At last!!

I have been trying to find a place local to where I live to get some pictures of peacocks for my project.  Today, I was told of a farm local to me that had peacocks and more.  I have never seen so many different types of chickens in one place before.  AND, I got my much needed photos of the peacocks. 
Last month, I didn't get to visit many journals in Kate Crane's 366 challenge, so, this month I have decided to view 10 on a daily basis, such lovely work being created, I don't want to miss it.

March journal pages.

 My theme for this months page came about because it is World Book Day today.  The Gruffalo is a firm favourite with both my Grandsons and my children in class.
After applying gesso to the pages I then rubbed turquoise and green paint onto top.  A darker green was then sponged through one of my stencils before applying the images of the Gruffalo and mouse cut out from a paper napkin.  It is so lucky that I am a hoarder, because  I had a footprint stamp that Kezzy had when she was a little girl, which I used to stamp over the letters.  (It had come with a Barbie art set when she was about 6).  Back to journalling on plain squares this month. 

I have kept my journal up to date as you can see.  Click on the link here to see the work of other journallers taking part in this challenge.

Tag Tuesday - books

Trying to decide which book to feature on my tag was hard.  I was an avid reader as a child, and one of my favourite times of my working day is reading stories to the children at work.  All though I think I must have read every Enid Blyton book, I chose Milly Molly Mandy.
I had intended first of all to colour the image, but on reflection, decided that as my books had always been in black and white my tag would also remain that way too.

Y.E.

Yesterday had the girls creating hearts at our Young Embroiderers' meeting.  Fabrics were laid down onto a base fabric and then tacked in place before stitching the front and back together.

Once the hearts were stuffed it was time to embellish with stitch, beads and buttons. Some very lovely hearts!

Little bird.

Last Thursday I worked a shift at holiday club.  I took in felt and sewing equipment so that the nine year old could make this bird. As  I left before she had completed it, so she bought it in to show me today.  I think she did really well. This Saturday, I am helping at YE.

Tag Tuesday-poetry.

Tuesday again!!! 
The title for the tag this week was poetry.  I have been looking at birds for the last couple of weeks and came across these words:-
'A Robin Redbreast in a cage,
Puts all of Heaven in a rage.'
It is from Auguries of Innocence by William Blake.
To make my angry sky/heaven I coloured my tag with Prussian blue  and purple Brusho inks, which I then sprinkled with dishwasher salt.  The metal bird cage and the bird was cut with a Tim Holtz die on my Big Shot.  I coloured the robin in with Inktense pencils.  Embellished with stamped vellum tags and brads.

Annette Morgan.

A lovely talk from Annette Morgan last night.  Her photos were very  good and she bought along some of her work, some as yet unseen. Annette was very generous with information on how she got her inspiration for each piece as well as the techniques. At the end of her talk we were allowed to examine and touch her work.  Annette is back next month to do a workshop for us making 'Jazzy Books'

TIF

 A lovely day spent in Cottenham at TIF.  I was demonstrating using paper napkins and tissues in art/textile work.  Here is my table set up ready for when the doors opened.  Well I dont know where the  three and a half hours went to, they just flew by. 

This machine embroidered picture is by another demonstrator there today, Nodeen Salmon (pictured below).  She is teaching at AVG 20th April, if you want to learn how to her techniques and make a picture like this.

There were traders to tempt our purses and two exhibitions to view.  Some really lovely work, such a shame that we couldn't take any photos.

 When I got home, Kezzy had been busy baking cakes again.  She has been asked to make a birthday cake for her boyfriend's sister, so thought she ought to have a practise.  She also made the fondant rose on the top.

She made me a small cake to have with my cup of coffee, just what I needed after all that talking!!

Cutomising.

 I have needed a new sturdy camera case for some time.  Today when out shopping, I found  this one, but it was a bit drab.

So, when I got home, I got out my Crayola Fabric pens and did some therapeutic colouring in.  A few blobs of puffy paint to finish off!
My bag is packed ready to set off early for TIF  with Nickie.  I am demonstrating book making and Nickie is giving a workshop.  Two days left of the show.