09/10/2010

Guess where you are going



My DH is 50 on the 5th November and it has been his dream to go see the Pyramids... so I secretly booked a Red Sea Cruise for him, he will be in Petra - The Rose City in Jordan on his actual Birthday, how special is that. Then we will be going to the Valley of the Kings and of course visiting the Pyramids too.
It is a week long Cruise and I had to tell him 1. because knowing Stuart I knew that he would be like "Oh my I have to get some new clothes"
2. we have to go for vaccinations on Tuesday so thought it would be as well to let him know why.
As the tickets arrived on Thursday the kids wanted to tell him so that is what we did last night.

He is absolutely made up I have to tell you, might seem low key on the video but as soon as that was done he was googling and checking out the ship and the places we are going. Funny thing though he didn't bring his reading glasses home from work so he couldn't read all the exciting details about the Cruise, he will do that today.

Now I have to prepare a journal so that I can work on it on the Cruise.
I joined a ning group called 21 Secrets, specifically because I knew that we would be doing the Cruise and I wanted to Journal it...It is a wonderful group as there are 21 teachers each giving their secrets on how they Journal, so with that amount of tutors it should be oh so possible to finally get round to Journalling my life, seriously I have so wanted to do this for a while now.
I always kept diaries so this is the next stage for me

17/09/2010

A FABULOUS ARTIST

I just need to share with you the work of a friend of mine Marcel Fielden. Marcel is an artist who lives in Spain, he is English and moved over there with his wife and son for the good life and to pursue his creativity.
To see Marcel's work in real life is to experience wonder that a person can capture light and dark so wonderfully in his art. Totally amazing, jaw dropping to be precise.
Anyway I want to share with you the fact that Marcel knew my father in law Charlie and he was just finishing a piece when he heard that Charlie had passed away. Without hesitation he called the piece "Charlie's table" (or something close to that). My mother in law Tricia received a sympathy card from Marcel and Pam with the painting printed on the cover; I had to see this painting so I called around for my own private viewing.
I was so impressed with it and knew that it was going into the Exhibition that Marcel was having of his works in El Campello. The Exhibition started on the 4th of September... The 4th September is Tricia's birthday and I thought what a gift it would make for her. So I purchased it off Marcel, and he and Pam then said that they would put a sold sticker on it and present it to mum at the Exhibition.

I hoped that she would love it and she did, she rang me from the Exhibition hardly able to speak and now she is counting down the days to the hanging in her home, this will be after the Exhibition, so after 25th September....


This photo shows Marcel and Pam explaining to Tricia that the painting is sold and it is for her, her birthday present, as I said she could hardly talk for crying when she spoke to me to say Thank you.


Recording the moment, another photo.

Explaining how the painting is a reminder of Charlie (Dad) to Kelly - Dad loved food and dining so this picture is a perfect memorial to him.
Now if you want to see this picture close up and some more of the fabulous work have a look at Marcel's fledgling blog, I promise the click you make to take you their will be so worth it, have a coffee and take time to feast your eyes....
or check out his slide show
mesa para Charlie Gold y El rio
With the Exhibition coming to an end next week Marcel is going to do more with his blog and explain about some of the paintings he has created. If you want to not view as a slide show, click under where it says view all images and you can look at them all slowly - and spend more time looking at the paintings.
CONGRATULATIONS MARCEL, A SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION FOR SURE!

Thanks for dropping by, Love Dawn

14/09/2010

HAPPY DAY!!!

for me today, got e mail confirmation that I SHALL be attending a class organised by Leandra and Lin with the wonderful TIM HOLTZ in February... HAPPY DAYS!!! I know that a lot of people thought it was expensive (via posts on FB) BUT I have dreamed about doing a class with Tim for so long and here it is a chance to do it here in the U.K. - Priceless in my opinion!

To CELEBRATE and to reflect my sunny mood I thought I would share these photos taken in France as we drove down to Spain this summer. Feel free to use them in your art if you wish, and if you do I would love to see what you create with them.






I have been feeling flat after coming home from Spain and have things I would love to share so I will take time out this week to do just that... watch this space.

Dawn xxxx

22/08/2010

Up to the mountains

Today Stuart and I went out on a magical mystery tour - we headed up into the mountains to see where we would end up



We then passed this wonderful old house - this one looks like it has been recently abandoned; there are lots of abandoned fincas - some with collapsed roofs etc. The reason these beautiful old houses are abandoned is because the water supplying the homes has run out - imagine that you have a natural well where you water comes from, once this has gone it is impossible to continue to run it as a home.

I took lots of video footage and then we headed back to the coast to a pretty fishing village called Villajoyosa (pronounced Villahoyosa)
I love Villajoyosa, it is more built up now but there are still many quaint fishing homes still there to see - I believe it is a Spanish heritage sight.
Let me tell you about the fishermen's homes; as you can see they are all different colors. Why? well basically when the fishermen returned from a stint at sea and stopped of at a bar before heading home they could identify their homes by the colors - oh and when they were at sea they could identify their homes in this way too.





Can you see this quaint little door, see how tiny it is - the Spanish people for a long time were a tiny race - better diet has made that this generation is taller than their great grandparents and grandparents


The Spanish are very religious - especially in the small communities and a lot of the houses have religious images on like this one...


so there you have it - some photos from our lovely day, before I go let me tell you that we stopped at a lovely little Spanish restaurant - a very popular one judging by the number of clientele frequenting it... I really liked every about it, the food, the ambience... but I didn't like this..

this is a sparkling water that Stuart had with his lunch - I had a still water. However, I drank my bottle and as we were leaving I thought I would have a mouthful of Stuart's - believe me he nearly wore it, it took all of my will power not to spit it out - it was gross, like drinking alka seltzer or aspirin YUCK! YUCK! YUCK!

Hope you enjoy the photos and if you want to use any then feel free to do so
Thanks and hugs till next time
Dawn

21/08/2010

SASSY and ANGEL

So this is my creation today - using Caran D'ache crayons and prisma pencils - funny when you have to work with what you have to hand - no acrylic painting to speak of this holiday - one thing it is just easier to sit on the patio instead of going into my space to create...
I have a thing about Sassy and Angels going together - it works for me, what do you think?


another thing I LOVE is seeing Beach umbrellas... they always make me smile, the bright vivid colors with the blue sky as a backdrop - just an image I love, think I might have to do a painting one of these days...



and hey I thought I would share a painting I did about 1995 of my mother and father in laws villa - they love it and it hangs in their villa.. I took this photo as it was hanging on the wall.
Back in 1995 I went along to some water color classes with my friend Gabby and had fun doing it - but never believed that I produced anything noteworthy.... but this, I was pleased to give it as a pressie...



I can't believe that I have been here 4 weeks now... :-( one to go before I head home, looking forward to it cos the family are there but I would truly love to stay and live here FOREVER!!!!

Thanks for dropping by...

Hugs, Dawn

20/08/2010

I did get something done

I have been so chilled on this holiday. The kids came out for a week so didn't get any blogging done, need to sort out pics to share.
I did decide to create today and thought i would show you my two new ladies in my journals - no words added yet, that will come...

This is the larger of the two - copics and acrylics used to create this girl with no name.

and this is in my bag size moleskine - prisma pencils and scrapbook papers used to create her.

I have some videos to share- not sure if I can do it on here so will investigate.

I have to tell you it is so hot here but i am so GLAD I am not in cold England!

Will blog again tomorrow xxxx

03/08/2010

LUCKY ANNIVERSARY

Today I have been married to my DH Stuart for 19 years... I love him dearly and guess what he is in England so this is the 1st Anniversary we have spent apart. He will be back with me tomorrow.
Went to a Quiz night with my mum in law and the parents of my sister in law. We got there and I said we have to sit at table 3 cos it is my anniversary. Proved to be a lucky table - we won 8 prizes on the raffle, a prize on the Bingo/Lotto and then we got a prize for coming 3rd - woop woop. Could have come joint 2nd actually because one of the questions was on the Wizard of Oz - What did the wicked witch of the West write in the sky with her broomstick (answer at the end of this post) my Stuart LOVES this film - I hate it, and he watches it whenever it is on, which is too often for my liking!

it did get embarrassing when our winning raffle tickets kept coming out - but hey we put in our 4 euros to support the dog charity and you have to be in it to win it!

I have been busy with my copic markers, practicing - trying to work out the best skin tones so the only way to do it is trial and error...

This was my 1st creation - done in the copic pad as the paper is bleed proof - I liked the tones on this but still need to practice with the layering and blending - to stop the harsh lines.


This one I drew in the pad and then cut around the girl and pasted it to scrapbook paper and added the text - in a moleskine journal.
The colors on this photo are not true - it is not as dark but looking at it I should have stuck with the colors I used for the 1st attempt - but like I said trial and error.

That's all for this post folks
Love and hugs DAWN XXX
OH yes and the answer was "surrender Dorothy"

02/08/2010

HAPPY 18th CHINA


My beautiful daughter China is 18 today and I am so proud of her. She is such an independent person, doesn't suffer fools gladly and is most definitely not a follower.
She does her own thing, her fashion style is hers - she doesn't conform to the norm, she wears what she likes and that is that! In her year book when she left school she had 2 awards - the 1st "THE MOST UNIQUE PERSON IN THE YEAR" and the 2nd "MOST LIKELY TO BE A MILLIONAIRE" so not bad really.

She is a loyal friend, she has had tough times where she has been bullied (mainly due to her hair color in the past) and gets hurt very easily. She hates a liar, she would rather you told her the truth - and if you do she doesn't judge you; so always be honest with China.
She is a generous soul too.
She can be moody at times, and won't EVER back down if she is right.... she will have the last word if she thinks she is right. If she is wrong she is quick to acknowledge and apologise.
Her bedroom, well that is a different story - China could be a nomad - she could live out of a suitcase - oh wait she does when she comes off holiday, I have known her to take 3 months to empty a suitcase.
She is a talented singer, she used to love art till her art teacher drained her so much that now she doesn't bother - she loves photography.
She is loved by her 2 big brothers Dwain and Jazz, woe betide any boy who hurts her!
Daddy's girl too - wraps him round her little finger - BUT they have moments when they clash big time and I have to step in to be referee....

So for the 18 years of happiness my daughter has given me, I salute her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHINA - LOVE YOU MILLIONS XXXX

01/08/2010

DO YOU DARE TO DREAM

Life is about dreams and making them come true if you can don't you think. If it is not within your power to make a dream come true for yourself then maybe someone somewhere will make your dreams happen.
I have had a dream for a while now that for my 50th I would visit the U.S.A. and attend one of the many art retreats that I read about on other people's blogs. I sit and day dream about doing it, not really believing that it could happen - but the dreaming, well that is a part of me.
I was chatting to my DH the other day and he knows that he is having a MAJOR surprise for his 50th this year, kids harp on about how he will love it etc. etc. but he hasn't got a clue what his surprise is... but it is HIS DREAM that I am making a reality.

Imagine my surprise when I told him about my dream and his response was "well you better look into it then!" I was totally gobsmacked, my DH God love him, loves me around, hates to be apart so I never for a million years BELIEVED that he would say it would be okay to live my DREAM.
I AM SO EXCITED.... Okay my 50th isn't till next July but hey if I find the perfect Art Fest to go to whether it is before or after then I shall have the chance to go.... so I need your help here folks, if you could recommend anywhere then let me know asI don't know where to start!
I am so hoping that I will have the chance to attend with some of YOU my online friends.

I created this journal page




and guess what folks I transferred it from my camera to my mac and then uploaded it here to blogger so I am mighty proud of that achievement!!!! maybe I can get to like this computer after all!
Now all I need to do is work out how to sharpen it.... I have photoshop so maybe I should have a play.
Anyway I hope to get some feedback from you all

Hugs till next time....Dawn

31/07/2010

Time flies

Oh my how naughty I have been, nothing on my blog for so long, sorry about that.
I loved to come to my blog and share what I had been up to and then it became a chore... wondering why? Let me tell you.
I had the most amazing Birthday this year, totally spoiled by my family and friends and I was oh so happy.
One of my gifts is the reason for my angst.
You know how it is you have something that you have used for years, you know all it's foibles and how to put it right if it goes wrong. That was me with my little computer with its Windows OS. Then, bless him, my DH thought that it would be wonderful to get me a Mac for my birthday and that is when my trouble started.
I just didn't get it - it didn't work for me, I had to think when I wanted to do something and so the fun of the doing was lost....
I am in Spain now - brought my Mac with me determined to become friends with it.... and so here I am writing my first post using it.
I won't be adding pictures as I have to learn how to do that, i.e. where they are on my computer and then uploading them but hey I am taking the first baby steps to bonding with it.
Everyone says that I will come to love it so I shall give it a go... sure I will get there in the end.

Anyway I can say that I am back now, hoping that I haven't lost too may friends due to my absence and now that DH has gone back to England till Wednesday I am going to sit down and catch up with all my fave blogs..... even the thought of going on the net filled me with dread.
I have stopped using the trackpad and bought a wireless mouse as I get on better with that.. so bear with me and watch this space as I post about my holiday...
Peace to all

Love Dawn

30/06/2010

Yikes....

can't believe that I have blogged in AGES got to hold my hands up and confess that the World Cup is the reason. I have an obsession with football, seriously I do, to the extent that my 2 boys were both born as a result of my over exuberance during football tournaments when England were playing. China, well she came along early as a result of my excitement when Linford Christy winning gold at Barcelona Olympics.... so there you have it.
Even though England crashed out deplorably I still will watch it to the end just because it is football. Hoping now that Spain can do it, watch most of those players every week on La Liga so makes sense and hey my second home is in Spain too.

So apart from football what else have I been up to, in truth, not much.
I did go to the Craft Barn extravaganza and thought it was really good. Met the delightful Suzie Weinberg, watched Linda from Paper Artsy and Lin Brown from LB Crafts. Also Isabella Norris flew in from Canada - that is dedication for you!




The Craft Barn, Lingfield, Surrey


Leandra Franiche, Paper Artsy




Isabella Norris




Lin Brown of LB Crafts
and last but not least


Suzie Weinberg

and finally for this post, I did manage to create one piece in between the football....

The poem reads
Her eyes are like the evening air,
Her voice is like a rose,
Her lips are like a lovely song,
that ripples as it flows.
And she herself is sweeter than
the sweetest thing she knows.
A slender haunting, twilight form
of wonder and surprise,
She seemed a fairy or a child,
Till, deep within her eyes,
I saw the homeward-leading star
of womanhood arise.
Henry Van Dyke 1852-1933
Lost in the photo is the silver shimmer of her dress and wings, I enjoyed creating this fairy.

So once again, Thank you for dropping by, won't leave it so long now, PROMISE

11/06/2010

NEEDLECRAFT WALL HANGING

Funny thing about me, if you visit my blog you will know from past posts that I have a phobia about sewing... I do, but that doesn't mean that I don't love to see what people create with their needles and thread. But needlecraft incorporates so much more than sewing, there is knitting, crochet, lace making to name a few other things.
I have a collection of sewing ephemera that I have collected and wanted to display it.
I bought a printers type block drawer and had it painted in an antique white, then the fun began....

This is the wall hanging filled with all the bits and bobs.


This collage shows a close up of some of the items, see that little red tube it is a vintage needle holder, you turn the brass top and the needles come out, there are compartments inside for different sizes.
And can you see the little bobbin spools to the right, so cute!

In the centre of this mini collage there is the reel of thread on the pins with a bit of work done on it,not by me so I was thrilled to find it like this...

In the top frame of this mini collage there is the little red tube with a thimble on the top. If you take of the thimble there is a little spool inside with two miniature reels of black and white thread and the tube down the middle of the spools is metal with a lid, when you remove the lid there are needles inside - this is a Victorian travelling sewing kit, how neat is that?
The two bone handle pieces are for lacing boots or something like that, I just had to include them.
I feel that this wall hanging would look amazing on the wall of someone who really loves needlecraft, so I am going to be offering it for sale, probably on e bay or maybe artfire... got to work out a price for it, but I think it will be perfect for the right person.
Thanks for dropping by to my blog, hope you liked this post

01/06/2010

HEARTS & LOVE

So a few posts ago now I mentioned that I had met up with one of the girls from the U.S. as she was over for a cruise and stopped over in London.
I can now tell you that I met up with Caryl.

Here we are at the hotel she was staying at in London, her husband Craig took the photo (Thanks Craig).
We got on really well, not hard really as Caryl is such a lovely person. The time we spent together flew by and maybe one day we will meet again....
Caryl was fortunate enough to see the Queen when she was over, she was near the Palace and saw a helicopter arriving and lo and behold the Queen was arriving, she got video footage and I am sure she will blog about it.

If you don't know Caryl you should click HERE and go visit her blog, she creates the most beautiful paintings on board, as well as numerous types of gorgeous art.
Do you doubt what I say, check out this gift that she gave me when we met up....


isn't she beautiful! Caryl also gave me a bag of collage pieces which I look forward to creating with. As a matter of fact I have used one of the images in this heart I made for a swap on the Yahoo group Art Ventures that I am a part of.


The heart is 11 x 6 inches(at the widest point) and I wait to see who my swap partner will be.
Well that is it for today as we have just has a Bank Holiday weekend so I have housework to catch up on and should really get a move on...
Thanks for visiting

30/05/2010

A litle girl


adorns this butterfly canvas, thought I would attempt to create a child for a change.
I used a rose flower napkin for the backgroun, painted the face,arms and legs with acrylic paints and then finished face with c'arandache crayons.
The butterflies are a mixture of textured (the large ones) and K and Co dimensional ones.
I think I prefer to paint adult women rather than children but it was a fun exercise.

Time to see what else I can play with and to watch the rest of the Grand Prix followed by England v Japan (a warm up for the World Cup)

Thanks again for dropping by

29/05/2010

Collecting

I have been oh so busy collecting and putting together some items for a piece that I am creating.
It has been such fun hunting down pieces that would be suitable for my little project... I will be able to share it with you soon.

The postman came with a delivery for me today, I received this gorgeous tag from MaryBeth Janisse, what a lovely surprise. She is a Canadian who is part of the Paper Whimsy group, THANK YOU
so much for this surprise. It is the unexpected RAOK in this life that has the ability to make one smile, and I did smile....
I am sooooooooooo looking forward to the World Cup and think it is funny that England's 1st match is against the U.S.A. hope friendships aren't lost cos of it hehehe.
I am going to sign off now as THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST is coming on TV.... the annual night of watching singers from all the EURO countries trying to impress and then me getting really narked when the scores are given out cos the Eastern bloc countries all vote for their neighbours!!!! but hey it is FUN! and I have watched since seeing Sandy Shaw singing all those years ago!
Ciao people, love you xxxx

20/05/2010

Meeting up and a Wall hanging

OH WOW! What an exciting day for me today, why? well I met up with one of the girls who I met on blogland a few years ago now. She had let me know her and her DH were coming over to London to connect with a cruise and asked if we could meet. Of course I said "Yes" and ever since have been counting down the days.
Today was the day, I travelled by train up to London and made my way to the hotel they were staying at. Right near Buckingham Palace and all of the wonderful sites we have here in England.
Got to the reception, asked if they had checked in and was told that they had, about 10 mins prior to my arrival.
The front desk then rang her room for me and handed me the phone to speak to her. Anyway she was amazed when I said I was downstairs in the lobby and said they would be right on down.
I had no problem recognising her, nor she me, and straight off we got on. It was just so amazing to be actually sitting down talking with her and her DH, the time flew by, hard to believe that we spent almost 2 hours together and it flew by... what a relaxed pleasant time it was.
We exchanged gifts and I was so blown away but what she gave me, a piece of her art, I can't share it with you until she gets back to the States, but I promise I will once I know they are safely home. If you read this, and you know who you are, THANK YOU for meeting up with me and for being such a lovely lady in real life as you are on blogland xxx

I have been busy creating a wall hanging, I actually hand sewed some lace, so proud of myself lol....there is a crucifix, hearts, lace etc. The words are

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn…
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight…
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive…
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself…
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy…
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt…
But…
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient…
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident…
If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative…
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love…
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is…
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice…
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him…
If a child lives with friendliness, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live.


I am sharing this collage for now, hope to be able to take better pics of it tomorrow....
Anyway, I am still beaming and I hope that wherever you are that you are as happy as I am today,

17/05/2010

I'm Back

and want to Thank those of you who expressed your condolences on the passing of my dear Father in Law Charlie. So sad, and hard to believe he has gone, he is in a better place and the family are consoling themselves with that. He had a fantastic send off over in Spain, sure he would have been watching with a smile on his face.
I haven't been creating recently, sure you will understand why but I have received some wonderful art pieces that I would love to share with you.

Would you look at these cigar boxes... I was in the post office sending off the room I created to Karen O and chatting to the Post Master about what I was sending this time (he loves to know) I mentioned about the rooms and he said "hold on a minute" then disappeared upstairs. When he came back down he gave me these boxes and said "you will make good use of these so I would love you to have them" HOW LUCKY AM I!!!

Next I invite you to feast your eyes on this beautiful piece created by Cheryl Dolby if you have never visited her blog well I urge you to do so, she is uber talented! I saw this and had to buy it, in real life the texture and colors are AMAZING! Thank you Cheryl for giving me the chance to own a piece of your art xxx


and last, but not least I was blown away to receive my "Room" from the PAPER WHIMSY swap - my room created by my friend Barbara Burkard. So appropriate for me to get this room as one of the greatest loves of my life is to read, I have to have a book to hand to read, I get twitchy if I don't. Funnily enough I was talking to Barbara on Skype and said to her "let me see the book you created for the PW swap" and when she showed it to me I fell in love with it... that bird took her 4 hours to create! that's dedication. Anyway Gale the owner of PW randomly gave us a swap partner and Barbara had to send to me - it was destined to fly over to England I think! SO THANK YOU BARBARA, I will treasure this always xxx


So even though I have not been creating I have been receiving art... plan for today? to create something, so guess what, I'm outta here... THANKS AGAIN FOR DROPPING BY