TAGGED 3 TIMES

This week i've been tagged 3 times. No, not electronically tagged or given an ABSO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) roflol
Once by john (Artyfax), then MAM, then Tanyamac

All in all they wish to know 7 things about me so here goes.

1. Waited 32 years to do a Fine Art Degree, only to be disappointed. I had such high expectations of University, but found that i learnt much more from College, (Chesterfield Art College).

2.My favourite artists are JMW Turner, Paul Klee, Rauchenberg, Rachel Whiteread, Sarah Lucas (my kinda humour lol).the list goes on and on lol.

3. Artists i don't like are, Damien Hirst (watched a programme, where he doesn't do ANY of the work, just tells his assistants, oh blob a bit of paint here, a bit of yellow there darling, aaaarrrgggh), and Tracy Emin, who tells porkies about her past life, to try and enhance her artwork.

4. I would walk on fire for my daughter and Grandson who are the light of my life. I couldn't live without them, literally.

5. Which do i prefer Fine Art or Crafts? Crafts everytime, people are sooooo much nicer, friendlier, are there to lend a shoulder to cry on, more talented, i could go on and on, whereas Fine Art are............... (what can i say without being too rude....... )

6. I can only work in a mess. Tidyness restricts my creativity. But i do have to tidy up several times a week, cos i am soooooo messy. but i love it. Plus, i can only do a painting standing up. REALLY cannot paint sitting down, so the older i get the less i can paint, cos the legs eleven can't take it.

6. Went to John Howard Grammar School for Girls, but i'm afraid the bit about learning to be a lady didn't quite work out. roflol. We were taught how to sit properly, talk nicely, eat your peas in a correct ladlylike way, walk with a book on our head? where did it all go wrong hahahaha

7. I like white wine, but then again most of my friends know that. Ahhh but do they know i only like DRY white wine hahahahahahhahahaha. May partake of a bit of rose now and then, 0h and of course i love a lager. oh dear sounding a bit like a lager lout here.

The main things in my life are my immediate family, my art, and my online friends. oh and spending money at the craft shops, and ebay, and etsy, and...........

Funky Felt Pins

This past week, i've been busy making felt brooches on the online course at Joggles with Susan Sorrell.

I've made 17 so far, but still need to do stage 2, which the embroidery and beading stage. This i received today, so will be busy next week, trying to get them done. I probably won't succeed doing all 17 this week, but intend to finish them, as they are going to be xmas pressies for art friends. Just hope they like em.

So here they are, in an unfinished state

I can't wait to get some detail onto them, and next week, i'll show you the end results.

Also this week, i've decided to give myself a challenge. Stampington & Co. are releasing new magazines next year, and one of them is Marie Antoinette. As she has become a favourite of mine lately, i've decided to make some art to put forward to the magazine. Fingers crossed they like my work.
Again i will show you them, before i send them off to USA.


I would also like to say a big thankyou for those who voted for me. it really means a lot to me.
I'm happy knowing that some people care, and I'm really not bothered about winning, in fact i know i don't deserve to win. Like I've said there are some truly amazing pieces of work being displayed, my favourite is the work of Lilla le Vine. This is a truly beautiful piece of art, and i really really really love it. She also makes amazing gypsy purses, which i first found out about on art-e-zine. In fact she has inspired me to have a go at making my own handbags (purses). Just getting together some fabrics and trimmings so that i can make a start.

Right must dash, i still havn't made my ATC for this weeks MAMMA's swap, the theme being 'Home Sweet Home".

Feeling really unwell, I seem to be in more pain now, after having the 2 teeth removed, than i was before. We should have been going out for a meal tonight, but i have had to postpone it, because i'm really struggling to eat, and feeling lightheaded, tired and in pain.

Hey ho, next week will be better. lol
xxx

MIND WIDE OPEN

No it's not the Presidential election roflol, but WEDNESDAY 8TH OCTOBER the voting begins on Mind Wide Open.

Here is my humble effort, not sure how it will go down amongst the 'experts' that enter this monthly competition.

But i would be eternally grateful, grovel, grovel, if just one person voted for me, it would give me a bit of confidence, which i so lack.

So here it is ............

Altered Matchbox
"All Dressed Up"


with contents

I have had sooo much trouble trying to take a photo of this. it is a dreary windy day, and at one stage it ended up scattered on the lawn, (some of the beads and sequins fell off), so ended up having to cut the matchbox up so that i could scan it.

I am going to have to invest in a lightbox methinks, as the British weather is NOT very accomodating to photography

So to vote, and to see some amazing work by other artists, go here
FROM WEDNESDAY 8TH OCTOBER THE VOTING BEGINS

VOTING IS NOW OPEN. TO LEAVE A VOTE, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT ON WHO YOU ARE VOTING FOR. THERE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT PIECES OF WORK TO BE SEEN.

My House

A number of my online friends have been entering the weekly challenge set on
dansmamaison

So this week i decided to go for the challenge and this week the theme is Femme (woman).

Here is my attempt.

click to enlarge

I have a thing for Marie Antoinette at the moment, and pink, and shabby chic, so decided to go the whole hog.

I'm also attempting another challenge, which has to be in by Tuesday, over on Mind Wide Open.
There are some truly illustrious ladies on there, Viola and Sanja amongst them (see their links on the right). So i know i don't stand a chance, but have welcomed the challenge.

I'll post it before Tuesday, and after that i hope people will vote for me PLEEEEEEEASE. Says she down on her hands and knees roflol.
Those with the most votes win a shopping voucher, oooooooooooh yummy.

Back in a couple of days to show you what i've done.

Matrimony

This is the theme that I have chosen this week over at Mamma's Flickr group challenge/swap.

The reason i chose this theme, is that my husband and I (lol I sound like the Queen), celebrated 35 years of marriage.

And how did we celebrate?

First, we both had dentist appointments, nice.

Then a buyer unexpectedly turned up, wanting to buy not only DH entire tropical fish collection but also his aquarium too. (DH is wanting a new tank), so last night, i spent about 4 hours catching approx 60 fish, emptying gallons and gallons of water, cleaning all the rocks and gravel, then the tank.

And they say romance is dead roflol.

DH did retrieve himself though, cooking us both a really delicious steak meal, followed by fresh cream apple turnovers. No champagne though, it has had to be kept on ice until i finish another course of antiobiotics, which the dentist prescribed me. The abcess has reared its ugly head, and i am now having to have 2 tooth extractions next week. HEEEEEEEELLLLLPPPP.

The last time i had a tooth removed, i felt every single thing, and ended up screaming the place down.
On another occasion, i was left sitting in the chair for 25 minutes, while the dentist went off licking the boots of the owner of the practice.(long story) and what did i do?
Walked straight out.
DH was waiting for me in the waiting room, and tried in vain to drag me back in, and i was in such a temper, NOTHING could have stopped me from leaving.

The receptionist asked DH to bring me back in, and he said, "There's no way on earth she'll come back in here, she'll be halfway home by now".and I was. LOL.

Needless to say, i do not go to that dentist anymore.

DH now warns any prospective dentists to lock the doors, just in case i do a runner.

Anyway enough of that.
Here is the ATC i made today for MAMMA, in way of celebration.

Cyber Fyber

Well I'm back, hubby well again, and myself too. I've got soooo much catching up to do, as i have neglected quite a few things, but managed to pull off a few things this weekend.

First, my Fiber ATC for the Cyber Fyber exhibition, which is being held online at the end of the year, then will be exhibited in a gallery in Colombia, South Carolina. I'm soooo excited. It is all being run by the very talented Susan Lenz. I get to receive one of her beautiful ATC's in return. Oh what fun

Very similar to the skinny fiber card i made, as again i used the brusho ink to dye the patchwork cloth.
I added seed beads, along with some gorgeous teeny flower sequins, which i purchased from Etsy.

Just hope it's good enough, as there are some prestigious fiber artists invited to participate along with us 'amateurs'.

Amongst them, a favourite of mine, Susan Sorrell. I absolutely love her work, and from the 7th October i will be taking an online class of hers making felt pins. It's only a 2 week course, but hopefully next year i'll be able to afford some more of her lengthier classes.
REALLY can't wait.

Here's a link to some of her classes available now.

I've also managed to bead 6 matryoshka dolls, which now need a back sewing on, and stuffed.
HOPEFULLY, i will manage to do some today.

I hope you are all well, and boy, it feels good to be back amongst you all.
xxx margaret xxxx

Bad patch

sorry, need to escape for a short break.
I'm going through a really tough time at the mo, with hubby being ill, and myself included.
I have no inclination, no feeling for art at this time.
Just bear with me, and
I'LL BE BACK.
I'll leave you with one of my humourous ATC's from way back.

French Derriere
(from an old french postcard)