Great Blogs!

I recommend you visit the brilliant 'Bluebirds Living in the Meadow' and enter the blogaversary draw. Its one of my favourite blogs and there are some great prizes to be won.

Whilst I'm here I want to thank Anja at http://artefaktotum.blogspot.com/ for giving me a blog award. Her blog is definitely worth a visit as well......you'll pick up some great tips!

Another truly amazing artist is DJ Pettitt. Have you seen her blog? Her artwork is so inspiring....

Make sure you also visit her website http://www.djpettitt.com/ I am in awe!!!!

Newsprint Challenge - ATCs

On our challenge blog this week Rosie suggested we use newsprint. I started by covering a sheet of it with acrylic paint and stamps......then I cut it up into ATC-sized pieces and free-machined onto them.

If anyone would like to trade .... let me know! I still have more to complete..........

New Sewing Machine

I've been having fun playing with my new sewing machine over the past week. I love using the darning foot and just drawing freely with it. Here are my first efforts - although I must start taking it seriously from now on and do something sensible!

(I have used the technique on my ATCs though...see post above.)

Paper Whimsy Forum Challenge

I was inspired by two of my amazing friends, Patty and Sandee, to have a go at the Paper Whimsy Forum Challenge (you need to go to the website and click on forum at the top). Gale provides a limited edition collage sheet to form the basis of this, then you can add other bits and pieces of your own. I loved playing around with her images.....I cut up the fish to make plant pots, milagros flames on the hearts and architectural details!! The collage has to be based on a wonderful poem by Hilda Conkling (click on picture below and you will see it). I'm going to make a little book (5"x5") with my my efforts. I now need to contact Gale for sheet number two....can't wait!

My door opens.......

....to reveal a Paper Whimsy girl.

(Sorry about the colour changes in the photos - the real colour is more like the last one.)

Gel Transfers and a Canvas

I've been playing with gel transfers this week; trying them on different surfaces. I put 3 onto this little chunky canvas (5"x5") and then finished it off with some thick gesso, Lumiere paint (halo blue-gold), Stuart Gill Alchemy paint (amethyst) plus some lace and a butterfly. I'm making a number of things at the moment to put on one side for a possible Etsy shop - this will be one of them I think. Maybe.
(I covered the canvas in gesso before doing the gel transfer and it worked fairly well.)

Below is a gel transfer of an old family photo which I applied directly to a woodblock. It worked really well but I wish I'd gessoed it first because I'm not keen on the wood grain showing through. I will keep practising!

I'd like to thank the 'Outsider Artists' for the lovely free image of the little angel. (Great website - go and take a look!)

Goats Cheese Tarts

Couldn't resist giving you the recipe for these goats cheese and cherry tomato tarts. I made 16 of them for the cafe at the Beetroot Tree Gallery last week, then came home and made these for me and DH. I used mild goats cheese so they aren't terribly 'goaty'. You need:
210g puff pastry (froz)
125g goats cheese (its shaped like a little log)
60g (approx) soft cream cheese
1 crushed clove garlic
s&p
thyme
cherry tomatoes
Just roll out the pastry and line 4 flan cases (3-4") then mash the two cheeses together with the garlic and s&p. Press this into the pastry (it will be about 1/2" thick), slice cherry toms and place on top, sprinkle with thyme, a little black pepper and drizzle a little olive oil on if you like.
Bake at 180 degs for about 15 mins till golden. I'm off to make some more for tea tonight!

Bookmark Challenge

Over at our Awfully Big Art Adventure we have challenged you to make bookmarks this week. I said I would swap with the first three people who asked.....just leave a comment on this blog or email me. (It doesn't matter where in the world you live.) There is just one proviso....no pastel colours please (I think I'm allergic to them, lol !!)

Come back to me later today as I have some more things to show you. (Haven't got time to post now as I'm off to visit Dad in his new nursing home.)