Saturday, May 28, 2011

At last.....!!! Patience is a virtue..!!!!

Big big BIG apologies for my non blogging. For some reason I have been lock out of my blog for the past ten days.!! Howe frikkin inconvenient do you think that has been.?? We tried all sorts, bit of this, bit of that, bit of gentle persuasion, a right good old fashioned battering...all to no avail.We had just about given up hope when it decided to appear again. So we are back on track with added security measures to hopefully prevent it all from happening again.

This is a photo I took a week ago whilst trying to get into it...


And here's one, after trying, unsuccessfully, for hours...


There is now tons to bring you up to date with, so apologies but it is going to have to be a condensed version, otherwise you would get eyestrain from reading it, lol.

The portrait painting workshop was rammed with 15 students and they did an absolutely fantastic job as you can see from the photos.




My latest 'really, really can't live without' pair of shoes....from my fave site Pin Up Girl Clothing


For fans of the Master himself Mr Tim Holtz, he is realising one of his dreams and has released a line of ready made products. They previewed at The New York Stationery show, and include canvas's, note cards, journals, and bags. You can see Tim's photos HERE. needless to say I personally feel I need to have them all, just need to convince Our Ben of that fact, lol

This was a pic of his stand. Fabby isn't it..??? He is always the genius at designing his stands and people flock to them.


I taught a really great bunch of newbie Art Journalers last weekend and they were truly fabulous. We laughed all weekend and, at times, the tone was lowered to hilarious levels, and they left with knowledge they had never even dreamed of lol.

Here's a little pic of me looking a bit Amazonian.


It isn't a trick of light I am actually that tall, when standing next to the students whilst wearing my yabba dabba doo Red or Dead wedges. I think I am 6ft 4in in them, lmao


I am knee deep in preparing workshops for the next few months , and so will give you a quick reminder about our preview/taster day on Sat the 4th June.

You will be able to see all the workshops n the flesh, so to speak, and there is also the chance to participate in some mini workshops, with either me, Kate or Sandy. All workshops booked, in person, on the day will receive 10% discount.. What more could you ask for..?? Oh yes, of course...tea and buns...!!

See HERE for more details.

I am also busy designing my new stamp ranges and trying to sort out my schedule for CHA in Chicago. I am having an extended stay this time to allow time for teaching at THE most fabulous store..more details to follow.

Going to leave you with a page from my Ledger Journal





Enjoy xx

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

You couldn't make it up.....

After 6 days of not being able to publish photos on my blog, and cursing the arrival of Cloud Picker, I finally admitted defeat and got the fabulous Kirsty to see if she could fathom it out for me. Lo and frikkin behold, there is neither sight nor sound of the dreaded Cloud Picker and everything is uploading beautifully. WTF.!!!

So nearly a week late here s an update of all the news.....including photos...Yayy...l!!!

Here's a video to make you smile. I still don't have a clue as to what I actually said that was so funny, but it cracks me up every time I watch it.



Here's the last few pics from Dina's visit. This is the naughty table.!!


In the restaurant




And proudly showing off her Cath Kidston goodies whilst posing outside the world famous Betty's tea rooms. We were very posh that day.


Dina should now be on her travels overseas to teach in Madrid and I just know her students will have a ball with her. She is a very talented artist and tutor, with a knack of putting her students totally at ease and drawing out the best from them.
Due to a misunderstanding she ended up staying at mine for an extra four days and fitted in perfectly. Apart from singing "Think of Me" (Phantom of the Opera) at every available moment in time, eating Tom's stash, trashing the towels and encouraging gorgeous babe to venture outside looking like this.!!!!


Well the less said about that the better, methinks.

She will be back n October for those who missed her this time round, and I am stocking up on Curly Wurly's as we speak..!!!

Something I have been meaning to do for a long time is thank all you gorgeous gorgeous peeps who send me such lovely gifts. I am always slightly overwhelmed at your thoughtfulness and the fact you have taken the time. I am, however, extremely and unforgivably horrendous at getting back to people, and really don't deserve such an honour. However I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart and if I appear unthoughtful please accept my ut most apologies.

Here's a run down of some of the latest treasures.

Many of you know that I have an obsession with Our Lady, and at the moment am on a mission to collect the naffest and kitchest images I can. The following two have surpassed themselves.

The first is from the lovely Helen. Unfortunately to appreciate the true naffness of this you need to see it in true life, in all its glory. It is actually a hologram. The angels all appear to be standing all around Our Lady. You can't look at it too long for fear of becoming violently nauseous but it is a welcome addition all the same.



The second is from a fellow naff icon collector. Yes there are more of us. The lovely Liz in Ireland is a seasoned collector who has been at it for years.!! lol. She started me off many moons ago with an implement that left an Our Lady image on my toast...I kid you not.

This time she has spent hours of her precious time making me a personal shrine, a homage to loveliness.

Note the extremely naff touch of tinsel.


It is hard to appreciate the actual stunning artwork when your eyes are drawn to purple fabric flowers. Unfortunately there isn't a peel off in sight, otherwise it would have shot straight to the top of my ratings.!!! Liz, what else can I say but, thank you, from the bottom of my heart... xxx


And adding to my fabulous kitch cowboy collection is this little beauty from the gorgeous Sue. You may be rubbish in my classes babe but you have great taste in literature.!!! lmao.



The lovely Clare presented me with some additions to my Enid Blyton collection. (For someone who is downsizing and getting rid of all surplus provisions, I seem to have a lot of collections going on.!!!).
Amelia Jane was always one of my faves, cos she was ever so slightly naughty.. Plus she was also friends with the Golliwog, who although these days is deemed as thoroughly un  PC..I adored to bits.

The lovely Maggie thickened my waistband with some of my favourite Thorntons.


And Dina added to my ever expanding Art Journal collection (42 and counting) with two Fabulous ones from my fave Orla Kiely.


And also some choccies made from her home town in Arizona. Now I don't mean to be ungrateful or anything...but next time can I have one of those lollipops with a dead scorpion in please.....pretty pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase....???

And now on to one of the most fantastic teaching experiences I have had. Last week I taught a group of 9/10 yr old girls. They were all from Millfield Junior School in Leeds, West Yorks. They attend a Friday craft club held by one of my ladies, the lovely Lyn Leahy and she broached me with the idea of them attending as they had heard all about me. They are also mahoosive fans of the Lord himself..Mr Tim Holtz...but hes a bit busy so they had to make do with me.!!! lol

I was a bit worried how they would cope as I gave them quite a hefty workload for the day, but they were fabulous and accepted everything I threw at them with an enthusiasm you couldn't put a price on.! Eager beavers was not the words, they were like sponges soaking up all the techniques and the information given them, even though by the time we finished it was after 7pm and they had had a really long day. Nothing fazed them...the messier the better in fact.














Unfortunately my computer has eaten one of the finished photos and so half the girls are missing from this post. So sorry about that. If any of the teachers had a copy would you mind forwarding it to me.

I have to say a big thank you to Lyn for organising the day and a massive thank you to the girls...you were absolute stars and all talented artists in your own right. All I need now is to see pics of your Art Journals as they start getting filled up.. Don't forget you promised me...lol.

For some reason this video has appeared again and I can't seem to delete it so here's a another chance to have a giggle.


Enjoy xx

Friday, May 13, 2011

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh...

I thought Blogger was supposed to be fixed now..!!!! So why won't it let me upload any photos....???? And I have tons for you.

The rest of Dina's (extended.!!) visit
Some of the fabby presses that I get sent
Photos of the FANTASTIC students from Millfield School
New outfits
And much much more...!!!!

Ah well will try again tomorrow

Enjoy xx

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Day two....

Day two started off with a slight mishap with Sandra eating the Jade ink spray...!!!!


Yesterday the lovely Pam was the Goddess in the kitchen, making the most wonderful homemade soups and crumbles. Today it was the lovely Katie whipping up a gorgeous veggie pasta.


 The gorgeous Jude travelled all the way up from the far ends of the earth and was filthy within minutes. But as usual managed it n her own glamorous style.


I was taking part in today's workshop and was so engrossed I forgot to take any more photos. So without further ado here is my, still to be finished, moon album. 












Absolutely fantastic day, can't wait to do it all again tomorrow.

Enjoy xx

Quote of the Century


"You are an extraordinary woman.


How can you expect anything ordinary to happen to you"


Louisa May Alcott