Please come visit my new website/blogsite!

I've been very quiet here lately but if you visit my new *shiny* website you'll know why! As my new site was nearing completion I had all my old posts transferred across. I didn't want to do any more and create more to do!

The above image is the commission I have recently completed - I had so much fun doing it! I began with a photo I took of the client's children and then included my artwork within the scene: a fox, frogs and butterflies - the animals the kids wanted there! It was then printed onto a large canvas ready to be hung on a wall - it looked great on a larger scale!

More information about this and how you can have your own commission can also be found at my new site ...

www.inspirednaturally.co.uk

Please take a look and let me know what you think :)

K

Painting update

This is my progress of Smudge since my last blog entry...about 4 and 1/2 hours of painting so far. I am pleased with my progress considering how busy I've been with other things!

It's been cold around here again and we had at least 2 inches of snow yesterday. I'm looking forward to Spring!

It's going to be a short post today, so much to do and little time to do it in!

K x

A new painting & other things

Smudge

Lots of things have been happening since I last posted, one of which is a new painting I'm working on; one that is very close to my heart and is just for me. The beautiful photograph above is of my cat Smudge who sadly passed away last November. I always meant to paint him and now I can look at pictures of him without getting too upset I thought now was as good a time as any to paint him.

The above picture is where I'm at so far - after about 3 hours of painting. I'm just beginning to get the layers built up, creating texture because Smudge had such wonderfully thick and soft fur and I want to try to capture that.

I've also started on a large commission for someone (incorporating my photography and artwork) and this is going to take a lot of my time up!

I have also designed a brochure, showcasing my art workshops for primary school children and am in the process of getting these printed and then sent out.....only time will tell how it all goes!

Hope you are all well,

Happy Friday!

K x

Another Challenge...

As many of you know I am a keen runner and have worked towards running a half marathon on two occasions. This year I wanted to set myself a similar challenge. I am automatically entered into the Great North Run this year and next (after securing membership status) but just before Christmas I signed up to do the Playtex Moonwalk for Breast Cancer, a marathon in which participants walk the route overnight. I have been training for these two events since the end of last year and am excited about both.

Just this week I decided this wasn't enough! After much thought I decided I wanted to complete another event to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Charity, perhaps to supplement my other training - and for that reason I have just signed up to complete the Great Yorkshire Run, a 10k run in September. (Seeing these events on my screen has made it all seem much more real and I'm really going to have to work hard to do these events!) I have an online sponsorship page for collecting funds over on the side of my blog to make donating easier for friends and family.

This year is going to be very challenging, not only fitness/running wise but also professionally. I feel like I am at the edge of a cliff with a parachute, waiting for the right time to jump and enjoy the ride! I have my school workshop brochure to complete and artwork to produce amongst other things! It's hard work trying to start/continue running your own business.

Phew! I think I'll finish there,

Happy Thursday to every one

K x

A Happy New Year to you all!

For lots of people the Christmas holidays has been a time for relaxing and enjoying the fresh winter weather - my end-of-year-break has been no exception! Just before Christmas day I went on a (very) slippery walk around a local lake and spent time watching the birds attempting to get either into or out of the water from their ice covered surroundings. Despite the coldness of the weather, generally it has been brilliantly sunny which has enabled me to go on numerous walks which has been great!

This was taken in a carpark on the way up to Yorkshire - can you see the heart?

Between Christmas and New Year I went for a short break to Yorkshire - I love it there at this time - the weather is always more extreme - in some places they'd had 18 inches of snow over 4/5 days! The picture below is of Helmsley covered in a frosty blanket (Helmsley can be seen here in warmer times)

Whilst in Yorkshire I went for a long walk across snow-filled fields and saw hare, rabbits and pheasant to name a few.Walking 3 inches deep in snow certainly gives your legs a workout!

Now, I'm back home and ready to start a new year. I'm not one for New Year's eve myself but I do enjoy the newness feel you get when it's the start of another year, a new month and this time a new decade. I have put my calendar up and started to make a mental to-do list or wish list of things I want to complete this year. I hope to continue sharing my journey here and to be a bit more frequent in finding the time to blog - I don't know where the time goes during the week!

So for now, a Happy New Year to you and lets make 2010 one to remember! :)

K x

Fairs and Tote Bags!

Phew! It's been so hectic here recently! As promised I'm back and have lots to show and tell. I've had three fairs, all in the space of two weeks so haven't had chance to stop and take breath! Below are my new tote bags! I have 5 different designs, all taken from my original artwork: frog and fly, dragonfly, wren, hedgehog and fawn. The first 4 designs are available in both a thinner cotton or a thick/heavyweight cotton and the fawn bags are available in the latter. They are now available in my shops and so far I have had excellent feedback! They are also washable so perfect for daily use. I am a big fan of using fewer carrier bags and these reusable tote bags reflect this perfectly.

Frog Design

Wren Design

Dragonfly design

Fawn design

Hedgehog design

I hope you like my new additions to my collection! I am looking forward to getting more feedback about them and designing new ideas for other products in the future.

The Artist and Designers fair went well despite the torrential rain and difficulty getting there! Sunday certainly saw more people visit and I didn't go home disappointed so all in all a very positive experience. (On a side note though I never anticipated for it to be so tiring!!)

For now I'm going to sign off.....still a few more presents I need to wrap!

K x

Work in progress

I have been very absent lately, but for a good cause! I have been working frantically on new designs and products to have ready for the Artist and Designers fair 2009 at Buxton's Pavillion Gardens. If any of you are around the Buxton area this weekend 5th and 6th December please do come along - I think every one will be in for a treat with lots of goodies on offer from lots of exhibitors!

The above image is of one of the new prints/card designs I have for the fair and which will soon be available in my online shops. I also have some exciting new tote bags! I will blog about them as soon as I have some photos of the final product!

For now I'll sign off....lots of final preparations to be done!

K x