Trying to make things happen and living a dream.

Hello lovelies, 

Its been so long and I have been so busy! 

As you can probably tell from the title I am on a mission to change my job circumstances. Mid October I started an Open University access module course, a short six month course to remember how to learn things again. My course is arts and languages, which I'm finding both challenging and fun. I hope to go onto a degree, if I pass this course. 

So that's reason one for my lack of blogging time.

The other main focus of my time lately has been starting up a Folksy shop. Yes, I have decided to start selling prints of my drawings and doing a few commissions for family, friends and fellow lovers of fluffy animals/ cute birds. 

Both of these things are so intertwined. I started the course through day dreaming about what it would be like to work in an art gallery. I created my shop because I'm so tired of just earning enough to scrape by and I wanted a positive focus that was work orientated (ie earn some money) but also creative and passionate. 

When I draw, I pretend to myself that I'm an 'artist'. And when I'm going through my course work I pretend to myself that I am smart. Both these things help me at work when annoying situations arise.

And its not just  the nitty gritty I've been enjoying, I have a Twitter account and Facebook page for my new endeavour which I love to update with arty inspirational stuff.

I'd love to use this time to introduce my Folksy shop; Little Arty Doll Prints. 

If you have any interest in my creative side please like my page and follow me on twitter.  


Here is a photo of me being a sparkler face.....

Kisses

WIP and life update

Hello lovelies,

Here is what I am currently drawing, a bull finch. I love drawing birds and have found many photos in David Attenborough's 'The Life of Birds' that I found in a charity shop. 

I am enjoying shading things in at the moment. Maybe I'll go back to colour sometime, although I need to buy some more colour pencils, my current set is a little limited!

In just over a week I am starting an on line course through the Open University. I am very excited and very nervous. Mainly I hope I find it slightly challenging and enjoyable. I am looking forward to learning again. I want to encourage more opportunities in to my life and I hope this is a step in the right direction. 

I also want adventure, since my holiday in Somerset I am craving more freedom. I have made a small list of things I'd like to do before the end of the year. Some are annual events, that are sometimes missed due to work (already booked off this year!) and others are things I have never experienced. I'll share one with you now.....

I have never seen a meteor shower.

Never, not even a shooting star, or at least not that I can remember. So I did some research with the help of my boyfriend and hopefully, weather permitting, on October 21st  should be standing in a field (away from nasty light pollution) with some friends and seeing a meteor shower. 

I have decided to create the events I want to go to.

Kisses and stardust

Ps you know that little baby bunny I started drawing, well he's finally finished and you can see him on my Instagram. Go take a look.....

Inspired; some 'wip'

Hello lovelies!!

I posted on twitter the other day how watching a bunch of bunny YouTube videos inspired me to draw a little baby bunny.

Here is the work in progress for you.

Just a simple out line with some areas marked out for highlights and darker shading. I still need practise with fitting into the space available, the top of his ear went over!! This is going to be fun to do.

If you want to see the finished piece or any of my other drawings go to my Instagram.

Because everyone loves baby bunnies!

Kisses

Love for autumn.

Hello lovelies,

Summer was fun this year and I got to do lots of awesome things, but I must confess, autumn is my favourite season.

Part of my autumn themed tattoo.

The air has suddenly become chillier, there are a few red and golden leaves on the ground and I'm digging out more woolens to keep warm. Officially, it's not autumn for a few more days but I think it has already arrived and I want to celebrate that.

Its the small things that I do to celebrate the shift in seasons, and for this one I like nothing better than curling up in blankets on the sofa, more bubble bath's, complete with candles and relaxing music, more candles in general, appreciating the change in the light as the nights draw in, drinking more tea and hot chocolate, using darker shades in make up again, gloves and scarves, and excitement for Bonfire Night.

For me life becomes more about rituals again and taking time in them.

Happy autumn, lovelies

Kisses

Some time spent in Somerset

Hello lovelies!!

We went away to Somerset for a few days last week and it was fun of fun. On the journey there we managed to make a detour and drove past Stone Henge. 

We stayed along the coast, at a small village called Brean. It has a beautiful sandy beach and is very picturesque.

My favourite parts of the holiday include;

* Standing on the beach in the pitch black and looking up at the stars.

* Curling up on a bench and eating some really good chips with Luke at Burnham on Sea.

* Travelling through Somerset, I have never seen such a beautiful landscape. So very different from my native Suffolk.

* Glastonbury, the friendly inhabitants, the cute shops full of pretty things, the constant smell of incense and trekking up the tor.  

* Spotting the locations used in the film Hot Fuzz which was filmed in Wells.

* The beautiful sound of the sea.

* Amusement in the arcades.

* Partaking as much as possible in silly drinking games.

I learnt a lot while away, about my self and other people and I would love to visit that area of Somerset again. It has really inspired me to invite more adventuring into my life, both in Britain and abroad. 
Unfortunately there are very few photos from this holiday, the camera on my phone has the tiniest of smudges right in the middle of the lense, rendering it useless. I do how ever have a photo of myself and Luke at the top of the Glastonbury Tor. 

Do you feel like you need more adventure in your life? Once you start thinking about it, it can be quite infectious. 

I saw this on one of my favourite blogs; Veronica Varlow's Danger Diary, which I think sums up what I feel completely;

'I decided to go live the story. Rather than think of the story.'

Kisses

Its September already!! What I've done in 2013 so far.....

Hello lovelies!!

Can you believe its September already! This year is going so quick, it can be quite panic inducing! Writing a list is a good excercise in remembering the awesome times you've had so far. 

So heres mine, in no particular order......



*I skated in my first open door bout in April.
*I skated in my leagues first open door mixed scrim in July. First time skating with boys in a public setting!
*I applied for my Open University course in August. I am so excited to start this in October. 
*There were two seaside adventures with friends, Felixstowe and Holkam beach, both in July. I love the sound of the sea!

Me at Holkam beech

*I started going to the gym and making healthier choices in March. I feel stronger and happier about myself now.
*I've had two big social events so far with my roller derby crew in April and July.
*I finally got my tattoo for my Grandad.
*I discovered a new pretty reserve with my Mum and Luke called Needham Lake in July. There is nothing I like better than sitting under a tree.

It had geese and ducks and swans!

*I went to the Norwich Body Art Festival and got totally inspired in August.

*I went to so many bouts this year; Croydon, Cambridge, Norwich and  Southend.
*I went to my first big theme park; Thorpe Park in July. I discovered that I'm fine with roller coasters that go up and down (classic style) but throw me upside and spin me about and I will feel shaky and nauseous after. My favourite was the Tea Cups!

And last night I went to my first Milton Keynes mixed scrim! This is a monthly event that I will attend regularly. I did well, surprised myself on a few occasions and met some lovely roller derby folk. 

All in all I feel like I have done quite a bit this year and I want to continue to have adventures, try new things and generally have a blast living life!

I am away on holiday to Somerset now, so I will have ;lots of adventures and inspiring stuff to share with you when I get back. Perfect scenario will include sitting under a tree with in hearing distance of the sea!

I hope if you feel inclined to write a list of all this things you've done this year it makes you feel great too!

Kisses

Tattoo talk; my memorial tattoo

Hello lovelies!!

I want this post to be a happy memorial type post. My Grandad died three years ago yesterday. Obviously I still miss him terribly, as anyone who has lost someone they loved will know. And when I think about that, it hurts. 

I wanted to write this post yesterday but I had been to a super awesome roller derby event Friday night and was still buzzing from it. I felt like to write this in my cheerful mood was inappropriate. But I don't want this to be all doom and gloom.

When I look at the tattoo I got back in July I immediately have happy memories from my childhood. And that's what I think will help dilute the sadness, the happy memories that you have of someone.

By the lovely Karen at Curiosities Tattoo Studio.

My Grandad was fond of getting us grandkids going, and to make sure he got his favourite French Fancy he would tell me another flavour was his favourite. When I thought I was being clever nabbing the one he wanted, he would let on that he used reverse psychology to get the one he really wanted. My Grandad was a massive West Ham fan and around this time he had a West Ham cup complete with emblem, lyrics and bubbles. 

There are loads more memories and it took a while to work out what I wanted to incorporate into my tattoo. When you have so many ideas it can be difficult to narrow them down so your tattoo doesn't end up looking too busy. For me this is the perfect starting point down memory lane for me. He loved being silly with us. I remember I would sit at the table drawing and he would tell me he knew how to draw an elephant. He would then proceed to draw a dot and tell me that's an elephant very, very, very far away. I was very lucky to have him in my life for 25 years.

Cherish your loved ones, forget the bad and remember the good.

Kisses