In the post today.......

I received my prize from Wanda's pass it forward giveaway, isn't it lovely. I shall enjoy wearing it. I now have to make something to give away, the question is, what?

I have done some work on my ALQS4 at last. Stencilled circles with three different colours with Markalls (I love the smell of them, reminds me of the art room at school) They now have to dry for a couple of days and then I will start machine stitching-yippee!!!!
The assignment for the art course this week is photography, thank goodness for digital cameras!

More collages.

This collage was made from leaves and flowers collected on my walk from the classroom to the car. Using a card loom and wool, I wove leaves and grasses to create a base. The remaining flowers and leaves were then added as an embellishment.

A page from an old song book as a base, embellished with various papers, buttons and a photo of my grandmother who was a seamstress, printed onto acetate. Just over a week left of the art course, the time has just flown!

Back to sewing very soon!

Collages.

I planted up my hanging basket and wall pots with trailing petunias before it started raining. This meant I could come indoors and do some more work for the online art course without thinking about what I need to do in the garden.
I am really enjoying the course, and only two weeks left.

I have quite a few assignments to catch up with and tomorrow it is the start of photography week.

Tonight's exercises.

I had to create a scene from a magazine or postcard without a paintbrush. I used natural sponge, cotton reel, an old dry baby wipe, lolly stick, coffee stirrer, cotton bud, pipe cleaner and credit card. Below is the image I tried to re-create from the magazine Lonely Planet. Loved every moment!

Also did a drawing exercise, and used the same vase as before, it's hard I find, getting the sides even.

Also did a bit more painting on this piece of fabric for the ALQS4, using Hundertwasser again for my inspiration.

And some more.

I have managed another couple of art exercises this evening. For this one in the photo I had to paint an object without using a brush - finger painting again! I found it really hard to get a crisp outline especially as I don't have long nails.

The piece of fabric that I started to paint the other day for ALQS4, was not the right shade of green, so, its now waiting to be recycled into another project and I have started again.

Permission to play.

I have missed out the drawing assignment for he moment so that I could get my paints back out. We have got to finger paint and though I work with 3-4 year olds, I never get the chance to just go for it. No brushes or implements allowed.Having done an imaginary scene, I used up all the spare paint to do the one below in gay abandon! Lots of mucky fingers but great fun!!

Hundertwasser

One of my favourite artists is Hundertwasser. For my latest piece of work I had to do for my Art Course was to use the work of a famous artist and recreate it so I chose 'Hide Under The Meadow- It Begins To Rain'. This is my version, the picture I worked from is below. To recreate it, I used soft pastels, Brusho with rock salt, Indian ink, drawing inks, card making ink pads, felt tips, sketching pens, acrylic and water colour paints, Smooch, wax medium, nail varnish and Inktense pencils. I have painted, sponged, speckled, stamped, stencilled and coloured. Really enjoyed experimenting!

When I got home from work, my book by Sue Rangeley had arrived, lots of OOOHHHHHSSSSS!!! between the covers. Nickie popped round for coffee and some Rocky Road and had look at it too, it wont be long before one is on its way to her.

Maggie very kindly included a gift with the book of some sheers and sequins-thank you Maggie!

KISS and E Art course

I am spending nearly all my spare moments stitching the background of my KISS project. On Sunday, I was even stitching it on the train to London while Nickie had her knitting needles out and was experimenting with wire. I am nearly half way there, I have to finish it by the end of the month. Below is a close up of the background stitching.

Last month I enrolled on Amelia's art course thinking it would be something to do in the Easter holiday, it started Monday as I went back to work. Serves me right, in my excitement to sign up I didn't read the date properly. The first exercise is to make marks in boxes using different mediums and tools.

I have completed another eight samples since I took this photo. Onto exercise two tomorrow night.