'Lil Sonny Sky

Free Spirit

2012-02-12T22:15:00.000Z

I went screen printing for the first time in 8 months!

I screen printed this free spirit which is what I aspire to be!

how important are your eyebrows?...

2012-02-06T17:52:00.000Z

...in the big scheme of things? eh?

My eyebrows are falling out at an alarming rate which I'm not happy about.

I got really cross with them on Saturday and said

"Look fella's, you've had 5 months to fall out, 5 blooooming month whilst having treatment, but you hung on in there, for grim life, and I'm proud of you for that, I truly am, and very grateful for your co-operation after my prayers to the big eyebrow upstairs,

but really,

now all the treatment has finished you've gone all relaxed and floppy and just plain lazy, with "I can't be bothered to stay and work hard at being good brows" kind of attitude and it just won't do.

Now I'm not asking much, I'm not expecting you to become the Gallagher of eyebrows over night, but come on fella's, you lasted so long don't give up on me now!!?"

But alas,

like many unruley eyebrows mine have selective hearing and would rather leave the nest and explore the world, and it's so hard for me to say good bye and let go,

and my eyelashes have decided to do the same, bugger!

Oh well,

like I said before, looks are not everything and as you know I'm Angelina Jolie within so untill the little baby ones that are now starting to grow get bigger I'm going to go for the above look Sonny suggested to me, play dough, a million and one uses,

what do you think?

nice weather we're having today....

2012-02-02T10:27:00.001Z

We've had a slight smattering of snow on them there hills,

( 'Smattering' being a proper weather type word so sorry for showing off and getting too technical )

Which looks gorgeous with the winter sun on it,

( above the veiw from our house this morning )

But 'by gum' it's fresh! brass monkeys fresh!

lovely though,

and that concludes the weather report for today!

I'm feeling good...

2012-01-31T09:28:00.000Z

I had my last treatment yesterday

all done

I can know get on with life feeling good!! Fab.

Mummy being zapped...

2012-01-25T22:56:00.000Z

by Sonny

I love my long slim legs!

The dark shape on the right is the door they close when they leave mummy all by her self, which to Son is the worst bit of the treatment,

'arnt kids pictures blooming brilliant!

on reflection...

2012-01-17T16:40:00.000Z

I can't believe it's the 17th of January and the last time I posted was the 1st!

I've started my radiotherapy treatment over at Jimmy's in Leeds and have to go every day till the end of the month which is a fare 'ole trek! but worth it!

It's so surreal to me having the radiotherapy treatment,

the changing room is like Mr Ben's, only no magic shop keeper appears, and the nurses don't wear fez's.

In one door, gown on, then out another door into a space lab with a huge machine ready to laser zap me a bit of radiation goodness to eradicate any naughty cells that the chemo may have missed! cooool! - as Sonny would say... in fact a lot of my experience has been cool and awesome to Sonny, including my "blood bag" in hospital, my "shark attack" scar and my "brilliant bald" head... and now being laser zapped!... how lucky can one mummy be!

It's like being in a James bond film, only I'm no pussy galore and there's no Martini shaken or stirred, and no Daniel Craig unfortunately.... just music in the back-ground, to keep me calm and still.

I'm not allowed to move, at all, not a millimetre, which for a mega fidget pants is really hard! Especially when they played Jackie Wilson's 'Reet Petite'!

I lay there thinking this has got to be one of the most surreal moments of my life, being zapped by a huge machine 4 inches from my face with Jackie Wilson singing "look-a-bar look-a-bar look-a-bar oooooo weeee" and not being able to shimmy a shoulder!

I don't feel a thing, they set the green beams of light from the ceiling to the tattooed dots on my chest and then leave the room and say "back in minute Lisa" then the machine buzzes for a minute or so and then that's it! - Sonny would be disappointed... but I think it's amazing.

The lovely radiology nurse told me to just breath normally, but as soon as anyone asks you to do that you become so conscious of your own breathing and how high up your tummy rises as you breath, you get a tickle on your nose and you start to take shorter breaths and wonder how on earth do you normally breath! but the nurse reassured me today that the machine takes into consideration my breathing (that's good, hopefully alarm bells would go off if I stopped breathing!) and not to worry - fab!

There's been a big lack of posting because with my new found healthy freedom after being chemo'd ( a bit like being tango'd...

...very similar!)

I seem to spend more time making up for lost time,
I seem to appreciate every little thing I do, even putting on the marigolds to wade through the washing up singing as I go... how long this will last I don't know - I'm no domestic goddess, so I don't reckon the 'happy to be just cleaning' thing will last very long! But I seem to want to spend less time in front of the computer and more time doing fab family, friends and housey things. We went out to a friends 40th party on Saturday and I loved every minute, I danced until I went dizzy! I was a bit disappointed that I didn't glow on the dance floor with all this radiation inside me, I thought I could be an extra disco light and friends could dance around me, maybe by the end of the month that will be possible!

It just feels so good to be on the last leg of this journey, the bell's going to ring soon and the ref's going to lift my hand in the air and I'm going to do a backwards flip and a little robotic dance like all the footballers do when they've scored the winning goal in the last minute of the second half, although I refuse to run around with my t-shirt over my head, not a good look in a mastectomy bra.

On reflection the whole experience has had miles more positives than negatives and I feel to have a lovely 'I love life' ready break glow feeling about me.... literally!!:)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-01T13:12:00.000Z

Love, light, health and happiness for a wonderful 2012!

May the force be with you xx

Happy Christmas

2011-12-15T18:16:00.000Z

What a year!

A bit of a roller coaster ride! with a few loopa da loops,

but I've survived! we've survived,

and now we're all set for a fab relaxing Christmas with no chemo!

Can't wait! fab!

Wishing everyone a magical Christmas time with lots of laughs and a very very happy and healthy 2012,

and I look forward to reading all your fab and creative adventures in an exciting new year! xx

Thank you again :)

health and happiness always Lisa xxx

( notice me on the end with no hair! they don't do clip on head scarves in Playmobil !!)

Last One!!!!

2011-12-08T10:37:00.000Z

Sky took some photo's of me before school this morning to celebrate last chemo day!

This lunch time I'll be zapped for the last time by the lovely Jo who is my IV nurse, whose so fab and chatty and makes the whole experience painless and fly by, she's wonderful, and I thank my lucky stars that I got her to do my treatment!

I'm wearing my gorgeous raspberry beret that Ilona from I DREW THIS sent me, her talented mother in law crochet it! Thank you x and Kate Slater's Robin brooch for my last Christmas chemo, thank you.

Thanks to everyone who have sent me gifts and cards throughout my treatment, I'm touched at your loveliness, thoughtfulness and support and I better stop I can feel a snotty tissue moment coming on!!

So...

this is it!

Still kicking it's ass with Christmas ob-nail boots on!

Bless Sky taking the photos, they've come out very grainy, which with my red sunbeam steroids face is probably just as well!

I tell you, at the moment I'm getting all my words muxed up, I blame the Chemo but I think unfortunately it runs in the family as my Mum calls Gary Barlow, Barry Garlow all the time, and has got me saying it now! So I don't know if I can play the chemo card on this one!

The other day I was in the shower and Sonny was sat on the loo and we were both singing the Christmas song, 'let it snow let it snow let it snow'

There's a verse with the line, 'and I've got some corn for popping'

I sang,

" and I've got some porn for cocking" !!!!!!!!!!!!

What!

I couldn't stop laughing! Sonny wondered what I'd said!

Oh my goodness, I hope this disconbobulation stops with the chemo!!!

So, Christmas chemo, turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwiches, mince pies and mulled apple juice, Love actually on in the background and Christmas scratch cards as I'm feeling lucky!!

Massive thanks again for all your support, gifts, lovely comments and cards, I truly appreciate it.

xxxxxxxxxx

You're lovely...

2011-11-30T13:05:00.000Z

You're lovely

Together

We three

and Happy!

all list in my Folksy and Etsy x

Little me...

2011-11-29T13:07:00.000Z

little me

a little bird told me

and piggy back

new paper collages on wood all varnished and in my Etsy shop!

Thanks Amy!

2011-11-28T14:42:00.002Z

Thank you Amy for my gorgeous embroidery!

I love it!

It's very realistic, the nose is spot on!!

Thanks for your time and talent gone into making me this, I'm made up xxx

See more of Amy's work here and here :)

Nins and Peedles

2011-11-24T16:06:00.000Z

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

I made these cheeky monkeys over a year and half ago for Carlton Cards for Christmas cards this year!

I made quite a few hand stitched cards and called the range 'Nins and Peedles' as that's what Sonny says to me if he's been sleeping funny on his hands and they've all gone numb!

(Then I have to rub them and say 'be gone Nins and Peedles!'.... the things we do!)

If you see them in the shops you'll have to let me know!!

Sorry it's been a while posting, I've been busy getting on with Cycle 5 of chemo, which can only mean one thing ,

yes, I've only one more left!

Yes count them, one , just the one, a little number one, (as a apposed to a number two, although at times that's probably the only way to describe it!)

So yip,

feels good to be on the penultimate, and how fab to celebrate but at Christmas time!

Bring it on!

Arrietty

2011-11-14T10:13:00.001Z

The Chemo charts mystery prize for the end of cycle 4 was a visit to here with lovely friends to see a showing of Studio Ghibli's version of the Borrowers, Arrietty.

Such a beautifully gorgeous animated film,

you must go see it!

snip snip ...

2011-11-11T11:31:00.000Z

I did two more wood collages,

and two more in working progress!...

It's therapy snipping away and arranging the shapes!

Have an ab fab weekend!:)

experimenting...

2011-11-09T10:47:00.001Z

I've been experimenting with scissors, PVA, and little wooden boards!... Do you think I watched too much Blue Peter as a child?..... I never got a badge :( no matter how many competitions I enetered, Ahhhhh, I'll be talking sticky back plastic next.. ooooo do you remember that!!?...... "come back Shep".... quickly slap me

Inspired by Japanese Kokeshi dolls and my screen print Kokeshi girl...

...here's a few I prepared earlier!

I've had a little trouble photographing the boards,

I think it's the dull natural light and ye oldie worldie camera ( nothing to do with the lack of brain cells and incompetence of the photographer at all at all at all!)

What do you think?

Holmfirth Art Market

2011-11-08T10:11:00.000Z

On Sunday the sun was shining, it was a beautiful day and there was no way I was going to spend another day in the house!

So I slapped on a bit of make-up, had a spoonful of manuka honey and walked down to the Holmfirth art market.

There were so many gorgeous stalls and talented people.

I got to meet Jax from Print for the love of wood, which was so lovely, she grabbed me gave a big hug and bubbly chatted away! (couldn't get a word in! thought I could talk! fab:)) So great to meet a fellow blogger in the flesh!

My friend Lisa from Mollie Sash was there with the most gorgeous hats, so beautiful,

and my friend Geraldine from Made at Green View was there with her gorgeous scarves, bags and purses, just so lovely.

The atmosphere was lovely, and Lil got to print her own postcard at Jax stand, we had a great day, a real tonic!

There's another market this Sunday with different artists, so if your in the area it's well worth a visit!

Friday...

2011-11-04T16:10:00.000Z

thank goodness!

Have a fantastic weekend, go steady with you're sparklers and enjoy your pie, peas and Parkin xxx

Seize the day!

2011-10-31T12:17:00.000Z

now!

Big Song Friday...

2011-10-28T16:09:00.001+01:00

Have a fab Friday!

( if anyone is like me and loves James McAvoy... well actually he is my film husband, and also likes Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner being my music husband, they are on the lovely Graham Norton show tonight for an hour of fabness :)

Have an ace weekend!

A Sky Full Of Kindness

2011-10-18T11:10:00.002+01:00

I got to meet one of my hero's on Saturday, Rob Ryan, at his book signing at YSP,

and what did I say?...

"have you got finger cramp yet?"....(!!!why??)

( it's like when I met Frank Bruno and he was eating a banana and I said, "Oh, I like bananas" (!!why??) Not that Frank Bruno is a hero of mine and I aspire to be a boxer or a pantomime Dame for that matter, in fact nothing like Rob Ryan at all, I'm waffling again... I'll get my coat...)

So, the wonderful Rob Ryan was signing his new book 'A sky full of Kindness' at the Yorkshire Sculpture park on Saturday, and some friends and I went down to get some books signed. It was such a beautiful day the sun was shining and all the kids were running around having the best time while I Queued up.

I wanted to get the book signed for my Skyla as she is my little Sky full of kindness ( she's been so kind while I've been wiped out with the chemo, all the kids have, but Sky is naturally nurturing and caring I think she'd make a wonderful nurse, although at the minute she wants to be a travelling artist singer guitar playing street dancing chef)

I want the book as a special Christmas gift keep sake for Sky, which is extra special now.

( I took your advice on going bolder with the head scarves... although this is as bold as it gets, don't want to look like Carmen Miranda... although she was very beautiful... waffling....)

Lil and her friend got a couple of books signed for me too ( she was in cool teenager mode which has hit big time since starting high school, while her other friends took my camera and played paparazzi )

I purposely haven't read the book yet, which has been ridiculously hard!

I want to read it with Sky first, together, so she remembers reading it with mum and we can study all the detail together. I think that will make it even more special, so the books been put away in my Christmas pressy drawer.

But....

I've had a quick flick through and it's so so beautiful, you must get a copy, just an amazing talent and the passion comes through every page. I've always been a big fan (some old bits n blog bobs)

See more of Rob Ryan's work on Robs website, shop, etsy and blog.

It's the perfect Christmas pressy! I've had so many lovely things bought for me by Rob Ryan whilst going through treatment, each ones sentiment has been very uplifting. One lovely friend who works at YSP left me one of Rob Ryan's umbrella's on the door handle for me! ... to keep my little bare head dry!!

and it does wonderfully!

I'm such a lucky lady!

sing a song!

2011-10-13T16:00:00.000+01:00

I've been doing a bit of sewing whilst on wipe out week!

Guess what, I'm half way through though my chemo! can you believe it, Cycle 3 of 6 cycles!... only 3 left, yes! half way! fan-blooming-tastic, that's something to sing about!

This ones been a bit tougher, but my rubber bits are bouncing back now and my energy is creeping back! Thank goodness, it's just so hard laying there while family life busies around you, I just feel so useless!

To keep me smiling my mum gave me the full 3 series of Gavin and Stacey to watch, I missed ever watching it when it came out so it was all new to me, which is fab when you've the whole thing in front of you and don't have to wait till the next week to see what happens.

So I've been laughing my way through it all,

James Corden and Ruth Jones are just brilliant writers!...

Sing a song!:)

hi

2011-10-10T13:53:00.000+01:00

head gear...

2011-09-29T11:33:00.003+01:00

I am now officially follicley challenged ... to say the least!

Chris has actually shaved all my hair off! so I now I look like...

Oh I wish!

how beautiful does Sinead O'Connor look!

No not as glam, but we had a laugh doing it, and a few tears,

Sonny says I look cool! 'bald is beautiful' he said and then said, 'please mum, can I show all my mates!!'

... mmmmm ...

and when I lay with him in bed on a night he runs his hands over my stubbly head and says he loves me! ahhhh, through the eyes of a child... wish I saw 'cool' when I looked in the mirror!

I've been on a mission to find something to wear to cover up the fact that I look like an extra from Star Trek and turn it all around into a positive,

it's a chance to buy some fantastic scarves and experiment with a new look! mmmmm, it's a lot harder than it sounds!

I've been looking for inspiration...

but finding it hard to find some nice scarves... not being brave enough to be too loud and look like Carmen Miranda!

I've found some lovely vintage scarves on eBay and Etsy and got very distracted by some of the amazing designs on some, especially Vera Neumann...

Very inspirational for colour and my screen printing.

But I'm too much of a fradey cat to wear them ...don't really want to draw attention to myself, So I've found some low key paisley ones instead!

There's a big trend for turbans at the moment too....

How beautiful!...

again, don't think I could pull this one off, I think I might lean more towards...

I do sing a little like hilda!

If anyone knows of any lovely scarf shops or has any inspiration I'd love to hear it :)

and so my quest continues.....!

.... just as an after thought, here's me sporting a paisley number!....

....yip, new name, Hilda!!

winter wish...

2011-09-26T20:39:00.000+01:00

Last year we made a little washing line in the kitchen, then pegged paper autumn leave on with wishes for the winter and new year written on them.

Some came true! Lil got her mobile, we had a great Christmas, and it snowed,

some didn't come true...

and I never got my snog from Alex Turner, ho hum.

This year we've made paper swallows and started pegging our new wishes on for this winter and new year...

what would you wish for?

this week I be mostly....

2011-09-23T15:44:00.000+01:00

sewing!

It's very therapeutic, just stitching and matching colours and surveying buttons and wot-nots,

eeeee life in the fast lane!

I started this project last May! ( I'm no longer the Lara croft of the sewing world as stated in the post!.... more of a layed back female Fonzie at the mo, although my energy is increasing!) Can't believe it was May! Last year!

Any how, it's all finished,

and it feels good to finish unfinished projects!

Have a fabulous weekend!:)

gorgeous!

2011-09-14T13:10:00.001+01:00

I don't know if you saw the post I did showing Suet Yi's beautiful ceramics, here,

I love Suet Yi's work,

so as a treat to myself, a belated 40th pressy, I commissioned Suet Yi to create me a plate with Lil, Sonny & Sky on and here it is ( yellow is my favourite colour!) it's beautiful...

I'm so pleased with it, I don't know wether to have the plate framed in a deep oak frame, or use a plate wall mount!? soooo lovely!

See Suet Yi's Etsy shop here and website here and my post here.

Have a fantastic week!:)

'Great tits'

2011-09-13T12:00:00.000+01:00

I found this t-shirt design over at a great blog Mrs Cheese

The t-shirt is by this company and part of the money from the purchase goes to Breakthrough for breast cancer.

I think this t-shirt is very funny!... it appeals to my sense of humour, and it does you good to laugh when times are tough, it's good medicine!

I know it may offend some, but good or bad anything that draws attention and awareness to this charity and donates money can't be a bad thing!

I want a t-shirt with just one little birdy on the right hand side!!!.... I'm going to purchase and run the race for life in it next year!

See Mrs Cheese blog here :)

I'm on a good week!

2011-09-09T14:02:00.002+01:00

I'm on the good week of my first cycle of chemo, yay!

and I'm making the most of my energy, hair ( bits started falling out yesterday, lovely!, my Chris is a lucky man! I bet when he signed up to me 15 years ago he wasn't expecting a balding no eye browed one boobed wonder!!, I keep telling him he has to look at the beauty within... and mine just looks like Angelina Jolie, honestly it does!)... where was I ,

Oh yes,

making the most of my energy and the rest of my faculties whilst I still have them!! I now even enjoy the simple things in life like vacing round to Basement Jaxx!!

Have a wonderful energetic full on weekend, 'cos you can!! xx

experimenting...

2011-09-06T10:23:00.000+01:00

I fancied making these the other day! as you do!

If I now have time while resting up might as well do something productive with it!

I made this mermaid for the girls:)

Today Lil started high school! wow! where's the year gone?

Soooo proud of my big girl! All the change is so exciting, isn't it fab watching your children grow and change?! So proud... sorry I've mentioned that, but I am!

Have a great first day gorgeous!! xxx

keep smiling...

2011-09-01T11:06:00.001+01:00

One week into my chemo,

so far so good!..... if you can say that about chemo?!

I now know what it feels like to be flattened by a steam roller and feel 105!!!

BUT

One down 5 to go, and that feels good and keeps me smiling,

just like the things around me this morning:)

my new plate :)

my special hospital card from Chris and the kids,

from Raw art Letter Press here

This little robin arrived through the post yesterday from the very kind Kate Slater which brightened my day so much, thank you Kate x

my den of smiley faces!

kids count down...

gorgeous cards and gifts,

Chris bought me my faves, sunflowers, which have constantly brightened the house and look ace in this fab Rob Ryan vase,

keep smiling:)

Have a fantastic 1st of September xx

every morning...

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000+01:00

...we listen to this to keep us smiling and singing!

It's become our anthem!

Boxing gloves back on...

2011-08-19T04:22:00.001+01:00

The Isle of Skye is beautiful!

The scenery is so dramatic and just wonderful,

the views are food for the soul, so peaceful,

it all just went tooo fast as all good times do, can't believe it's over and we're back home!

the view outside our cottage,

treacle scones for breakfast,

walking, walking and...

more walking!

Ahhh so lovely,

well, it's back to business.

Boxing gloves back on, ding ding, round 3.

My Chemo starts next Thursday,

it's 'intensive', 6 cycles which will last the rest of the year ( I don't do stuff by halves)

I'm soaking up those positive vibes, wiping away the tears and snot, trying to prepare for what's to come, looking at hats, wigs and scarves, taking a deep breath, putting a smile and my face and getting on with it,

I'll save a fortune on shampoo and conditioner and there's no fear I'll catch head pets from the kids when they're back at school!

trying to look at the positives on this stage is tough, it just seems a long time and a lot of stuff to put myself through,

but, we're getting closer to this being all over.

I can't say enough thank yous these days,

your comments are so uplifting and I'm extremely grateful for them and your support, it helps me stay positive.

So here I go rocking the bald look for the Autumn season, hope it catches on! x

I'm on cloud 9

2011-08-04T10:06:00.001+01:00

This morning I woke up at 5.30 and looked out of the window,

the whole valley was filled with cloud, I was peeping trough the sky light above the cloud,

which felt and looked great,

the photo's don't capture the real loveliness and how magic the cloud looked,

I was literally on cloud 9,

which is true!

I had the best news yesterday,

the results from my last op to remove my lymph nodes are all clear!!!

Yes!!!!

soooooooooo pleased!

they couldn't find any more cancer, fan-blooomin-tastic!!!

I still may have to have chemo though as the 3 tumours I had total 6cm, which is considered quite large and that will be decided when I have a consultation with the chemo specialist on the 17th, so I may yet be joining the Yul Brynner appreciation society, ( who proves bald is beautiful!!)

but I feel soooo happy :)

I couldn't have got through this without the totally amazing support from my gorgeous family and friends who have been the best ever, kept me strong and positive,

and all your amazing comments and support have been totally fantastic,

I'm soooo very grateful,

huge thank you xx to lovely hannah for my gorgeous lavender bag,

and thoughtful Flora who made me this gorgeous glass 'right as rain' rain drop taken from one of my artworks,

So touched,

thank you xx

whist recovering from my second op and waiting for the results we've been on gorgeous walks with fab friends and family, I've been invited out for meals, flown kites and had water fights, ate pizza and sipped Amaretto and loads more lovely times to help the waiting easier!

I'm very lucky.

I know I'm still only half way through this,

and there's still some more tough times to come,

but so many positives have come from my experience so far,

the main one being it's a total wake up call to live life to the full,

not just for me but everyone around me.

I know how extremely lucky I am, and not everyone gets the results they want to hear.

I think there's a lot to learn when life deals you a crappy card, and people who have to deal with the worst situations in life can only come out a stronger person with even closer friends and family.

So yeah!

best birthday pressie ever!

guess who's the BIG 4 - 0 tomorrow!

man alive, 40! life does literally begin at 40 for me!

I'm being whisked away up to Bonnie Scotland to the Isle of Skye for a beautiful week of family fun,

can't wait!:)

look at me!

butter wouldn't melt!! I think my mum had the twin tub on hot when she washed that lovely orange 'crimpalene' number!!

Massive thanks again,

I think you're all fab and a true inspiration,

so cheers!

good health always and happy days! xx

Junes Portrait...

2011-08-03T10:26:00.000+01:00

Whilst in hospital I completed Junes portrait (I'm still so behind!)

This is my gorgeous Skyla ( I'm totally biased as every mum is!)

Sky was waiting to see the 'gongs', part of the fantastic must see Jaume Plensa exhibition at the Yorkshire sculpture Park.

She was staring at the large curtain of poetry...

The process of drawing this portrait was very therapeutic and calming and for that reason this one is very special to me :)

Flat Cap and Whippet...

2011-08-02T15:24:00.002+01:00

Eh up lads n lasses!

Get yer sen off to the Flat cap and Whippet exhibition at the West Yorkshire print workshop for Yorkshire inspired prints!

Here are the prints I made for the exhibition.

Let me know what you think if you go and see it as I haven't had chance to go yet and I'd love to have any feedback!

Thank you to Geraldine at Green view for her lovely post x

staying positive!!!

2011-07-12T15:39:00.000+01:00

Thank you! thank you! thank you!

from the bottom of my heart for all your wonderful comments and messages of love and support,

I've been blown away by it all and it really helps me to stay positive and give me the ammunition to get through this tough time.

It's two weeks today since my op,

and my virtual boob is in place!

fab!

I've amazed myself how quickly I've recovered, the human body is a truly amazing thing!

Don't get me wrong it's not been easy, there's been lots of tears and snotty tissues along the way but

I managed to do the race for life on Sunday with fab friends which meant so much to me.

I had to walk as I'm not allowed to run which was very frustrating as there's nothing wrong with my legs!! Sky walked round with me which was lovely, and Lil ran it with my running group in a tutu and did 5k in 29 mins!! Go Lily! (let me just point out, that Lil gets all her athletic abilities from her mother)

It felt great completing the course, I was so proud of everyone, such a lovely atmosphere and sense of achievement and doing some good!

We're now onto stage 2 of battle,

the good news is it's only grade 2 cancer (4 being the most aggressive) and they know it's hormone fed so we know what we're dealing with,

The not so good news is the cancer has started to spread into my nodes so I have to go in for another op on Tuesday for my lymph nodes removing,

then we'll take it from there.

we're staying positive!

and even 'laffing' about some of this.

There's not a day goes by when I don't realise how lucky I am to have such an amazing family and friends around me who have totally been my rock,

from chicken dinners to slippers, chocolate and flowers to head massages, time and hugs and much much more. XX

We took the kids out of school the day before my op and went to Runswick Bay for a family day out which was magical,

and a great tonic for all of us,

So,

like I said, phase 2 of battle,

we're gonna kick some cancer butt and stick two fingers up to it!

and get on with this next stage with a sense of humour and heaps of positivity!

and thanks again, xx

think positive...

2011-06-22T08:58:00.000+01:00

it's been a tough couple of weeks for me,

but to cut a long story short,

yesterday I was told I have breast cancer, and I have to have a mastectomy,

a bitter pill to swallow.

But us Dewsbury lasses are made of tough stuff so I'm going to beat this!!

So I wont be blogging until all my treatment is finished,

but I'll still be reading all your wonderful blogs,

so until things are back to normal

think big positive thoughts for me,

and thanks as always for all your wonderful comments and support

if you go down to the woods today....

2011-06-20T21:12:00.000+01:00

you're sure of a big surprise...

fairies hanging from umbrella's,

chicken's in tree's

fox's out to bite your bum,

giant lobsters,

porcelain rain,

giant spiders,

flying super brains,

and a horn to sound the alert across the valley!!

Father's day was spent walking around Holme Styes Reservoir to see the art in the woods

fab!

If you're in West Yorkshire here's more info.

Happy Fathers day to all the lovely Dads out there,

especially mine xxx

amazing...

2011-06-15T13:26:00.001+01:00

Last year the head teacher of Lil, Sonny & Sky's school sadly passed away.

One of the tributes to him was a balloon release.

All the children made tags with their names, form and the schools e-mail and a little bit of writing or a drawing about what the head teacher meant to them.

This was last July I think before they broke up for the summer.

The amazing thing is,

Sky's form teacher received an e-mail from a teacher in Sweden saying that her father in-law had been walking in the woods and found a tag attached to a tree and passed it onto her,

the name on the tag was Skyla's!

wow!

Nearly a year later the tag had survived.

If you look on the map at Manchester then look to where the 'A' is marked the balloon crossed the North Sea and Denmark to get stuck in a tree in southern Sweden, then found by somebody kind enough to get in touch and let the school know!

amazing!

I'm a great believer in everything happens for a reason, good and bad, and that there are no accidents, just lessons to be learnt.

don't you think that it's amazing!

BIG song...

2011-06-14T15:20:00.000+01:00

Today is a good day!

The sun is shining, the birds are singing,

so,

sing a big song!

creative kids...

2011-06-13T10:13:00.001+01:00

Lil, sonny & Sky had a very creative weekend at WYPW!

Here's Sonny helping to make a rug!

They tried screen printing, mono & relief printing and textile painting,

they made a tile and learnt how to draw animals!

Lil and Sky learnt that to see the shapes of the animals a good trick is to work upside down to see what's actually there and not what you think is there!

They had a fab weekend,

hope you did too!

have a good 'en...

2011-06-11T10:50:00.002+01:00

there's so many fab events going on in West Yorkshire this weekend, so if you're in the area...

The Art Market in Holmfirth on Sunday 12th June, gorgeous gorgeous stuff, my talented friends Geraldine and Tanya will be there !)

West Yorkshire Print workshop are having a Children's open weekend of wonderful workshops including printing, sculpture and rug making! We're going to head over there so may see you there!

Also Holmfirth Arts Festival starts today, for two weeks, check out all the wonderful stuff on, we're going to do the art walk in the woods next week! I have some work in an exhibition on the 25th and 26th June, I'll let you know details nearer the time:)

What ever you do, have a wonderful weekend with Mr blue bird on your shoulder! :)

Japanese rain...

2011-06-09T22:07:00.003+01:00

I've turned this sketch from the other day into a mini (8x10cm) print, I'm going tohave a go at entering this exhibition, which I heard about through WYPW.

Here's the first two colours...

colour 3, a hot orange,

colour 4, an electric blue (like the mascara I used to wear in the 80's!!, shhh don't tell anyone)

and finally colour 6 a dark chocolate outline,

Japanese rain

I'm going to add this print to my Etsy & Folksy,

I've enjoyed printing small,

it's so much easier to work small, you feel you have more control over the process.

I plan to do another one of my sketches in the same way, let me know what you think:)

hope you had a very productive day too!

May's Portrait...

2011-06-08T14:10:00.000+01:00

Sonny, 'Penny for them'

May's portrait.... ok ok ok,

so I'm cheating a bit,

OK I'm cheating a lot, this is one I prepared earlier,

but

the reason this is May's portrait (apart from time really not being on my side at the mo and I'm meeting myself coming backwards most days with family life and domestic bliss!)

that this is going to be my inspiration for June's portrait,

done in the same sketchy grey style of Skyla...

watch this space!

( ooo that sounded so cheesy, sorry :))

Don't step on the cracks...

2011-06-08T09:54:00.001+01:00

...or a bear might bite your bottom!

have an ace day:)

bearded beanie...

2011-06-07T14:51:00.000+01:00

how cool are these?... or should I say how warm?

what a great fathers day gift!

See loads more at Taraduff,

fab!

York...

2011-06-06T20:53:00.001+01:00

We had a wonderful time in York,

walked talked laffed shopped ate drank

Went to see the David Hockney Exhibition at York gallery, amazing...

and had tea and cakes courtesy of Betty's in the sunshine!

My lovely friend has had an outdoor mirror made of her daughter, she drew the silhouette herself,

it's beautiful and looks great on the red brick garden wall.

Hope you had a fab weekend:)

Fab Friday!

2011-06-03T07:42:00.000+01:00

The sun is shining,

it's Friday

and it's Crackerjack!....sorry, no it's not, just showing my age,

(ooooo I could crush a grape)

Have a very Fan Dabi Dozi weekend!

Sketch book breaks...

2011-06-01T21:21:00.000+01:00

happily doodling!

Inspiration...

2011-06-01T12:23:00.001+01:00

When you go to the family gallery at Manchester city art gallery,

they have a drawing table with lots of inspiration on to encourage you to draw.

There's a 'spinner' a bit like a dice attached to the table, which when you spin it tells you, how you must draw.....

* Draw with your wrong hand

*Draw with your eyes closed

*Draw without taking your pencil off the paper

*Draw using someone else's hand

*Ask someone to draw on your back and copy what they draw

try it! It's great to do with the kids:)

(Sonny is wearing a red hero's cape because it came in the bag of goodies you get at the reception desk of the gallery, he normally goes for the hard hat and utility belt option, but this time opted for the art hero's bag, with binocliers!!)

Manchester City Art Gallery

2011-05-31T22:02:00.001+01:00

I love Manchester.

I love noticing new things every time I go.

I love the cityness, business, grittyness, streets and culture of Manchester.

And I love Manchester city Art Gallery on the side of China town.

We saw an amazing exhibition by a contemporary artist called Anish Kapoor.

His work was amazing!

Lil, Sonny & Sky really love modern contemporary exhibitions, they get excited and chatty and are really open minded to what they see and seem to 'get it' straight away without question, and quickly asses which is their favourite and why.

Anish Kapoor's mirrored work was amazing, all hand made, perfectly.

To quote the exhibition guide,

"Anish Kapoor's work can surprise, overwhelm and disorientate us. It can engage all our senses."

and it did!

This exhibition finishes on the 5th June, then goes to Edinburgh then Nottingham.

If you get a chance to go see it do!

we really loved it:)

mehndi

2011-05-30T22:36:00.002+01:00

Lil, Sonny and Sky are on half term holiday so we have a few projects planned,

one being a little Mehndi (Henna tattooing to me and you!)

Last year I was inspired by Beth Gunnel's posts on her wonderful henna tattoo's and decided it would be a fun thing to do with the girls!

I did a little skull and cross bones on Sonny's hand because there was no way he would sit still for an hour... not even for me to take a photo!

We used this great book, Mehndi, by Carine Fabius (I've put it in my book shelf lovelies)

Which gave us the origins of Mehndi, the culture and rituals behind it which is so interesting!

We also used the design on the inside of the Yogi tea boxes as inspiration! I drink tonnes of Gingko and Liquorish tea and the design on the inside of the box is beautiful!

What do you think!? not bad for our first attempt!

The girls want to do it again in the summer holidays,

lets pray to the sun god for flip flop weather!!

happy Birday...

2011-05-26T20:10:00.000+01:00

new colour!

I've been screen printing today and did this design in a lovely ochre!

get your birday card here or here!

hope you've had a lovely day:)

lovely...

2011-05-25T10:22:00.000+01:00

...Anthropology

sigh

Runswick Bay

2011-05-24T06:34:00.000+01:00

We went back to Runswick Bay for the weekend for a family celebration.

It's my favourite Yorkshire sea side spot by far, totally unspoilt.

It feels like you've stepped back in time 30 years and the kids love it.

I took plenty of photo's to inspire more screen prints perhaps!?....

I love this little house right on the edge of the sea, with it's thatched roof, it looks like a child's drawing.

It has an amazing allotment next to it with perfect little rows of carrots, beets, kale and potatoes,

so perfect,

I wonder if they grow better for the sea air?

Chris' brother said this house was on the market not so long ago for just under a million pounds!

I love how the wall is weather beaten, and just around the side is a big bay window looking directly out to sea. I bet this little house could tell a few sea tales.

This was the view from our little flat!

I got up early to go for a run on the beach,

I imagined to look like a Timotei ad, elegantly running along the beach, sun glimmering on the sea, pony tail swishing....

I looked more like a funky chicken as my feet kept sinking in the soft sand and had to give it up as a bad job to run on the road instead!

best laid plans!

I did see a baby deer crossing the road and some beautiful scenery, so all good!

I do feel the calling of the sea, and I know someday I will live by the sea, I don't know how, I just do.

I could watch it for ages, and I'm going to really really miss our holiday abroad this year.

Still, we'll have fab adventures were ever we go!

hope you had a wonderful weekend:)

Suet Yi

2011-05-20T11:58:00.001+01:00

I've fallen in love with Suet Yi's beautiful work.

I discovered her work on Etsy when looking for a gift for a friends birthday, and when I received the beautiful little dish I didn't want to part with it!

So beautifully made and the designs are so simple, elegant and timeless...

So I've bought a few more!!

Suet Yi is a student from Hong Kong on her final year of a decorative arts course at Nottingham Trent University.

Here are a selection of plates from Suet Yi's shop,

On Suet Yi's Website you can see three D ceramics and some of her wonderful drawings,

To see more of Suet Yi's work visit her website here, and lovely Etsy shop here:)

Have a wonderful weekend:)

once upon a time...

2011-05-19T11:03:00.000+01:00

...a long long time ago,

before Lil sonny Sky

I wrote and illustrated a few books with the publishers Piccadilly Press.

Rufus and The Blackberry Monster was first published in 1999!

I feel I've grown so much as an illustrator and artist, and this work seems like a lifetime ago.

I received copies of Rufus through the post yesterday as it's been re-published in Australia by Hinkler, and even though I look at the illustrations and can't believe it's my work I'm still quite proud that children will still be reading the story of brave little Rufus 12 years on!

fabric fossils...

2011-05-18T10:39:00.000+01:00

I finished the final piece for the Holmfirth artweek exhibition.

I've really enjoyed sewing this piece, just the therypy I needed:)

instant comfort...

2011-05-17T10:37:00.000+01:00

...in your pocket!

How wonderful are these instant comfort pocket boxes by the talented Kim Welling,

I love affirmations and positivity and these are just perfect to keep with you when you need that reassurance and just to make you smile:)

I could have done with one of these this morning as Sonny is on a bit of a testosterone surge at the mo, he seems to solve all his problems with ... well, mindless violence really (little clenched fists and kicking) he's also sooooopa mischievous and got told off for tripping Sky up on purpose on the way to school,

he's also pestering me for more Karate lessons, a mohican and drumming lessons .....little boys!

I could have also done with this one too as it was drizzling all the way to school (you know the fine stuff that wets you through), and my hair and drizzle don't go, even with a hat on, and I ended up looking like Chrystal Tips (oooo showing my age now!)

See Kim Welling's work in her Etsy shop here, blog here and website here.

be positive today, you can do anything..... even handle naughty little boys!:)

feel good factor...

2011-05-16T10:31:00.001+01:00

We had a fab camping weekend,

the little sunshine dance I did and pleading to the sun God to shine on us for the camping weekend worked!... well till Sunday mid-morning anyway but I wasn't complaining!

Lovely weather, great food ( lots of it too! lots of pork products, bacon and sausage seem to be the camping staple) and of course lovely lovely company.

We skimmed stones,

walked, talked, laughed ( a few of the kids cried) toasted marshmallows and drank a whisky or two under the stars around the fire,

camping at it's best.... and that's something coming from me, who is very very slowly being converted into a camper! ( and that's very slowly Chris!)

Hope you had a fab weekend too:)

AIR

2011-05-12T16:40:00.000+01:00

I've been doing a little sewing this afternoon,

whilst listening to Air's Moon Safari,

all very lovely and chilled out.... ready for the craziness of the kids coming home and exploding all over the kitchen.

This is my fave track on the album,

I'll show you the finished piece at the beginning of next week, as now I have to stop and prepare for a camping weekend in Ripon with friends! cross your fingers it stays dry for us!!

Have a soopa doopa mini coopa weekend with lots of belly laffs:)

Kes 3

2011-05-11T10:34:00.000+01:00

Last in the trilogy!

6 colours on the drying rack,

7 colours on the drying rack.

I was sooooo unsure about printing a flesh tone colour,

the little voice in my head kept saying " oooo Lise, yer wanna be careful mixing a flesh tone, it could all go pear shaped, Billy could look like he's had a fortnight on the Med and not been in a field in Barnsley!"

I listen to my little voice,

because 9 times out of 10 it's right, with all things, not just my work,

it's just hard training yourself to listen and not ignore it....

SO,

I decided to leave a couple of prints out when I screened the flesh tone, so I had a choice and could

"Compare and contrast"

(which was always the start of a comp question when I did my GCSE English, a billion moons ago!!)

I'm so glad I did!

I prefer the one without the flesh tone, it sits a lot better with the previous prints and I asked Lil, Sonny and Sky and some of their friends who were round for a sleepover at the weekend and they preferred without too.

I always find my children are the best art critics, they say it as it is,

"but Mum, Kes wouldn't be flesh coloured, he's a bird"

So there you go!

Thank you again for all your supportive comments:)

Kes 2

2011-05-10T10:56:00.001+01:00

This is the second in the trilogy for the exhibition at WYPW.

I wanted to use the Yorkshire accent again,

so this time I hand wrote a quote from the play book by Barry Hines (which is in my side bar)

Two colours in,

a scratched dotted grey background and a textured earthy green.

3 Colours in, a light Khaki for his anorak.

4 Colours in, grey blue shirt, on the drying rack.

Final colour a black overlay with the details.

This is also going to be April's portrait for my portrait project!

Thank you so much for your lovely comments,

I'm very grateful. I was unsure about this little project, I know I've said many times before, I do love being put of my comfort zone because that's how I learn.

I always come out of the process that little bit wiser, no matter what the out come.

As the saying goes, people who don't make mistakes, don't make anything,

and I've made plenty with this project! ... but feel good for it!

Have a smashing day:)

Kes 1

2011-05-09T10:39:00.001+01:00

I've been working on some screen prints for an exhibition at WYPW called

Flat cap & Whippet.

The exhibition is on the 23rd July - 27th August.

WYPW members and invited artists have been asked to produce some work on the theme of Yorkshire, and after a conversation with a friend about the film Kes and the Yorkshire accent I was inspired to do 3 pieces based on Kes for the exhibition.

If you've not seen the film or read the book I recommend it, for its wonderful depiction of a school boy's life in the 60's in a Pit village near Barnsley Yorkshire.

I wanted the colours of the prints to be gritty and earthy

and spent quite a while mixing and getting them right.

I've always loved how each screen print is slightly different from the other,

especially when there's many colours. This print is 5 colours, the last being a black which was quite thick and missed areas of the screen as you can see above. I prefer the Billy with the shading on his face.

I've posted about the film before so you can see a couple of clips from it here.

It's a great book, written by Barry Hines, I've added it to my book shelf lovelies in the side bar :)

let me know what you think,

it's different from my usual style and I don't think I'll be doing this style often, it's more in keeping with the portraits I've been doing (or rather not doing! I know I'm really behind with my portrait project, that's why I'm going to make this March's portrait! I'll catch up soon!)

So yeah, I'd love to hear what you think, your comments are a real boost to me!:)

Rock Pooling

2011-05-05T23:06:00.002+01:00

I finished screen printing 'Rock Pooling' earlier this week, which is 9 colours!

The most I've ever done... and ever will do I think!

This print is to go along side this one for Holmfirth Artweek.

I plan to do a third but in fabric as a collage and get lots of lovely texture in which I've tried to do on the sand here with layers of dots, scratches and cross hatching.

Its been the hardest print I've ever done! but I've learnt lots from doing it which is all good!

This is Sonny, Sky and Lil Rock Pooling on Runswick bay, I'd love to know what you think:)

colour my life...

2011-05-04T10:28:00.000+01:00

hope your day is filled with a splash of colour:)

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

2011-04-30T19:20:00.000+01:00

One of my fave places to spend the day, by far,

and we're so lucky it's just up the road!

You must go see the Jaume Plensa exhibition at the park, it's wonderful,

Lil, Sonny Sky loved it, it's such a beautiful park with the most amazing exhibitions

Info here :)

Yellow

2011-04-27T10:34:00.000+01:00

Yellow is my favourite colour.

I find it hard to take a photograph that actually gives a time and a place justice, I do try!

but I think these nearly capture the brilliance of the oil seed field we walked through on an Easter walk through Wortley...

It thundered the whole way around the walk, much to the excitement of the kids,

and only just started raining when we got back to the car,

I know I know,

you had to do a double take because you thought it was Angelina Jolie sat with the kids,

I get it all the time,

it's the very rare time you'll see me in front of the camera rather than behind it!

We're having a really warm Easter, all the flowers are coming out early,

oil seed usually isn't out till May.

It's so beautiful as you drive about and see brilliantly bold yellow fields dotted around.

I love yellow flowers, even Dandy Lions,

the sun flower is my ultimate fave, and I couldn't agree more with this quote from the fab film Calendar Girls,

“I don't think there's anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower. For me that's because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that's such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life."

I'm going to screen print a sunflower just for myself one of these days! I stencilled sunflowers all around the wall of my kitchen in our first house!

Anyways, hope you're having a happy yellow sunny Easter!:)

greetings...

2011-04-20T17:57:00.000+01:00

new cards in my Etsy and Folksy:)

Hope you are having a luvly jubly sunny Easter time!

...and again!...

2011-04-17T15:57:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I was printing again.

Chris has taken my Lil Sonny Sky camping to Robinhoods Bay with lovely friends so I have 4 days,

yes 4 whole days!

to slow down,

catch up

and work, which is a rare lovely treat.

I do miss them loads too and there's always that mothers guilt

but I am also really enjoying no schedule and freedom to think... for more than a Minuit!

Yesterday I was printing again...

You may recognise this print from the 20:20 exchange

inspired by Lily fossil hunting at Runswick Bay.

This is a re-working of the same illustration, but with an added colour, sand.

It's also a larger print and printed on 300gms slightly off white 100% cotton Hot press paper

( just in case you needed to know.... I must stop waffling on about paper)

I've done this print as a starting point for three pieces I'm doing for Holmfirth artweek exhibition.

I've listed this print in my Etsy and my Folksy, it's a limited Edition print, I will not be screen printing this illustration again.

Let me know what you think and have a lovely sunny day!

printing again...

2011-04-15T07:24:00.001+01:00

A bird-day card I printed yesterday while trying to work on a bigger print!

The card came out really lovely, ( I'll bob them in the shops this weekend when the girls have cello wrapped them for pocket money!... child labour I know.... but it doesn't come cheap with my money savvy girls let me tell ya!!)

But, the bigger print caused me loadsa problems!

So I'm going back in on Saturday to solve them!

He who dares Rodney...

made my day...

2011-04-14T22:04:00.000+01:00

Tonight Sonny was playing play dough with no PJ bottoms on!

as you do,

So I asked him to put his bottom's on, " you'll get a cold bottom!" and he said,

" But Mummy I like playing play dough noody roody"

I wish I was 5.

My creative space...

2011-04-13T21:57:00.000+01:00

My creative space has been the WYPW

This has got to be my favourite screen print to date,

because it was inspired by my Sonny,

who loves his piggy backs especially at bed time!

He's now 5 and a half, and he's getting quite heavy for me,

so it's not going to be long before he'll be giving me a piggy back!! So these are special times :)

This is the second edition of this print,

I've decided to print on a more expensive (ooo get me!) Fabriano off white paper

( I'm just showing off now!!)

and this time I've chosen to print the colours less primary and bold and more 'vintage' on the off white which has a slight textured surface, this gives the print a softer feel than the first print which was on bright white Snowden paper and felt more graphic ( permission to yawn at this point)

So yeah,

lovely,

the print is in my Etsy and Folksy shops

and see more creative spaces at the very inspirational Kootoyoo

school loo's update... week 11

2011-04-12T21:50:00.000+01:00

Finished!

The girls loo's are now finished, after Easter I'll plan and start the boys,

here are the finishing touches,

And I thought Kristin's idea for the mermaids speech bubble

was very clever, swimming in school... get it! schools!

So I'm going to send Kristin one of my mermaid prints :)

Although I did love Kirsty's ... 'Beware of electric eels swimming up the u-bend?'

Thank you for all the fab comments, they made me smile:)

It's been fun doing this project for the girls,

now to start the pirates, Oooo Ar Jim lad!

weekend with my 'Lil sonny sky...

2011-04-10T19:55:00.000+01:00

I love love love the sunshine, my family AND ( I never thought I'd say this) where we seemed to have put our roots.

On a sunny day, Yorkshire is stunningly beautiful,

stunning views that seem to be filled with timeless beauty and for me ('cos I am a sentimental 'ole softy) great pride mixed with nostalgia.

At the back of our house is a community field, it's a great space for football, kite flying, blankets and drawing and impromptu picnics,

and it's a space on sunny days my kids love to go! and I'm sorry that the pictures don't, and never will, give it justice!

Also,

when the sunshine allows you to spend all your time out doors ( as apposed to in front of the TV or computer!) the kids seemed to be energised to do all kinds of activities including experimenting with exploding volcano kits... goggles on please ( or if you haven't any goggles a pair of cinema 3D glasses will do!)

Also,

the start of a 'back garden project' a mammoth task,

but we have to start some where!

This is our wild back garden which we need to tame!

The frogs have been busy in our 'wild' pond!

I think there's more jelly frog spawn than there is water!

and this is the view behind our garden and in front of the community field,

it's very special to me as over the past 10 years I've sat here with my children as babes, chatted with them and ate ham butties, put the world to rights, cried, felt incredibly lonely, felt incredibly happy, 'laffed' and even breast fed here!

It's my thinking place and I wish every one could share it, hear the birds and feel the breeze and feel the view and not just see it in this photo!

( man alive! that was a bit deep!!! for me,

I promise the next post will be light and fluffy!! I think it's my age mixed with hormones!!!

I just feel incredibly lucky! to have great friends, family and space:)

just lovely...

2011-04-07T22:50:00.002+01:00

I've had one of those weeks, where I've met myself coming backwards!

Lil, Sonny Sky have had lots going on, I've had work to do not to mention trying to fit in all the domestic bliss!

I sometimes wonder what I did with all my time before children?!!

I've had very little time to catch up on my fave blogs,

SO, in my lunch times I've been inspired by all you talented blogists and was so thrilled to see this on Carly's fab Moopy and me,

my print 'flower girl' in the gorgeous Nest studio, right on the other side of the world in Adelaide Australia!

Carly and Amy also run Umbrella prints,

gorgeous designed fabrics available here,

and they are running the trimmings competition for 2011, which I won in 2009!

(wow where the heck does the time go??!!)

I'm a bit late really for this year but really wish I could to do it!

I loved entering and being inspired by my lovely trimmings pack!

I will definitely do it again next year,

their fabric is so inspirational and beautiful to work with.

see Moopy & me

Umbrella Prints

Rain & shine

Thank you Amy for your lovely post x

school loo's update... week 10

2011-04-04T22:39:00.000+01:00

Day 10, and I've nearly finished!

next week I have just a few loose ends to tidy up and then the girls loo's are finished!

the girls can do what they have to do surrounded by fish and mermaids!!

I want to pick your clever creative minds now,

and have a caption competition for the mermaid below...

what could she be saying or thinking?

any suggestions?

Put your creative thinking cap on!

If your suggestion gets picked I'll send you one of my mermaid screen prints,

big thanks!

can't wait to read them!

busy bee...

2011-03-31T19:41:00.001+01:00

I'm busy working on idea's for a children's book,

along with playing nurse to my Lil who got sent home from school with a cold bug :(

For inspiration I love to spend time at this blog,

Book by it's cover,

which showcases all kinds of wonderfully creative beautiful books,

they have a children's section which is full of wonderful inspiration, and recently included one of my new fave illustrators Brian Wildsmith, and this beautiful book,

Circus.

gorgeous!

Watering cans...

2011-03-29T21:35:00.000+01:00

Toucan

Partridge

owl

and carp!

how beautiful are these watering cans!

I love the Toucan, the wonderful detail of his little flower on his head and fab feet!

all from the too nice Anthropology.

Lil Sonny Sky's book of the week...

2011-03-28T10:40:00.000+01:00

I picked this gorgeous Ladybird book up from the Oxfam book shop in York for Skyla because they were studying birds in class.

Now that spiring is here, Yay!!!, every morning I'm woken at 5 by the lovely dawn chorus, so we've had this book out again reading about the songs the birds sing.

I've yet to hear a "pickel-witt-it" but I'll keep listening out!

Such a wonderful book, perfect for this time of year! and

I've put it in my book shelf lovelies in my side bar.

Have a fab sing song spring day and hope you hear a little "pickel-witt-it"!!:)

Folksy blog...

2011-03-24T12:13:00.000Z

I forgot to mention yesterday that there was an interview I did for the Folksy blog!

I'm always a little embarrassed for some reason answering questions for others to read and feel slightly uncomfortable, which is odd for someone who never shuts up talking!!!

If you want to read my words of wisdom.... wisdom said in the very looses form!! go here:)

( there's also an interview here too from a while ago!.... man alive, I do go on!)

Fabric eye candy...

2011-03-24T10:05:00.000Z

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous,

fab fabric inspiration for this wonderfully sunny day,

I love sunny spring days they lift your spirits and keep you smiling!

All these lovelies are from the fab Fabric Rehab,

hope the sun is shining down on you today!:)

my fave love song...

2011-03-23T09:34:00.000Z

sung by the very lovely Orlando Weeks,

the Maccabees are my new musical obsession!

Lil Sonny Sky's book of the week...

2011-03-22T12:23:00.001Z

This made me giggle when Sonny wanted me to take this book out of the library for him.

We sat down to read....

Yamagoo is sad, he wants a wet friend so Meno calls upon...

wishi, his friend that can grant wishes,

she will get Yamagoo a wet friend...

Wishi wishes for lots of wet friends...a crab, a planton...

even David Hasselhoff!

In the end Yamagoo gets the wet friend he wants....and it's not the Hoff!!

Here's the pronounce menu just incase were having trouble with Hasselhoff!!

The book is created by Toni ( famous for the Spiderwick chronicles) & Angela Diterlizzi,

from planet Meno! have a look!

school loo's update... week 9

2011-03-21T21:09:00.003Z

Where are the weeks going?

I reckon 3 more weeks and the girls loo's will be finished!

see all the progress here:)

funny...

2011-03-20T10:57:00.000Z

very!