Lovely Ladies

Hi, happy 1st of July....... would like to show you the lovely ladies who have won my heart lately.

Wallpaper Paste Technique for the background, Stamps by Acid Drops and Whatnots (free from Papercraft Essentials) and Kelly Panacci, the words are by Retro Cafe'  Note:  perhaps St Clement of Alexandra spelt beyond this way.....who am I to argue.............lol

For the Bookmark, used the same techniques as above and this sweet girl was free from the same magazine

Close up of this stamp because the above photo makes her look flesh coloured

Am entering these into the Craft Room Challenge where the theme is'Yellow and Blue make Green ' you can also use white and black but no other colour, also entering them into The Artistic Stamper Challenge which happens to be 'Ladies Day'

Hope you have a lovely week and take care of yourselves, hugs Annette x

Beyond the Blue Horizon................Rogue Redheads

Hi, Happy Sunday to you.  My piece today as Guest Designer for Rogue Redheads is a page from my Art Ideas Book.  All details and the full project can be found HERE..... should you wish to have a nosey and tell me what you think.........anways here is a snippet........

Beyond the blue horizon
Waits a beautiful day

Goodbye to things that bore me

Joy is waiting for me

I see a new horizon

My life has only begun

Beyond the blue horizon

Lies a rising sun

By Leo Robin

Again I have to apologise for not being around as much as I would like, but its been a week full of hospital appointments for both of us.  Am afraid our old bodies are falling to bits............not much more to drop off now..........lol

Take care of yourselves and thank you for popping in to see me, hugs Annette x

Happy Ever After - Rogue Redhead....

Hi, hope you are enjoying the weekend.  Am back again to show you those beautiful birds from the new This N That half plate from Rogue Redhead Designs.  This time have incorporated them into my artwork and made a card.

The painting shown was cut up into sections and this is one of the pieces.  Painted on canvas in acrylics then mounted on black card.  The birds were coloured with Whisper pens, the camera has bleached out a lot of the shadings on the birds, presumably because of the dark colourful background........

I would appreciate it greatly if you would share your thoughts about this make, over at Rogue Redhead Designs as am feeling like Billy No mates over there...........aaaaahhhh.

Would also like to enter this canvas card into the Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes

Thank you again for all your terrific support and have a lovely week, take care of yourselves, hugs Annette x

Woo Hoo am ahead for Once !!

Yes am feeling pretty pleased with myself as have already made April's Pennant

5 x 8 inches

Stamps by Crafty Individuals and Designs by Rynn.  The background was created using the Wallpaper Paste Technique.  The Crafty Individual stamps were gifted to me by a very dear blogging friend, who I won't name as know she would be embarrassed.  Thank you very much dear friend.

Plus a card for the new Rogue Redhead Challenge, which is to make the sentiment or quotation your main focus.

Stamp by Rogue Redhead Designs, Floriculture stamp plate.  Tim Holtz Hanging Sign diecut, Embossing Folder and Distress Inks, plus a few golden gemstones and two gold hoops.

Plus I have a couple of Art Journal pages showing this week on Nettys Art Adventures if you would like to go see.

Yep a pretty productive week so am feeling happy.  Wishing you a smashing weekend and take care of yourselves.  Thank you for dropping in and any kind comments you would like to leave..........lol
Hugs Annette xx

Gossipy George

Hi, after seeing on Facebook that the Unruly Paper Art Group are having a challenge this month and asking for Facebookers to show us an ATC used in Altered Art, thought I would have a go......

Let me introduce you to George the very gossipy cat and his poor Mistress, Hilda.  He is always telling her the latest gossip about the Soaps on TV and any other titbit of news.  George told her what was going to happen in Coronation Street this week and Hilda was not best pleased as she doesn't like to hear the storylines in advance, just look at the expression on her face............lol

The ATC is mounted on a used shaped Canvas Sheet which had been Gessoed, painted in Acrylic and edged with Pewter Liquid Leaf.
The ATC was stamped with the Rogue Redhead - Just Sayin' plate and coloured with watercolours.

Didn't think it was altered enough so then this happened.........

Yep now its been digitally altered into a box...............

The weather here is so very cold at the moment brrr.   Thank you for visiting me and will see you soon. Got to brave the weather today and go  food shopping, will be glad to get back home.  Take care of yourselves, hugs Annette xx

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Hi, just popped in to wish you a Happy Mother's Day and for the ladies who are not Mothers have a special day as well.

Am sharing this beautiful bouquet of flowers from my youngest daughter Wendy

Am also sharing an Altered Bottle of Wine which I painted a few weeks ago as part of an Art Project.  I posted it on my other blog but don't think have shown it here.  Hope you like it.

Not the easiest object I've photographed..........lol

Wishing everyone a Happy Sunday and a terrific week, despite our awful UK weather.....it can only get better..............  Take care of yourselves and thank you for visiting me.  Hugs Annette xx

Water Paintings and am Sinking!

Hi, welcome to all my new followers and thank you to all the faithful ones who follow me on my Art Adventures.  Sometimes the paintings work out OK and other times they can be downright rubbish.

As said last Thursday I have to move on to painting Water and am finding it extremely difficult, but will keep going and hope that one day soon it will turn out OK.

Both of these were painted in Acrylics on Canvas Boards, as you can see I am still feeling my way.

This is as far as I've got with the WIP from last week which will hopefully show Rain.

Its taking me ages to do, am also showing the underpainting.  There is more of the painting on the left hand side of the Canvas but have somehow cut the picture short by about 2 inches, so am going to blame it on my new camera because it can't be me can it...........lol  Hopefully it will be complete in 2 weeks.

Am sharing these paintings with Paint Party Friday, hosted by Kristin and Eva and all the other wonderful artists who show their work at PPF.

Have also been joining in with Carolyn Dube's free workshop which is Using you Letters, see my sidebar if you would love to join in or follow the above link.  The more the merrier.  All in all its been a busy old week.  Will show my workshop pages another day.

Thank you for visiting me and any constructive criticism is always welcome as am still learning.   Take care of yourselves and enjoy the weekend, hugs Annette x

Just realised I have posted this on the wrong blog..........daaaah sorry about that it should have gone on my Nettys Art Adventures blog..........such a dope

Playing with Jessica's Stencil

Hi, brrrr its cold here today...........I won a Hebrew Calligraphy Stencil from Jessica and its a really interesting stencil.  Jessica has made some amazing projects using the same stencil and there are a few artists test driving it and getting beautiful results

Apart from the torn page from The Merchant of Venice, all the rest of the items used on this bag are from recycled packaging..........the stones were taken off an old card of mine and the wool was used to tie up a parcel which had been sent to me................

Here is the stencil in its completeness.  Jessica sent the stencil in a hard brown envelope so I cut it and used gesso over the stencil.

Beautiful, isn't it.  The text reads.............

May God Bless You and Keep You
May God cause the Divine Light to Shine Upon You and be Gracious to You.
May God Turn Toward You and Grant You Peace............ Number 6: 24-26

Am so happy with this beautiful stencil and will be using it on other projects.
Thank you for calling in, take care of yourselves, hugs Annette xx

Another Christmas Prese' completed

Hi, am popping in to show you my latest Christmas Present make which is a hanging.
I bought the paper mache' hanging at the Birmingham NEC from Paper Artsy, they have a fab selection of alterable items.

The stamps used are Sam Poole of Creative Expressions plus D'Arcy stamps.  The girl has been paper pieced and an extra skirt added on, which has been slightly pleated to give a bit of dimension.  The colourings are Acrylic Paints, Inka Gold, Various coloured Stickles and finished off with Matt Modge Podge to seal it.

If you would like to see how my art is progressing this week at Paint Party Friday......... its Here.

Wishing you a smashing weekend and take care of yourselves, Hugs Annette xx

Paint Party Friday..............

Hi, its Paint Party Friday time again hosted by the lovely Kristin and Eva.  Last week there were 97 of us taking part from all over the world..............wow..........such a feast for the eyes.

Last Friday I told you about what we were doing in Art Class that day.  Just to remind you we could take a magazine photo or a sketch of ourselves and recreate it in Modigliani style.

Obviously this is not a painting of me................lol     I took a sketch  from a magazine with me to alter..............

am not sure what happened but the person in the top picture just evolved.  I apologised to the Art Tutor but she was very kind and said obviously she had to be painted.  In my previous Art Group I would have been really and truly told off, so am glad I changed Art Classes.

At the weekend we called in at Asda for some shopping and picked up their Christmas gift catalogue and loved the little girl on the front and really wanted to have a go at painting her, so here she is.

Thank you for popping in and hope you have a lovely weekend...........we are expecting very cold weather and snow in the high grounds of the UK and for the rest of us sleet...........brrrrrr.  Take care of yourselves, hugs Annette xx

Smart Chick !!

Hi, haven't been around too much as have been creating like a whirling dervish getting stuff ready for next month's Design Team projects and also some drawing and painting.

I would like to introduce you to this Smart Chick; first bought her 2 years ago at my first Crafting Fair in Leamington Spa from Paper Artsy and she has been laying in the drawer, abandoned......aaaaah

Products used: Tim Holtz die cut wings on Grunge Card, Alcohol inks,  Acrylic Paints, Stickles and Modge Podge Sparkle.

My husband likes this............shock horror, and he said you can't give her away......wonders will never cease.............lol

Hope you are having a goodly week..........the weather here is horrible, cloudy, dull and chilly.  But us crafters can create our own special sunshine can't we........  Thank you for popping in, take care of yourselves, Hugs Annette xx

Modigliani and Winners

Hi, its Paint Party Time again, Fridays certainly come around quickly.  Last Friday I promised if  I got my attempts of some of Modigliani's paintings I would show them today.  Well they are not the best you have ever seen................lol      but here they are.............!

Portrait of Lunia Czechowska

Girl with Braids
(Her eyes are not as blue as this photo displays, for some reason the camera wants them this vibrant blue, which is totally different from how they really are)
Both have been painted in Acrylics on  Canvas Pad/Paper.

I have come to like Modigliani, the only thing that disturbs me is when his portraits do not show the sitters eye balls, as in the first one.  Quite like the long necks and sharp angles.  It has certainly been a very interesting exercise.

Today in Art Class we have to draw and paint either a picture of ourselves in this style or someone else. Hmmm will see how that goes.........we then take a two week break and on return we tackle a Watercolour Exercise.............have to tell you am total rubbish with watercolours and to make it worse it will be still life.........cripes.

Am pleased to announce the two winners of the Gatefold ATC's are Lynn of Fushia's Crafty Notions and Carol of  Crafty Stamper    If you email me your addresses will get them posted off ASAP.

Am off to Class now, but will catch up with you this afternoon.  Thank you for popping in, take care of yourselves and have a happy weekend.  Hugs Annette xx

Phew Just Made it !

Hi, am late coming to Paint Party Friday because I forgot to schedule it......no excuse as knew I had an Art Class this morning, am beginning to think this cold is addling my brain...............

Last week we learn't about mixing colours for skin tones, so decided to practice on my original drawings, which I showed you last Friday.

Today we learn't all about the eyes, so have a lot of practising to do on both the skin tones and the eyes.  We had to draw the persons eyes opposite us.........then move tables to draw someone elses eyes....found this very interesting.  It made me realise when I look at someones eyes to talk to them or listen I only see their pupils, never really look at the shape of their eyes..............told you I was beginner..............lol

Next week we are studying Modigliani, cannot say he is a personal favourite but his work is interesting and hopefully will be able to show you how I got on (thats if you are interested).

Am still hoping to get to the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show at Kettering, if you are there you will recognise me as will have loads of tissues and barking like a dog................Will be there Saturday and also am going Sunday so can meet up with a dear blogging friend Daniele.

Take care of yourselves and thank you for popping in.  Enjoy the weekend, Hugs Annette xx

I AM WHAT I AM........

' I am what I am, I am my own special creation '.......this song has nothing to do with the Artwork am showing for Paint Party Friday, but when you severely doubt yourself, singing this really helps, especially when you sing it louder and louder...........lol  You gotta try it!

Lucille had a Dream

Not of Peaches and Cream

But of her other self Annaliese

Never again will she eat Cheese!

Am scheduling this post as am starting a new Art Class this morning and will catch up with you and everyone at Paint Party Friday when I get back.  In the meantime have a lovely weekend and take care of yourselves.  Just a few choruses of the song above and will be fighting fit for the new Class.  Hugs Annette x

Paint Party Friday

Hi, well they have changed my blog to the new blogger and to tell you the truth I don't like it, no, not one little bit..............moan moan....................

Today am showing 2 completed works for Paint Party Friday.

This was completed last week and popped it on Facebook

Decided to add the stone girl and give her something to sit on

Have also had a play in my Art Book with a Giraffe...............never drawn one of these before, you would never guess would you.......................lol

Thank you for popping in and hope you have a great weekend.  We are off to another Steam Festival and also a Beer Festival with a Jazz Band, so it should be good.  Take care of yourselves,
Hugs Annette xx

Nearly Finished - but not quite.................

Hi, having missed the party last week through being away in Stratford on Avon, didn't want to miss it again this week.  So am showing my latest drawing/acrylic paints on a reusable item.  There is still work to do on it but it won't take long.  After seeing this picture displayed in an art shop whilst we were away I roughly sketched it on an envelope so it could be painted when we got home.

The reusable item is this......................then wrapped some canvas paper around it ready for painting.

For those of you who haven't visited the Royal Shakespeare Theatres in Stratford I thought you might like to see this photo.  All three of the theatres are now like this inside - very much like the famous Globe Theatre in London.

At the moment am busy decoupatching a box ( Cath Kidston style ) for my sister's birthday which is taking me ages as it has to have so many layers of modge podge, hopefully I will get the wet and dry sanding done by the weekend, then the rest is decorating.  Had the decorations all planned when unfortunately my dear old Cuttlebug decided it didn't want to cut anymore so have ordered a Big Shot; grumpy old husband said " well thats your birthday present sorted  "........hmmmmmmmmm thats what he thinks..................lol

Thank you for popping in and hope you have a lovely weekend,  take care of yourselves. Hugs Annette xx

Just popped back to say have finished the painting and have put it on my Facebook page if you would like to look............xx

Work in Progress for Paint Party Friday

Hi, am still having fun painting the Flora Bowley way, this time I included finger painting, wow that was scary but exciting as well.  This is as far as I've got with this canvas sheet as am still thinking, yep am a great thinker.  Old habits die hard..............lol

Painted in acrylics , then applied a dotted stencil as my finger tips are too thick to do it any other way.  The birds still need work on them.  Wonder what they are gossiping about...........

This background of this piece was originally upside down, but didn't like it that way so turned it around and added the birds.

On Facebook Ange Lee took a wonderful photograph which included a girl garden statue, I asked her permission to sketch it and she very kindly let me.  Its in its barest bones at the moment as was wondering whether to add her to the painting. What do you think?

Am off to Paint Party Friday now to see all the wonderful paintings, which fill me with envy at the artists  awesome  talents.  Then I shall be looking at all your wonderful designs.  Wishing you a wonderful weekend.  Take care of yourself, hugs Annette x

Trying to Paint the Flora Bowley way..........works in progress

Hi, its Paint Party Friday, yaaaaaay and this week am showing you two works in progress.  There is no rush to finish them as want to think a bit more yet.  Anyways my book arrived by Flora Bowley called Brave Intuitive Painting....let go..be bold..unfold.....the backgrounds were a blast to do, have never slapped on the paint before............then just see what happens...........sounds exciting.......and it is.  The canvases used are previous works in progress which I didn't like,  so waste not want not and start afresh.

(18'' x 16 '')

(12'' x 10'')

Both very different but this made it very exciting for me.  Both Works in Progress are painted in Acrylics.  When your painting mojo is low this book certainly makes you want to get your paints out.

Am scheduling this post as need to get to town in the morning to buy some packaging.....yep somebody actually wanted to buy one of my previous canvases after seeing it on Facebook, plus a couple of my pendants,  can you believe it.....woo hoo...so the cash will be handy for some more acrylics and canvases.

Thanking you for popping in and will catch up with you all later.  Have a great weekend and take care of yourselves, hugs Annette xx

Works in Progress for Paint Party Friday

Hi, have missed a couple of weeks at PPF and should have probably missed this one as well as have only works in progress to show you and they look a bit rough to say the least................lol

Riding the Wind

A page in progress from my Art Book, have loads left to do on this one.

Hatched

Another page which needs work on.

This is an attempt to paint Abstract, but it really hasn't come off.............painted on a Pizza Box, but the title is true Lost In My World................

Am finding it a bit difficult to get enthused at the moment - is enthused a word, not sure.....as there is so much going on at the moment, family wise, so I usually only get the evenings free.  Which reminds me to tell you am away for the weekend, so won't be visiting you then, but will be back Monday as normal.

Thanks for popping in even if haven't much to show you and will be visiting as many of you as I can today.  Take care of yourselves and have a lovely weekend, hugs Annette x

The End of Summer of Color for 2012

Hi, its the end of the fab Summer of Color challenge this week hosted by the lovely Kristin and am sure the rest of the people who took part in this challenge will miss it as much as myself.  For the last 3 weeks have submitted tags with little houses on them but thought I would go back to Art for this final one which is Watermelon Ice flavoured sorbet/icecream.

Drawn in Pencil and Painted in Acrylics

Introducing Walter a rather handsome Cockatoo and doesn't he know it...............lol

Thank you Kristin for a wonderful Summer of Color and a huge thanks to everyone who shared their wonderful talents for us all to look at both on the blogs and on Facebook.

Have some serious catching up to do now on all your wonderful blogs.  Take care of yourselves and lets hope that here in the UK we actually get a Summer.  Hugs Annette x