The last glorious week of February

We've been basking in glorious sunshine this week, it's been cold and frosty at night but warm and sunny during the day. Some afternoons we've even managed to play outside with no jackets on, a real change from the snow a few weeks ago!

It feels as if everyone and everything has come out of hibernation;  we have had more people walking and cycling past our house this week than in the whole of January and February combined, or so it seems! My bees have left their winter cluster and have been buzzing round the hive, returning from foraging trip with their legs covered in pollen;  the hens and ducks have started laying eggs again and the woods around our house are filled with birdsong.

Needless to say we've been spending our afternoons in the garden soaking up the vitamin D and enjoying the feeling that the whole world is coming out of hibernation! Not too great for getting much cutting done, but I've been sketching out some new designs and I'm writing this sitting on the back door step, in the sun, with the laptop perched on my knee!

 

What I HAVE managed to do this week is produce a super special limited edition run of my Grow Old screen print is a lovely deep, dusty scarlet to raise money for Red Nose Day.  For a suggested donation of £20 + £3 p&p you get a beautiful screen print to treasure forever PLUS the added satisfaction that every last one of your twenty pounds goes to a fabulous cause!  For more info go to my Facebook page, I only have FIVE left so if you'd like one don't leave it too late, once they're gone......they're gone!

{ Sneaky Peek Thursday } All Will Be Well

Inspired by the fabulous Cupcakes for Clara and her

{a little glimpse}

posts.

A sketch, photo, or work in progress. A little glimpse into the way we work or what we're working on. Keeping creative and sharing the goodness.

A sneaky peek into my sketch book at the very beginings of a new design........I'll keep you posted on this one.....it could end up somewhere VERY exciting.......or not!

P.S. If you want to join in with the posts please do share your link in the comments so we can pop by and have a peek

{ free download } LOVE gift wrap

I've seen lots of fabulous and lovely free Valentine's downloads this week and it got me thinking......Could I make a beautiful free download for you lovely lot? And IF I could, what should it be??

 

After a bit of head scratching, pen twiddling and pencil scribblings........................................................

 

TA DA!

LOVE gift wrap, free for all of you (yes, every last one of you!) to download.
  

 

 

 

So on you go.... download it here, print it, wrap those pressies and give them to the most important people in your life. 

{ this moment } Sledging with Daddy!

Inspired by the fabulous SouleMama

 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

 

 

Sneaky peek Thursday - LOVE papercut

I though I would share a slightly un-sneaky peek with you all! I've dug through my photos and flicked through my sketch book to share the story and scribbley sketches of the development of my LOVE papercut.

I have been mentally playing about, for a few months, with the idea of doing a paper cut with the infinity symbol and the word love and I'd done a couple of scribbles ages ago.  But I felt they weren't really "me" and had left the idea looming in my sketch book. 

While idly wasting time, ehhm I mean "researching" on Pinterest I can across a tattoo of the word love formed into an, almost, heart shape and whirr, whirr, click, click the wheels began turning again. 

Would this make a better basis for the LOVE cut?  Could I make it "me" enough?

I sometimes worry that my sketch book is like the inner working of my mind.....and when you look at this page there are at least four ideas I'm working on....at once!

Almost there, not completely convinced about the flowers and leaves on the bottom of the "heart" shape.........

A few more sketches later and BINGO! It's LOVE, it's "me"!

 Here it is, all framed up!

**********************************************************************************

I've had such an UNBELIEVABLE resoponse to this wee papercut that I'm going to give all you wonderful, fabulous, followers, likeres, fans and friends a special Valentines treat! (exciting isn't it!)

Until and including 1st Feb, I'm going to give anyone in the UK FREE postage on this papercut, just enter the coupon code UKLOVE12 on my

Etsy shop

. 

Now I KNOW lots of you fantastic lot are based overseas and I don't want you to miss out on the treat.......but (there always is isn't there?!) to post the papercut framed overseas costs a small fortune sooo I will post it to ya FREE but unframed just enter the coupon code LOVE13 on my

Etsy shop

to get a 20% discount.

This crazy life

Not really what I should have been doing today....................................................................

....................................but I couldn't resist finishing it off and sharing!

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!

This is what we woke up to on yesterday morning! It was raining when we went to bed so it was a lovely surprise when I opened the curtains!

 

This is the view from our kitchen window.  Now you can see why my work is full of wee birdies, leaves and flowers!

 

The snow just topped off a super exciting weekend for me! Ann Martin featured my work in the Fab Friday feature on her terrific blog All Things Paper and the response has been absolutely amazing! So a big hello and thank you to all you new followers who have found me!  Ann also submitted the article to CraftGawker and it's been one of the most viewed posts of the past seven days........PHENOMENAL!!!

 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........

Not giving too much away.......yet!

Click-click

I've realised that unless I'm taking pictures of the boys or product photos I don't really use my camera......and when I thought about it, I realised that I REALLY miss taking photos "just because".  Because something is pretty, or amazing or even just ordinary!

So I took my camera with me when I went to collect Johnny from nursery, and "just took some photos!"

 

En-route to the nursey, my favourite view in the village.  The White Church and the river from the church.

 



 



 

On our way home, Archie the Shetland pony.  His field is next to the road and we stop and have a chat with him every day.....sometimes he even gets a polo mint.....if there are any left!!

 

 

Just about home, The Ross bridge.  That's our garden you can see underneath the bridge and our house is on the right!

 

 

In the garden, Cock-a-doodle-doooo. What a handsome chap.....with no name.....just "The Cockerel"!

 

 

.......and some of the girls.  Maude, Beatie and Gertie the Indian Runner Ducks and Madge and Betty the hens.

This year I will.........T H R I V E !!

I don't generally write a list of New Years resolution and never get past the vague promises to myself to get fit and be more organised!

This year however, inspired by Regina Lord, I've chosen a word of the year.  I love Regina's blog, Creative Kismet (and her artwork!) and her post about selecting a word to help build, support and guide you through the year really struck a chord.

I chose THRIVE.  It was actually quite difficult, when I sat down and thought about all my hopes, goals and dreams for the year to condense it into one word! I realised that growing, building, branching out and stretching all figured highly in the list and thrive seemed to fit the bill perfectly!

So this year I will THRIVE! I will do well, I will advance, I will bloom, I will blossom, I will develop, I will grow, I will prosper, I will shine and I will succeed......I will, I will, I will!!

Happy New Year everyone, what will YOU do this year?!

Merry Christmas to you and yours

I'm all done (almost!) with Christmas orders......YAY!

It's been a very hectic, bustling, busy December which has flown by in a haze of Christmas markets, craft fairs and papercut orders.  I also celebrated my very first Blog-iversary....way back in November without realising!! I'm going to do a wee giveaway to celebrate, but instead of trying to squeeze it in before Christmas I'll do it in January, along with the loooong overdue Facebook giveaway!

Now I'm off to wrap the pressies and eat mince pies, sweeties and cake until I feel sick!!

excited.com!!

What a busy few days I have ahead of me! Not complaining........just sayin'!

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!

The end of another sailing season

What a hectic weekend......I'm glad it's Monday again!! We spent Sunday in Tarbert, Loch Fyne, Argyll giving our boat a bit of TLC before winter sets in.  I didn't take a single picture, which is shocking, because it was such a beautiful day! I do have some from a few weeks ago.....which is when I started writing this post.....before life got in the way!!

Tarbert is one of my favouritest places in Scotland....if not the universe.  In fact the whole area from Oban south, all the way to Campbelltown is one of the best kept secrets in Scotland, and if you ever get the chance to visit the area you should!  It's a bit off the usual tourist trail, as it's a bit "out on a limb".  You won't find many "Boutique" hotels, or Costa coffee shops......even Tescos are few and far between.  What you will find is the most stunning, clear, bright light, huge skies and beautiful deserted beaches........and maybe a tiny bit of rain......just occasionally!!  On the west side of Kintyre there's (mostly) nothing between you and America and it's an amazing sight watching the big waves rolling in after a storm.......in fact we've visited a few times in the depths of winter just for that reason!

We have a little sailing yacht that lives, very happily, in Tarbert harbour and Saturday 20th November was lifting out day!

Eeeeek! Not looking quite so at home in the air!

The boys had a ball! What's not to like, boats, a HUGE crane, lots of bustle and excitement! Maybe it was just a little, weenie, tiny bit stressful for John......he always looks soooo relieved when she's on the ground and all propped up!

I am as well, but it's also a bit sad because it's the end of another sailing year and it means that winter's not far away....and in the back of my mind I remember the frozen fingers that come with cleaning, polishing and antifouling a boat in March and April! 

At last I've got them ALL printed!

Wow, it's taken me three attempts to get this post written and finally press the publish button!

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...........

Do you ever have one of those days when everything almost goes brilliantly?! Well I had one of those days today!
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!!

Only 90 days until Christmas....apparently....I've not actually counted!

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!

A big, huge, mahoosive THANK YOU to all of you lovely people who popped into see me during Perthshire Open Studios, without you it would have been........well..... just me sitting in my studio!  It was great to meet you all and have a blether.

I am now going to have a REALLY hot bath......with a bottle of wine!

Fab Friday!

I can't believe that it's the last weekend of Open Studios already, the week seems to have flown by.

As this was the first year I've taken part I really didn't know what to expect.  How many people were going to turn up and was anyone was going to buy anything?

Grow old, original paper cut......

off to a new home.

My home, original paper cut.........

off to a new home.

Birdie, original paper cut.........

off to a new home!

My greatest expectations have been far surpassed on ALL counts!  I've had a steady stream of visitors every day, all of them have been lovely (I'd love any of them to pop in and see me......anytime!) I've had quite a few commissions and I'm delighted with what I've sold! 

Open Studios has arrived!

I've had an absolutely fantastic opening weekend to Perthshire Open Studios! It's surpassed all my expectations. I've had lots of really lovely visitors, had some interesting chats, sold some work and just generally had a fab time!  The past few weeks have been really busy, filled with lots of hard work and late nights but NOW it feels really worthwhile!  

Everyone has been really interested in how I design and then actually cut out my paper cuts and it's been fun discussing my work and where I get inspiration from.

The Open Studio event runs until the 9th September and I'm open 10-5 every day and 10-7 on Saturday, so do pop in and visit me, venue 70, green route!

Don't panic....yet!

Eeeeeekkkkkkk, three days.......well........almost two days to go!

That is all!

Tuesdays' sneaky peek!

We were away this weekend for a well earned break on our boat, which we keep in Tarbert, Loch Fyne. The weather was good. Dry and pretty sunny all weekend........but it was a bit windy! Well, too windy to think about sailing with two wobbly small people! We just "caravan-ed it", didn't go sailing, hung out, rowed round the bay in the dingy, ate ice creams and sweeties and walked!
It's recharged my batteries after the battle to get my studio emptied and decorated and I'm raring to go!

I thought I'd show you what I'm working on at the moment and how I go about making a papercut.......

Grow old with me papercut, initial design sketch.

This is the initial design sketch for "Grow old with me", complete with a few "re-thinks"!  I draw each leaf in outline only, not showing the detail that I'll cut out, and don't show the thickness of each branch.....mainly out of laziness!   

Grow old with me, 1/3 cut out, right side. 

Here it is about 1/3 cut out, with a few more scribbles and "re-thinks"! I tend to keep revising the design right up until it's cut out, changing the position of leaves and where they connect, adding more hearts or birds......


Grow old with me, 1/3 cut out, wrong side.

This is the back of the cut.  It's much easier to see how it'll look without all my scrawls! I use white paper and draw the paper cut as it'll be seen, the right way round. Then after I've cut the whole picture out I spray paint it. Some other papercutting artists use coloured paper and draw the cut on the reverse of the paper, back to front.  

New paint delivery!

This is the range of colours that I'll use to paint the paper cuts on show for Perthshire Open Studios (note the chubby 11 month old hands desperately trying to pull the cans out of the box!)