Happy New Year Everyone!

I just want to send a HUGE 'Thank you!' to everyone who's supported my

new ventures this year; my wonderful family, all my friends, old and new and especially

those who've so patiently guided me through the mysterious maze and mists of this alien

(well, it was to me!) 'cyber space'.

Finally the fog has begun to lift and (hopefully!) the blogs are beginning to make sense.

Wishing you every Happiness, Health, Peace, Prosperity & Love

and may 2009 be a good one!

Yvonne

Season's Greetings!

Wishing Everyone a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a

HAPPY, PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!

'Felt' inspired!

Visiting the German Christmas Market in Hyde park's



was a real treat, with stall upon beautifully-decorated and lit stall,













selling really lovely, unique items; jewelery, hand carved wooden figures,
gingerbread hearts etc.














But one stall really caught my attention above the others.
















Run by a company that sells clothing and accessories made from 'Fair Trade' textiles, the rich textures, imaginative design and the vibrant colours, of the 'felt' work especially, were just beautiful! Simply a feast for the senses:
















There was something to suit all pockets, from purses to stocking fillers
















Hats, gloves, scarves, you name it! The patterns and colour-combinations were endless.
















I LOVED this bag! But in the end settled on these sparkly red 'elf' slippers.
A present for a very special little girl I know....
















(hope her mum's not reading this!)























They call themselves 'Inspired Earth' and well, whether your into textiles or just plain texting, I'm sure you'll agree their work is certainly inspiring!

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland....

I seem to have spent days glued to my desk, either working on the computer or painting this year's Christmas card (I know know! But better late than never!) So decided some fresh air was in order and, wrapping up well (it's freezing!) took myself off for a brisk walk in the park.

Every year, around Christmas time, part of London's Hyde Park is transformed into a festive fun fair complete with it's own 'London Eye' or Ferris wheel, skating rink, German craft market, hot-food and mulled wine stalls, beer tents and rides. It's not only a fabulous spectacle but a brilliant day/night out, to suit the whole family. I Arrived just before dusk:

But it was when night fell that the magic really began:




























































































I made a detour on my way home, via Oxford Street (recession? What recession?!!!)
and thought, especially if you live a million miles away, you might like to see the 'illuminations'. Here's one, of the famous Selfridges Store:
















Inside, there is a fabulous art installation reaching up through the many floors:

And just one more:

















I'll save the rest for another time.......



ART NEWS:

Some news just in: I just heard that The National Portrait Gallery has acquired the famous portrait by Albert Charles Challen, of Mary Seacole, the charismatic Jamaican nurse and Crimean War heroine. You can see it HERE

And, if you're an artist yourself, this may be of interest:

'Artists from around the world are being invited to design a prestigious memorial to Mary Seacole, the Jamaican Crimean War heroine, on a Central London site. The £500,000 memorial is to be built at St Thomas’ Hospital, already home to the Florence Nightingale Museum......'

to read more, follow this link:'The Times'

If you want to keep up to date regularly with what's happening in the visual arts, here in London, this is another link to a great source: the Times

'Nostalgia' at the Stone House

Today I'm feeling particularly creative. I've been sorting out my baskets filled with fabric, beads and ribbons etc and getting all 'Christmassy'. Well, with only a couple of weeks to go I thought I'd better get cracking! The only problem was 'where to start?'
So I scoured the web for ideas and came across an amazing site. If, like me, you're a lover of collectibles, antique fabrics, pretty china, memorabilia and all things vintage etc, you simply MUST check out this wonderful new book/blog/website:

http://nostalgiaatthestonehouse.blogspot.com/2008/10/welcome-to-my-book-launch-party



It certainly inspired me (and it's firmly on my Christmas list!)

Waxing Lyrical

I apologise if you've already read this post on my 'Painting Skiathos' blog.
As I work in London throughout the winter months, from today, I will be posting all new art (non-Skiathos 'painting holiday' related) posts, here, on my regular art blog, instead. Hope it won't be too confusing!

Last week I spent a wonderfully creative day in the company of friends, making cards.



Usually a fund raising event, it is hosted annually by my dear friend Christina at her gorgeous London Mews house. A group of us get together and with all the cutting and glue-ing, pasting and painting (not to mention constant chatter and laughter!) the hours pass so quickly!



Each brings their own techniques to the table and today the highlight was learning how to use encaustic (hot) wax and iron.



It produces really interesting and unexpected results:



Within every sheet one's imagination can run riot and it's easy to 'see' so many different images,

shapes and forms that, when cut out, can make fabulous cards in their own right:



It was great fun but we managed (without too much difficulty!) to tear ourselves away and clear the decks for a delicious bite to eat and some of Christina's amazing apple crumble



Then it was back to work:




Thank you Christina!

Where it all happens!

Gosh! What a busy, busy week! I didn't imagine it would take so long to get back here but, oh well, here I am. It all began with me having a bit of a blitz on my studio. Normally I'm quite happy to work in 'organised' chaos but when it gets to the stage that I can't find anything - including any free space to work in, well, something's got to be done!
So here's the studio all tidied up: (I thought you might like to see it before it gets all messed up again!)

This is where I do most of my small illustrations. Everything I need is close to hand, including some of my favourite images which help to provide inspiration.
I'm working on three projects simultaneously at the moment; two very humorous books (one about dogs, one about a pig) and a series of small water colour paintings, as well as my own Christmas card!




I've also got two large acrylic paintings on the go. I have to finish them by Christmas and I can't show them yet as they're surprise gifts - but I'll be posting them on here later.

The third area in the studio is the desk where I do all my computer work; sending emails, editing photos, uploading images to all my websites and writing my blogs etc:

And finally, the bookshelves and work table area where I make all sorts of crafts and collages using textiles, ribbons, beads fabrics etc.


Of course I'm not always beavering away in the studio! Often I'm out and about and usually with camera in tow. I've just finished 4 exciting new photography collections You can see in these scrolling galleries in the side bar. All the images are for sale as framed or unframed PRINTS or as GREETINGS CARDS and can be ordered and shipped to your door.