You lovely people

Dear all,

A big, warm Thankyou for your kind thoughts and messages. I can't tell you how heart lifting they were.

I'll try to resume 'normal' posting soon. I was discharged 3 weeks ago and my parents whisked me back to stay with them in York. I'm going to see how my Mum's scanner works and then I'll be able to post something properly! I haven't had much opportunity to be arty but I did make some little envelopes and draw some zentangles. I have been quite shaky so they've been a challenge sometimes (and as for my nail polishing ... well doesn't bare thinking about!)

I'll be visiting all of your sites soon - YAY! :-)

Thank you once again.
With love and hugs all round!
Sarah

Away for a while

I just wanted to quickly apologise to visitors and bloggy and arty friends about my absence.

I've been unwell for a little while and have been admitted to hospital so cannot blog.

Missing 'visiting' you all.

Sarah

x

If you love Encaustic Art ....

Kelly Biggs is an artist from Hampshire.

This gives her lots of natural inspiration to draw upon when creating as she's close to the sea and to the mystical New Forest.

I've seen encaustic art but never quite like this. It took my breath away the first time I saw it. The colours are so jewel like. The forms created on the paper show depth, texture and movement.

It reminds me of being in the most beautiful, deep, undiscovered cave filled with crystalline forms.

Stop and Stare

Dazzle

Check out her site to see her amazing work.

http://encaustica.web.officelive.com

Kelly has kindly allowed me to post these photos here.

I'm so glad to be able to share them with you.

PS Kelly is also selling off some of her original works on ebay (there's a link on her site)

Rhonda. The Philosopher Artist

I can post this now as I know it has arrived safely in the hands of Rhonda.

Rhonda generously had a giveaway on her blog in May for one of her photograhs. I was a lucky recipient and received my choice (and the choosing was difficult!) which I posted about on 22nd June.

I sent a reciprocal gift of a Zendala. I based it on a lot of the elements of the Zendala that I made that hangs in my living room as that is the room I have chosen to host Rhonda's photograph. The Zendala is enriched with copper acrylic.

Check out Rhonda's site here. If you click on her profile you will see that she has several sites and is a member of EDM and Milliande.

Jodi. The Creative Jar

Back in May I blogged that I had received a PIF from Jodi (The Creative JAR)

It was pop art on plywood.

I gather that Jodi is fond of recyclables and reusables so I sent, in return, a zentangled 'repurposed' piece of packing board which I entitled 'Nailed and Mailed'. I also sent the first in my 'Klumsy' Series of ATCs.

Here's her posting. Please check out the rest of her site - it's cool.

Thank you EWian

EWian is a generous hearted arty soul who recently asked for ideas for journaling prompts.

It was so much fun to read the ideas from everyone else and to contribute to, what is now, a fantastic inspirational resource. In return for offering an idea, EWian hosted a giveaway of arty goodies. I count myself doubly lucky - not only do I have access to a whole list of ideas (click here for the original post) but I won!

My luck was a surprise as we have had a lot of misfortune recently (I'll not bore everyone with details) so it felt as if a curse was beginning to lift a little. So thank you to EWian for being so lovely and for helping me to find a genuine smile :-)

More Stitched Mono Metallics

A couple more ATCs from this series.

I've been doing a lot of zentangling again. Calming and relaxing. I find it so therapeutic.

PMC Level 1 MCSJ

I've just spent too long trying to take photos of the silver (without much success!) so this is it, the one photo! They're all too bright or blurred!

I made everything in the photo (heart charm, shell charm, bead, rolled leaf bead, 2 pendants and 2 pairs of earrings). We even learnt how to draw sterling silver wire and make our own earring hooks.

Had a fantastic time. Precious metal clay is such a great invention. For those of you who do not know what it is ... it is PURE SILVER! If it were to be hallmarked it would be 999 parts per thousand (sterling silver is 925). It is micro particles of pure silver mixed with water and an organic (plant fibre) binder to create a clay. You work it like clay. You leave it to dry completely so all water is evaporated, then fire to burn away the binder and to sinter the metal. Then you're left with your silver piece ready to polish up.

The course was brilliant. The tutor, Lisa Cain, is so talented and knowledgeable. Given her level of expertise, her ability to give us all confidence and encouragement as beginners is a skill in itself! She has such enthusiasm. The Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery has a great studio with lots of space, light and tools. I intend to practice and then go back for the next level.

We stayed at The Old Quay House in Fowey and on our second night had a room overlooking the estuary.

Before I go!

We're heading away for a few days. Not far, only to Cornwall (the next county!) but I'll miss catching up on blogging.

I will be doing things arty and crafty though ... my lovely, generous sweethearted other half has bought me a PMC silver course at The mid Cornwall School of Jewellery. I'll be doing a level 1 diploma. I'm excited (and nervous). PMC is something that I've been interested in for a few years (I got my first kit about 5 years ago) but have never had instruction about how to use it properly.

I'll post more when I get back.

In the meantime - here's a couple of ATCs for a new series of cards I'm working on with the long title of 'Stitched Mono Metallics'

Butterflies and Bees at Docton Mill

Yesterday we made the most of the sunshine and went to Docton Mill Tearooms.

Docton Mill has beautiful gardens and is near Hartland, North Devon.

The journey to it is via some rather typical Devon roads (ie winding with many blind corners and hair pin bends, single lane (with passing spaces few and far between), high hedgerows at the sides of the roads and grass and weeds growing in the middle!) At least these ones don't have the added complication of steep hills as well!

I took lots of photos of the winged creatures and flowers. Here are a few.

(Camera Canon EOS 450D with Tamron 18-200mm lens)

First Blogiversary!

Oh my goodness me ... this flew past.

I should have celebrated on 16th July! I actually painted the above picture (for a card) on that day so somewhere in my heart I had some arty joy!

My life has taken so many twists and turns over the last year, ups and downs ... but blogging has been a constant. I've met so many lovely, lovely people and have had my eyes, mind and soul given the best arty food you could ask for. Thanks to all.

I'm on Margaret's site!

I feel a little taste of fame!

I am honoured to have my ATCs on Margaret's website. I'm so pleased that she likes the cards I made for my very first ATC swap! These are two of the three ATCs that I made.

This is the link to Margaret's 'Thankful Thursday'

I am thankful to Margaret for offering me my first ATC swap (what I hope will be my first swap of many!)

http://waterblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/07/thankful-thursday6_22.html