Crazy Man on the Beach

I wish I had the courage to hit the water in October like this guy...you have to be a bit insane to do it I reckon! But what a beautiful day for it. I sat on that beach sketching and observing. The best me time I have had for a while.

Chimney Cloud

I looked out my kitchen window and wondered...Did that cloud come out of the neighbours chimney?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend

x x

Spiral or Bound?

I have had a fascination with sketchbooks ever since I can remember. The most exciting bit is opening one up forthe first time and contemplating the marks i am going to put on the very first page. In the end it always ends up that the pressure of creating an exciting first page prevents it from happening and that all the more exciting things happen in the middle or even end of the book once I have settled into it. I have hundreds of sketchbooks varying in size and they go back over a decade. I will never throw them away which means I have to find cleaver storage solutions for them...at the moment i have it under control.

I always ponder the best kind of sketchbook. Spiral? or Bound? I had this conversation with a new friend and she believes that bound is better because of the way they look on a shelf. Most of my sketchbooks are spiral and after some contemplation I agree that they aren't the most attractive on a bookshelf however, I think that they offer more flexibility and you can stuff loads in. My friend Elizabeth creates beautiful journals. She boasts about having the fattest journals around. I think I have journal envy...if that's even possible? I like to create pockets within my sketchbooks to collect different bits and pieces in. That way i can keep it all together without having to stick it in. This fattens them up a bit but nowhere near to Elizabeth's.

I love looking at peoples sketchbooks. They are an art form in themselves. So what is the consensus with regard to your sketchbooks? Spiral? Bound? Or is loose and free better?

Dorset October

This was yesterday down on Bournemouth Breach. It was beautifully warm and it was a strange sensation to be welcoming the sea breeze on an October afternoon. People were out eating ice-creams, walking their dogs and building sand castles at a time of year that we never expected.

We ate chips on the beach...not something I would so in the summer but somehow the Autumn sun made them the perfect lunchtime snack. Seaside chips are special, I am not sure what they do to them (and probably don't want to know) but they a deliciously fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Some ventured out into the water...I only brave it in the August sun and even then it is freezing. I take my hat off to those nutters...i'm cold now just thinking about it.

Happy October everyone. This time last year we weren't far off the snow storms that brought Britain to a cold stand still. Enjoy it while it lasts but keep those boots and scarves close to hand.

Let the Creativity Begin

I start my MA in Fine Art on Monday at AUCB and in preparation I have organized myself a work area. I am so thrilled and lucky to have this area, it is something that I have wished for for so long. We rent so we have never had an ideal area to create a work space but now my prayers have been answered. What is so great is that it is a section of our living room so when I work I won't be removed from whatever else is going on in the flat. . . and I hate hate hate to miss out on anything! So bring on the next 12 months. I cannot wait to get stuff up on those blank walls and transform them into walls of inspiration. I am so excited...eeeeeee!!!!

Cupcake Love

I am feeling a bit down in the dumps because I have a bit of a cold and it is making me feel groggy and headachy and bleh! Phil (my amazing boyfriend) has been so good and has been keeping me more than adequately supplied with cups of tea, Beechams and hugs. So to thank him I have stored up some energy to make him some lemon cupcakes. Now I know that they aren't very manly because of their pinkness but trust me, he won't care as long as there is cake underneath.

Check out this recipe...it is the easiest recipe in the world.

Ingredients:

125g soft mararine (or butter)

125g caster sugar

1tsp baking powder

2 eggs

125g self raising flour

1tsp baking powder

1 lemon - grated rind & juice

175g icing sugar

Yellow or Pink food colouring

1) Beat the margarine, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and lemon rind in a mixing bowl. Don't bother mixing one thing at a time - just chuck it in!

2) Divide mixture evenly into cupcake cases in a muffin tin and spread surfaces level (I didn't bother with the spreading...I don't feel well so couldn't be bothered)

3) Bake in 180 degree Celsius preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown and springy to touch (don't burn your fingers)

4) Once your cupcakes have cooled, mix the icing sugar with 4-5 tsps lemon juice to make a thick gooey paste. Add your colouring. Ice and decorate your lemony cupcakes to your hearts content.

Enjoy with a cup of delicious tea for an instant pick me up and the perfect way to say thank-you to someone you love

x x

Cards for Sale

I have a little thing to be excited about. I have made a few greetings cards and they are now available to buy at The Walford Mill Craft Centre in the gift shop. It was quite exciting to see them being displayed in the shop and I think that they stand out from the other cards there...such a biased comment! hehe!