About Me

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WELCOME to my little arty world! Trying to make art is a huge part of my life ... love nothing more than messing around with inks and sprays and generally making a mess!

Wednesday 2 December 2020

WOYWW 600

 Huge CONGRATULATIONS to the superstar that is our much loved Julia on her 600th Workdesk Wednesday over at The Stamping Ground

In the colder months my workdesk is a ever expanding corner of the dining room table - not ideal but it works for me - especially this year when there have been no family meals

So this is my desk right now - utter chaos from yesterday when I had a meltdown over everything I still have to do ... just please forgive the mess

Making boxes for some little *s*n*o*w*flake wooden blocks that will be given as gifts

Decided I wanted a little string bow as decoration on them so out came the old boingy tool thingy - noisy but does the job

The magnifying illuminating lamp is there as I tackle some little cross stitch tree decorations that one of the nephews & his wife ask for each year - you can just see a round white paint palette on the left (behind the chair) which is full of seed beads ready for me to get back to once this current frenzy is over

First Christmas card arrived yesterday - on the far left

Think the rest is all pretty straightforward 


 
Happy 600th WOYWW & huge thanks to Julia for the ability to join I as, when & if we are able & for the friendships, love & support that you make possible

Friday 6 November 2020

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER - Altered Book

Had been wanting to do another altered book for a while but was waiting for inspiration to strike

Strike it did but, despite having done two in-person classes with Finnabair and then a couple more books, this didn't turn out quite as hoped

But, having said that, I can live with it and have ended up quite pleased with it

As always, the photo's do not show it very well - it does actually look a little bit better in real life ... honest!

 I chose one of my favourite carols and am currently obsessed with these Quirky Houses so was happy to have an excuse to use them on another project




It is actually more blue than it appears here and the inside is very much more sparkly - the trees and the snowdrift realy do glisten

 Had the book stashed away in my cupboard for a couple of years now but absolutely could not believe my eyes when I saw the title ...

 

 

Just what are the chances of that?

Prior to March it would have had no significance at all 

I even put it back in the cupboard not feeling able to use it but told Anna (Finnabair) about it and we decided I should use it and obliterate it and hope it turns the tide in what we are all facing right now

Got to admit to enjoying obliterating that title!

PRODUCTS USED

FINNABAIR (Prima Marketing)
Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black
Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel
Moon & Stars Mould
Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax - Turquoise Satin / Green Brocade
Art Alchemy Brilliance Wax - Amethyst Magic
Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - Old Silver
Art Alchemy Metallique Paint - White Pearl 
Art Ingredients Mica Powder - Pale Silver / Green Opal Magic
Frozen Lake / Purple
Mechanicals - Wings
LINDY'S STAMPGANG STARBURST SPRAY
Frolic in the forest black / Voodoo Violet Blue
HOBBILICIOUS
Quirky Houses Clock Tower
TIM HOLTZ (IDEA-OLOGY)
Woodlands Tree Lot / Baroque Frames 
Festive Adornments TH93990
Floral Adornments TH93789








Sunday 4 October 2020

Midnight Magic

 Came across these little houses whilst browsing for something or other and loved the piece that had been done to show what could be done with them and it sparked the idea for this



The clouds around the moon are actually quite sparkly
but, as we all know, sparkles are hard to capture in a photo'

Quite enjoyed doing this one despite having blue fingers for days afterwards!

PRODUCTS USED
Gerstaecker 30cm (12") round canvas board
Gerstaecker 20cm (8") round canvas board
Hobbilicious Quirky Houses

Tm Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) Stencil
THS131 (Stars)

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) :
Art Basics - Heavy Gesso Black / 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel
Art Alchemy - Metallique Wax : Mint Sparkle / Sweet Rose / Blue Lagoon
Art Alchemy Impasto Paint : Cobalt
Art Alchemy Acrylic Paint - Metallique Silver Spoon / White Pearl
Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - Old Silver / White Gold
Art Ingredients - Art Sugar : White
Moons & Stars Mould

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray :
Afternoon Delight Denim / Frolic in the Forest Black / Prima Donna Purple

Various metal bits from Finnabair & Tim Holtz collections





Wednesday 16 September 2020

WOYWW 589

 Yay!!!!  I'm here ...

... or am I?

Had SOooooo much trouble with this new blogger business and simply had to give up - if anyone is reading this then I guess I am here after all

Until yesterday when I really wanted to add some posts to my blog just for my own reference and continuity of what I get up to

Much hair pulling and uttering of really naughty swear words went on

lots of pleading with hubby whose reply each time was "all lost on me mate, I know nothing about blogging"

more pleading until he had no choice but to give in and suggest my browser (?) was too old to support the new blog thingy

he finally came from his side of the table to "take a look" & finally using his laptop I spotted a vaguely familiar format and actually managed to blog my rolling pin yesterday along with a couple of posts I had ready to publish but couldn't before now as I couldn't figure out how!

Quite why the powers in the know feel the need to change something that was working just fine for just about everyone is totally beyond me

but, right now, I must admit pretty much everything is totally beyond me

So, the point of all this drivel is to link up with Julia over at The Stamping Ground for the weekly hop around fellow crafty desks and to catch up on what we are all up to

I'm afraid I have not had time to join in for such a long time - firstly I try never to WOYWW unless I know I will have time to reciprocate any visits and secondly I worked hard to keep myself totally occupied during the first weeks & months of lockdown by doing a 15 week giveaway project


I planned on doing 12 giveaways to cover the originally suggested 12 weeks of lockdown but then figured it might go on a wee bit longer so went for 15 ... mostly for totally selfish reasons as I really became engrossed in the project and it most certainly kept me going 
Got a bit of criticism for it all of course - at the start I wondered if it might also be a distraction for others ... a sort of "goodness me, what is Debbie up to now" type of thing ... and to provide a little positivity during what were such unknown and scary times
but it backfired on me when it was suggested I had ulterior motives and was only after self-promotion ... I knew nothing was further from the truth and so tried to Move Past It and Carried on Regardless

Alas, my desk right now is somewhat bare ... inbetween projects and partly cleared away from doing my rolling pin earlier this week and partly set up for the next project ... the only dilemma being which one it will be!
Watch this space!




Apologies in advance if I do not manage to get to your desk this week .. shall try and hope it is not too different than with the old blogger 
although saying that there are a couple of deskers to whom I have found it impossible to reply as their blogs won't let me leave a comment

If I can work out how to get back to you then I certainly will


Tuesday 15 September 2020

Rolling Pin - altered kitchen object

Finnabair recently did a live video where she altered a little coffee pot as inspiration for us to then alter a kitchen object of our own 

 Got to admit to not being a huge fan of altering objects just for the sake of it but was mostly inspired by Finn's colour scheme and an idea came to mind 

 In the early 1980's I used to make wedding cakes so a rolling pin was forever in my hands rolling out more marzipan & icing than I care to recall So a rolling pin was just begging to be altered! 

 I made many thousands of sugar-paste flowers - represented here by the metal flowers & piped out thousands of little individual lace pieces to then be attached one-by-one to the cakes & this is represented by the real lace on the rolling pin

 They are not too visible but there are two clock hands to make note of the very many hours each cake would take and there is a little white dove hovering amongst the flowers as I went under the name "White Dove Celebration Cakes" in those days - certainly no tatteredrocks in the building! 

 I knew I wanted to keep the rolling pin looking like wood but was very keen to use Finn's colour scheme as it is totaly different to anything I would normally do - and also using her liquid acrylic paints in a new (and VERY scary) way for me. I have only used them diluted in a water spray bottle before but Finn just squeezes some out and daubs and dabs with her paintbrush and magic appears before your very eyes. My magic was less successful but I was happy with the results The lace was dyed with tea and there is a list of products used at the end of this post

PRODUCTS USED : 
FINNABAIR (Prima Marketing) 
Art Basics Gesso - Clear / White Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel 
 Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint - Silver Spoon / White Pearl 
Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylic Paint - Burn Sienna / Carmine / Tiger Orange / Umber 
Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - White Gold Art Alchemy Matte Wax - Charcoal Black 
 Art Ingredients Micro Beads - Copper Art Extravagance Glitter Set - Luminous Mitform Castings & Finnabair metals 
Lots of random metal bits from my collection 
Wooden rolling pin 
Small wooden dove Oddments of lace, ribbons & wire 
Oh, & a teabag!

Meet Huxley the Hare

This is a Powertex workshop that I was booked on to attend in May with the simply lovely Annette Smythe but, of course, the virus put paid to all that!

But imagine my delight when I found out Annette had made the class available as an on-line course along with the option of also purchasing the kit 
So whilst I missed out on being in her wonderful studio and enjoying her company (and cake!) I did get to make my little hare ... he has had many names but I have finally decided on Huxley







I did struggle to get the shape of Huxley's head and it is far from resembling Annette's but I have come to quite like his quirkiness
Can't thank Annette enough for all her support as I messaged her in a panic
at least doing it on-line I had to persevere and not hand it over to her and ask her to do it for me !

At one point I did have his nose spot on but then at some stage I squished it and did not notice until it was too late to correct but, hey, who is perfect anyway and I can live with his little twitchy nose ... it's kinda cute!

This is the link that will take you to Annette's website and from her home page you will be able to find both the on-line course and the kit Annette Smythe





Finnabair Patreon Challenge - Night Dreams

A new challenge was set by Finnabair for her Patreons with the theme being Night Dreams and the requirements being to use mica powders in at least two ways.

Being a lover of mica powders anyway I wasn't worried about that part of the challenge (for once!) and I instantly knew what I wanted to make 

Sent a template off into the garage for himself to cut for me from "anything wooden ... nothing special ... don't  mind it a bit rough " (the moons, silly, nothing naughty!!!!)

Back they came and after a little tweaking were exactly what I wanted ... himself is very useful !!!

My idea was to portray that dreams can be both dark & moody & scary but also pleasant & light & happy too

Unfortunately, right now, my dreams (and I am sure those of many) are rather on the dark & scary side

I used the same colours on both as I knew they would look very different on the black and on the white but I kept the dark one mechanical and the light one flowery ... at least that is what I tried to do

I really enjoyed making this but have yet to decide if I will share it in the Finnabair group ... it was suggested to me that it has nothing to do with dreams but I figure it is my interpretation so am just a bit confused right now over what to do

Time will tell!

The quote kinda says it all really 




PRODUCTS USED:

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)
Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black / White
Art Basics - 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel
Art Ingredients Mica Powder :
Frozen Lake / Lilac Opal Magic / Purple / Teal / Deep Water 
Pale Silver / Gold Opal Magic
Art Alchemy Metallique Wax :
Brushed Iron / Old Silver / Electric Violet / Peacock
Blue Lagoon / Mint Sparkle
Art Ingredients Art Sugar - White
Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Midnight Blue
Art Extravagance Glitter Set - Carribean
Finnabair Stars & Moon Mould
Resin (no idea what brand)

Tim Holtz Stencil - THS131

Monday 10 August 2020

Wrap yourself in love & friendship

With the fifteen weeks of giveaways all done I really wanted 0ne final one to be a HUGE thank  you to all of those who "went through it together" with me

The whole project gave me structure and purpose amidst the utter fear and chaos of those early days of the virus - I most certainly would have been floundering and struggling without it to occupy myself and I really do wish I could have carried on for longer

I hoped one of my bobble blankets might be a suitable thank you but choice of yarn during a lockdown pandemic was hard!  Suddenly everywhere was out of stock and choice was very limited. This was the best I could find but it ended up being a favourite ... was not able to get my usual fifteen balls so it is one ball short but, hey, what's a few bobbles & a couple of inches between friends?!?!?!?


*** Winner was Bev Garfiled ***

Thursday 16 July 2020

Giveaway #15 - Time Flies

This one sees the end of the giveaways so to represent the time spent, lived & lost during this dreadful period in our lives  I though a clock might be appropriate

Loosely based on a design I stumbled across so not my own original idea

Rich reds, golds & coppers on a brown background with just a hint of sparkle

Several original watch parts - which have to be some of my most favourite items to use




PRODUCTS USED:
Gerstaecker 20cm (8") canvas board
Tim Holtz  (Stampers Anonymous) Stencil : Clockwork THS013
Finnabair (Prima Marketing) 
Art Extravagance Texture Paste : White Crackle
Art Basics : Soft Gloss Gel / Clear Gesso / Heavy Body Gel
Art Alchemy Impasto Paint : Dark Chocolate
Art Alchemy Metallique Wax : 
Vintage Gold / White Gold / Aged Brass
Rich Copper
Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax : Red Amber
Art Ingredients Micro Beads : Bronze / Gold
Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray : 
Bayou Boogie Gold / Cowabunga Copper / Cajun Carnelian Red
Autumn Maple Crimson

***Winner was Cindy Ashplant***




Sunday 5 July 2020

Giveaway #14 - Debbie Does The Dragonfly Blues

Why the Dragonfly Blues?
Because this is another of those very rare species ...
first there was the Tatteredrocks Poppy
followed by the Tatteredrocks Butterfly
and now the Tatteredrocks Dragonfly

And yes, I totally realise my mistake ... hence it being a very rare species!
Dragonfly wings are, of course, transparent and shimmery
but, hey-ho, it is pretty nonetheless!

Another Powertex project this week ... a shimmering blue dragonfly with shades of green & lilac too & suitable for your garden


PRODUCTS USED :
Powertex Universal Medium - Ivory
Cheesecloth / gauze
Paper Decoration
Powertex Powercolor - Dark Blue

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) 
Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :
Emerald Green / Royal Blue / Deep Waters
Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint : Violet Green

***Winner was Sandra Mitchell***

Thursday 2 July 2020

Finnabair Patreon Ocean Mood Board

Recently became part of Finnabair's Patreon group
There are several levels at which you can join - just pick the one that appeals to you
It's quite wonderful giving you access (depending on the level you pick) to many live video demonstrations - loads of workshop based type ones as well as general questions & answers where we just hang out
Suits me very well indeed!

One particular demo has been how to interpret a mood board
Now I have always scrolled on right past any mood boards as they did not call out to me and I really had no idea what they were all about

As one of the higher level Patreons I was able to join in with the picking of the theme, colours & techniques for a mood board which was then opened up to all the Patreon levels
We picked Ocean, Purple & Turquoise and Texture as the theme

The choice to participate is entirely down to you, of course, and I really was not going to join in as everyone's work is so wonderful and those of you who know me will understand my reluctance

However, whilst on holiday in Scotland last year I was unable to watch one of Finn's live FB videos as we had no Wi-Fi
I messaged her to apologise and added, "but I am in paradise"
her immediate reply was, "Paradise doesn't need Wi-Fi"
How true!!!!!
I wrote down her words always intending to use them on a canvas or something
but the theme of this mood board and the fact we had collected shells from that very beach seemed to be a sign that now was the time to not only do my first ever mood board, but to join in the challenge too

I knew what I wanted to do ... variation on a large shell I have done before but I now wanted driftwood

Am as far from the ocean as you can get here in dear old England and lockdown means no day trips anyway so a quick call to nephew, Alfie, who had collected driftwood for his wedding a couple of years ago, with a plea to see if he had any left

He did!
But it was a close call as he had very nearly burnt it all only a few days previously

He sent me all he had - his wife socially distancing leaving it in our porch - & the one piece was exactly what I wanted ... it was as if I had nipped to the beach and found it myself

So a couple of days to put this together and I have my mood board piece done

Hate the purple but am happy with the rest
It looks lovely when the sunlight hits it and it sparkles
and it is a lovely reminder of shells collected from one of our favourite places and to keep stuff like the internet & Wi-Fi in perspective





PRODUCTS USED:
Finnabair (Prima Marketing)
Art Basics :
White Gesso 
Soft Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel 
Art Ingredients :
Art Stones / Mini Art Stones
Glass Glitter : Midnight Blue
Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :
Crocus Fields / French Lavender / Stormy Ocean / White Pearl
Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint :
Blue Violet
Art Extravagance :
Glitter Set - Carribean Seas

Deco Media Shimmer Mist - White
Lindy's Starburst Spray - Frozen Jack Frost

Sunday 28 June 2020

Giveaway #13 - Heartfelt

Thought I'd go back to basics with the offering for this week
just a simple little A5 canvas panel but with a ton of stuff used on it

Hopefully the sentiment says it all this week



PRODUCTS USED:
A5 Canvas Board
10cm (4") MDF Heart
Finnabair (Prima Marketing) -
Art Extravagance Texture Paste - White Crackle
Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black
Art Basics Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel
Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax - Amethyst Magic
Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax - Royal Robes
Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Pitch Black / Violet
Art Ingredients Micro Beads - Berry
Art Ingredients Mica Flakes - Granite
Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray - Gag Me With A Spoon Grey / Mountain Lavendar Gold
Sweet Poppy Acrylic Mist - Shimmering Silver
Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain - Hickory Smoke / Black Soot
Tim Holtz Distress Resist Spray
Tim Holtz Stencil - THS032 (Flourish)
Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Classics #7 SCF007
Stampendous Frantage - Chunky Clear Deep Impression Embossing Enamel
Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Pad - Silver
Versamark Pad
Scraps - Wire, cheesecloth or gauze

***Winner was Tracey Lowther***

Sunday 21 June 2020

Giveaway # 12 - Time is a Companion

And, indeed, time does pass
and, hopefully, this will all soon be over and we can return to normal
whatever the new normal will be
for I feel sure it will never quite be the same as before

This is very much a copy of a piece I did a few years ago and has been the only ever piece I was happy with
I had longed to do it again but have no need for two so was very pleased to reproduce it as a giveaway 

Another project done on an old piece of tongue & groove from the rummage box
I do so moan at hubby for keeping al these offcuts
but they do come in useful so ought to cut him some slack

Most of the metal embellishments are genuine old watch parts
There is the odd random cog thrown in and the flourishes are made using one of Finnabair's moulds and resin





PRODUCTS USED:
Wooden panel
Finnabair (Prima Marketing)
Art Basics Heavy Gesso : Black
Art Basics Modelling Paste
Art Basics Heavy Body Gel
Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :
Golden Moss / Emerald Green / Dark Forest / Deep Waters / Royal Blue
Midnight Sky
Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax : 
Green Brocade / Turquoise Satin / Blue Velvet
Art Alchemy Metallique Wax :
Vintage Gold / White Gold / Old Silver
Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax : Mystic Turquoise
Flourish mould
Resin

Clarity Stamp : Clockwork Stencil
Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) Stamp : TH006
Tim Holtz (Ranger) Distress Crackle Paint : Clear Rock Candy
Tim Holtz Archival Mini Ink Pad : Black Soot

***Winner was Julie Rose***

Monday 15 June 2020

Giveaway #11 - Hanging Heart

Week number 11 already ... can you believe that?
It is most odd that, on one hand, time seems to have stood still
yet on the other it is simply flying by

There is a lot going on in my mind right now
just when I thought I had calmed down a little and was getting to grips with
all that is going on along comes a whole new wave of emotions
utter sadness for the now more than 41,000 people who have died
FORTY ONE THOUSAND 
just can't get my head around it
anger & rage at the utter idiots who think it ok to congregate with no 
thought to social distancing - isn't that a horrible, horrible phrase?!?
anger & rage that this is happening in the first place
despair that it will ever go away and I will get to hug and kiss my family
again ... all of us crammed around the dining table sitting kneee-to-knee and
elbow to elbow as we share roast dinners or pizza
& grief for all that is lost and for what now never will be

But I know it's not just me feeling like that
even the most strong people I know feel the same

So, for now, I shall continue with my little giveaway project
for it surely has helped me enormously
giving me something on which to focus & be motivated
& a routine to the week

Just a little hanging heart this week


PRODUCTS USED :
 12cm (4" polystyrene heart)
Metal butterfly
Scraps : Lace / Cheesecloth / Beads
Powertex Universal Medium - Black
Anna Marie - Crushed Ice Crystals
FINNABAIR (Prima Marketing) :
Art Basics : 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Heavy Gesso - Black
Art Alchemy Metallique Paint :
Deep Waters / Emerald Green / Soft Satin / Crocus Fields
Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint :
Violet Green / Yellow Blue / Green Gold
Art Alchemy metallique Wax :
Aged Brass / Vintage Gold / Rich Copper / Electric Violet / Peacock
Old Denim 
Antique Brilliance Wax : Amethyst Magic
Opal Magic Wax : Blue Velvet
Art Ingredients Mica Powder : Purple / Copper
LINDY'S STAMP GANG SPRAYS :
Prima Donna Purple / Mountain Lavendar Gold
Milk Chocolate Brown / Bayou Boogie Copper / Cowabunga Copper

***Winner was Linda Lueck***