Back to porridge!

Ive been back over a week now from my trip to New York area.  As I predicted I never got any journalling done (in fact I didnt manage to pack any stash ) I didnt make it to the Ink Pad shop and only one trip to Michaels crafts! why? Well I had two beautiful Twin Granddaughters to cuddle and that was all I wanted to do! Spending our time with our new granddaughters was more important and very precious.

Its taken me over a week to recover from jet lag and to catch up with work and empty cases! I have been in my studio yesterday and to my horror I realised what a mess it is in I really need to have a good sort out and tidy up.. trip to Ikea coming up for yet more storage ! This will be my priority this week - I always feel blank when there is toooo much clutter around, my mind is full of ideas that I want to try out so its a good incentive to get clearing first.

I also need to think about preparing the February calendar page as February is just around the corner! looking forward to that. 

This is a postcard sized piece I did a little while ago.

Distress ink in wild Honey & Rusty Hinge spattered with water (love that effect) the stamp is Tim Holtz + the words and Twinkle & Marci (love Marci!) are stampotique stamps - stars are german scrap.

I haven't managed to Journal this week ! there just arent enough hours in the day or days in the week at the moment .  still its only Monday, Im sure I can sneek a journal page inbetween the clear up!

Send arty vibes my way please!

Bye

Maggie

Busy Bank Holiday

What do you do on a Bank Holiday Monday? If I'm on my own I like to spend the time in my little studio in the garden hours can pass by and I don't notice I'm so wrapped up in paper, ink and paint I don't even feel the need for food! But not today alas, Ive been busy packing suitcases -I'm off to meet my new Twin Granddaughters born Dec 5 in New York! Such a lot to do before you go away, my dilemma now is how much crafty bits can I get into my luggage! Ive bought a small journal (Rymans I think) and I've been trying to get pages prepped with gesso and paint and ink sprays so I only have to take glue, collage pages ink pad and background stamps, pens and crayons.  Hopefully I will have some time in the evenings to journal - I hate to be separated from my stash.... get withdrawal symptoms , Hoping to manage a visit to 'The Ink Pad' in NY city and conveniently there is a 'Michaels' craft store just down the road from my sons home! I probably wont have time to journal I shall be so busy cuddling the Twins!

Back to work tomorrow hope everyone got to do some art today.

Here are a couple of pictures of one of my favourite journal pages......

The Chicken is from a supermarket magazine - she just spoke to me - I love chickens(would love to have chickens in the garden but my Westies are not feather friendly!)
her feet are from a download from Dyan AFTH, the crown ,heart & wings are a Tim Holtz die; Fragile stamp is from a Darkroom Door set, other stamp from Paper Artsy.  Background is a happy accident, not everything turns out the way I want it to!

I'm off to finish packing :>))

bye for now....

New Year - New Beginnings

Happy New Year and welcome to my First Blog Post!  I have been Blog hopping for some time now and have been inspired by the many talented artists who so generously share their creations and techniques.  Today is the day!  the first day of the first month of the New Year 2011 seemed to be a good day to start my blog.  However its not as easy as it looks! I'm hoping to get this posted before midnight but I have lost so many posts in the last two hours! 

I have been following The Kathryn Wheel Calendar Challenge 2010 and decided I would enter the 2011 challenge.............
I have also started Art Journalling and can confirm that I am hooked! obsessed even!  I will post some pictures of some of my pages but first I need to understand Blogger better! Please bear with me whilst I figure it out!  I also need to perfect my photography too! Ive had a new camera and haven't quite worked out the best way to use it yet! I'm sure I'll get better with practise!

I enjoy playing with ink, acrylic paints, water soluble crayons and spray inks - love rubber stamping, stencilling and collage etc, Love altered art, working with paper, canvas and mini books.

I have decided to stretch myself this year and make more art, enter challenges, this blog is my first step on that road I hope you will join me.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog and please pop back again.  Please leave me a comment I would love to hear from you.

Bye for now

Maggie