Festival of Quilts - Part 1

Last Sunday I had a great time at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. I hadn't realised quite how huge the quilting world is! Hundreds of people had flocked to see the best quilters in Europe exhibit their work and to spend money in the shops selling an array of materials for creating textile art. From traditional American quilts to abstract textile art, jewellery and clothing, the festival really promoted the artistry of quilting. Below are just some pictures of my favourite quilts. I have tried to reference the names of the quilters were i an remember them. I wish I had brought my SLR camera with me as the pictures aren't as clear as I'd like, and I wish I had booked onto some of the workshops before they had sold out. Next year I will more prepared. 

'Sealed with a Kiss' by Peggy Fairburn. I loved this quilted version of the Gustav Klimt painting 'The Kiss'.

'Billy Joe Armstrong'. I'm not sure who done this portrait of the Greenday front-man, but I was blown away by the level of detail that went into it.

Group Quilt, I can't remember the group name but I thought it was fantastic. I love how they have recorded the place name origins of the townlands in Co. Fermanagh and focused on the beautiful historic landscape.

'Hearts Desire' by Deborah Kembell, close-up of the winning Traditional Quilt category

Pacman Quilt - I don't know who this is by but I thought it was brilliant!

'Army Wives' apron by Kristin La Flamme from the SAQA Beyond Comfort display.

I found the SAQA display incredibly inspiring, especially the Army Wives aprons. They  were so intricate and delicate.

Close-up of Army Wives apron.

Summer so far

I know summer is nearly over when I start thinking about autumn jackets and wearing comfy scarves. This summer has been lovely, but I have not ticked nearly enough things off my to-do list. I have been to weddings, had lots of fun nights out and some nice day trips, and I have many more planned. I have even managed to book in a little holiday for the end of the month! So far, summer has comprised of:

1. A nice trip to the South Bank to see an orchestra.

2. A trip back home, involving long walks and taking pictures of baby ponies (or foals)!

3. A trip to Drogheda and an Irish sweet shop.

4. Making pretty a pretty tiara.

5. Getting a massive delivery of delicious Tayto crisps.

6. Pimms (plus champagne, wine, cider and a detox).

7. Strawberries.

8. Gorgeous miniature ponies.

9. Donkeys!

10. Finding a stack of books in my old bedroom, hidden in the back of a cupboard behind a mass of teddy bears.

lovely things

Ink sketches of buildings are one of my favourite things, so I was very pleased to see these lovely items for sale by Spanish designers Atelier Duermevela.

Atelier Duermevela (image via Blossem)

I also love this illustration by Cristina Guerreiro on Paperwork.

Buildings by Christina Guerreiro

Just To Feel Normal

I just found out about the artist Ian Cumberland. If my maths is correct, I think he was in the same Art College as me, and at the same time! His painting (see below) won third place in the BP Portrait Awards; one of the worlds most prestigious art prizes with fifty entries each year. It's a major launch pad for new artists and a huge accomplishment. Not bad for a boy from Belfast, and extra cool given that he went to the same art college as me! I'm planning a trip to the National Portrait Gallery in London to see his work and that of the other talented artists soon.

Just to Feel Normal

I recently read an interesting interview with him in Artists and Illustrators magazine; although he done a Fine Art degree, he considers himself taught. He was so unimpressed with the direction and tuition he received at University that he nearly dropped out, but literally got knocked off his motorbike en route to do so. He ended up just taking a year out. I wonder if I should have considered taking a year out, rather than dropping out completely and running to Liverpool!? Like Ian, all I wanted to do was paint but my tutors kept pushing me towards graphic design (unlike Ian I have no talent for photorealism!). How wrong they were, and how good is Ian for sticking it out and accomplishing so much!!

Back to school!

I have a new 'thing' to keep me occupied for approximately the next 52 weeks! Christine, who absolutely astounded me with her 52 Crafts in 52 Weeks is at it again, only this time she wants people to join in. Of course I had to jump at the chance! This time, she is choosing one crafting theme per month and is hoping that other people will join in with it, or with another craft of their choice. I think I will stay with what Christine is doing and try to do an many as possible. This month the theme is Print and this week its potato printing, which I haven't done since Primary School, and from my research I see that it can actually be a very stylish craft.! Christine has put a nice tutorial on her blog here. I'm planning to print something nice on a tote bag before the week is over!

Cherry Blossom Print

Leaves

Leopard Print

taking a little break

I jumped straight into this blog thinking that I would be able to do something creatively brilliant every day and have time to blog about it, but I can't work under that kind of pressure, even if it is self imposed! Someday's, my creative 'thing' is rubbish and wouldn't make for interesting viewing. Other days its merely an idea sketched out on paper. Once I feel that I absolutely have to do something, I start to rebel against it. So I have taken the last two weeks to chill out and not have any pressure. I have decided that I still want to blog about my creative attempts, but I won't aim to do it every day.

I got this image off tumblr but can't remember where, I will search for the link and then amend.

So in my absence, I have been going to work, going out with friends as well as the following things:

1. I'm going back to school to study a GCSE Astronomy during my Friday lunch breaks.
2. Been getting onto tennis and watching Wimbledon, discovered that tennis players are hot!
3. Been having tennis lessons from a patient and skilful friend. I enjoy the therapeutic effects of hitting balls with racquets.
4. Made strawberry and cream cupcakes for the Wimbledon final, and drank a lot of Pimms.
5. While I have taken a break from art to collect my thoughts, I have come up with lots of new ideas.
6. I've been shopping way too much.
7. I've started back at the gym and started eating meat again.

Butterfly wings

I painted a photograph of a butterfly which I had lying around for ages. It started off as being a very light wash of watercolours, but then I drank some wine and I was a bit too heavy-handed with the acrylics, as per usual!

Then I found this guy on my wall a few days later...I think the incredibly warm weather done something odd to his natural cycle.

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