Talented friends

Since I started out with Jakeart1 I have done lots of craft fairs and joined lots of craft groups on facebook. Through all of this I have met some amazing people who are both talented and lovely. So I have decided to do little interviews with some of them every so often so that everyone can see their amazing work.

The first little interview I did was with the wonderfully talented Danielle from Under the Rowan Trees. I absolutely love her work as she has such a wide variety of talents to offer from embroidery to knitting and to jewellery. All her beautiful things are well made and a little quirky (which appeals to me). If you like Danielle's work check her out at http://undertherowantrees.org/ or on facebook.

Some of the questions I asked were a little random I'm afraid and inspired by the sort of things my children ask me so sit back and enjoy while you find out a little about Danielle.x

1.What was your first commission?

Does my mum count? For her 60^th birthday I offered to make her something. She chose a lace weight yarn and a complicated pattern. It took forever and was very late for her birthday but she loves it so that is all that matters!

2.What piece are you most proud of?

The first large shawl I completed for myself is still my favourite and I wear it all of the time! It took ages and used 200g of hand dyed yarn. It was the first complex pattern I followed and I learned so much from the process.

3.What are you working on now?

I’m a serial starter so I always have loads on the go. At the moment I have earrings and badges drying ready for Christmas fayres, a half embroidered feather to go in a mini hoop and at least fifteen knit and crochet items on the go including a cowl for my first beginners knitting pattern!

4. If you were a superhero what would your power be?

I would pause time! Then I could have a quiet sit down with a cup of tea and my crochet and not worry about anybody disturbing me!

5. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

I’m a bit of a home bird so am tempted to say bed but if money was no object I’d like to explore some more European cities by train. We travelled through Belgium, Germany and Switzerland on our honeymoon and it was amazing. Prague would have to feature somewhere!

6.Which person from history would you most like to meet and why?

I’m a big Audrey Hepburn fan. I particularly love Breakfast at Tiffany’s, however, I think she was far too glamorous to hang out with me. She did like to knit though (so we may find some common ground!).

7. What is your favourite book?

I’m a big reader (or I was until crafting started to eat up my relaxation time) so it is really hard to choose. One which I found to be extremely powerful and which has stayed with me is Wuthering Heights. Usually I go for modern literary fiction. I love the work of Kate Atkinson.

8. If you could be any animal what would you be?

 Something which hibernates!

9. You can spend a day in a fictional place with a fictional character. Where would you go and who with?

Again hard to choose but at the moment I’d probably choose to visit the scarf lady from Sarah and Duck. She has a room full of yarn in her house. I could curl up in there for hours!

10. If a fairy granted you 3 wishes what would you choose?

A lovely long lie in with no cbeebies! A huge supply of fine Swiss chocolate. Finally a beautiful Christmas with all of my family, lots of food wine and laughter.

Thank you all for reading and to Danielle for answering my questions. I'll be asking more random questions of my fellow artists very soon.x

Macmillan Charity Auction

I've read that 1 in 3 of us will get cancer at some point in our lives. Also that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer. Not very good odds. But when I was diagnosed on 1st May 2012 on our daughter's 8th birthday it was still a shock. My Dad had died of cancer years ago and my brother-in-law had survived cancer but I never really expected it to happen with me. Even my GP didn't expect me to have it. There followed 6 doses of chemo (with a few stays in isolation), 2 lumpechtomies and then 4 weeks of radiotherapy. I've been on tamoxifen for nearly 3 years and I've been told to stay on it for 10. I also have injections every 4 weeks. But I am alive and doing well and loving life. 

All the way through my treatment, Mandy and Christine, the Macmillan nurses based at Bournemouth Hospital were fantastic. They were always there to explain things and to address any worries I had. The idea for this auction was to give something back for all the help I received.

I mentioned that I wanted to do this on  a craft group I belong to on facebook, Handcrafted Uniquely Community, and asked for advice on how to run it. Not only did I get good advice but I also had offers of other items for my auction. And so this auction came into being.

With the help of my fellow crafters and the generosity of the people bidding we have raised nearly £600 (and there is still a bit of money to come in).

Above is my painting that I auctioned "Make A Wish".

My wish is for a world without cancer but for the moment that seems to be impossible so my more practical wish is for all those who suffer from it and for their families to be supported by the wonderful Macmillan nurses. This auction has gone some way to helping that wish come true. 

Thank you everyone.x

https://www.facebook.com/AgniPrasadaBurning?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/stainedglassworks.co.uk?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/PrettyWildJewellery?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/shellsccc?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/Beach-Hut-n-Boats-174323555942464/timeline/

https://www.facebook.com/CharlieMorgonJewellery?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/undertherowantrees?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/MysticElementsOxford?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/SueRocheIllustration?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/markwaughphotography?fref=ts

Art Nouveau

While driving up to Wales this summer for a family holiday I started picturing in my head what a moongazing hare would look like if done by famous artists. I was thinking of some of my favourites: Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dali and Vincent Van Gogh.

I've always loved Mucha's work with it's swirly fluid shapes and as I only had my pens and watercolours with me I concentrated on his work. I loved his use of detail but with a bold black outline and so that is what I have tried to do. Eventually this set of woodland animals came into being. I began with a hare (of course) and promptly sold it. After a while I had painted a harvest mouse, badger, fox and another hare. I'm so pleased with how they look with the brightness of the blue and green against the smooth white Bristol board and the gold gouache shines making them look really sumptuous. I hope Mucha would have approved of my work. I think I shall be doing more animals in this style (when I get the time) and maybe some birds too. What are your favourite animals?x

Fairies, hares and crows.

Anyone who knows me will know that I get a bit obsessed about things. For months now I've loved painting hares. I love how scruffy and gangly they are. I really love painting their fur. This all began with a commission to paint a moongazing hare on a stone.

 

 Many hares later and I'm still painting them on stone, slate, canvas and paper. I've recently added crows to that obsession after a steampunk crow challenge.

 I've always loved drawing fairies so now I'm putting all those elements together. Here' a work in progress picture of fairies, a hare and a crow along with a moon. So far I've sketched the idea, drawn pen detail and splashed some watercolour on the background then sprinkled it with salt. We'll see how it turns out.x

Rhythm Tree Festival

Just had the best time ever! It was our wedding anniversary on Sunday so we had a little jolly to the Isle of Wight. We stayed at Yarmouth, which is such a lovely little town, having only ever driven through it before. Went on lots of long walks exploring with the kids, collecting pheasant feathers, seeing donkeys, visiting Yarmouth castle, Fort Victoria, eating ice cream and full English breakfasts - yum. But the best bit was the Rhythm Tree Festival. Great fun. Lots of fab music on 3 separate stages, yummy food, lots of sunshine and really friendly people. We also saw JC Grimshaw. My husband is a big fan and we all loved him. (Met his mum and she was lovely too). If you've not heard his music look him up - very Leonard Cohen-ish. Our favourite song is Bird of Prey. Also managed to get a few watercolour sketches done while there so I was very happy.x

Let's get this blog up and running.

When it comes to painting I always listen to music. Mostly I listen to Rammstein. I have no idea what they are singing about most of the time but I love Til Lindeman's voice. Last summer I did one of my splashy scribbly pictures of him and at Christmas I painted this set of decorations. Til Lindeman for me, Jimi Hendrix for my husband and Slash for my friend in Australia.x

Jakeart1

I am trying to get this blog thing up and running. so will just have a little play until I finally get it right. 

It's finally the end of the school year and my eldest has left junior school. She has loved her time there but is really excited to be going to secondary school in the Autumn. My two boys will still be in juniors next year. In the mean time we have the whole summer holidays stretching out ahead of us. I have lots of plans for the summer, not least Mudeford Arts Festival and the New Forest Fairy Festival. Also have lots of painting plans so watch this space.

x