Raindrops in My Coffee

This is my first assignment of the year, we had a few days to create a film with soundtrack under the theme of Identity.

Raindrops in My Coffee explores the effects that other people have on our emotions and the impacts of it long term and how we can be controlled by others or attempt our own level of control.

Giveaway winner & back to school:(

Sorry for being so late with this, the winner of the bead giveaway is Janette who entered via my Itsy Bitsy Art Facebook page!

Itsy Bitsy Art by Sam on Facebook

Well done Janette, your beads are on their way to you :)

I can't believe it's back to school next week already, at least we've managed to pack in a few exciting days out this year, The Harry Potter Studio Tour was Amazing as was the studio tour of the BBC!

Again, like last year, there hasn't been many picnics, but we have managed a couple of beach trips and the girls and I have been making some beads.

So it's back to school, time to get sewing names in new stuff and winding down the late nights, I have year two of college in a few weeks which I can't wait for, I've missed it lots:)

Today's Happy Thought- Don’t cry because it is over. Smile because it happened.

Little Monsters Birthday.....

My latest commission was a Moshi Monster cake topper for a seven year olds birthday party!

This was both fun and challenging as the birthday girl had her favourite Moshlings and these were not the easiest shapes to create!
Here we have, Cleo, Poppet, Cutie Pie, Roxy, Flumpy and Iggy.

Today is my blogoversary, woohoo, five years of blogging:)
so to celebrate I'm giving away three of my recently created skull beads.
All you have to do to be entered into the giveaway is visit my
Etsy Shop and leave a comment telling me your favourite item I have listed:) the winner will be drawn in a weeks time!

Blogoversary!

I've just noticed that in 9 days it's my five year blogoversary, my how the time has flown! So how to celebrate hmmmmmmm??
A giveaway I think, I'll keep you posted:)

Today's Happy Thought- "You must not allow yourself to dwell for a single moment on any kind of negative thought." Emmet Fox

Monday morning fun

How can Monday mornings be fun I hear you say? Well, I can't remember ever liking Monday's, as a child, I would be laying in bed on a Sunday night and I would hear the end music to " That's Life" (ancient program) finishing downstairs and I would be thinking "that's it, weekend over" and a sense of impending doom would fall upon me! (I wasn't a dramatic child, but I really didn't enjoy school much) 

 Later on in secondary school, why were the worst, most difficult lessons on a Monday? And of course as an adult, no one enjoys their job so much that they long for Monday to arrive, of course your welcome to correct me if I'm wrong!

 I'm now a mother, and have had to send my children to school now for nearly ten years, so it still feels like it did when I was little when I see them on a Sunday night complaining that the weekend is over! So, how amazing that when I started college, I discovered that Monday mornings can be the best! Each Monday at 9.30am, we have a drawing session, we take turns in leading the drawing and every time it's something different, here are a selected few...... 

See more drawing session work on My Flickr Set

Different views of object

What is on your mind after 10 mins meditation?

Life Drawing

Incorporate chosen object with a given CD

 How much happier would we all be if our workplaces, schools etc did this on a Monday to kick start the week?



















Today's Happy Thought - There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way!

Dark Romance.....

So I went off and had a bit more clay play and came up with these Bracelets which have been listed on My Etsy Shop which has been newly restocked today:)

I love the gentleness of the Rose against the "evil" (I tried not to make it so cute) skull, I used wooden beads in place of the roses as an alternative for those non romantics-or boys:)

I'm now working on some other skull bits n bobs.......back later:)

Today's Happy Thought...Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.

Clay Play.....

As I had time to spare yesterday wondering round Chelmsford, I was inspired by the skull fashion in the shops. I love skulls and all things piratey so I made these little fellas.......

Which I then put on a piece of cord and made myself a bracelet, I have made more, just can't decide what to do with them, i like the bracelet or Brooch idea but want to mix them up with a good contrast, Roses maybe.....?

Off to play a bit more then:)

Todays Happy Thought- Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

More drawings

I have a new found love for drawing in pastels and charcoal, I love my new pastels, I now spend much of my time up to my elbows in dust-half the time in house dust, the other half in beautiful soft coloured dust.
I use my new Sennelier pastels for everything including when a family member has an occasion calling for a card!

I love photographing my work too, it brings out a whole new dimension to the art....

Today's Happy Thought-“When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless.”

Diary of A Seven Year Old Traveller

While thinking about how I can raise funds to take my family on a much needed holiday of a lifetime to America in a few years time, I came across a diary that I had written in 1979 while holidaying in Disneyland, I was seven years old, my youngest child is now seven so it was nice to show it to her. She thinks I had nice handwriting.

In the meantime, i must sell lots of Art to get us there:)

to see the full set of photographs, take a look at my  Flickr Set

Todays Happy thought: Plant a seed of Friendship, reap a bouquet of happiness.

New Passion.....

I have discovered that, as much as I love my miniature making, I love photographing my miniatures too, it somehow brings them to life even more!

I will be experimenting with this over the summer holidays as well as making new miniatures, I think I may explore this further during my second year of college.

I made these fun LPs from the 1980s which I have now added to My Etsy Shop which has been newly restocked today:)

Todays Happy Thought: “Often the right path is the one that may be hardest for you to follow. But the hard path is also the one that will make you grow as a human being.”

The Respectfulists Manifesto-Project work

I thought I would share some artwork my latest art project in progress, it is following my Manifesto of Respectfulism. I am aiming to highlight the good that comes from the bad.

I have chosen images related to news stories such as war and disaster that I feel show the positive side of humanity. The need to help those in need and the hope that we still feel in desperate situations.

The Respectfulists Manifesto

I thought I would share my Art Manifesto with you, It is based on my beliefs on the world today!

The Respectfulists manifesto

We feel that the world needs to be reminded that we are lucky to be alive and that life is precious. We, as human beings should look out for each other and consider each other’s feelings. Where there is conflict, resolution should be attempted.

Also, to be respected is not a right that comes with age, status or wealth, true respect has to be earned and respect breeds respect.

We will be unwavering in our endeavour to make the world a better place for us to be, we will demonstrate through art, that humankind needs to fill the world with love and kindness. There should be no room for violence or hate.

We will strive to teach our children about the fundamental building blocks of humanity and the strength gained from living in a thriving community.

Throughout history, Art has conjured up feelings and stirred emotions, we must use this to our advantage and create art that generates only positive thoughts, be it, love, contentment, hope, acceptance, excitement or honesty. Maybe then we can learn to live with respect for other human beings and stop destroying humanity.

Our inspiration will sometimes be found from the negative events that occur around us from which we will attempt to draw out the positive elements, which will create an improved state of mind.

In contrast, we will also draw inspiration from the good that flourishes in most of us as it is important to highlight that the world is is still brimming with integrity and good intention and unselfishness thrives yet often goes unnoticed.

We understand that good can come from every situation, mistakes made can be lessons learned to save pain and heartache to others. We must respectfully and sensitively seek out how we can successfully illustrate this in our art using any medium.

We are not about hearts and flowers, to be pleasing to the eye devoid of purpose is simply not enough. Some of the most hope inspiring depictions are not delightful and delicate. We are about making the viewer feel reassured.

We are aware that through strong image and a good use of text, it is possible to infuse a sense of positivity and well-being.

The Respectfulist artist must be able to think positively and be able to learn to always recognise the light at the end of the tunnel and to see that the glass is half full.

Negativity is discouraged, as this is what we are striving to reverse.

The Respectfulist artist must have respect for the world we live in, fellow humans, their subject and surroundings and show no prejudice.

The Respectfulist artist must have intention to produce work that inspires positive feelings. There will be nothing produced purely for its gruesome, violent or offensive content.

Short break time

Phew, time for a break! I feel like I've been one one of those hamster wheels since September !there hasn't been a day gone by where I haven't had a presentation, essay or project to research for even on Christmas eve I was writing an essay on my chosen artist, Wilhelm Sasnal.

I visited his exhibition at the Whitechapel gallery towards the end of the year and it was fantastic, which is why I chose him.

I also presented my personal development blog My Big plan which I intend to continue with :)

Today's happy thought-Plant a seed of friendship, reap a bouquet of happiness!