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

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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