Party Lurcher!

A few days ago I started stitching one of my favourite designs, (I don't usually repeat a piece of work but I really love stitching this cheery chappie!)

And no matter how hard you may try, every one emerges with their own personality!

At the end of the day though, I knew it wasn't quite right, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

So, after making a cup of tea, I took a photo of it.

Now, I find this little trick really useful when trying to see with 'fresh eyes'.

So the next day I looked at the photo and realised that my Party Lurcher needed a bit of a nip and tuck as his head was a bit too wide.

I overlaid some scraps of the fabric used for the background, I also liked how the pink showed through a little on the right hand side of the eye brow.

I think that when you have a bit of a struggle, either in painting or stitching (or anything creative,) it can add extra layers and textures...

but cups of tea are needed, lots of cups of tea!

You can see how many layers there are on the back!

Hope you didn't mind me sharing my stitching struggles, but I do enjoy a testing creative challenge, 

(and the tea, did I mention the tea!)

x

I Love Whitby...

I've just been going through some of the photos I took on our Easter holiday in Whitby.

Just look at the breakfast I had at The Rusty Shears!

Someone enjoyed a doggy-cinno too!

Mini goth and I enjoyed a morning sketching in the cafe...

and outside...

This was a sketch I drew of a fab sculpture in Whitby Museum by Joan Pyman.

I think I photograph this door every time we visit!

I loved this sign in a barber's window...

and mini Goth said that these looked like the sorting hat in Harry Potter!

There were lots of Mods and beautifully shiny scooters around.

And, of course, the Easter bunny was spotted here and there!

See you again Whitby, love you lots x

Night Owl...

Sometimes you have to rebel a little.

A few days ago I had a huge 'to do' list and, guess what...

I ignored it!

And so I allowed myself a 'play-day' in my studio.

I didn't know what I was going to make.

I only knew that I was going to splash a lot of paint around and do a lot of cutting and sticking!

(I also didn't plan the stilettos, but she insisted!)

I think I'll bring her along to my Hope & Elvis collage workshop weekend, she looks like a bit of a party girl!

Hey! Ho! Saltburn!

Last week we were holidaying near Whitby and we had such a fab time.

I love Saltburn so much, it has a real arty-surfy vibe, and has some wonderful independent shops.

The Hey Ho Print Co Store is such a beautiful and friendly shop, with so many gorgeous temptations inside...

There is a wide selection of independent designers and makers' work and the most wonderful prints.

How lovely are these old school rubbers!

Nearby is the Hey ho Print Co Studio which runs  open access printing facilities and workshops.

(I'm hoping to attend one of these in the future, the workshops look great!)

I'd highly recommend a visit if you're in Saltburn, the website also has lots of goodies for sale too.

PS: I bought some Lyra Ferby pencils from the Hey Ho Store, I haven't tried out the colours yet but the graphite pencil is fab! This is a little sketch I did of a fishermen statue by Joan Pyman.

PPS: Saltburn is also the home of the scariest looking gnome I've ever seen!

(Prepare to cover your eyes!)