This is a drawing I did of our cat Babycham, so called because our first cat was called Brandy and we thought it was fun to have a matching set! I didn’t record many of her markings but think I have captured her shape and sweet little face. She was a brindled tortoiseshell and had black whiskers on one side of her nose and cream on the other. She was a tiny little cat with a great purr and gentle nature. It is lovely to have a record of her gently snoozing, probably on the bed where she loved to snuggle into the blankets.

This was the birthday card that I made for Kristy last year. I love the bling that I’ve added as it makes a lovely card into something beautiful. I over stamped the patterned paper with a flower stamp in a similar colour.

This little painting was of a dried seed head. It was painted on good old fashioned sugar paper in a combination of ink and poster paint. I really like the way I have captured the shape and lines. My most successful work is all about the line. I was about 17 when I painted it. Nearly 40 years later I wish that I painted like that now! Perhaps I should break out the ink and gouache again?

It’s all their fault !! Today, rather than meet in my studio for our regular Tuesday morning session I met up with the lovely Leigh & Ann and we had a smashing couple of hours together in Hexham. Girl Trip, Girl Trip ! I gave them a thorough guided tour of all the charity shops where I acquired a couple of Wedgewood casseroles circa 1960′s, a rather nice cassette storage rack that is going to store some of my ink pads, and a bear. Yes you heard right a bear. Now I needed a bear like I need a hole in my head but the aforementioned ladies persuaded me that I needed her. She is a Charlie Bear called Polly. I had seen them on QVC but had never cuddled one before. Big mistake. I fell instantly and completely in love with her as you can see by the soppy grin on my face!! I took this photo after my return home this afternoon where I sat in the sun on the sofa and enjoyed looking at my stash. This is my new hair cut and I have used a new colour called Stockholm by Preference I like it a lot. Whats going on with my left eye I haven’t a clue but I don’t normally look like that…. it must be the sunlight or bear fluff ! I’ve just checked on e-bay and my £2.99 casserole dish is probably worth £25!

This brayered background and rubber stamped picture is one of my favourite techniques at the moment.  My students are intrigued to turn a piece of blank paper into a delightful landscape which has depth and a magical quality all it’s own. Each one is different and a little work of art. I learnt the technique from a Lavinia Stamps DVD  by Tracey Dutton. She has the loveliest stamps and great products. I used Adirondack Dye Inks for the background and Versafine Ink for the stamping as it gives the clearest, cleanest print. Check out my Creative Heaven blog where the lovely Lesley made a calendar earlier this year. I hope you feel  as if you are peering through the undergrowth at the  scene beyond.

This little owl is so cheerful and sits next to my printer and brightens up the studio. She is a money box and I found her in Razzberry Bazaar last year. I think all the pastel colours are fun and especially like the white polka dots and painted flowers.

I have just been watching a very interesting documentary on Lucien Freud on BBC2 this evening. I was surprised at how naive some of his drawings were. It then occurred to me that I haven’t as yet shared any of my drawings. I drew this rose quite a few years ago, and gave it a very pale pink wash to enhance the petals. I’ve been very lazy regarding drawing over the past couple of years, I believe it’s like a muscle the more you use it the better it gets. I want to make a concerted effort to draw more as I had forgotten how much I  love the process of looking at an object in-depth and trying to reproduce what I see. Each person has their own view on the world and how you draw is as personal as your signature.Some people say they cannot draw. I believe everyone can draw and just need their talents nurturing. How many people were told as a child that they weren’t good enough, when in fact they hadn’t been taught properly. Even a little doodle is drawing so believe in your ability and use a soft pencil at least a 2B, and if you can find a battery operated eraser so much the better!

Here is my latest brainwave. I have lots of Crystals and I am quite good at remembering their names but sometimes I forget which is which, hence my idea of writing their names and photographing them for posterity. I visited Ann in the Land of Green Ginger Mall  just down the road and purchased these crystals and the Judy Hall book you can see above. Her shop is called The Celtic Path and she has some very beautiful crystals, books and other interesting items. I was very attracted to the Silver Aventurine and funnily enough it helps you if you have vertigo. I’m feeling much better since I went to see Beth last week at Holistic Harmony. She gave me the lovely little piece of Quartz as a present after my Reiki treatment. I can highly recommend her, she is such a lovely person and a very good therapist.

This is the wreath that welcomes the visitors to my home at the moment. The welcome sign came from my local florists and I like to drape it across the different wreaths I have for each season. The Hugs and Kisses wreath came from TKMaxx a couple of weeks ago, aren’t the little cloth hearts pretty?  I also saw a lovely wreath made of paper flowers for the summer and have decided to make my own version this year. I’m sure I have a wicker wreath somewhere and lots of lovely papers and dies to cut out the flowers……. I’ll have to make a thorough search of the cupboard upstairs when I finally pack away all the Christmas decorations! Whoops, yes I’m that tardy a housekeeper because they are still festooning the spare room!

I’ve made an executive decision, tomorrow I’m getting my hair cut. Not the usual trim but I think I’ll have to sacrifice a good few inches of hair. I was looking at my hair in the sunlight and realised that the last 3-4 inches are split and breaking off. As my hair grows quickly this is about a years growth. I really take care of it and allow it to dry naturally most of the time. I occasionally straighten it and always spray it before brushing, but recently I’m finding it harder to deal with  and twist up out of the way as it’s so heavy. I’m proud of myself for growing it so long, it’s probably the longest it has ever been in my life. I shall be sad to see so much cut off but I know in my heart of hearts it’s the best thing to do.  I’m even contemplating going lighter still, there is a rather nice colour called Stockholm that is calling my name. Superdrug here I come….. that will only take two boxes now instead of three !!