I wish Every Day Was Like Sunday

When Morrissey sang that Every Day Is Like Sunday, I don't think he meant it in a good way. When I first heard that song as an angsty thirteen year old, I completely *got* it. All I did was sit in my bedroom listening to Morrisey and mourning how awful my life was. But these days, I really do wish every day was like Sunday. Not so much silent and grey, but definitely long, lazy and full of baking, eating, crafting and watching films. Like My Neighbour Totoro,

and Shaun of the Dead.

These are just some felty bits I made ages ago. I promised myself I wouldn't post this; but look what I found while looking up the Totoro trailer on Youtube - so sweet (I hate myself!).

How do you spend your Sunday?

Unfinished Business

I've been having a clear out of my half finished art projects. Trying to decide what is worth finishing vs. what needs to be got rid of is tough. But this little beauty needs finished and given to a friend who has been admiring it for quite some time! This was my first ever oil painting, started in January 2010 and then hidden behind a wardrobe when some guests came over, lets hope I don't mess it up. In the meanwhile, I've been working on an acrylic painting which I initially sketched up months ago.

Girrrrrrr!

 I made this for my boyfriend a couple of weeks ago. Its Gir from Invader Zim, best cartoon EVER made by the excellent Jhonen Vasquez. I wish I was as talented as him, he makes me laugh a lot. If you haven't seen Invader Zim, seriously, just watch it.

I got this pattern from  ravelry.

Crochet Cuteness

After my blog post about this book some people wanted to see what I made. So here are a few little critters I made from the book; I actually made a lot more but gave them away as presents before I had the change to photograph them. I have a few more bits that need stuffed and sewn together.

Weekend Round-up

I've been pretty quiet all weekend, blog-wise anyway. But amidst going to the pub and entertaining my boyfriends cousin, I've had some crafty time to myself. I say crafty but technically I'm not sure that it qualifies, lets call it creative instead!

I sketched some Dior lipstick from a picture in Vogue, which I may have to purchase someday soon.

Then I painted a picture of Sasha Grey looking rather ethereal and lovely in an old issue of Love magazine while watching Arrested Development (as you can see on the TV in the background) and drinking wine. It looked quite good before I painted it, so I blame the wine. Ahem.

I couldn't help but paint the lovely vintage brooches I bought last week. Will post some actual pictures of them soon.

I made some delicious banana bread on Saturday morning. Since I've started to do creative things like drawing everyday, I've found I have become more creative in other areas of my life aswell. Normally I would have binned the old, bruised bananas, but I made this bread instead! I made some rather tasty dinners last weekend too!

Procrastination

Today I have mainly been getting distracted by etsy and ebay. My sister loves German Shepherd dogs so I thought it would be fun to buy her something a bit kitschy and dog related, but I didn't realise there would be so much choice!

1. cathleensgems   2. sofacityaccessories  3. Sarahstreasurebox  4. Kattuna

Quick coffee break, 5 minute sketch!

When I was at Art College I could do a pretty decent sketch in no time at all, no pencil or rubber required. I’d just crack on with a pen or paint brush. This is a skill that can be learnt and lost, and I am going to make myself learn it again through doing a quick sketch during my afternoon coffee break.

So this is my 5 minute sketch which I completed during my coffee break today! In keeping with my last post, this time I sketched my coffee mug (from a picture on my phone, rather than the actual mug in front of me, not sure why!).

Tea Time!

Yesterday was a slow day, creatively. I worked late, cooked a delicious pasta bake, had a glass of red wine with dinner and was in bed by 8.30pm! Too many late nights finally caught up with me, but I did manage to do a quick sketch of my Chinese teapot which I keep in my desk drawer. Sorry about the bad quality picture. It’s so pretty and makes enough tea for three cups, so I don’t need to keep running to the kitchen. It’s got a strainer inside, so I can drink lots of lovely fresh leaf tea. My current favourite is Oolong, which has slightly more caffeine than green tea. Although falling asleep at 8.30pm suggests I may need something stronger.

I have to go to a leaving do after work today, but providing I don’t drink too much wine I will hopefully draw something later! 

xx

Oh god, this is embarrasing

When I said I would blog about doing something creative everyday, I'm not sure I thought things through. I kinda forgot that I would have to document my attempts in a way that ACTUAL people could see. I was feeling tired and lazy today, which I think is evident in my painting. I decided to paint a TINY little flower illustration from a pretty postcard that I bought in the Victoria and Albert Museum. I used acrylics paints as watercolours, and some Inktense pencils for the first time. They are like watercolour pencils, but give an inky effect (shocker!) and can be used on fabric too.  This is what I have done so far...ta da!!!

The postcard I took the flower from is on the top-right. Its a print of a watercolour textile design by William Kilburn, which dates circa 1788 - 92.

Hi!

This is yesterdays 'creation' that I mentioned was planned through doodling. It's a really simple idea, but I just wanted to try something quite sharp and quite fun.

The main motivation for this was to liven-up the hallway in my flat. When we moved in it was full of really cheap, tacky pictures (see below, left!). I've placed my new painting opposite the front door so that it gives a  welcoming, personal feel to the flat!
                                                                          Before
                                                                                 

After

                                                                                     

New colours

This isn't exactly a fantastic piece but I really just wanted to paint with this gorgeous turquoise colour which not only matches my current nail varnish, but was 25% off in the art shop yesterday! The Gloss Gel is amazing, it makes the paint quite glossy, transparent and thick. I'm looking forward to experimenting with it some more.        

                      xx

Ideas

My promise to 'do one creative thing each day' didn't quite go to plan this week. Work was insanely busy as I was trying to get a project on windmills finished and didn't leave the office until at least 6.30 each day, which meant that by time I had dinner I was soooo tired ....

But that's no excuse! Creativity can come in many forms and doesn't have to lead to a great, finished piece of work. Yesterday, while I was waiting for my stupidly slow software to do what it was meant to do, I made some doodles of something I want to paint this weekend...so this is a sneak peak of what I intend to do today...

xx

Super-cute book alert

I love, love, love this super cute book. Its the first crochet book I ever bought and I must have made about five of the adorable creature over the space of one weekend. Clearly, it is very easy to understand, the instructions and clear and the stitches are clearly explained for beginners. 

Sometime soon, I will post some pictures of what I made. xx

Shoes

Look at these gorgeous irregular choice shoes painted by this cool lady, who gave up her day job to live her dream of painting. Shoes and Art, a lady after my own heart!

What made me look at the Irregular Choice blog in the first place was the amazing pictures on Snippets of Shiny Thoughts blog, which just make me want to buy new shoes! Perhaps painting shoes would be more economical.

xx

Shiny shiny shiny boots of leather...

Having decided that I cannot justify the expense of a Mulberry or Vivienne Westwood handbag (or afford one!), I am on the hunt for a more affordable alternative. Although these satchel bags don't have a huge amount of inside room, or any practical compartments for that matter, I think I might have to get one. They look so nice, are tough enough to take a battering on the tube and have that delicious leather smell! Here are a selection of my favourites, my friend got the Scaramanga one and it smells divine...

Cambridge Satchel from Urban Outfitters

 Scaramanga

 Urban Outfitters

Tom Brown's Satchel

xx