Its Christmas...!!!

Well I finally got my arse into gear and cracked the first Christmas article of the year so far. I have been putting this one off and I am way over deadline ( no shock there I hear ..!!) But I seemed to have lost my mojo a little. This is a very serious matter for me, as I am Mrs Christmas. Love it, love it, love it...!!!I would normally do Christmas all year round but was struggling with inspiration.. Forced my self to start yesterday afternoon and within 10 mins Bang..!! it came flooding back and I love these cards I made. Here's some sneeks.

Its put me right in the mood.

Been teaching a painting workshop all day with Claudines fabby Studio line products. You all know I love these paints they are fab. You also know that I can never seem to keep them on the shelves, they sell out as soon as they come in. We had a delivery yesterday , so you could be in luck if you hurry...lol

Heres the ladies

Chris, Lisa, Rose and Sara

Kate, Pat and Jane.

I continued the Christmas theme on into the night class, and even had Christmas carols playing..!!! O yes, lmao

We also had the grand smashing of the Pinata. Sue didn't seem to be in a brill mood and I foolishly allowed her to brandish the Pinata stick. Well its a good job shes my mate, dread to think what she would have been like if she hated me...

Just look at all the anger and frustration that's building..!!!

Here's its contents

And the winner was the lovely Sarah from our Tues night class. I am so pleased because she is a gorgeous babe. The correct amount was 282.

Her prize was a full days workshop voucher. Thanks to everyone who entered and all who supported us in raising money for Carers Resource. I will give you an update on the amount when it is all counted.

Enjoy xx

Oops I did it again..!!

Art journaling classes can get emotional at times and today was no exception. The sticking point for many people is getting their thoughts and feelings down on paper. Many are frightened of what will happen if they let their feelings run free. so we spent the morning talking and doing exercises to help them.. Now don't get all giddy, I don't mean exercise as in star jumps..!! We were writing and shredding it, writing and painting it. There was lots of group input and shared experiences and all of a sudden the tears started to fall. First one then another and soon at least half of them were off... But emotion is a good sign and it just needs releasing. Although I was real worried that I had made people cry again, I was honoured that they felt safe and comfortable enough to do so. After a nice cup of tea and a blood sugar boost of scones with cream and jam, they were raring to go. They had to write something on one o0f their pages that they didn't want anyone to know, and then they were given the chance to paint over it. Surprisingly many now didn't feel the need to do so and were happy to leave it as it was.. Yayy...!! And that's it, they were off.

Here they are Mell, Jeanne, Cath and Helen.

Helen, Anne, Chris, Kate and Sara.

Chris, Dawn and Pat.

and Theresa, Sarah and bezzie Su. ( think shes snivelling on the end..!!)

She soon perked up and managed to get mucky..

And you really need to see this fabulous journal made by Jeanne (chocolate lady). The journals jacket is made from inked Grunge Paper, embossed with the Cuttlebug and machine stitched together. The hinges are Grunge Board.

The closure is a Hitch Pin. Fabulous isn't it..??

I have been left drained by it all, lmao...So I am recovering at home by watching back to back Miami Ink and Project Runway, whilst booking hotels for a short break next week and flights for an August holiday. Whoop de whoop.. hotels, dancing, beach, clubbing, sand, city life. Ooh bring it on. In the meantime I have to work my cute little butt even harder than usual..!! Ahh well...

Enjoy xx.

Fabulous Darlings...

Happy 4th July to everyone across the pond. We had a visitor in the studio flying the flag for Independence today. Alol the way from America is the lovely Maeve (on right) who was over here visiting her friend Lynn. Today,s class was tips and techniques for tags and Maeve was panicking a little as she is a complete novice...Well novice no more, she took to it like a duck to water and did a cracking job.

Here they are L - R Lynn, Maeve, Sue and Chris

Diane, fabulous shoes and Jan

Yes you heard me correctly... Fabulous shoes are coming to the workshops on their own, lol...

Didn't they make some lovely tags..???

So if you need a Little break from your fabulous shoes for the day, send them along to me to teach them a new skill...!!

So onto art journal pages

Fave class tomorrow, Art Journaling...Bezzie Su is nearly wetting herself with anticipation....She doesn't get out much..!!! We are tackling writing and expression tomorrow, something that people really struggle with. But once you are off , you are off. Look at me, I never used to write anything and now I have to tape my mouth shut. I sometimes seem to have more words than space to write..lol. It is a great release to get it all out of my crazy mixed up brain.. I just need to find the triggers to set people off. Some people will take to it like a duck to water and others will have to be dragged there kicking and screaming... \I have scones to cushion the fear, lmao..

Whatever you are up to Enjoy...xx

How hot...??

So here I am with a tattoo less arm, lol. But great news...the fabulous Argentinian artist, Diego, has agreed to an appointment with me..Yayys..!!! So watch this space...

Here's Ems supervising me yesterday at breakfast.

And look, here's proof that I do eat..!!

I hope you are all as addicted to the tattoo show on TV Miami Ink. I love it and cant get enough. Its a reality show with real tattoo artists, real customers being tattooed. So real pain and real blood. But they do some really awesome work. Maybe one day I will fly over and get them to do one for me..

Here's my favourite Ami... Well you just would girls wouldn't you..??

Really need to show you these next 2 pics. Bezzie Su's gorgeous hubby,How, is a musician and children's entertainer.He is How in Howdidoodi and is always dressed really casually. So it was a shock to see him like this.

Unfortunately it was all due to a funeral.. It took him ages to find the outfit, but I think he scrubs up well, lol. Told him I was putting his shoes on shoe watch, but he thought I was joking. So, there you go How...told ya..lmao Bet you never wear them again babe...

Me and Bezzie Su where sat out in the sun yesterday and amazingly we both got burnt. She looked hilarious as she had a red body but a white face and neck., which didnt look as though it belonged to her body. Do you remember Worzel Gummidge, the scarecrow, who had a different head for all occasions..?? Well that's what she looked like, as though she,d put the wrong head on, ha ha . Unfortunately, or fortunately for her, I haven't got a piccie. But I do have a burnt piccie of me...!!!

Ouch..!!

Today was alcohol ink cards, and we had a fab time all round.

L - R Elaine the baker, Lisa Pat and Pat.

Sue, newcomer Vicki, Frances and Chris.

And here's more art journal pages for you...

Tomorrows class is Tim Holtz style tags and Sunday, more journaling..yayy..!!!

Enjoy xx

It should have been me..!!!!

Such a disappointing day. I was all psyched up for my new tattoo. It was a really large Japanese piece and was going to symbolise my moving forward...!! To me it was a really positive step towards my healing process. The Goddess knows I am not good about eating and so dragged me out for a cooked breakfast and supervised me eating it. With such a large tattoo , the outline itself was going to take 5/6 hours and it is important that you don't let your blood sugar drop. So after a hearty breakfast we stocked up on Magazines, snacks and drinks - it was going to be a long day..!!! So we rocked up only to find out that the tattooist hadn't. You cant even begin to imagine how pissed I was. Emmi was ready to run, lmao...Today was supposed to represent so much and has been in my head for nearly 20 yrs. The other tattooists tried to appease me and come up with alternatives, but I decided against. So I have decided to try for an appointment with a fantastic Argentinian tattoo artist. He is well renowned so if he gets back to me I am expecting a long wait before he can start and I have a feeling that I will need all that time to save up. Otherwise a remortgage is called for, lmao, and no I,m not joking... But he is renowned for his large Japanese pieces and I only want the best. So every cloud has a silver lining and maybe the tattoo artist not turning up did me a favour..!! I might not have the artwork I wanted on me today, but I will end up with a much better one eventually.
So, real sorry, no pics for you, no blood, no pain, no tears...I am consoling myself by watching 3 episodes of Miami Ink back to back...
Laters babes xx

Blank Canvas...

Ooh just time for a quickie post tonight... Am running around like a headless chicken ( no change there then, lol ). It started badly this morning with the builders continuing their assault on our eardrums. they are lowering the floor to accommodate a large trampoline, and unfortunately the floor is 18 in of pure concrete, hence the noise. well we couldn't answer the phone, we couldn't hear the music (biggest sin in my book) and me and Ems couldn't even hear each other without resorting to sign language. We stuck it out as long as we could and then though , bugger it and closed the shop and studio. So Builders 1 - Dylan 1, ha ha ...

Ben has been off sick today, so I hope hes better tomorrow as he is the only one in. Ems is coming with me to hold my hand as I embark on my next tattoo.... This tattoo is very important to me and I have been planning it for years. It is all designed and consists of all things that are really symbolic to me. Will share peeks as soon as it calms down lol. I understand that a lot of you find the idea of tattoos distasteful and weird, but I love them and that's what matters. I am still the same person underneath , I am just extending my art to my skin. I believe we are all tattooed under the skin , its just that some choose to make theirs more visible than others.

So onto more art....more journal pages

for a neat twist on the newspaper pages of my journals, pop over to Red shoooes and inky fingers

Darcy (00ps, not quite sure if that is her name, apologies if it isn't,..) has made a journal ready to start and just needs to get over her fear of the blank page lol. But shes taken the first step which is the most important. Once she starts I,m sure she will fly through it..

Enjoy xx