A Year of Mary : Kindness and Mischief

Effy Wild is doing "A Year of Mary" as a monthly lesson exclusively on her Patreon at the $5 (speed painting) or $10 (full length tutorial and PDF) per month levels. Lessons are released mid-month. See all my art from this class HERE. Mary Oliver's poem Evidence was the inspiration for a delightfully fun spread from Effy this month. You can see a shot of her 'in progress' painting here. Here's mine

Free Inspirations for June

There are some more free online creative inspirations being offered in June if you're wanting a mid-year boost. The first I found out about from Tam at Willowing. Sign up to her newsletter here for all her announcements and freebies. Sign up for Art and Soul Emergence HERE. June 1-11

I might join just to be able to do another paint-over-collage self-portrait with Tam. This is what she'll be teaching : 

An annual event is Daisy Yellow's Index-Card-A-Day - might appeal to those who have just finished the 100 day project. June 1 - July 31

I have been inspired by the Collage Fodder 100 day project - especially the work of Megan Whisner Quinlan and Willa Wanders. Willa has just announced that there is a #FodderChallenge coming in June - there are a 9 artists taking part 

Free access to the classroom June 7 - August 8. Every day from June 7 you will have access to one new lesson from 9 different artists. Sign up HERE. I am very inspired by Willa's work. Her newsletter subscribers recently had free access for a limited time to a very cool Secret Tag Book. 

It's now available for only US$27 HERE. 

Tam has also announced that Kaleidoscope is back for another year. I enrolled for last year's class and although I didn't actually try any of the lessons myself, I watched a lot and can say the information in it was definitely worth the price of admission. And it's forever access so I can go back and do them whenever I like. 

No harm in taking part in the new free Taster Week which will begin on June 14. You'll be able to join this taster week from June 1st HERE and Tam has shared on her Instagram and FB platforms that this cute creature will be part of that week from her. Taster week includes something from all teachers this year!

Might see you there. Happy creative weekend to you.

52 Tags : Week 21

I'm participating in Anne Brooke's weekly Tag challenge. You can view her demo each week on Youtube #52tagshannemade. Week 21 : Bullion edging. Decided to also follow Anne's colours this week of green with purple. So I made a start and did my Bullion edging stitches yesterday, and then this morning had a lovely visit from friends with some surprise treats. I immediately had to use a piece of the wrapping paper to cover my tag and one of those wooden butterflies will have to make an appearance. 

Now my tag has more meaning reflecting events of this week. 

This link will take you to all of my posts about this challenge.

Wanderlust : Healing poetry

A year-long class with weekly lessons takes a LOT of commitment. I am lucky that I'm working in a small journal. As well as that, I'm happy to skip the lessons that don't sing to me so while I'm happy to have had some time lately to catch up on some lessons, I'm ready to jump into our new theme in Wanderlust 2021 this week : Poems & Quotes. As usual with a new theme, a lesson from Kasia and she encouraged us to write our own poem. I am currently recovering from surgery so while I'm not sure that my list qualifies as a poem, it's a great snapshot of where I am right now for later memories, and we all know that making art supports healing 💜 

The quote inside the tag cover is from a wonderful book I'm currently reading : Fresh water for flowers by Valerie Perrin. It reads "Each day that passes weaves the invisible thread of your memory". See all my other posts about this class HERE. 

Wanderlust : Marvellous from discarded

Another week in Wanderlust 2021 with our Recycled theme, this time with Marta Lapkowska (Maremi). Check out her YouTube channel for further inspiration. We're using vintage book pages, music sheets, old tags, pretty napkins and collage elements - all things I have in abundance in my stash 💜  

Recycling ephemera to build up layers of collage and adding modeling paste for extra texture. My art journal - a place to dream and ignite my creativity 

See all my other posts about this class HERE. 

52 Tags : Week 20

I'm participating in Anne Brooke's weekly Tag challenge. You can view her demo each week on Youtube #52tagshannemade. Week 20 : Pekinese stitch. A pretty stitch which I decided would best be showcased by some beautiful threads that I've been hoarding... 

I bought mine from Minerva in Wellington (New Zealand) but if you google Oliver Twists Happy Bags they'll be available elsewhere in many gorgeous colours. A tag simply devoted to trying out this stitch...a little more challenging than I thought cos of twisty threads but I love these colours so much. Found words attached with gel medium.

I realise now that I kept loops inside my circles and they could have (should have?) been pulled close to form an even line but I rather like this bubbliness in my design. This link will take you to all of my posts about this challenge.

Wanderlust : Layered frame

Our next theme in Wanderlust 2021 is Recycled. As usual, we started the month with a lesson from Kasia. Her style is quite different from mine and I always find myself challenged by her lessons. I reminded myself that there's always learning in those situations. The key elements to this spread are using a recycled magazine and adding colour using oil pastels with gesso. Then I took this lesson on my own spin beginning with collage and no over-thinking. Just trying to get immersed in the process....

Want to include some vellum shapes recently gifted - attached with stitch to recycled book pages - these are fun collage fodder elements. 

Completed by a quote also torn from a recycled magazine.

Really pleased with how this turned out. We are staring down the jaws of Winter here in New Zealand and the colours fit my mood perfectly on a stormy day staying inside and lighting the fire. See all my other posts about this class HERE. 

Wanderlust : Passion for silhouettes

The last lesson for April in Wanderlust 2021 with the Silhouette theme was Week 16 with the fabulous Dyan Reaveley. Dyan discussed her colour theory as part of this lesson and you can check out her YouTube video with that information HERE. I knew I would enjoy this lesson with stencils, bright colours and her clever use of both positive and negative silhouettes. 

See all my other posts about this class HERE. 

52 Tags : Week 19

I'm participating in Anne Brooke's weekly Tag challenge. You can view her demo each week on Youtube #52tagshannemade. A week ago when I presented my paper pieced tag, I was frustrated by surgery being delayed. This past week I was unexpectedly presented with the opportunity to go ahead after all and am now at home recovering. I have been very lucky that it was done laproscopically and today I felt well enough to venture out to my studio to do last week's tag. Week 19 : Words. I had already decided to use red this time, and both the prompt and colour are perfect for where I am right now. 

When you lift the above flap, you'll find additional found words from a large print book and a tag from my hospital stay. 

Looking forward to lots of lovely healing creative time over the next few weeks before I return to work.

Wanderlust : Sumptuous silhouettes

The theme for the classes in Wanderlust 2021 for April was Silhouette. Despite getting behind with these lessons, I still want to do most of them so will concentrate on them for the next few posts to catch up. Week 15 was a lesson with Kate Crane. I was excited to try alcohol inks on a gelli plate and to use this greeting card holder that has been waiting in my stash for the perfect occasion.

I am loving the grungy imperfection of these alcohol ink gelli prints and this colour combo makes me happy.

Then added Quinacridone Nicko Azo gold with a baby wipe to fill in the gaps and love it even more!

I decided to celebrate the meditative state art can bring.

To finish, I added those gorgeous gates.

I love working in my small Dylusions journal for these lessons. An open spread is smaller than 1 page in my watercolour journal and enables me to focus on the specific technique without the size becoming overwhelming.

See all my other posts about this class HERE. If you want to check out Kate Crane's free inspiration videos using a gelli plate, including some with alcohol inks, go HERE. 

52 Tags : Week 18

I'm participating in Anne Brooke's weekly Tag challenge. You can view her demo each week on Youtube #52tagshannemade. Got my colour scheme sorted before I began this week thanks to Anne's challenge in Week 17 to look for colours we haven't used much so far and purple's a favourite that I haven't used a lot. Week 18 : Tiny paper piecing. Anne used shapes measuring 1.4cm across! My tag is bigger so I've done mine 2.5cm across. Paper-pieced hexagons like this are traditionally used to make a pattern called Grandmother's Garden so I decided to make mine a night garden. I've had a frustating week with necessary surgery delayed again and the light wasn't very good for my hand stitching, but it's done and I'm keeping up with this challenge so calling this success!

Wishing you a relaxing and creative weekend.

Journal Jam : a lesson in persistence

I love arting alongside Effy Wild in Canada. Watch the unedited replay HERE. Effy draws prompts from art cards and then we do what they say. Have decided that rather than explaining steps I'm just going to make this a series of process photos. As you look at the spread, the left is from the prompts and the right is my palette and cleaning off page that will be finished separately at the end.

This is a painting of our now extinct Huia. I love my wooden block stamp.

The prompts stopped and I had a long way to go. I lost my way with the pink iridescent turning purple and the green gold background...I almost gave up here to be honest! Time to take a breath and remember that ALL journal pages go through ugly stages so if you don't love it, keep going. Small steps are best. Time to cover some stuff up! Used some gelli printed collage paper, re-stencilled with the kowhai leaves and stencilled over the feather again with bronze. This looks better with more analogous colours.

After some consideration I realised that I needed to doodle to make that feather more like a feather. Some words and suddenly I can call it done. 

Definitely learning in this one...and the facing palette page has been painted over with white gesso so I can start fresh! I share everything I create in the hope that it inspires you to keep going on your creative journey too. See you again soon. 

Birthday Quilt

We had another great niece born last April. Unfortunately I was in the throes of cancer treatment and was not able to create a quilt for her like the one below which I did for her sister. 

I was determined that she would have one for her first birthday (which was on Wednesday) and it was delivered today at her party. It's a lot larger because she's running around not rolling on the floor. Love that I've used some of the same fabric in both quilts

I used a free pattern from Valori Wells, although I didn't follow her instructions exactly for the layout.I do so love pink and yellow together. 

And I found a lovely flannel to back it with so it's nice and snuggly.