Lia set us the prompt of explore for day one of our journal page ~ I have got a book specially for my journaling and am going to try to do it when prompted and when Im not!!! I will try honest ~ the problem with me is that I love to do so many things and do explore everything I do in depth, I'm hoping that with prompting I will be able to keep the journaling up and NOT be precious about it~ anyway above is my first page!!!!


I also made a journal quilt ~ this time in a new size 12" by 12", its a great size to work with. This piece is made from a mix of hand made felt, scrim, cotton and lace all coloured with Stewart Gill paint which I mixed with water for this gorgeous soft look, the felt really took the colour well and has a soft aged look. The quilt represent Spring ~ new life and happiness, the birds are back in my garden and busy nesting, the sky has a beautiful watery blue colour about it and the buds are blooming!! Lots to be happy about.

I free machined and hand stitched the quilt with cotton wadding in the sandwich ~ beautiful and soft to handle.

On Saturday I went to a workshop which Fife Fat Quarters had organsied, the tutor was Ineke Berlyn and it was wonderful. Ineke is famous for her contempory landscape quilts and in real life they are soooooo gorgeous, she had all her sketch books with her and they were a joy to look through ~ Ineke is really inspiring and if you get the chance to go to one of her workshops ~ go! I will post a photo of what I made asap ~ Judy x

Felted Flower and Scottish Thistle Hanging

The weekend has been quiet for me and Ive not ventured out at all not even to church and today only as far as the nurse again :~(
I even had to miss college too ~ now that is certainly not good.

Anyway less of that ~ I managed to get to my studio and finish one of my flower corsage/brooches, I love the colour of this one and would love to keep it but its going in my etsy ~ I have to try and raise some money for us to rent a car whilst in Australia ~ Jim and I will be there for a month and we'll need one big enough to take Jim and me, Rach and Lu and of course Stevie and Scarlett, so that means a people carrier sort of thing!!! You know the sort Im sure.
Only 220 days untill take off....................................................



I'm also working on some "stitched sketches" with the lovely Scotland as my inspiration. I am surrounded here in Kinross with beautiful countryside and of course the loch ~ here is the first one based on the thistle ~ I love the colours in this piece and have made it using wool tops; which I wet felted, hand dyed fabric, recyled silk sari, hand dyed threads and ribbon and recycled Scottish slate. The threads used were beautiful silk noil and spun silk and Maderia Machine Embroidery threads ~ my favourites:) This too is going in my etsy shop.


After work tonight Jim made me some brilliant slate buttons which I'll photograph tomorrow. They are awesome but actually broke three of his drill bits, oooops.




Does anyone remember the music of the 70's, I still love the music from back then ~ and have made cd's for the car and my sis bought me the Jackie cd which has all the music from my teens, anyway I've just been listening to VH1 classic on the tv ~ T Rex, Diana Ross and the Jackson 5 have just brought back a heap of memories, when you hear them doesnt it take you back to being young ~ like it was yesterday .............................

The words of the Diana Ross song from 1976 I used to know off by heart I was 16 and madly in love I wonder what would have happened then if I knew what was instore for me??????

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?

Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds
You knew how I loved you, but my spirit was free
Laughing at the questions that
you once asked of me

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?

Now looking back at all we've had
We let so many dreams just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long before we see
How sad the answers to those questions can be?

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?

I certainly didnt know where I was going to, does anyone really? but what is amazing and wonderful just now is my gorgeous girls are 17 just a year older than I was back then and they do know where theyre going to, they have it all mapped out ~Australia, Uni, work etc. they are amazing and Stevie so are you if you read this!!! Cant miss you out :)

Heck!!! just got a little bit nostalgic there, still smiling though ~ heres to the 70's, those big eyes, long hair, bell bottoms, love and the wonderful summer of 1976!

That all for now, Judy x

Primitive - Folk Art for IF

Primitive was this weeks topic for illustration friday ~ the first thing that I thought of was folk art and so the above illustration came about, still lying low, so here we have coloured pencil only on paper!!!

Fairyology

I had great plans this week ~ the girls were back at school, this is their last ever term as they leave this year, where have the years gone, too fast thats for sure. Anyway I have collage work, commision work, goodies to make for my new little etsy shop and Im ill, I started the week feeling rubbish but Im very much the get on with it girl and used my aromatherpy, reflexology on myself and drinking lots of water etc etc, until yesterday and booom it hit me, well, I managed to see the pracitise nurse and now have antibiotics yuk yuk yuk.

So hot water bottle cosy pj's and bed but its so boring so I got my little sketch book with me and a copy of CPS the one with Anahata Katkin's work on the front I love love love that piece.


Cloth Paper Scissors
Originally uploaded by Anahata Katkin

So with my coloured pencils I had some brilliant fun colouring and doing my version of this wonderful piece of art work. Anahata makes really amazing art, has a fabulous shop ( but unfortunately doesnt ship to the UK) and does workshops ohhhh I would love to go to one. Perhaps one day I will venture across the atlantic:)
This piece reminds me of the 70's and the drawings I used to do then I wish I could find them ~ probably long gone.

Well Anahata inspired me so here's another that came to my head her lips are abit squint but remember I was lying down and colouring!!

I think Ill call this one "Fairyology" ~ combination of me doing reflexology on myself and fairys
~ Ive got two more but they need colouring in:)

We I hope everyone else if ok have a fabby weekend ~ Judy xx

Amelie Rose Gladys

Violette, a lovely lady who I met through my blog two years ago and has commissioned me to make art over the last two years has given me permission to put my latest here, (I like to protect privacy when there are personal photographs involved).

So I would like to present to you Violette's adorable first grand-daughter......................................

Amelie Rose Gladys

This is a chunky canvas with Amelie in the basket floating through fairy land. The piece was so delightful to make with lovely happy bright and beautiful colours for a beautiful bright and perfect little baby.

Big hugs to you Violette and Amelie ~ Judy xxx

new canvas'

rose fairy

Thought I'd share the canvas' Ive just finished they are in my etsy shop now along with some of my old creations in print form. Ive just finished a commission for a dear lady which was sooooo beautiful to work on and will be listing some of my felt flower corsages by the end of this week ~ just have to put on the important finishing touches:)

In Rose Fairy I've used on of my favourite little girl which is two images altered to become one. The Roses are my own design taken from a watercolour I did whilst in Australia in 2005!!!
The background is a lovely mix of layers; from gesso, collage to Golden acrylic paint.
Spring Blossom was inspired by a scrap of vintage wallpaper I have in my treasure box this is made using gesso and Golden acrylic paints.
I have other canvas' which Ill be adding as they are finished

I've been making the Alice in Wonderland theatre over the last months and have been so excited by that, the exhibition is really soon. I have made an assemblage inspired by my theatre, its almost finished and I'll be putting that in my etsy too, Ive been amazed by how from my little sketch book which started completely blank so much inspiration can flow..... maybe it because its spring, its putting a 'spring' in my step, haha sorry!!

spring blossom

Off to see a friend this morning ~ I think the sun is coming out so have a wonderful day, Judy x

Fail for IF

"I fail to see how I could have changed things
After all beauty is only skin deep
~x~
ahh but a smile can fill the world with joy"

xx Judy xx

My Alice in Wonderland Theatre so far

You can see more of the fun Ive been having
here

Thankyou so very much to Helen Suzanne and Evie for awarding me the Art y Pico Award ~ an award for blogs filled with art and creativity ~ there are some rules attached to this award and in passing it on to others they are as follows;

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico' blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

Sue

Gunnel

Beate

Holly

Fran

I 've chosen blogs with different kinds of art for you all to enjoy ~ Judy xx

Save the Last Dance for Me!

Save

The Last Dance For Me

Alice, beads, ribbons and a theatre

Well while Ive been away things have been happening in the Judrops studio!! I have not been idle and here's a little snippet of what Ive been up to ..............................

...................... if you take a stroll over to the studio you can see the Alice in Wonderland Theatre Ive been making its not finished yet but Im on my last finishing details with it, probably another six weeks work ~ just in time for the exhibition at the end of May.

So what else have I been doing, well Ive made more of my felt flowers in lilac for a lovely lady who adores lilac and turquoise more than any other colours in the world

and red and pink for a wedding this weekend ~ I saw the red flower on the outfit its to be worn with and it looks so lovely

French Knots in the centre with free machining on the petals

little pearls in the centre with free machining on the petals

Im working on some other projects which have spun off from the work I've done for the Alice in Wonderland Theatre extreme fun and lots of happy colours ~ well I do love colour and happy things heres a little preview

And then Ive also been and bought some goodies :) :) :)

and my favourite hand cream in the world

it is gorgeous :)