Front of Doll

The front of the doll has been finished, at long last. I have learnt quite a bit about beading, or how not to bead. It isn't perfect, but that isn't what I wanted to achieve with this doll. It was all a learning curve. The back has quite a bit done to it now, but more may be added over the next few days. I extended the arms/wings so thay they can be shaped into a heart when hanging. When it is completely finished I will take a photograph of it, then the sparkle and colours should show up more.

Move day is just 5 days away. OMG. I just hope the stress doesn't get too much..

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FLOODS AND BEADS

WOW What weather, UK has had a month's rainfall in under 12 hours. Quite a lot of the UK is flooded, as it has hardly stopped raining for the past 2 weeks. Depressing. Glastonbury lived up to its reputation, mud, mud, and more mud. I don't know how they do it. Must be mad.

Here is the back of the healing doll, as you can see i have made wings from wire and beads, It is a little bit difficult to display properly on the scanner, it looks a bit squashed up. I've started some beading on the back. Plenty more to do yet. I'm suprised that I havn't got bored with it yet, but maybe it's because I am experimenting as I go along. As i've said before, it's for my new home, and not for sale or as a gift, so mistakes can stay with me. Something I have learnt is that I will do smaller dolls in future. Not only because of the amount of work, but because of the amount of cost as well. beads do not come cheap, even on ebay,

CELEBRATIONS

This week I sold all 6 of my ACEO's on ebay.com, my first time listing there. WOWEEEE I CAN'T BELIEEEEEVE IT.
A veeery kind person bought all 6, and it's given me such a boost.

I haven't been very active this week, my DH has been ill. He has recently been diagnosed with skin cancer, and was prescribed 'ointment'. It said on the package not to be given to anyone with heart problems, and since he has already had one heart attack, and left with heart and lung disease, it is not suprising that it has made him ill. It has made him lethargic and having angina attacks daily. I COULD SCREAM AT THE DOCTORS. We'll have to see what happens. I've fussed over him and tried to do everything for him, so it has left no time for art in anyway.
That is until yesterday, when I repainted the back of the doll. It looked far too messy before, and I think this will be a much better background for the fancy beads that I will be using .
The beginning of the week I managed to clear my studio a bit. 3 canvases went into the bin, along with several sketchbooks and research.

The sketch books were some from uni, I had so many, that I decided that I can't keep taking them everywhere. (I do seem to be moving home a lot recently). For my graduation I managed to fill over 30 sketchbooks, whereas most people filled one or two. Also 12 large folders filled with research of art and artists. Only one of those have survived the blitz. It's one I did of Robert Rauchenberg, and I photocopied in b/w his sculptures. Then I used pastels over them, and I was pleased with the result. Still am, which is unusual for me. Usually when a painting is finished I hate it. I only like them 'whilst' I am painting, the finished result does nothing for me.

I think one reason I am enjoying Altered Art and collage so much is because of the research I am doing. It was always my favourite subject at uni. It's the buzz of finding something new and fascinating, and wanting to start work on it straight away. That disappeared from me towards the end of time at uni. I ended up very disheartened by the tutors and what I had (or ather not)learned. I find out to my cost, that the only thing I DID learn from the tutors was how to do things for myself, i.e. research,and be analytical and critical of my work myself. Which I suppose is a very good thing to have learnt.

I'ts just that I have such a thirst for knowledge, that I feel that I was let down. After fulfilling a lifetime dream of going to university, when it finally came true, the dream ended up unfilled.
I wish that I had had the guts to push myself further and tried entering a different uni, instead of one that was close to home. Still that's life.

I feel that the best time that I had was at Chesterfield College of Art. It is rated one of the best, and I learnt sooo much there. It was a very exciting and fulfilling time. I have kept practically everything from that time, and I think the works show the buzz I was on at that time.

beaded doll (back)

Here is the back of my beaded doll. I have experimented with different types of lace, vintage and new, and painted it with gouache and felt tip pens. At the moment it looks messy, but I am going to embellish with more beads, using them like I would a paintbrush. Whether it works or not is another thing.
Hooray, goodies turned up, dominoes, paper bag books, book rings, paper flowers all from craftycarrot.com.
This is a UK firm with very cheap postage, and a free gift with every order. a roll of double sided tape. I now have 3 rolls. wtg
Also arrived today a plastic travel case for holding beads. This has 12 screw lid pots and I'm very pleased with it. I bought this from ebay.uk from Beech Cottage crafts
This cost me 99p and £1.49 postage which I am very pleased with.

NO GOODIES

Sad news for me today, my goodies didn't arrived in the post. I was really looking forward to using them. Instead a FREE sample of inkjet fabric sheet arrived, how good is that eh? You just print on it, iron it on fabric give a bit of a rinse, and then it's washable and everything. Can't wait to do something with it. Mowed the lawns instead. Not quite as exciting huh?
Really have no time for crafting or art, i MUST get on with the packing, first my studio, because I live in such a small bungalow, there is nowhere for me to keep the packing. Still we will be moving over a 4 week period, so I shall be able to pack and take each day. No mess, gradual work, easy eh?. Perhaps not, but that's the way it is. We can't afford a removal firm, so DD and SIL are moving us in their truck. They will be taking all the large bulky stuff such as fridge/freezer, washing machine, sofas etc.
I am not looking forward to it, but will be glad to get away from here. This new bungalow is twice the size, I'll be able to have my books around me, instead of stuck in a box in the garage.

new Dr Who ATC

This is the final ATC that I am doing for the Dr Who swap . Title Doctor Oooooh!, cos all the ladies love David Tennant. I've done a little bit to my Beaded doll, the back. Doesn't look much for now, as I am going to paint it and bead. The edges need to be sewn down, this is just the first draft of my experiment

Can't wait for the postwoman tomorrow, she should be bringing me my paper bag albums and vintage dominoes, along with other paraphanelia. Something new for me to explore, might have to leave it til after the move, but I doubt if I can wait that long.

bin day

Today, I decided to 'bin' David, and go for collage. Found some much better photos of him to work with, but that will have to be in the future, as these ATC's need to be done fairly soon, as the deadline is looming and i'm moving home. All that packing to do aaaargh.
Here are a couple of the ACEO's I have listed on ebay.com

Here are the 4 paintings after 3 days. Notice that everyone is different Huh? Not pleased with them at all, might have to ditch the idea of miniature painting in the future, tooo frustrating. Not got much to say today, busy,

DAY 3- DAVID TENNANT PAINTING

Here is day 2 of the miniature painting of David Tennant. Starting to look a little bit like him now. Not a lot. LOL

I've told myself to persevere as I know I can achieve it, but painting soooo small shows up the smallest mistake. One small mark makes all the difference, as i know to my cost. Painting 4 ATC's, and everyone different. Never mind.
Managed to do a bit more to it this morning, will show you later. The doll beading has to come to a stop til Sunday at least, as my DGS is staying overnight.
Received two beautiful blank pocket watches this morning, from over the pond. Yes I have now discovered ebay.com as well as uk, God help the credit card.
These watches are beauties, not sure what exactly I will be doing with them. Yet. One idea is just to do the norm, and insert a picture. But I would like to use one of them to make a doll of some kind, the clockface being the dolls head. If I do, I will have to figure a way how to attach it in some way to a body(doll's body I mean LOL).
That is something for the future.

Day two -Cindy - my friend

A VEEEEERY BIG THANKYOU TO MY DEAREST FRIEND CINDY. As soon as I found out that a reply had been made here on my blog, I just KNEW it would be my dear friend Cindy. What a girl. Behind me every step of the way, leading me on, guiding me, more like a guardian angel really. The only trouble is there's a great big massive pond between us. LOL
Ha! now I know I've embarassed you, Cindy.
She is the lovely young lady who 'runs' the Craft Happy Website, the friendliest site in the whole cyber universe. Link HERE
You'll be given a mighty fine welcome from everyone there.

The painting, it's going wrong, I keep looking at them, adding a detail here and there, but I can't get the lips right, waaay too effiminate. I'll keep going strong. maybe

Here are two pix of the 'healing' doll that I am making. pic 1 is day one, pic 2 is day 6. You will notice that at first aI used an ordinary vintage button for her face, but changed it to a lovely fimo rose bead, from my new affair, ebay.

I'm not sure about the wings, but I think i will stick to my original plan of Wire outstretched upwards and beaded.
Got to go, waaaaay past my bedtime.

Day One

As a newbie to the world of cyberspace, i decided to open a blog for myself. But first a couple of questions,
1 WHY?
2 Who could possibly be interested in listening to musings of an unfamous artist.
3 Is it vainness that makes me want to share my art with the world
4 I am GOOD enough to share my art with the world
5 Will I actually be SHARING my art with the world
6 Will any one actually think it IS Art

To find out a bit more about me to start with I would like you to visit my wiki on www.margaretfield.wetpaint.com. Then you will get a better idea of who I am and what I do.
This blog will probably be about what I AIM to do in the future.

When I've figured out how to use this blog i will constantly update my work in progress.
Today I am working on two different types of art.

I'm trying todo 4 acrylic paintings for an ATC swap that I belong to. I am trying to paint David Tennant, but as I am only used to painting Large scale portraits on canvas, trying to downscale is not that easy.

Here is Day One, Pleeeeeease don't think this is the finished article, as it is not. I might (and probably will) thrown them in the bin and do collages instead. I have a couple of weeks to finish them in, so I have plenty of time to make my choice.

The other type of art is a healing doll. Here she is on day one I will show you her tomorrow. She is made out of yellow felt to my own design, and I intend to use lilac seeded beads to promote wellbeing, which is something I need LOL.

I have neeever beaded anything in my life, so please don't expect anything great, it will be just a practice piece, that will moving with me to my new home next month.