ribbons, clay parts , crystal and beads. unfortunately I cant get my hands on anymore hearts....... Ciao

Books.... books..... & a table

Here is just a fraction (and I mean fraction) of craft books that I have..... never mind the hundreds (could it be thousand) of other types of books I surround myself with. I still have 126 boxes in store, mostly books! I have always been an avid reader ever since my parents bought me a 'serious' book to read at Christmas.. so when I got into crafts again needless to say I had to have nearly every book ... or nearly! Just love the feel and smell of them all... though if I dont like the font the book is printed in I dont buy it. Yes I do smell books! Also a photo of my work table.... doesnt took to bad at present. I love to look at other peoples studios and dream of the day I may get my 'ideal' space.... with patio doors, looking out on to a garden, water and wildlife...... bring on the lottery!!!! I'm off to Harrogate tomorrow as I have a workshop with Claudine Hellmuth at Art from the Heart
Ciao

W B Yeats ....... & Snowdrops!

This poem is by the Irish Poet W B Yeats - He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven - I was looking through a sketchbook I forgotten about and came a cross this... I had doodled on it so I decided to use coloured inks in the flourishes for a bit of bling..... here is the poem:

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths of
night and light and the half-light,
But I, being poor , have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

It makes me feel sad, happy.. the words are so descriptive. You might not have much in the material sense but you have your dreams to keep you safe and aspire to.. which is what we all do. Trouble is some people dont realise this and walk all over them. Generosity of spirit seems to be missing these days, I must remember to be generous to others not with material offerings but offering myself.

I forgot to mention the beautiful ethereal snowdrops I saw on my walk today with Mollie. They were peaking out of the leaf strewn floor in the woods by the canal... they were delicate shaking in the light wind. Bright white heads of flowers with gorgeous green leaves ..... I will try and get a photo tomorrow. It made me realize Spring will be here soon, bringing new life, growth. Hopefully, some new life might come my way....... Ciao

Moleskine ...... & Jenny Doh!

I found these little beauties in Waterstones today, whilst out window shopping with a good friend of mine. They are 2 in a pack, you can get different colours/shades in the pack, I thought the vivid green reminded me of Spring, Light and Growing. I'm usually a pink girl (really!) but I thought these would be a lovely change. I think that I need to do something small in the creative world, I've been intimidated by the 'large' recently so I think these will do the job marvellously!

Now for something completely different (Monty Python?) whilst I was on Facebook this afternoon I noticed that Jenny Doh - Editor in Chief of Somerset Studio and head Honcho of Crescendoh .com was online so I decided to chance my arm and have a 'chat' with her. To my utter amazement Jenny 'chatted' back. I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I had sent Jenny a parcel, which has arrived safe and sound, to wish her good luck on her new (ad)venture which is going to be a blast and by the looks of all the creative folks she has lined up as Guest Curators for Crescendoh.com it is going to be interesting and varied.... I can't wait for the launch. Its so uplifting for me that someone so busy would take time out of their schedule to spend a couple of minutes 'chatting' with me... blew me away! It just shows you can get lovely surprises anytime, anywhere....... Ciao

Scream!!!

Thats just how I feel at the moment.... I just cant going, I have no energy to do anything especially creative.. its all such an effort! It would be lovely to get some good news for a change and not have 'stuff' making life tougher than normal. I have no idea what to do with myself.... had a great workshop on Saturday met lovely ladies, enjoyed making a 'book' out of flatten toilet rolls... deciding on the embellishments, then I will post a picture. Walking back from town this morning, after having a coffee and gossip with 2 girlfriends, I twisted my ankle, couldnt believe the pain! took my breathe away & I had to wait a minute or two before I walked on again...... makes you wonder why you get out of bed. At this moment I could just take the hair clippers and do a 'Britney Spears', just want to be someone else, somewhere else........ as I cant I will go and do my nails and hope tomorrow is a little better! Ciao

The sun has got its hat on.....

After an abortive attempt to get to Harrogate on Sunday to AFTH I eventually got there on Tuesday far too early (hubby's fault) for a Journalling Class in the evening. Good to see the girls and Dyan.

Havent done much in the way of anything creative these last few days or so. Got lots of ideas in my head, just have to get them down in some form or other. Am going to a Workshop tomorrow being held in Rainhill, Merseyside not sure what we are doing so it will be a surprise... see how that goes.
I leave you with a photo taken on a trip to Chicago, Illinois in February 2008 - was it that long ago... scary. Ciao

Sneek Peek revealed - Crescendoh

This is what I sent to Jenny Doh...... a small canvas, painted in off white, with paper 'splodges' stuck for background then a dress cut out from her stamp line. As Jenny is starting a new (ad)venture I thought the saying was appropriate..... and ART saves appears to be the theme. I hope she likes it and that it actually gets to California in one piece!
Should have made it to Art from the Heart yesterday, but we got SNOW... so that was that. A real bummer of a day!! Ciao