Artymess Goddess of Fibre Alchemy

A Winter's Walk........

2012-02-10T21:13:00.002Z

Up on top of St Catherine's hill Winchester

Lovely Yew tree in the woods behind our house ...........

Old man of the woods ...........xx

Des Res for mice.........or...whose been eating my plum stones

2012-02-09T09:41:00.003Z

Went out to the log store to fill my basket with logs for tonight when......

I pulled open a bit of tarpaulin and .......

Found all these plum stones with little holes chewed in each and every one......mmmm wondered who had been scrumping the plums from my tree....so..........I staked out the bird table...........yes !!!............I saw it the little pesky mouse ....you'll have to look closely and you can see it jumping back into the tree......ha ha ......xx (the squeaky whingey noise in the background is Gracie waiting to go out the garden)

Hey Hey ...We're the Monkeys....

2012-02-08T13:40:00.003Z

Monkey hats as promised ..........Tigers next.......xx

Craft Corners........

2012-02-02T07:29:00.002Z

I have been featured on 'The Best of The Web' at Craft Corners ........go and visit it's full of fun ideas and crafts..........just what the doctor ordered for me a great boost for my confidence ........thank you Jennifer and Craft Corners....xx

A pandemonium of parrots............who's a pretty girl then .....

2012-01-30T22:08:00.003Z

Pretty Polly...........6 parrot costumes for Ruby's school performance at Rock Challenge ........Tigers and monkeys to follow .......xx

New stock in the shop.....

2012-01-25T10:39:00.003Z

Something for the boys.....gadget holders........

Blast from the past....

2012-01-23T07:24:00.006Z

Some of my illustrative work ....done in gouache, colouring pencil and pencil ....

Pencil drawing and gouache painting of Butch my brother's Jack Russell who loved a good sing song ......if you asked him to sing he would throw his head back and howl forever .....such a little character .....

This is a colouring pencil illustration of a poem I love .......

These are some experiments with plastics and stitch .........

Went up into the depths of the attic yesterday and came across some art I made for my A level exam ....only in 2000 though I was late doing it but they are experiments with plastic .......quite interesting so thought I would post them here also thought you may like to see some of my illustrations gouache and pencil ....I trained as a pictorial illustrator back in the day at Swansea College of Art then specialised in botanical for my final ...many happy days spent in Singleton botanical gardens drawing and painting.....one of these days I may illustrate a book maybe now's the time ...who knows ......hope you enjoy seeing these they don't get aired enough...x

No 1 is the Winner.........

2012-01-22T09:48:00.004Z

Using random number generator the winner is Number 1 .........Kit and Kaboodle.....
Kate send me your address and I'll pop it in the post tomorrow...

Everyone else send me your address too and I'll put a runner's up prize in for you ...you are all winners.......thanks for spreading the love.......xx
email artymess(at)yahoo(dot)com

Back to normalish............I think the force is with me

2012-01-21T08:46:00.012Z

A triangular coin purse inspired by Jennie......

A Diary from Mrs Button

MMMMM....fingers crossed ......

Goodies from Maya .......

last but certainly not least a creative banner from Corrine...

My mojo is coming back ....Yay.....thanks for all your support your comments have made me feel that there is life beyond a job .....I have been making some bits over the last few days........hopefully you enjoy seeing them .....thanks to Corrine for my JuJu banner it brought creativity with it over the Ocean.....and thanks to Maya and Mrs Button for my lovely Giveaway pressie......xx

Giving away the love ........

2012-01-18T09:22:00.002Z

Just going to have a quick little giveaway .....I have been really touched by all of your love and support so I am going to give a little back in the form of this brooch ...It's the first piece of creativity I have managed since the 'R' word (made it yesterday) ........From now on it's only the 'L' word.... Love, Love, Love .....just say hello on this post to be entered ........will draw on Sunday so be quick ...xx

Feather in my cap .......

2012-01-17T09:21:00.004Z

Went to the sea on Sunday.... a bit of beachcombing is just the ticket ....had a promenade along the front ending up at 'The Blue Penguin' greasy spoon cafe for a plate of chips .......also I went to have a look at artist's spaces yesterday and have put my name down for one ..YAY...exciting stuff don't know how I'm going to fund it but what the hell I had to 'go for it'........it's now or never ......still not much creating going on but am just in my lair licking my wounds I'm sure it won't be long now before I am back in the swing of it...I have been asked to make about 15 items to go in The Art House shop ....so I need to get my finger out soon..Thanks to everyone for support and encouraging words they mean such a lot.....xx

Bit of a creative block ..... Winter walks and wood foraging

2012-01-15T10:06:00.005Z

A woodland sprite ??.....

Sorry a bit lacking in creativity at the moment .....I think I need to withdraw and heal ....in the meantime lots of walks and wood gathering ...very theraputic and healing ....nature is the best doctor ........xx
Gracie Marie as mad as ever ( muzzle looks horrible but she does chase the deer in these woods and would hate her to hurt any little critters).....

Happy Birthday Auntie Janet and other Random stuff ...

2012-01-11T12:17:00.006Z

Happy Birthday Auntie Janet ....a little spark of creativity even though I feel c~~p.....!!

Georgie who has been poorly recently but still finds the best places to sit or sleep

Whose sofa is this anyhow ??......

Joss and John dressed as Nerds for New Year's Eve party......

Visit to the Sealife Centre just before Christmas and a bracing walk along the front avoiding crashing waves......

Re-dundant.......Re-birth, Re-generate, Re-growth, Re-newel, Re-juvenation

2012-01-05T21:12:00.005Z

Dragonfly ......Courtesy of Lovely Laura

Happy New Year..........What's happened in your first week of the year ??.....I lost my job !!....but staying positive now I can become a REAL textile artist .....xx

Post Christmas walk......

2011-12-28T17:38:00.007Z

Have been on some lovely walks over the last few days today we walked along the Itchen River and walked back as the sun was going down.... .hope you had a lovely Christmas we had a wonderful time ......On Christmas day we went to my son Ryan's and his girlfriend Cassi they cooked a delicious dinner and we didn't even have to clear up ...a perfect Christmas day .........

My new Christmas hat from Ryan ...perfect colour ....

Egret fishing in the Itchen River ....

Christmas leg warmers from Jocelyn.......

Some of my kids on Christams day .......and Jim of course

My Christmas dress ...bought for £1 in a charity shop ....bargain...

Some sharing moments with Ruby ....

Had to put these two pics of my Cariad ...

We watched this little Egret fishing for ages ...as soon as I turned the camera off it actually caught a little fish ...isn't it always the way ...never work with animals I say ....or birds

Count your Blessings

2011-12-24T19:35:00.000Z

A roof over our heads

Making Christmas decorations

Family around the kitchen table

Presents from a special friend Kim Numinosity

A blazing fire in the hearth

A filled log store ...a Christmas pressie from my son cut by his own strong hands ....

Hand made sweets made by Jocelyn's fair hands

mmmmmmmmm......

Roasting chestnuts by the fire

Gracie

Sharing some treats with your furry family

A healthy Georgie after a health scare the other day ....

and last but not least ...Stitch ....Have a wonderful warm blessings Christmas ......xx

On the twelfth day of Christmas......A Carousel ...Perfect

2011-12-23T10:00:00.006Z

A beautiful Carousel what could be more perfect on a Christmas night .........
Following source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel
The earliest known depiction of a carousel is in a Byzantine bas-relief dating to around 500 A.D., which depicts riders in baskets suspended from a central pole. The word carousel originates from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella ("little battle"), used by crusaders to describe a combat preparation exercise and game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen in the 12th century. In a sense this early device could be considered a cavalry training mechanism; it prepared and strengthened the riders for actual combat as they wielded their swords at the mock enemies. European Crusaders discovered this device and brought the idea back to their own lands.[citation needed] A carousel was also a training device for the ring-tilt, consisting of wooden horses suspended from arms branching from a central pole. Riders aimed to spear rings situated around the circumference as the carousel was moved by a man, horse, or mule.

On the Eleventh day of Christmas

2011-12-22T15:59:00.005Z

Eleven swans a'swimming .......in Salisbury today and an owl in disguise.......Toowhit Toowhoo on the 11th day of Christmas..x.

The Tenth day of Christmas...Happy shortest day and Solstice

2011-12-21T11:38:00.000Z

Happy Solstice ..Spirals.....Early man had much to contemplate when observing the beauty of spirals in the natural world. They appear on animals such as snails, seashells, and rams’ horns and they occur in natural phenomena like whirlpools, tornadoes, and spinning galaxies. It is not surprising that the spiral would become a powerful symbol for creation and growth. It is probably the oldest symbol of human spirituality and the most commonly recognized Celtic design motif.The Celtic spiral design appears on a myriad of ancient artifacts, as well as on stone monuments such as Newgrange, in Ireland. It is uncertain what the religious significance was to the pagans of Newgrange, but it undoubtedly had some connection with the sun, which is spiral in its movements every three months. The double spiral also follows the path of the sun, describing the movement of the heavenly body over the course of a year.The symbol meaning of the Celtic spiral is unknown. It may have been used simply for decoration but there is much room for interpretation. In most cultures, it is a symbol of eternal life. The symbol spirals out infinitely, thus reinforcing the concept of life, death, and rebirth. The whorls represent the continuous creation and destruction of the universe. In terms of rebirth and growth, the spiral symbol can represent awareness of self, beginning at the core or center, and expanding outwardly, as it develops.It is also a symbol of initiation and the ritual journey through a labyrinth to the sacred realms beyond the center. The center represents complete balance. It is the place where Heaven and Earth merge. Source http://celtic-symbol-dictionary.com/celtic_spiral.aspx

On the Ninth day of Christmas ...showing the love..

2011-12-20T19:19:00.001Z

The Eighth day of Christmas...Ice and Mermaids

2011-12-19T21:13:00.001Z

Icy morning ........Mermaids... beautiful ATCs from the talented Lisa..xx

On the Seventh day of Christmas.....Yogi...not the bear...

2011-12-18T08:53:00.003Z

I love this print I bought from Leah's Etsy shop visit her blog for fantastical illustrations ........the Yogi bears an uncanny resemblance to someone ....now who can it be ....??

On the Sixth day of Christmas ...Charity shops rule

2011-12-17T13:48:00.004Z

cannot believe how lucky I have been ....another Charity shop another Singer .......sewing machine £15 ......Handmade Cristmas pressies ....Priceless...xx

On the fifth day of Christmas.........Robin Redbreast

2011-12-16T11:50:00.003Z

A Lovely piece of bird art from Dawn .........x

On the fourth day of Christmas............bags from around the world

2011-12-15T07:22:00.008Z

Mexico.....the wonderful Frida Khalo........

China.........

and India.......

Embroidered bag from India I think the embroidery is from the region of Gujurat ......they use shisha (mirror) embroidery and flower motifs
more charity shop finds this week all three bags cost a grand total of ...yes wait for it .....£2.49 .......can you believe it?.... who would EVER want to buy new again when there are such bargains to be found.........

On the third day of Christmas.......shoe....and boots

2011-12-14T12:48:00.004Z

Bought this FAB Louis shoe from Madeline's Etsy and these great wellies from the charity shop for £3 ....Christmas bargain .....x

On the second day of Christmas........

2011-12-13T09:03:00.002Z

I received this lovely lavender heart from Katie..........

On the first day of Christmas........

2011-12-12T08:02:00.004Z

Yes Kim It WAS a sewing machine that came in that big box ..........a real sweetie a Frister and Rossmann.... .very ornate..I have to source a bobbin and then she will be sewing away ........what a great start to the twelve days of Christmas.....

a Stitch in a box........

2011-12-11T22:52:00.005Z

No Stitch didn't really arrive in this box ....but I will show you tomorrow what did..

I'm in a shop !!..yay...

2011-12-10T17:18:00.003Z

Have some of my stuff in a new place opening in Basingstoke ...the launch is next Weds .......its run by BCOT college and there maybe exciting things happening there and yes my hair is now pink !!...x

Don't let your I phone feel left out this Christmas.....

2011-12-09T10:24:00.003Z

Knitted I phone Kozy Kovers....knitted by my fair hand (well my fair knitting machine anyhow)if you want one email me .......in fact one of my collection of knitting machines .....a gal can't have too many knitting machines in my opinion ....ahem !!......don't know if the rest of my household agree ........

You better watch out ......it's on it's way.....

2011-12-07T11:28:00.003Z

Yep it's official ......the countdown to Christmas ....i'm making some decs for a Craft fair at the Art House on Friday......John (Joss boyfriend) bought me this old Singer from the car boot and it works like a dream .....and adds to my collection .......can't ever have too many vintage sewing machines ......xx

Birthday Boy ........

2011-12-04T18:28:00.006Z

these are all back to front we walked home in the moonlight ......

You are never too old for a playground slide .........
Happy Birthday Jim .........a walk by the sea ...perfect ........xx

Yr 8/9 Butterflies for The Butterfly effect Exhibition ....

2011-12-03T18:28:00.004Z

a selection of butterflies by my Yr 8 and 9 classes winging their way to the Butterfly Effect.........x

What Dreams May Come .........?

2011-11-29T20:39:00.004Z

There's something in the air ....I can feel it .........x

Making Merry.........

2011-11-27T18:24:00.009Z

Kindle Kovers on Etsy tomorrow in time for Christmas .......x

The Boy done good ...Ist Class BA Hons and a proud Mum

2011-11-25T17:51:00.007Z

Went to Brady's graduation today in Southampton......Ist Class honours Degree in Computer and Video Games....he has also landed his dream job in a top notch Games Studio in fact they got in touch with him ......I am a VERY Proud Mum tonight ....well done Brady ....it's me whooping in the video !!....xx

New Day ...New Hair.........

2011-11-23T21:04:00.002Z

Had my hair cut today ....Yikes .......x

Cats always find the best places....

2011-11-21T22:26:00.005Z

Georgie doesn't go out much now the weather is changing but she sits as close to the fire as possible the dogs don't get a look in.....I once had a poodle who used to sit so close to the fire that once or twice she started to smoulder !!.......

St Michael's Square

2011-11-19T08:13:00.003Z

Jim sang at 'The Three Monkeys ' at the Art House last night.....here is one of his songs ...'St. Michael's Square'.......this is a beautiful love song where he tells of when we first met 8 yrs ago and he took me down to the old historic part of Southampton to show me how beautiful Southampton used to look before the terrible bombing it endured during the second World War.......Southampton is a port where the Spitfire Aeroplane was designed and built and so was a major target for bombing .....The main shopping part of the city was hastily rebuilt in the 50's and has no character so it was interesting to see the historic part and to have a love song written about me was really special !!.......

The P word ......

2011-11-18T12:54:00.004Z

More purses for an upcoming Making Merry fair .......

A Taste of things to come ??........

2011-11-16T07:34:00.002Z

Two walks a day ...as the doctor ordered.....

2011-11-13T22:57:00.007Z

The first in the woods with the Fly Agaric .......

In the woods behind our house .....it's a great time for funghi ...I'll get Jocelyn to identify these as she is an expert although I think the purple one is an Amethyst Deceiver ........magical time in Bluebell Woods ...My fairy name is Bluebell, Jim's is Woodpecker and Ruby is Evergreen .....
this afternoon we went to Lepe Country Park (click on link to read about it some interesting history) for a walk along the sea it was so clear it looked like you could paddle across to the Isle of Wight ...I guess you could in a kayak !!.....

yes this clay was REALLY turquoise .....I wondered if I made a pot and fired it whether it would stay that colour .........

A few of these Conifers had already come down where the cliff had eroded ........these have their extraordinary roots exposed .....looked like Jim's old dreadlocks ..........

Magical light as the sun was going down .........

AAAAWWWWW........and LJ loves JC too.........xxx

had my two walks as part of my physiotherapy for my back ....one in the woods with the doggies and one on the coast .....a perfect Sunday........

Happy Birthday John....welcome Zola

2011-11-12T19:18:00.006Z

sponsor a dog with The Dog's Trust

it's John's (Joss boyfriend) birthday today and for his present I sponsored a rescue dog .....here she is Zola .......I stencilled her on a T shirt and cushion for John.....

Remember 11/11/11...........

2011-11-11T08:54:00.005Z

In the frame Matthew Chorley from Lancashire Jim's Grandad

WW1 medal awarded to my Grandfather Herbert Snow who was in the Welsh regiment

a variety of photos from an old album from my Grandmother, unfortunately all the names are long forgotten ...I do know some of them but their connection to my family is a mystery .....

Einon Bowen

Doll and Davey John from Cardiff

Bert Llewelyn my Uncle Ellis's father ........
A day to remember .............x

Colour and Texture .........

2011-11-09T22:22:00.003Z

MMM..when to stop?......

2011-11-08T11:16:00.005Z

Just been following a tutorial by Tam over at Willowing it was good to use watercolour pastels for a change .. but I'm not sure if I should add some more layers .....always an artist's dilemma ....when to stop ....what do you think ?......x

Spirals .........

2011-11-07T20:37:00.002Z

Remember Remember dogs hate fireworks....

2011-11-06T18:29:00.005Z

Yes it's that time again ....Guy Fawkes night fireworks galore ...drooling shaking dogs .....puddle on the floor.....why oh why don't they make silent fireworks? It's Sunday evening now and there are only a few going off at the moment so we have Tv and 2 radios on full blast again and washing machine on its longest cycle ..so hopefully it's over for another couple of months ......New Year's eve will be the next trial......some pics of our local fireworks we snuck out for an hour to watch them ......hope Whippet is ok today Iz.......x

Today we listened to Jim play at Joshua Tree ....nice relaxing afternoon and a great veggie roast to boot ......obviously I took my stitching ......it's nice to start getting back to normal activities ...I can't sit for very long but it is def a step in the right direction ....what did you do this weekend ?.......x

Walking and Healing ...and a few bits and bobs.....

2011-11-04T22:09:00.008Z

You don't usually see a swan in the sea .........

Went for a healing seaside walk to Hill Head ....see I am upright and walking and sewing .....recovery is slow ....but sure .....!!

These little birds have an apt name .....Turnstones !!.......

Peace................

2011-11-03T09:52:00.001Z

In the post today...........

2011-11-02T07:55:00.008Z

This piece is by Jan......I don't think a photo can do this wonderful piece of art justice .........it's beautiful .....the colours are perfect for a colourholic like me .....makes my eyes sing ..........thanks Jan.

I bought these from Katie of The Red Tin's Etsy shop go visit she has some delightful dolls for sale there and the red-head postcard is exquisitely stitched ......lovely work ...........aren't bloggin friends the best .....thank you ......x

Hope you're not fed up with pics of purses I'm making .....they're for a craft fair I've booked at the end of November .....

Giveaway result ........

2011-11-01T12:59:00.005Z

its.......

the 9th comment.......

its.........

Pam you are the lucky winner of my hanging ....thanks for entering everyone ....x

New bag ... another sugar skull.....and a horror picture ...beware...

2011-10-30T22:19:00.007Z

Beware the next photos could be shocking if you are of a tidy personality.....my workroom curtains and table .....

an installation on my curtains .....I tend to pin pieces of art/photos/patterns on the curtains of my workroom.........inspiration installation....

Dia de los Muertos... Giveaway ....

2011-10-29T15:34:00.005+01:00

Is it really a whole year since my last Dia de los Muertos giveaway?....Time for another...just leave a comment will draw next week............x

Cupcake for a Cupcake

2011-10-28T23:11:00.004+01:00

Happy Birthday Kim this one's for you .......xx
Visit Gina's blog for explanation

Now for something completely different.......

2011-10-27T21:08:00.003+01:00

Some of my wet feltmaking done some time ago .......x

Anyone for Sunday Tea?.........

2011-10-26T23:00:00.003+01:00

Still your Thoughts .......Purse No 5........

2011-10-23T19:26:00.003+01:00

Saturday's Purse

2011-10-22T09:26:00.005+01:00

Got the rhyme a bit wrong yesterday so here it is .........x

Mondays child poem (substitute purse for child)

Mondays child is fair of face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesdays child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

Friday's Purse..........has far to go .....

2011-10-21T10:18:00.002+01:00

Thursday's Purse ...Dia de Los Muertos .....

2011-10-20T09:48:00.004+01:00

A Purse a Day.......

2011-10-19T12:17:00.003+01:00

I am making some purses for my Etsy ........I have made 6 backgrounds and this is the first purse I have finished...........x

What I'm working on now......

2011-10-18T08:13:00.002+01:00

I am starting a fabric journal ...at last .......this is going to be the cover ......x

Happy Birthday Stitch ......8 today ......

2011-10-17T08:03:00.003+01:00

say no more little Stitchy Boy is 8 yrs young today ...Happy Birthday little man ...xx

Special Saturday Swan...........

2011-10-16T19:17:00.004+01:00

Went for a lovely walk yesterday along the Itchen Navigation.......looks like the weather might start changing tomorrow though.....x

Miaow ........

2011-10-15T08:43:00.003+01:00

A painting I did of one of my cats Honey .....I painted this eons ago I have even signed it with my maiden name......it's reminded me how much I enjoy painting ....I trained as a botanical illustrator back in the day and I have a bit of a yearning to get out my paints again ......so look out for more to come perhaps ..........x

Knit and Nat...This and That....

2011-10-13T12:33:00.004+01:00

My knits modelled by the Lovely Sophie ...........

Some of my knits that developed from the samples in the last post .....They are machine knitted but with a lot of hand techniques too....

Goddess of Love.....and other things........

2011-10-12T11:02:00.004+01:00

Some lace goodies from the charity shop ..........

Some Welsh Love Spoons .......handcarved for a 'Cariad'......

A Couple of ATC cards .......subject 'Goddess of Love'..........What have you done to spread the Love today ??..........x

Knits and knots .....

2011-10-11T20:44:00.003+01:00

Some of my knitting samples ..more of these later ........

Samples........with heat transfer.....

2011-10-11T07:51:00.005+01:00

one of those orange net bags which I have woven plastics and fabrics through .....then zapped in the heat transfer machine so its all melted ..I might stitch into this ....

heat transfer printed colour with hand stitching ...backstitch.....

Stitched laminated plastic using the heat transfer press .........

How does your garden grow ?........

2011-10-05T10:38:00.005+01:00

My latest brooch .......I am enjoying making my suffolk puffs .........

For my medicinal walk yesterday my son Brady and I went to Hillier's Arboretum where there was an Art in the Garden exhibition ......a pleasant leisurely walk and art ...can't be bad eh !!......

Flowers all in a row ............

2011-10-03T22:17:00.003+01:00

Here are some samples I've made as examples for my classes tomorrow ..........not that I'm there but still have to plan lessons .......they have been making suffolk puffs .....well that's what I've set anyway .....we'll see what they've actually done when I go back in 3 weeks !!.........x

Lucky 13.........

2011-10-03T12:56:00.002+01:00

No 13 Lynda Howells is the winner of my butterfly/bee giveaway.......as chosen by the random number generator...........x

Feathers in her hair........

2011-10-01T21:43:00.009+01:00

'Put a Feather in your Hair' are words from a song that Jim wrote about the time we first met and he took me to see the old part of Southampton..(nearly 8 years ago now...aw and we are still in love )....I always put feathers in my hair when we walk .....
here is the link to the song it's called
St Michael's Square

This church was in the middle of a woods it was built by gypsies in 1883 ....its such a magical place........the cobbles which read 1883 are made out of fossilised sea urchins

the water was cold ..bbbbrrrr ......

Yay went out for a walk today .......on doctor's orders ....to strengthen my unused muscles and help my back ....it was such a gorgeous day .....it's good to be back in the real upright world ...........x

Thank you from Jim.....and Gracie....

2011-10-01T07:55:00.002+01:00

thanks for voting for Jim's picture the winner is number 1 which was Gracie's favourite too ........look out for the new style website soon ......xx

This one ....or that one ???

2011-09-29T18:06:00.005+01:00

No 1 Arty shot of Jim outside our shed.....

No 2 serious shot in his studio (actually in our bedroom)................or ......

No 3 my handsome man smiling outside our shed .....

Which photo should Jim have as the front page of his website ? He needs to change the dreadlocked Jim to new look Jim !!.......No 1 or No 2 or No 3????........
..thank you for voting ........x

Old Photos.....Old Work..........

2011-09-28T16:14:00.004+01:00

feel free to use these images ......they are not relatives just some lovely old photos ......
Now I've put this canvas up I'm thinking I have already posted about it ....so sorry if I'm repeating myself ..........old age I guess ........

Sending out the Love.........

2011-09-26T13:37:00.003+01:00

some new love Heart Brooches.....otherwise I might go doolally with no stitching .....still sitting on an ice pack ..........numb bum.....x

Mothballs .......!!

2011-09-25T10:20:00.004+01:00

The moths have been in my wools ......the little blighters!!... although I am against killing them I do object to them eating my stuff ......any tips on discouraging them?...I hate the smell of mothballs and won't use insecticide ......any ideas ? have you had this problem ?? or perhaps I am a bad housekeeper .....very likely.....
I have added a moth to my brooch collection remember to enter my GIVEAWAY there is still time........x

Dashing dragonfly.........

2011-09-20T13:28:00.004+01:00

Leave a comment on my giveaway post to have a chance of winning a butterfly or this dragonfly brooch..........some advantages of still being on my back ...getting my Etsy items listed in my new shop Honeybees Wing ............x

Giveaway .... flutter-byes...........

2011-09-18T19:30:00.004+01:00

To celebrate the opening of 'Honeybees Wing' my new Etsy shop stocking my new creations straight from the Honeypot Workshop deep in Bluebell Wood.......I am giving away one of my butterfly/bee brooches ....the winner can choose one from my new Etsy shop Honeybees Wing.....I will be stocking it with more brooches this week so keep looking ...........Honeybees Wing link
I will draw the winner on 3rd October ....just leave me a comment just to say hello .....and one of my butterflies may just be fluttering it's way to you......x

Round Robin..........

2011-09-16T09:21:00.004+01:00

A Robin's nest, A Wasp's nest, A Felt nest .......it seems my life is going round in circles at the moment...x

New vintage lace Brooch........

2011-09-14T09:25:00.003+01:00

A new brooch for my big 'sis' Leslie...........at least this is something I can do while i'm resting my darn back.......x

Ice packs again..........

2011-09-12T08:21:00.003+01:00

Yes here I am again..........resting up with ice packs ........done too much over the last two weeks .........going back to school was the last straw ......hopefully a few days rest should sort it out .........in the meantime here are a few pieces of colourful work that I don't think you've seen before ........xx

Some family history............

2011-09-09T21:00:00.010+01:00

The complete Snow family.........All 13 children ...PHEW .......!!
The Snow family 1913
Back Row:- Gertrude, William , Herbert(My Grandad), Martha, Clifford, Edgar, Ethel.
Front Row:- Vincent, Flossie, Margaret Harris, William Henry, Lawson, Harold
Floor:- Doreen, George

picture of my Grandad and brothers.........my Grandad Herbert is the one facing the camera with the dark suit on .......

This was a photo believed to have been taken in the 1890's of Snows Builder's yard in Neath .......my Grandad worked at the family business all his life still going into work well into his late 80's he died in his 90's

Edgar Snow one of my Grandad's brothers

Margaret my Great Grandmother.........

William Henry my Great Grandfather.........

Ethel Snow one of my Grandad's sisters

Some things don't change over the generations
Ethel Flossie and Harold..Auntie Flossie was a dancer and had a dancing group ..... as a child I danced in Auntie Flossie's Troupe as it was called my friend Louise and I got the front spots for a lot of the numbers we performed shows all over the place and had a grand old time..........
I believe that it was Harold Snow who bred champion Welsh terriers he took them to Crufts and exported them to America.......

Auntie Flossie was quite a character as you can see from these pics.......

Re-found the website with some of my family history so i've posted some interesting photos of my Grandad, some of his brothers and sisters and his parents and grandparents.......The Snow family had a building business in Neath South Wales where I was born and grew up ....there were 22 children 13 of which survived into adulthood....the link if you're interested is Snow Family

happy Birthday Jocelyn ............xx

2011-09-05T06:50:00.005+01:00

Happy Birthday Jocelyn........23 today .......hugs and love ....xx

Cupcake Friday............

2011-09-03T19:20:00.003+01:00

Can you knit a cup cake?.........Check out Gina's blog to see how you can help.........xx

Work in progress.........

2011-08-24T08:50:00.005+01:00

Managed to get away for a few days just to the Isle of Wight ..it's great to have a change of scene ......'A change is as good as a rest they say' and I have been quite depressed about the slow progress of my back but I was able to drive the 15 mins to the ferry .....i lay down over the crossing and the cottage was only a short drive from the ferry .......it's an idyllic cottage on a farm it's 16th Century and the garden is really old fashioned with lots of cottage garden flowers and quite higgledy piggledy .....we love it ....its so peaceful and beautiful .....i have taken my sewing machine and sewing stuff of course (the first thing to be packed in fact I've realised i haven't brought enough clothes ...ah well maybe I'll have to make myself some !!).....I've even done a water colour and pencil drawing .........xx

The Tattooed Lady

2011-08-18T19:14:00.007+01:00

I've finally done it....after waiting a long time then the uncertanty about whether I could get there I bit the bullet and went ....had to stand all the way on the train but could lie down for the deed itself ....Yes I am now the proud owner of a precious tattoo created by the skilled hands of Ade from Nine tattoo studios ......Thanks Ade ..

http://www.nineboycesstreet.com/ade/

The human yo-yo..........

2011-08-14T08:41:00.003+01:00

Yes I am now back on my feet and tentatively doing some sewing ...(very carefully and NOT overdoing it after another week on my back).....I won a kit kindly donated by Annette via Wendy to make a pair of Fairy shoes and here they are .......they are so cute I am going to take them down to the woods to see if they can find a new owner ........xx

Some Etsy goodies..........

2011-08-11T15:50:00.006+01:00

Gorgeousness from Jackie

A beautiful needlecase from Suzy

Danny Mansmith........the Dancing Prince free machine embroidered brooch.......

Carissa Rose prints from original paintings

Elle JW Prints of original paintings of my most favourite dogs........

beautiful woodcut print by Rick Beerhorst

I have been whiling away my time over the past 6 weeks on Etsy (One advantage of being laid up )and have just started to receive all the goodies I have bought ...... here are a few ......Hope you enjoy them as much as me ......x

Back on my back ..........

2011-08-10T19:34:00.003+01:00

Not much dusting being done here ......although I NEVER destroy a spiders web...only if it is really really old and not being used ........how can you destroy such an exquisite piece of art .........

yes I overdid it....!!......never mind it was worth it ......back to hand stitching or watching films

Buddha and extension on last post's work....

2011-08-07T21:33:00.006+01:00

Before .....

After .......

I have worked a bit more on a piece I featured in my last post.......I pinned it by my window and loved the way the light shone through it so I've included that too .....x

Forestwalk Laura ......Art and other odd bits.....

2011-07-29T08:38:00.007+01:00

Just a quick post showing some goodies that arrived in my mail.........
If you haven't already visit Forestwalk Laura in her amazing Florida home .......her fantastic photos of woodland flora and fauna .......today she has wonderful pics of Barred Owls and her art work is quite beautiful and reflects her love and respect for the natural world.....Laura is a warm caring person who I'm sure would love you to visit.....
Also visit Lisa who makes the most amazing digital art ATCs and her wonderful paintings of flowers .....Lisa and I have virtual friends for quite some time now .....she is the most brilliant supportive person who shares the love of all animals with me ....especially my dog Gracie......who Lisa calls Gracie Marie........
here is a funny video of my other little dog Stitch ....he is drying himself after coming back from the river (unfortunately i am still not well enough to walk with them yet )

A stitch in time ......saves insanity...........

2011-07-25T13:14:00.014+01:00

See I am resting on my lounger........but I've been itchin'to be stitchin'......

The process.......

Finished ............

I have been able to do my first bit of hand sewing since my disc problem started 5 weeks .........I maybe on the mend .....I am a VERY happy bunny.........don't worry I won't overdo it .....but I just had to pick up a needle and thread.......x

Stop me if you want to buy one.....

2011-07-22T11:53:00.014+01:00

Woven .........

handmade paper pulp machine stitched........

Printed and machine stitched with bead embellishments........

Some painting on fabric......I think I am going to do some more painting I haven't done any for ages and getting this work out has made me realise that I do enjoy painting.....

a piece of handmade felt .....I have some other pieces I need to do some more I love making felt.....

Chopped up fibres ........these are chopped up fabrics and fibres free machined then hand stitched ...in fact this first piece was the very first one I EVER made in 1992 .....a historic piece !!...

Fun with plastics .....I love working with plastics these are mostly free machine embroidery....I encase threads and bits in between layers of plastics then melt them together and stitch on top ....

fabric collage based on dia de los Muertos ......lino cut centrepiece and bits and bobs......

My back is slightly better today ...Yay ....so i am up and about for a little while.... I decided to take some photos of some work that I don't think I've posted about before but i may be wrong .....there's are allsorts of work..... some melted plastic work....handmade stitched paper.....painted......machine stitched....collaged .....dyed vintage lace ......printed......handmade felt....woven.....i think that covers everything .....I will be selling a lot of this work either on Etsy or if there is something you like email me artymess(at)yahoo(dot)com .....hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoyed making these .......I just feel they need to go on their own journey now as they have been cooped up for far too long .........they need some wings to fly ...xx

Weaving a tangled web......

2011-07-21T11:26:00.004+01:00

Not really just some hand weaving I did a while ago on a hand loom with embellishments....still no stitching going on here but I do think I am turning a corner as far as my back problems ..........but it does mean that i am just lying flat and watching films after films after films ...still LoveFilm do have 413 world cinema films I can watch online .......OK only 309 to go ............xx

Let me introduce myself to my new followers......

2011-07-18T07:50:00.002+01:00

This was a post I wrote eons ago but as I have lots more followers now i thought i would post it up again to say a bit about myself...and seeing i haven't done anything recently because of my darned back problem (I'm sure you don't want to see pics of me lying on my lounger watching films !!)...mmmm normally I am an images person I prefer not to write too much ( visual learner /picture smart ....Thats me !!) so with the aid of the obligatory pics here goes.....

Un
I was born in Wales in a town called Neath.I love Wales and I guess the Celtic side of me shows in my love of art/music/poetry......and my love of rugby....Cymru am Byth.......

Dau

My children I have 5 of them and they make my world go round
Ryan 30 ....Landscape gardener /DJ/break dancer/Graffiti artist/traveller
Brady 28.....Jewellery designer/computer games designer/uni student/philosopher
Sophie 24.....Classically trained professional singer/Yoga teacher/traveller/Mermaid
Jocelyn 21.... Textile artist/Dancer/ party animal/Funny/Angel
Ruby 7.........Artist/ story teller/Fairy

Tri

My Man ........Jim ....we have been together for nearly 8 years ....we live and work together so are never apart...I have been lucky enough to meet my soulmate he is a singer/songwriter/poet/he is strong and true ....and a brilliant Dad to Ruby and he has the wickedest dreadlocks (Oops old post he doesn't have dreads now)....and he writes songs about me ....how romantic is that?......we love walking in the countryside and by the sea, enjoying magic, fairies, following our dreams, looking at rainbows and watching shooting stars.We have both been vegetarian for 21 yrs and feel strongly about this.

Pedwar

I love my animals... two dogs scruffy rescues that rule our house .....example just got back home to find a whole sultana cake eaten......My fault shouldn't have left it where they could reach it.....and to add insult to injury they had chewed up the plum sticks I had cut up this afternoon for this evening's fire and to cap it all they are now having a play fight behind me on the sofa while I'm trying to write this ....we also have an 18 yr old cat called Georgina who is a little senile these days
I used to have 8 rabbits and 17 guinea pigs but that was when I was a bit needy !!!I'm OK now

Pump

My passion which is anything textiley...... fabric stitching threads wools ......patterns colours textures.....etc. I have always loved anything to do with making stuff ......I used to steam and block hats for my cindy ....taught by my Grandmother to knit stitch and crochet from very early age. I trained as an illustrator and graphic designer in the 70's specialising in botanical illustration ........then when I was stay at home Mum really got into textiles and now I am obsessed....... I teach textiles all day and stitch all night...I work as a Textile/art teacher I have been teaching kids for 8 years now and I love it. I work at an inner city school that has a diverse mix of cultures it's a real melting pot with never a dull moment ( 37 different languages spoken within the school community ...!!)
I am particulary addicted to swapping art it's an amazing experience I love sending my art on journeys and adventures all over the world

Chwech

My collecting ......I collect 'stuff' anything and everything .........I have to curb it a bit as I have to think about the others in the house.......I love being surrounded by interesting things I find it inspirational and exciting.......I am also addicted to charity shops and car boot sales

Saith

We have a caravan that we take to the New Forest and one day we will live on a narrowboat.(This one's in our garden she's called 'Amelia')

Pamper Day for Pinkies ...................

2011-07-14T12:08:00.005+01:00

Sophie arrived yesterday ....today before she left she pampered my poor feet that have been neglected since I have been unable to reach them because of my back .....thanks Sophie you're a doll ....xx