A Passion Project...

 

During the first lockdown I set myself a personal project, as I really wanted to look inward and pause, I wanted to create imagery that had meaning, even if that imagery meant something else to someone else.

I created a zine (I'll show you that later on if you fancy a peek,) and from that I developed a deck of cards that could be used to focus upon when writing affirmations and intentions.

I'll discuss some of the cards in more depth during the summer (I've set myself the challenge to learn a bit about iMovie,) and hopefully I'll make some short films about them.

 I've learnt so much from this project, not just about techniques such as photoshop editing, but about myself.

I'll be launching the decks in October - November time, hope you like them!

X

The Birthday Party...

Mollie wasn't sure about birthday parties.

She sometimes didn't know what to say and she wasn't very good at games.

Her dress wasn't sparkly and she couldn't afford a big present.

So she put on her rabbit ears and took a deep breath.

When she walked into the room full of noise and people and music,

she noticed another girl in rabbit ears, and she knew it would be alright.

I've really been enjoying making these collages and I'm thinking of having some digital prints in my online shop next year, including this one maybe.

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well, I'm leaving the present wrapping until the very last minute (as usual!)

festive wishes to you chuck 

X

Mrs Whipple...

Mrs Whipple ran a boarding house for retired circus and music hall stars.

She would listen intently to their stories as she served their breakfasts,

and would sway from side to side as they sang their songs at supper time.

Sometimes, when she swept the floor she would find an old sequin glinting on

the scullery tiles,

and Mrs Whipple would become misty-eyed and sigh longingly to herself.

This is another one of my collages that I'm possibly going to make into giclee prints, hope you like her.

Wishing you a very happy Sunday me dears.

x

Imbolc ...

When the first day of Spring arrives,

she will whisper to the birds,

and the creatures,

and the flowers.

She will gently shake the branches of the willow tree

to wake them from their slumbers.

And she will prise open the petals of the snowdrops

to tell them that she has returned.

Just as she promised she would.

I hope you like this collage, especially on such a snowy day!

I'm hoping that I will be able to sell prints of my work in the near future, I've really enjoyed making them.

Hope you're keeping warm, I'm sure that Spring will arrive soon!

x

Meet Madame Gris At Hope & Elvis!

I'm so excited to let you know that there will be a brand new Mrs B workshop weekender at the wonderful Hope &Elvis on May 5th and 6th 2018!

It will be a whole weekend dedicated to the joys of paper and collage, and will be based on a new body of work that I've been snipping and drawing and sticking for quite a long time now.

Madame Gris will be the star of the show on the Sunday workshop, (alongside Monsieur Le Dandy, but you'll get to meet him another time!)

On this day we will be splashing the paint around preparing patterned and textured papers before collaging a creature of your choice.

I've really enjoyed developing these characters and I can't wait to share them with you!

And don't worry if you don't feel too confident about drawing because I will have sets of templates all ready for you on the day.

I can also help you if you want to make your own animal too, whatever takes your fancy!

On the Saturday workshop you will get to meet some other animal friends of mine and we will be playing with vintage paper and collage.

But I'll tell you more about that day soon!

All the details about both the workshops are on the Hope &Elvis website, there are a few places left if you fancy a day of chatting, snipping and playing!

Whoop!

X

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The Lonesome Bear...

It's only as the animal or person emerges that sometimes they tell me their story.

Some characters are very shy, and I have to remember that I can't force their secrets from them, otherwise they might disappear back into the paper or canvas.

But some characters can't wait to tell me all about it, and this rather handsome bear was one of them.

You see, at first I had planned to make a lady bear, but it wasn't to be.

I did enjoy making his dungarees, but he had a rather wistful look in his eye.

As soon as his outfit was finished he told me his tale, and he asked very politely if I could make him a bunch of flowers.

It had been a long and bitter winter but now the Spring flowers were beginning to emerge and the warm, gentle currents of air coaxed the bear out of his slumber.

He let out a sigh as he began to remember the dream that had never left his heart throughout those long and lonely months.

He gently hummed to himself as he picked a small bunch of flowers that grew on the mountainside..

'Will you be my sweetheart?

Will you love me true?

Will you be forever mine?

Will you say 'I do'?'

He wore his very best pair of dungarees, began to walk along the path by the stream, and tried to hold his nerve...

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Once Upon A Time...

A little while ago I posted a photo of this piece of work in progress.

A lovely Instagram friend of mine called Diane wrote the most magical story about this girl.

I asked her if I could blog this story to share with you all.

Please make yourself a cup of tea, get yourself comfy, and enjoy...

So once there was a young girl who lived in the Breton countryside.

The place was quiet and the pace of life was slow.

Lapin was an only child and both her parents worked all day, retting, spinning, weaving and bleaching the linen.

When the linen was woven, it would be spread out on the fields and the sun would work its magic, and the cloth would bleach.

Lapin's parents were so tired that they would be late going to collect the linen spread out on the grass. It was Lapin's job to make sure that the rabbits didn't run across the cloth as they would mark it with their paws and droppings.

As Lapin had no other friends she would watch the rabbits and only gently shoo them away.

One evening when she came back from the fields with her mother and father, she pulled some of the beautiful creamy coloured linen over her head. Two corners flopped down over her back and when her mother looked an idea came into her head.

That night she stayed up very late, the night was warm, and as always quiet. She carefully cut out a shape and stitched away with some linen thread that she had spun. Eventually she went to bed delighted with what she'd made and so fell asleep with a satisfied smile on her face.

The following day, before Lapin went out to sit in the fields to watch over the cloth bleaching in the sun, her mother handed over a piece of folded linen. Lapin thought maybe it was some bread and cheese for her to eat. The folded piece is too light to hold anything... Lapin shakes the piece open and finds that her mother has made the most beautiful hood for her daughter to wear.

What is so special about the hood is that it has long ears hanging down from the crown. Lapin immediately pulled the hood over her head, there was an opening for her face and the hood fitted snugly down her neck.

She kissed her mother and then ran and ran and ran out to the fields. As she ran the beautiful gentle ears bounced up and down.

Later, as she crouched on her knees with her arms stretched out in front of her and her head resting on her knees she saw the rabbits coming to nibble the grass and play in the late sun.

Lapin was very happy.

No longer did she need to shoo the rabbits away as they came nearer and nearer to her.

Nowhere in those fields was there a happier little girl and such contented, calm rabbits.

Thank you so much Diane, it's such a beautiful story, I really think that the little community we have online is really special and supportive of each other.

X

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Exciting News...I'm A Bit Giddy!

A little while ago I was asked if I would like to have a stall at the Selvedge Fair at the Pendle Heritage Centre near Burnley, on September 23rd.

Now I don't really do New Year's Resolutions, but I did secretly promise myself to do things that are exciting but scary at the same time this year.

So, after a bit of 'umm-ing and ahh-ing' I decided to give it a go!

This has really got me thinking about where Mrs Bertimus is heading, because without realising your work changes gradually over time doesn't it. I've really enjoyed playing with collage and drawing recently, as well as painting and stitching, so I decided to order a small print run of Mrs B's greetings cards.

They will make their debut at the Selvedge Fair, that way I'll get some face-to-face feedback, be it good or not so good. I can then see if selling cards online, perhaps alongside my paintings, could be a possible idea in the future.

I thought it would be better to leave them blank inside for any occasion.

Here's a selection of some of the cards, hope you like!

I've also been snipping and cutting for England, getting some wall hanging prints ready too, I'll show you those when they're ready, if you'd like a peek.

All the best, wish me luck!

X

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