AFRICAN - ATC

I have been unable to do much in the way of art, in fact its been very difficult for me all round.
Last week i had a fall, and the doctor has diagnosed Vertigo. Well i always thought vertigo was a fear of heights (which i suffer from), but in fact Vertigo is when the actual room seems to either spin completely around you, or pulsates in and out. I'm having to get about with a walking stick and hanging on for dear life on to the walls.

I feel like i am absolutely paraletic drunk, whilst walking on a ship on a rough crossing. Everything that i look at spins round and round, and i'm struggling with everyday life. I can't wait for the tablets to start working, as its very frustrating having to have everything done for you.

Managed one day to pull an ATC out of the hat, which was for MAMMA'S swap, the theme being Africa.

I seem to do my best work when in times of stress, and this is definitely one i'm proud of.

ATC
Hand painted with Acrylics

ALTERED JIGSAW

I'm taking part in a 6 way Christmas Jigsaw Jam swap. (I know the dreaded C word, but it really isn't long now lol)

When each person receives all their swaps back, they then adhere them to canvas, to make one piece of art.

Me, i have to be different lol. I'm sending them slightly larger jigsaw pieces, and wish to have them made into individual christmas tree decorations. Havn't quite made my mind up on the colours, but have chosen the theme 'Wings".

The first one i made was for Sherry, who asked for the theme Musical Christmas with the colours red and gold.

For Sherry
size 3" x 2" (7cm x 5cm approx)

The second one is for Viv, who asked for vintage christmas in the colours cream and gold

For Viv
size 3" x 3" (8sq cm)

The third one is for Wendy who asked for Angels, in the colours purple, blue and silver. To make this one, i digitally altered a photograph, then did an inkjet copy, which i then painted with brusho inks, and used stickles glitter, glamour dust, stickers, and acetate wings

For Wendy
size2.5" x 3.5" (6cm x 9cm)

I'm still awaiting the arrival of the other 2 involved in the swap, and will post them up as and when i finish them.

Also this week, i managed to make 2 ATC's for the MAMMA group i run over on Flickr. The theme i chose this week is Remembrance and here's my entries for the swap.

'Twixt Love andDuty'
Watercolour background


"Flanders Fields"
Cross with the words of the Poem
Flanders Field by John McCrae
Poppies decoupaged with paper napkins

WOW - AN AWARD

I feel truly honoured that Belinda,of Metalic Dreams in Tasmania, would even consider me for an award, but i am very grateful to her.

Here are the rules -

1. 5 people are allowed to receive this award.

2. four dedicated followers of your blog.

3. one is to be new to your blog and live in another part of the world.

4. please link back to the person who gave you this award.


Now for the hard bit, choosing 5 people out of the hundreds of brilliant artists that i know.
so here goes


Nancy First is my new found friend, who means a lot to me. (another part of the world)
Jan a truly great friend, who i hope one day to meet.

Genie who never fails to comment on my work, thankyou.
Tanyamac the cheekyurchin, who certainly lives up to her name lol.
for the 5th i choose
Cindy and Cindy, and Maureen and John(who puts up with a lot of stick from us women lol) Sherry and last but not least Ange

Cheeky I know, but i couldn't leave them out lol.

FRIENDSHIP

Last month i told you about my 35th wedding anniversary, and how on the Flickr group MAMMA that i run, i chose the theme matrimony.

Unbeknown to me, my dear dear friends on Mamma, hatched a plan behind my back. They decided each and everyone of them, to send me the ATC's that they had made for that weeks swap.

I cannot tell you in words how much this means to me. People who i have never met , in fact i have only met my dear friend Ange out of all of them. Yet they went to all this trouble just for me, and boy did the tears flow. I must admit i am a bit of a weeper, in fact little tears are forming now just thinking about it all, especially as in the past few weeks, my dear husband has been very ill.

SO DEAR DEAR FRIENDS, I wish to show the world how pleased how I am to have such sweet people in my life.
Thankyou to each and everyone of you.

CLICK TO ENLARGE


LTLBLONDE, H@NES, BOWLINGBELLE
BARTY(JAN), RIA UK, BARTY(JAN)
BOWLINGBELLE, BARTY(JAN)


JOHN DYHOUSE, JOHN DYHOUSE
CINDY HAMLIN, SHELL-SHELL (SHERRY)
RENEE STIEN, CINDY HAMLIN


JOHN DYHOUSE, DONNABELLE, DONNABELLE,
CINDY HAMLIN, DONNABELLE, RENEE STIEN
NANCY TORSEN, CHATTY530, TALUULA2TWO

pchickki, Hattieheart


ANGES THE RED (ANGE), CASHPLANT (CINDY)
WHEN CLOSED


AGNESTHERED (ANGE)
CASHPLANT (CINDY)
WHEN OPENED


my own

You may be wondering how come i didn't send my own ATC off in the draw. That's because whenever there is an odd number of entries, i withdraw mine, so that nobody else misses out. They must have plotted between them to make sure it was an odd number of entries that week roflol.

Here is the photo album that i keep them all in, opened up to show the front and back of the album.

Such a precious momento to keep, not only of our 35 years of marriage, but to show how strong friendship can be.

I AM SUCH A LUCKY LADY TO BE ABLE TO COUNT THESE PEOPLE AS MY FRIENDS.
Right i'm off, cos i'm crying again. xxxxxx

MARIE ANTOINETTE - 2

I was going to make a third piece to send off for submission for publication, in the shape of a fan, like the ones i put in the tutorials on here.

BUT, my printer died a death, and it made it impossible for me to achieve this.

Sooo, i made one from fabric, and i'm fairly pleased with it.

The picture is paper, but the rest is fabric and lace. The browny peach lace, with the eyelets running through, near the bottom, is actual antique lace from France.

I had an accident with one of the other pieces, but managed to restore it, but with slight differentions.

See previous post to see the original piece before the accident.

Marie Antoinette meets Frida Kahlo

Here are two of the items i may send off as submissions for publication

The first one is one that i had already made, but i added further embellishments to.

A lot of the detail is hard to see, such as the handsewn tiny pearls on the silk ribbon roses. I'm not sure if this is an improvement or not, its just that Marie Antoinette was known for extravagant tastes, and i've tried to depict this.

The second one, an ATC, is similar to one that i have already made, but different lol.

Again, you cannot see the tiny seed pearls that i have hand sewn all along the bottom lace, and also the stuck on diamond gems along the frame of the picture.

I'm humming and haaaa'ing about whether to continue to make the third item, a fan, or not.
In fact i've given myself until Thursday to make my mind up about sending them off.

I also finished today another felt pin, this time a circular shape, with a picture of Frida Kahlo done with the acrylic gel transfer onto fabric method.

Funky Felt Pins Stage 2

Here are the first 4 felt pins (brooches) that i've managed to finish so far. Not sure how they will go down as xmas pressies though lol.

I've really enjoyed doing these. I just loooove beading with the tiny seed beads. NEVER have i had patience whilst doing my work, til i started sewing these little beauties. I love the look of them, i just love sewing with them, i love the sound they make when you lay the finished piece on the table. I think i must be cracking up lol.


I would like to take this opportunity to say a BIG thankyou to everyone who voted for me in the Mind Wide Open challenge. I was sooo lucky to be a runner up. Can you believe it, cos i can't. With all those beauuuuuutiful pieces of work, i really shouldn't have stood a chance, except for you precious guys out there voted for me. I BOW DOWN IN GRATITUDE. . thankyou.

i've already received my prize, as i elected to go for the Digital download collage sheet. That way i can use it over and over again. I Got to choose from the FABULOUS Shabby Cottage Studio
Thankyou to Gail who sets this monthly challenge. I'm not sure if i have the nerve to enter again, as much as i did enjoy the challenge. Maybe just now and again lol.

Couple of pieces to show you sometime over the weekend, that i MIGHT send off to Stampington & Co, to be considered for the New Marie Antoinette magazine they are publishing next year. I'm so unsure of myself, and feel that i may be bragging, by entering these kinda things. It's just now and again I have a little confidence and think 'yeeeah why not', and sooo regret having entered afterwards.

Still onwards and upwards as the Bishop said to the actress.

A FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY HERE IN BEAUTIFUL SUNNY MEXICO.
Please head on over and leave a Pattie a comment, she'll sure make you welcome.