What's a few cobwebs beetween friends ...

When I posted a before and after of Noddy and Big Ears here I promised I would share a few more shots of my 'top shelf'.  Mr T has always been a collector of old packages and aided by his Mum we have quite a collection plus my china.

Unfortunately the shelf is rather high so I don't get up to dust the top very often!

so if you won't think any worse of me I'll share a few close-ups with cobwebs.

That's corns and constipation taken care of.

Most of these are concerned with cleaning or tea, plus the Oxo tin of course.

Hey, but what is that perched on the Black Magic tin?

It is a set of lino cutting tools - priced 1s. 4d. that is about 6p in today's money. I have just bought a set and had completely forgotten about these - I wonder if they will work.

Using gifts

First of all, thanks everyone for sharing in my 'cabin fever' as Grammy put it. Getting a few tasks finished has made me feel better, I shall be sharing my big(ger) project later after the recipient's birthday. But meanwhile here is something I have done with some of the pieces of fabric Jane sent me a few weeks ago. This is my first Art Journal, and I thought the cover needed personalizing. I made a card frame and covered it with the pretty green and yellow fabric and added a bit of decorative stitching. I used this to frame an old watercolour doodle with the title written on it placed beneath a piece of translucent green 'parchment'. I used gel medium to glue the butterfly to some paper which meant I could cut it out without fraying. I also added some glass beads before sticking it on. I may embellish it a bit more at a later date. Thanks Jane. I am also feeling better as after a high blood pressure reading by the practise nurse I had to see my GP for a check up, but all was normal - I am sure that just worrying that you have high blood pressure gives you high blood pressure!

Phooey!

I am feeling so totally creatively frustrated and knotted up I am not sure what to do  - I  probably need to slosh around some  paint and glue and then toss the result in the bin. I have been trying some more needle felt animals, but after my initial pleasing first attempt I am frustrated as I cannot get the shapes I want - I also need to just throw the failures in the bottom of the cupboard and stop trying to put them right - the cost of the material is minimal, but  I am finding a reluctance to let go of my failures and move on. I have been very busy on some other projects, but as these are gifts some how they have become a chore - I don't think I would be very good working on commission. Being cooped up by the weather isn't helping - I want to stretch - what do you do? It's not that I feel a creative 'block', just hemmed in.

 By the way I had these two cuties on this journal page for ages, just waiting for the right word!

Keep warm, keep smiling

More maps and stuff

Lesley, on Printed Material has been talking about artist using and creating maps and this brought to mind Grayson Perry's etching, 'Map of Nowhere' (above). Here Perry has combined a medieval map of the world with a diagram of his body/life. It has many modern social and psychological references and it made me think of what many of us try to do in our journals albeit on a rather simpler level.(Clicking on the picture will reveal some details.) His Walthamstow Tapestry has a similar style, but is a woven textile. This maps the seven ages of man and although at first glance looks like a medieval piece, contains many references to modern life including many familiar brand names

Grayson Perry's first piece is reminiscent of the Hereford Mappa Mundi - a 13th century map of the world which combined the known world with mythical lands and beasts as well as spiritual guidance provided by Christian images.

and these in turn made me think about creating a Mappa Me-a but I haven't got very far in filling it in. Lesley's posts made me dig it out, so perhaps I will have some inspiration to finish it off. I was going through a rather introspective phase when I started it - I don't think it will be as revealing as the Perry piece!!

I'll let you know if I get and further.

(Please note the comfy shoes)

Better late

Here is my completed December calendar, I meant to post it earlier, but I definitely had some sort of bug over the weekend. I am feeling much better today, especially after a hair cut, nothing like it to lift the spirits. I know most people get this done before the holidays, but actually this was just what I needed today.
Everyone here seemed to be expecting heavy snow tonight so  Mr T and I went to Sainsbury's as we had been unable to do our shop at the weekend due to me being bluuur and Mr T being a non-driver. The shelves were empty and everyone was chatting as if we were expecting a siege. It can snow now if it likes - the larder is full and I have enough projects to keep me going (for a month)- although fingers crossed with the old sky+ box which is playing up (again) Mr T is in the middle of watching the cricket (England v SA)
( 8pm - snowing hard now)

Pick-me-up

Woman's Own 1939


Feeling a bit delicate today - I think I have a food hangover. Perhaps I need a nice G&T.
I hope you are all feeling perky!

Happy New Year

I had a wonderful New Year, and promised I would post some pictures today. I hope you all had an excellent time too. John and Trish had 16 guests for a true feast - sitting us all was their first triumph.

The meal started with Goran's Swedish fish soup - apparently he had a bit of a search to find saffron in Tesco's...

In between each course we sang a little Swedish snaps song...

most of us had no idea what we were singing which I think was probably a good thing! Skol!!

Next came a chicken curry provided by Viv and then Rustan's Swedish meatballs, brown sauce and cranberries (Linden berries left in fridge in Sweden) delicious...

most of us were too full up by now to try Trish's Caribbean sweet potatoes, so time to clear the tables

(That's Mr T in the specs)

But we had to find room for dessert...

After the meal and greeting the new year, it was necessary to stand up for a while!!

A big thanks to John and Trish and for any in the gang there are more photos on flickr, click on the link on the side bar.

Here's to 2010