Another Doll

It has been absolutely lovely Spring weather...I hope it stays like this for the weekend when the Brighton Festival begins. I'm going to be in an Open House in the Newhaven Art Trail. (I'm in the Badgers Hill Workshop.)

I've made a couple of new dolls to show at the Open House...here's the Earth one from the elements series I've been doing...

You can see some of my prints on my studio wall in the background - and my offer letter from uni!

Here are the pictures I took while I was making the doll. Unfortunately my camera battery ran out around the time I made the dress, but here are the early stages. Making a pattern...

Sewing the pieces together on my trusty Bernina (born the same year as me!) ...

Stuffing the head and covering with stocking material.

This part was done a couple of weeks ago - note that I'm wearing gloves because it's so cold in my studio!

I'm so-o-o tired...I have got far too much to do. I'm just going to staple a few peg doll packs together and then I will be collapsing in front of the tv.

Elements Doll

Just a couple of quick snaps of a doll I have been working on. There's an Earth one as well, which I haven't photographed yet.

Went to BIP yesterday to do some printing, and prepared a couple of plates to work on next week. That's all really!

G-Whizz it's party time!

Here are some pics of the "G" themed fancy dress party we went to last night. There were geeks, Gangsters,Gays,Greeks and Gladiators,

Gypsies & Gerrard,

Grotbags,
And of course the birthday boy...

GARIBALDI!

There were loads of great costumes I didn't get good pictures of...Jenny came as the Galaxy, and Kate Ginger spice, there was a Gold digger, a genie... even a Gynaecologist! It was great fun.

Looking forward to a day of artiness today with my friends Sandie and Kate. Have a great Sunday everyone! (By the way, it really is Sunday, despite it saying it's Saturday on the date of this post...don't quite know what's going on there....)

Two New Books!

Well, for those of you on the edge of your seats waiting to know which film we went to see...neither. Charlie chose 17 Again, but when we arrived at horrible Cineworld, there was a sign up saying they had a problem with the projector on that screen so it would be out of focus. So Charlie's next choice was Race To Witch Mountain, which was like ET but with two very bland teenagers in place of the cute alien. And it starred ex-wrestler The Rock. I voluntarily watched a film starring The Rock. We enjoyed ourselves anyway!

While I was waiting for Charlie to meet me in Brighton I happened to wander into Dave's Comics again. In fact I happened to stay in there for at least half an hour. I think I am turning into a nerd - and I like it! I eventually bought this...

...and genuinely wept with laughter when I read it later in the evening. And, a few days ago I ordered this...

...expecting a slim volume - and it's a really lavish hardback full of fantastic ETCHINGS! Of course I shan't allow myself to look at it properly until conditions are perfect (no children around, coffee to hand, lamp on, quiet music on in background). But it looks gorgeous and I can't wait to get stuck in. Yay!

In other news we are going to a friend's 40th birthday party on Saturday and have to go dressed as something beginning with G. Charlie is being a gangster, and possibly Joe too. I'd planned to be a goth, but I am now leaning towards a geek.

No Batteries

...in my digital camera still, so I can't show you the two dolls I've just about finished. I'm trying to do four, based on the elements...I've done Air and Earth so far.

Here's a little doodle I did while I was thinking about Air.

Hoping to take Charlie to the pictures tomorrow as it's good old Orange Wednesday. We can't decide between 17 Again, (with Zac Whatsit and Matthew Perry), or Let The Right One In, a Swedish film about a 12 year old boy who meets a vampire. Charlie's been reading Twilight and this is supposed to be a million times better - it's had great reviews and it's also showing at my favourite cinema. But, I am not great about gore, and apparently the gore is quite shocking. I think I'll just let Charlie decide!

Happy Easter!

Easter is usually my least favourite time of year. I have bad memories of Easters past, and the sight of fake daffodils and chicks in shop windows fills me with dread. When I worked in the bookshop I always offered to work instead of having the weekend off. But this year, so far, I have broken the cycle! I've had quite a good time, mostly involving chocolate, television and some art work. (And looking forward to my course of course!)

Here is the rather sad drawing I did the other day in preparation for an etching which I later ruined. I wanted a break from sewing, so I stretched some paper and thought I would try to complete it in watercolour and ink. I attempted to show the light in a Shaun Tan-esque way, but I think it ended up Liza-esque after all. Anyway instead of drawing the lines and painting in afterwards, I did loose washes first and heavily cross hatched over the top. I enjoyed it!

Now I am going to watch Desperate Housewives with a Chunky Kitkat. Bye!

HOORAY!

Guess what? My lovely mum has offered to lend me the money for my course fees! I can't believe I am actually GOING to university in September! It is so strange to wake up in the morning without the worry of finding the money and the fear of not being able to do the course hanging over my head...it's brilliant and I am so grateful to my mum.

Also I have got a new part time job working for a charity...it fits in with my course. (My course!) I start at the end of the month.

So it's hooray all round really. Hooray! (Isn't hooray a funny word..?)

Oh and here are a couple of sketches from my recent trip to London. Mostly on the train.

I ruined the plate of the sketch I did yesterday. But here's another one - it's hard ground, then soft ground and aquatint on steel.

Drowned my sorrows (well, had two glasses of wine!) with my good friend Sandie yesterday evening. Then cried and went to bed with Slumdog Millionaire. (The book, unfortunately, not a real one, or I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place!)