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

Autumn fun

Outside in the first leaves of Autumn

A perfect Autumn afternoon

Autumn is by far my favourite month. Not only is it my birthday month but I love the colours, the fresh air and the difference in light - everything seems to be so much fresher at this time of year. I've been making the most of the fresh air and have planted some ornamental cabbages by the front door - they add instant colour and apparently become more colourful the colder it gets!

In other news I've been busy with my school workshops, I will be working with the oldest group of children this week and next. This time it's a bee we're making and learning about. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with. Below is a photo of a few of the dragonflies I made with my first class of children. I think they all did a fantastic job.

I'm going to leave you with a sneak preview of one of my new prints which will be available to buy nearer to Christmas and at my stand at Buxton Pavillion Gardens first weekend of December...

K x

Back again...

The image above is myself and some of my family in Newcastle, the day before the GNR '09

(I'm on the far left next to my Mum)

As promised I'm going to update you on everything I've been up to so far! But first I wanted to say sorry for being absent so long. As my last post explained I've been so hectic lately and then to top it all off no internet connection for nearly 2 weeks! So here I am, back again to start blogging again! It's been far too long!

The GNR was fantastic this year, it was a wonderfully hot and sunny weekend and it was made extra special because my three younger cousins (all in the photo above) took part in the junior runs on the Saturday. I am hoping to take my running more seriously this year and keep training on a regular basis, rather than taking a break like I did last year. In more running news, I attended a Running Coaching Course this last Sunday and hope to one day use this to run or help to lead running clubs, either for adults or children.

My art workshop have been going really well on a Friday morning. I have enjoyed engaging with the kids and seeing what they can achieve. I have enjoyed seeing their finished products and the excitement the children have when they see what they can do!

Children paper-mache - ing their dragonfly models

Me demonstrating

Also, whilst I was offline I was featured on Kelly Rae's blog as part of a giveaway. I only wish I had been able to tell you all before it had happened! The lovely Emily of Art - n - Sewl has won one of my prints! I hope to have other giveaways soon which I will let you know about!

More soon!

K x