Elena Deshmukh: amour

As I blogged recently, Elena Deshmukh's cards have inspired me for years.  Whilst doing further research,this evening, I discovered I could link to her blog ........so only a month late for Valentines Day, thought  it might be nice for everybody to see what has been so inspirational about her cards.

Elena Deshmukh: amour: "Happy Valentine's Day to you. Many thanks to everyone who helped make Friday's Valentine's Day event at Libert..."

I hope you love her work as much as I do

Batik Factory, Penang, Malaysia

I visited the Batik Factory in Penang, years ago when on a family holiday from Hong Kong. I looked it up, for my F.M.P. research into batik, and discovered it is still a  thriving concern.  I have the two beautiful floral/ butterfly sarongs I bought during my visit, hoping to visit to this beautiful island again in the future 

I hope to try some form of batik, for one of my designs, as it is such an archetypical Asian printing method. The Japanese paste resist is very similar. This clip shows it is still carried out in the traditional way, using wood blocks, another technique used by the Japanese silk and paper printing

VERY HAPPY BLOGGER!!!!!

From being a very reluctant blogger, when I was told had to produce one for PPF ( Professional Practice) I am now a complete addict!!!!  I really enjoy making posts, in as many different ways as possible to make it interesting as well as full of pretty pictures and references to other artists work that I like.  I am , therefore, VERY HAPPY to read that, apart from my  fellow lovely CCAD students, my blog has recently been read by people in the U.S.A.,Russia, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands and Switzerland as well as the U.K.  I really hope that all viewers are enjoying what they see and are finding it useful/informative. As producing beautiful artwork was the reason I joined the course six years ago, most of all I hope they have liked my photographs and images of my work (which are copyright). 
Thank you to all my viewers for making me feel my new addiction is worthwhile and not just to tick a box for my course!!!!

Geisha.........

As I hadn' seen this highly acclaimed film I thought now would be a good time.  Wondered why it had been filmed in black and.........orange decided it was for atmosphere.......then discovered, whilst removing the dvd ....that the cable wasn't correctly attached!!!! Actually the effect had been very atmospheric, when I looked at the correct version Perhaps they would have won even more Oscars with that colourway...........

So it's not just computers I have a negative relationship with then....???!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sarah Morpeth (paper artist) Exhibition at Stokesley!!!!

Whilst doing further research into the work of Sarah Morpeth I discovered her beautiful paper cut books, pictures and cards are appearing at Bianco Nero Gallery Stokesley (19th February to 27th March).  For anyone who missed her stand/lovely work at the Manchester Craft Show last year and who, like me, is interested in paper cutting, her work is well worth a visit.  If time etc. prevents a visit to Stokesley both her own website and Bianco Nero's show examples of her work.  However, the pictures really don't do justice to these exquisite little works of Art. 

Valentine's Day P.S.......................

This is the sentiment 'with fondest love from your own darling  sweetheart' mentioned below, from my Grandmother's card . I used it as part of an embroidered length  design for a first year project.  It also included vintage floral motifs, taken from an old album, and a photograph of my Mother and Father on their wedding day..

Happy Valentines Day to one and all!!!!

Apologies for posting this picture again but it was intended to be a Valentines day card/gift and I thought  it appropriate to explain the very romantic reasoning behind its design!  My Grandmother's first fiance was killed in the First World War.......The card in the peace/love symbol dove's mouth  is a tiny copy of the beautiful embroidered card her sent to her, from the trenches, signed 'from your own Sweeetheart' ..................................................
I hope my design did justice to his memory.

MAKING A MARK: Art and Greetings Cards

MAKING A MARK: Art and Greetings Cards

An interesting link for PPF/PDP if you are a card and gift designer....like I aspire to be ????!!!!!!

MAKING A MARK: Georg Ehret's sketchbooks - botanical illustration

MAKING A MARK: Georg Ehret's sketchbooks - botanical illustration

I am wondering about which direction to take once my ten years with CCAD are over.......................botanical illustration is something I have always loved and I am such a realist that The Society of Botanical Artists distance diploma is a very interesting option. Perhaps it could help me produce beautiful botanical images like these two links show!

MAKING A MARK: Botanical Artists: Margaret Mee

MAKING A MARK: Botanical Artists: Margaret Mee

What amazing people the women of the past and not quite so distant past were. This lady is one It would be wonderful to emulate....both in lifestyle and painting career...............

Japanese tea drinking at the Bowes Museum!

Missed Tuesdays session at CCAD to attend a talk, on Japanese tea drinking, at Bowes Museum.  It was given by Antiques Roadshow expert Adam Schoon.  He interwove the history of tea, in Japan ,with images of antique objects he either owns or has come across in his job as an auctioneer at Tennants. I was particularly interested in his detailed references to lacquer as I hope (!!!) to be able to incorporate a lacquer look into one of my designs. Unfortunately the tea drinking ceremony was very disappointing. Also, I am sorry to say after all my experience of yummy oriental food, the Japanese snacks were.................. DISGUSTING!!!!!

Still grappling with PPF and research mounting ....will it ever end ?!!!:-(

Kung hei fat choi!.........HEALTH, HAPPINESS FULFILMENT ........and wealth for Chinese New Year 2011



Well, wealth is important but the others more so I have found.  However, the Chinese are very superstitious about the New Year and mustn't enter it with debts to pay (so employees have to have double pay packets!!!!).  Also they use auspicious symbols at New Year to help the Kitchen god along with his luck for the coming year.  GOLDfish/carp are supposed to help financially. As we could all do with a little financial help, after Christmas, I have posted a picture of the beautiful huge ones at Butterfly World to try and bring some financial luck for us all !!!. I took it whilst doing some research, just before we came back to college last autumn.

Chinese New Year Greetings - Welcome Year of The Rabbit 2011...may it be a good one for everybody!!!! ENJOY:-)

If you skip over the sweet little rabbits (!!!!!!) there are some wonderful pictures of how Chinese New Year is celebrated in China ,on this U Tube clip..................so colourful, and so much fun.....which is why I still celebrate, even though it is some time since I lived in Hong Kong and  was able to ehjoy the real thing!!!!