Illustration Friday 'Satellite'

This weeks theme for Illustration Friday is 'Satellite' and so for the last few days I have been singing Lou Reed's 'Satellite of Love'. I created a love filled collage, satellites beaming love down to earth. Lou's song wasn't so cheery, in fact it was about being cheated on by his girlfriend, poor Lou.

Etsy Love

Oh how lovely! My work is in two great treasuries. The first sleepy themed one is full of sumptuous reds here
Thank you Noni Bam

and the other is bursting with sweet and playful finds, check it out here
Thank you daisy flores!

The Invitation

Ah Bliss! I spent the afternoon in my studio for the first time in what seemed like ages and came up with this collage. I'd been inspired to create a picture with butterflies landing on me for a while after reading this (love that blog!) however it turned into a sort of garden party picture but that's fine with me!. It's now in the shop. The title of this picture is also the title of this inspirational book by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. 'The Inviatation' begins with a poem...
'It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive..'
I think I'm going to read that book again now.

Paisley

This weeks theme for Illustration Friday is Paisley. I'm not sure where this idea came from but I quite like it! We've got visitors over at the moment and day trips and football (!) have sort of got in the way of creating. But I did get round to making something...

I don't know if anyone has come across these fruits before. My friend gave me heaps of them from his garden and told me to make something tasty so after some research I discovered they are called Phsyalis Alkekengi, Chinese Lantern or Groundcherries and they are delicious raw or baked in a crumble, which is what I did. I think they are such lovely things.

On A Bag Hunt

 

 

 I love bags and I try to make my own when I get chance but lately I am so tempted to treat myself to one made by someone else. Here are some of my choices. Above the Auvenier XL bag iragranteco

 The Elessa in light blue jean by milloo

 Here comes the bride by out of africa

 Or this dazzling purse by dazzling lanna .  

I have already received some lovely goodies from Etsy this week, I bought some mineral make up goodies from orglamix which are great and  I was lucky enough to win something from Sarah Culleton's gorgeous etsy shop. Being a cat lover I chose this cute purse and it arrived today! It may just be too nice to use. Thanks Sarah!

 

And on a completely different note... for any migraine sufferers out there... last night I felt a headache brewing and I was pretty fed up as they have been lasting up to a week lately and really hindering me going about my business. By this afternoon I had had enough and did even more research on natural remedies. I read that drinking a glass of water very slowly with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cayanne pepper mixed in could help. I managed half a teaspoon and it burned my lips and made me feel sick for a while so I lay down and waited for it to wear off. Amazingly,  my headache wore off too and I'm feeling almost normal a few hours later. It could be a fluke but I would recommend trying it. Let me know if you have any other remedies.

Hello Weekend

Just where exactly did that week go? I'm in the habit of going for long, brisk, early morning walks these days and I do see some wonderful sights. Did you spot the shoes on the signpost?

The hill that I walk up is called the red mountain and it was easy to see why this morning.

This pathway leads to a beautiful tiny cove.

When I got home I spotted this little fella hiding in my (very scratched up!) hubcap. Look at those little hands, what a cutie! Less walking and more creating for me this weekend I reckon.

Illustration Friday 'Trail'

When I saw the title for this week's Illustration Friday I immediately thought of the story of Hansel and Gretal and the trail of bread that the children leave to show them their way home. This story has been written and illustrated so many times, I checked some of them out, here are my faves...

I love Jen Coraces' illustration's. The lovely book is available here

Fab illustration by Larissa Meek

Kay Neilsen illustrated Hansel and Gretel and Other Stories by the Brothers Grimm (1925) by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

New Painting Hoopla

I haven't painted for ages and I sooo enjoyed it today. I've just listed this on my shop and now I'm off to read this book by David Nicholls. I really liked Starter For Ten, perfect bedtime or beachy reading, you know when you really don't want to have to think too hard.
I have a few canvases lined up so I'll be back painting in the morning.

Illustration Friday 'Slither'

I finally finished my illustration for this weeks Illustration Friday theme, 'Slither'. I must admit, I struggled a little. The word doesn't conjure up very pleasant images to me but I got there in the end with my snails slithering along to their holiday destination hence the sunglasses and hat. Click on the image to view it larger.