{ Sneaky Peek } - to see her is to love her......
I've got a bit further with this cut now, and I can't wait to see it finished!
{ Sneaky Peek } A Diamond Anniversary card
I was commissioned to make a paper cut card for a very special couple celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary, 60 years, something to truly be celebrated.
Where to start with a commission, the awful prospect of a blank sheet of paper!
The commissioner had seen my work before and liked the idea of having two birds, a heart and leaves, so to the scribbles.
I start with a few thumbnail sketches to get the idea fixed on paper, to try out a few of ideas, get the major components in the right places and the overall proportion and composition "right"!
At this point I tend to walk away and let the ideas circle through my sub conscious and thought for the rest of the day. Somehow this "sets" the idea of how I should cut the piece and I can develop the design a bit further.
And then BINGO! It all clicks into place and the design flows from the pencil onto the paper.
A bit of time and patience and here it is, all cut out.
I backed the paper cut with a lovely matt gold paper which gave the card a lovely glow and I'm told the special couple were delighted with their card.
New prints on the block!
I've FINALLY got around to taking photos of a couple of new prints and also some better pictures of some old favourites. It's been lurking on my (never ending) to do list for about a month and I was finally inspired to get my camera out and get snapping!
I was so pleased with the results that I kept working into the wee small hours and listed the newbies and revamped the older listings!
So first of all the newbies.....................
And the old favourites............................
{ Sneaky Peek Thursday } Possibility
This post has been a while in the making. In fact so long that it's morphed from a { Sneaky Peek } into more of a TA DA grand unveiling!
So here is Possibility, the latest heartfelt moment to be captured and celebrated.
A crossroads in life. Endless decisions, countless outcomes and oh the possibilities, the boundless possibilities.
Where will decisions made or unmade take you next? What opportunities lie over the hill, around the corner?
The most important decision to take? Live life, dwell in possibility.
As always, I was inspired by a fantastic piece of poetry. This time by Emily Dickinson's,
a brilliantly, inspiring place to live.
Thumbnail scribbles, working out the general layout and form of the design.
Various "life size" sketches, looking at different ideas and combinations of flowers and leaves.
Voila, all finished and painted!
This crazy life
I love working on a new design and cutting it out for the first time, I'm never sure exactly how it's going to look, very pleased with this one!
Snow.......hurray.......hurrah!
If you've not had a look on the site yet, go now! It's AMAZING, you will lose at least an hour of your life,....just looking at things!
I've been working on a new design this weekend for the 6x4" exhibition which takes place in Dundee next month. The exhibition "will explore the postcard as a distinctive artistic medium in its own right". I'm quite excited about this wee papercut and I can't wait to see the rest of the exhibition!Here's a wee sneaky peak of the sketches I've been working on........
excited.com!!
Tonight I'm off to Aberdeen to the lovely Claremont Gallery for the launch of their Artisan Winter Exhibition which features some of my work.
VERY excited about this, I was a student in Aberdeen so it's full of very fond, somewhat hazy memories! The exhibition opens on Friday, 23rd November and runs until the 19th January so if you're visiting any relatives in the North East over the festive season, pop along and have a look!
Friday I'm going to be framing, collecting, packing up and organising for Saturday when I'm taking part in Creative Heartland in The Albert Halls, Stirling.
This is a brand new event with art, craft, live music, storytelling, design and debate. EXCITED......again! There is going to be some fabulous work on display and I think it'll have a fantastic, buzzy atmosphere!! I'll have a selection of work for sale and be giving papercutting demonstrations. So if you're in Stirling and are in need of some inspiration for Christmas presents come along and see us!
And as if ALL that wasn't enough, I'm off to the Country Living Christmas Exhibition at the SECC in Glasgow on Sunday! Can't wait to see all the lovely stuff and start getting in to the Christmas spirit!
At last I've got them ALL printed!
I feel like I've been running on sand for the past couple of weeks and now I've finally got my Christmas designs done it's a bit like the calm before the storm!
It's been a bit of an epic exercise getting the cards screen printed.....mainly due to my impatience and rushing, which inevitably means I make a mistake and have to redo things......sometimes MORE than twice!
Now they're done I'm REALLY pleased with how they look! As always they're available in my Folksy shop and my Etsy shop.
I know it's only October, but...........
Anyway........on the plus side I know it's only October, and I'm normally one of those ranting about getting Halloween and Bonfire night over first, but in the interests of being slightly organised!............I did get a whole load of Christmas cards screen printed today......
............do note my very high tech and heavily customised drying rack.........or the piano!!
I'll post some proper photos when I get ALL the designs printed. (and yes, this is part of the almost brilliant day story!)
And in other news I've reached 300 liker-ers on my Facebook page so to celebrate and say thank you I'm going to have my very first GIVEAWAY!!! Stay tuned for further details....soon.....I promise!!
I'm a film star!!
I do have Christmas card designs and a few other goodies, and they will be available....soon. Just need to get cutting and screen printing!!
During Perthshire Open Studios I had a visit from the brilliant Genie and Phil from Ivy Cottage Industries. They filmed me paper cutting and blethering about my designs and have made this lovely little film! My boys are sooo impressed that mummy was on the "pooter"!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am now going to have a REALLY hot bath......with a bottle of wine!