Another Award

Today i found out that I have received another award, this time from a lady fromCyprus, who i didn't even know had ever visited my blog.

I get very emotional about this kinda thing, just thinking that someone from another part of the world not only reads my blog, but thinks enough about it to give me an award.

The lady is boatbird
and she has given me the Marie Antoinette Award, Real Person,a Real Award

Many many thanks boatbird, i reeeeeeally appreciate it. thankyou xx

Here are the rules for the award:

1. Put the picture of Marie Antoinette on your blog.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Link to those blogs from your blog.
5. Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know you've shared the award with them.

I am just going to give the award to one person, and that person is
Viv over at Viv's Visuals
This is not only for her brilliant creativeness, but for being a great friend to me, especially over the past couple of months, when things were a bit of a struggle for me. She made me laugh so much i cried tears of laughter. She is such a funny, mad, GREAT friend, that I'd be lost without her now.

Bottoms up Viv, I've a glass of vino in my hand and raise it to you.
(makes a change i know, me drinking ROFLOL.)

Over on MAMMA, the group i run on Flickr, i chose the theme triptych. and boy my friends never let me down, their work is stupendous, each and every one of them
Here's my 3 contributions for this week.

Elizabeth I triptych

Birdhouse triptych

Seaside triptych.

Sir Winston Churchill

This is something very close to my heart, but for some strange reason i've never thought of doing it before.
The reason why it's so personal?. The name Winston Churchill, was my father's first and middle name lol. AND his party trick was emulating Winston Churchill and his many speeches. I can remember going on holiday and at the Miner's Holiday Camp in Skegness, when it was the Talent Show, Dad would get up and do his oration, usually 'We'll shall fight them on the beaches.......".
I used to be soooooooo embarassed, as everyone else was doing a singing act lol.
Looking back now, I was very proud of him, and of course, the real Sir Winston Churchill too.

Mixed Media, made on 6" x 9" mountboard, acrylic and gesso background. With numerous symbols representing that era.
Rik rak in V shape - Victory symbol
car tyre - petrol rationing
blue bird - song 'Bluebird over the White cliffs of Dover" a war song by Vera Lynn
German scrap at bottom of photo, with acrylic paint drips - representing iron railings that were torn down during the war, to make aeroplanes
the white crosses represent the windows taped up for protection against bombs, and to stop the glass flying out.
Black material across the top represents blackout material which was put up to cut out all light from outside
Toggle on top right, represents the duffle coat Winston used to wear.
Buttons and shoe lace represents the 'make do and mend' philosphy of that era.
Embroidery around photo, represents his bow tie
Tag - Never , from another of his speeches
Roses - Symbol of England
Text is a copy of his actual transcript for his speech "Their finest hour"

I'm working on Queen Elizabeth 1 at the moment, and intend to do a series of English Historical figures

A week ago today, I celebrated my birthday. I had a reeeeeally super duper day, with some beauuutiful presents from family and online friends, culminating in a delicious dinner at an excellent restaurant nearby.
Sorry I'm late putting these pictures up, but ill health has been dogging me this week, and I'm struggling once again with the vertigo and depression. When this happens i become very insular, so pleeeeease forgive me for not visiting your blogs. I look, but don't talk. I've had to reserve my 'talking' for my Flickr groups, as i would not want to lose them as they have been a lifeline for me.

Sooooooooooooo dear friends, a VERY big thankyou once again, for the numerous cards and RAK's and pressies, and most of all, thankyou for putting up with me LOL.

From Ernie (hubby)

2 Marie antoinette figurines from Ernie, as well as year's subscription to Somerset Studio.
I bet you're thinking, oh what a thoughtful hubby lol, but i picked them out myself roflol.
The 2 drawer jewellery box on the right is from my beloved daughter along with smellies etc.

From Viv and From Sherry

Beautiful Lace from Maureen

Domino necklace from Jinny, Heart from Cindy and some more beautiful lace from Maureen, this time some hand crotcheted lace made by her Grandmother. I can honestly say that this really touched me.

Last but not least, a cushion from my dear friend Jan. NOW I can take Michael Buble to bed with me EVERY night. yummy yummy.

VALENTINE AND MICHAEL BUBLE.

Valentines and Michael Buble. WHAT a combination LOL. well they do go together don't they. mmmmmmmmmmm.

For this weeks MAMMA's
challenge/swap, i chose the theme Man/Men, mainly because of my friend John, who is the only male in our group, and boy does he take a lot of stick from all us gals. LOL

Sooooooo i just had to do Michael Buble. love him, love him to bits. yummy lol.
The ladies nickname for me on my Flickr group is MAMMA, hence the title.

COME TO MAMMA.

As there were an odd number of entries this week, i get to keep him. SHUCKS, that is suuuuuch an ordeal. roflol.

I have also set up a temporary Flickr group called LOL MAMMA, lol standing for lots of love in this case, as its a valentine swap in the shape of a heart.

This swap ends on the 5th February, to give plenty of time for the entrants to receive their Valentine before the actual day.

here's my two entries.

paper crazy patchwork

The stitches are drawn with pens, but the scan isn't picking up the colours correctly. The large silk flower on the top left hand corner is pastel pink, and the tear drop jewel at the bottom is Barbie pink. I reeeeealy do not like my new scanner, as it doesn't pick the colouring up like how i like it.

C'est la Vie.

Fifties Valentine

Background was gesso'd, then 2 coats vinyl silk, and when nearly dry, stuck a piece of paper on top then pulled off, peeling some of the paint away.
Crepe paper frill, and tinsel edging.
This hasn't turned out perfect enough so will probably withdraw this from the swap. I don't mind, cos it reminds me of my early childhood.

Pop on over and see the beautiful creations, there's some beauts there, and there's also plenty of time to join in.

Talking of beautiful creations you should see some of the Paper doll entries, on MAD MAMMA they are beauuuuuuutiful. I'm really really pleased the way this is going

New Year - New Marie Antoinette

After last year i was hoping and praying for an uneventful 2009. But my dear husband fell ill on New Years Eve, and so the celebrations were postponed.

I have been very busy looking after him, and so art is not quite so forthcoming.

BUT i have to carry on, because my new and exciting Flickr Group MAD MAMMA has finally opened its doors. This is a monthly Art Doll Swap that i'm running, and boy, oh boy, there are 47 members already and more arriving daily. WOWEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Makes me feel very humble that people are actually interested in anything i do.

So here is my entry for this months challenge/swap. I set the challenge using a jointed paper doll template from Mirkwood Designs.

And guess what kinda doll i've made . go on, have a guess. you'll never believe it.

Oh alright here she is.

Marie Antoinette.
How did you guess LOL

As well as printing out the template on card, i also printed out a template on paper, so that i could use it for cutting out the fabric.

I used a beautiful grey green cotton fabric which is already embroidered, and ironed onto Bondaweb to make it more stable.

The hair was done by gluing white silk embroidery cotton in lines, trying to keep it close together. The face was part of the Mirkwood Design template, and i just coloured it in using prisma pencils.

As you can see i added a skirt as an extra, which moves, and i simply couldn't resist putting her in a pair of bloomers. lol.

I did want to give her authentic looking shoes, but i'm afraid my energy just ran out.

I've done a little bit more work to my Fabric Marie Antoinette book. I've sewn pages 1 and 2 together (or rather 2 and 3). I've cut out and ironed on the photo transfers to 6 more pages, but havn't embellished them further.
I'll try and get another page worked a bit more in the next day or two.

Til then
HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR. MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE. XXXXXMARGARETXXXXX