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

Everything comes at once!

I am touching base very quickly just so you know I am still here! I have been feeling under the weather with flu-like symptoms which, on top of starting a new job, getting into teaching on a Friday and trying to juggle artwork, has all been a bit hectic and meant I've not had chance to update here. I will tell you all about my trip to Newcastle, the Great North Run and everything else in my next entry I promise!

I'll leave you with the stunning view out of the farm window we stopped in in Newcastle, the morning of the Great North Run...

Exciting news

I noticed this rose flowering in my Mum's garden and just had to take a photo of it - it smells beautiful! I can tell Autumns on its way, the air smells different and the evenings are starting to draw in. I'm looking forward to taking photos of the changing colours.

As i mentioned in an earlier post I have been working on some school workshops. I went to meet with a local Headteacher (with whom I have spoken to regularly over the last few months) with a workshop outline after discussing the school's requirements. I am very happy to announce I am now the school's resident artist, delivering my workshops to each class during Friday mornings. I start this week! I am both excited and nervous but can't wait to start! The picture above shows the dragonfly I hope to guide the children to make - over two Friday classes. I will let you know how it goes!

This week starts the beginning of another new job for me in Matlock which I am very pleased to have got - it's difficult times at the moment and I think most people are glad of any extra money they can make.

And finally, only a few more days to go until I'm off to Newcastle to run the Great North Run. I am soooo excited! I've only got little runs for training this week, so my body's having a break until its put through its paces on Sunday! I hope to capture lots of my weekend away to share with you all when I get back.

Will post again soon!

K x

Back again

It feels good to be back home, even if it meant leaving the view above behind. (which I think you'll agree is stunning). This weekend trip was a short break from work and I feel very much inspired again to create and to press on with my plans for the art fair I'll be attending in December and also for the school art workshops I'll be taking between now and Christmas (more on that when I have all the details).

The two images above are of a small, quite famous Yorkshire village, Hutton le Hole. It is a beautiful village and I love walking around it once the tourists have all gone back home!

Another village I enjoy walking around is Helmsley, a small market town. The stream running through it is particularly pretty but I was sad to see there are no ducks this year. I'm not sure when I'll be going back but hopefully between now and Christmas - the countryside always looks so different during the Autumn and Winter and I love trying to capture these changes with my camera.

More soon!

K x

Random Updates

I've been working on a workshop for a local school with a view to creating an outdoor display. I have come up with an idea and the dragonfly above influenced my ideas - hopefully in the next few weeks it will all come together!

In other news, I unfortunately missed out on enrolling on Susannah Conway's Unravelling e-course BUT I will have the opportunity to try again in January! I have long admired Susannah's work and blog and will look forward one day to experiencing her unique way of looking at the world around us!

In running news, training is going well and I completed my longest run (11.5 miles) on Saturday. It feels good to be really back into running, especially after all the set-backs I had with my foot injury at the beginning of the year. I got my Born Free running shirt out yesterday and will soon have to iron on the letters I asked to be sent to me so the crowd can cheer me on! If anybody is going to the Great North run in just under 3 weeks time look out for a girl in a Born Free top with 'Mini Me' on the front! (one of my closest friends called me that years ago and it just stuck!)

Hope all is well with you all and happy September!

K x

A dream come true...

The colourful photo above was taken at the Eden Project and sums up my feelings right now - bright and cheerful!

I just had to blog today, a dream (which might not seem like much to some people, but means so much to me) has come true today. Let me explain...

One day in 2006, a day like any other, I found, quite by accident the online world of Etsy. And it was here that I found the shop and artwork of Kelly Rae Roberts. Ever since then Kelly's journey to becoming an artist has been something I have followed and been greatly inspired by. Kelly's work resonates with myself and indeed, with so many other people as well. It was Kelly's blog, detailing her story in detail that spurred me on to believe I too could live the creative dream and follow my heart's desire - to become an artist. After leaving university I began to take both small and HUGE steps to realising my dream. One of my goals was to contact Kelly and become a sponsor - something I had never done before. It would be the understatement of the century to say I was delighted that Kelly agreed and now I can be found amongst so many other talented artists on Kelly's site. Thank you Kelly :)

That's all for now!

K x

Promised new prints!

The two images above are now available to buy in my shop! Please go take a look! :)