It has arrived safely so I can reveal it now

When I saw this painting in a magazine I just had to use it for a friends' bag.

It is in the Tate Gallery in London, and was painted by John Singer Sargent in 1885-6

It is called, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose.

The painting is set in a garden in the Cotswolds village of Broadway,

where John Singer Sargent stayed in the summer of 1885.

The children lighting Japanese lanterns with tapers are Dolly (left) and Polly Barnard.

Their father was the illustrator Frederick Barnard – a friend of Sargent’s.

Sargent wanted to capture the exact level of light at dusk so he painted the picture out of doors, in the Impressionist manner.

As autumn came and the flowers died he resorted to painting flowers in pots. The title comes from the refrain of a popular song The Wreath by Joseph Mazzinghi. It was a Victorian song - alas I do not know the words. 

In his painting the lilies and are white - so too the dresses. The background is rather dark because of the light he painted it in. I have taken a bit of 'poetic license' and painted with alcohol inks and a highlight pen on a heat transfer which has been absorbed by the jute.   I personalised the bag by copying the header page from Pat's Blog and coloured that too.  If you haven't visited her blog - do take a look - she makes the most amazing bags - amongst other things!

A little message inside

 
It looks better in real life - it was a bright sunny day when I took these photos - I am hopeless with a camera!

I have been a busy bee, but I can't show you anything except......

A sneak peek of something I have been working all day.

I am rather pleased how this turned out in the end.

Lots of copics used in the process.

I don't want it to go to it's new home now

(Only joking)

Two more Oriental cards inspired by 'Jo Blogs'

I have thoroughly enjoyed making these cards - which really makes a change as I get a mental block when I have to make a card usually.

In the process of doing these, I have learned such a lot.

(Apologies for the photographic quality - the cards are straight, and the mounted stamped images - it's the way I took the photos that make them look rather odd.  They were standing on some wallpaper and I seem to have placed them wonky!)

The layout is Jo's but when the paper I ordered arrived, the sheets were not quite the same as Jo's so I adapted the cards a bit.  Which is good, as it is great practice.

As I didn't seem to have the section exactly the same that Jo used, I had to do something to make this look 'more' than just the background, so I did a lot of shading with ink and brown pastels.  As there wasn't a flower at the bottom left hand corner on my paper, I place an oriental coin.   I think I must be using smaller cards - or else the sheets are never quite the same.

Again - photographed wonky - the mounted image is exactly 'square' to the card because I used a Tim Holtz transparent ruler to line it all up.  It is also a deeper red with a graded colour contrast.

This card is more colourful in real life, more like Jo's - but again - my card must be smaller as I couldn't fit in the extra card mounting etc so adapted it and also coloured it a bit and added shading with pastels as it looked a little pale in places

That's it.

I spent the morning at college - rushed home, cooked lunch, put three raised beds up, and made these two cards.

Off indoors now - to put my feet up and study the magazine for another project.

Thank you for looking

Oriental card inspired by Jo Capper Sandon

This is another layout by Jo which I enjoyed doing.  It more or less followers her layout, but I have had to improvise with materials - such as using ribbon instead of patterned paper.

The previous post was not exactly her layout either - but inspired by hers

If I keep practising, by the time the proper paper comes I should make a good job

This months magazine is really getting me in the mood to try things out.

I have the stamp!

For the first time ever  - when I read my monthly craft magazine, I was so excited to see that I actually have one stamp that was used, and what is more I adored the projects it was used on.  

Have had to improvise - and I can't take a photo for toffee

The artist featured was Jo Capper Sandon

I didn't have any of the papers - but I have gone mad and ordered them.

Jo used black backing paper - I used black felt tip pen until I can get black card

Her designs are exquisite - my attempt doesn't do her design justice

But do you know what - I don't mind. 

I have 'Boogie Nights' on my little CD player in my studio shed.

I am singing along, and I have had such fun.

Just you wait until I get the paper and black card

You will see a remarkable improvement

Off to make another.........

'Dance to the boogie tonight,

Boogies nights are...........'

A chocolate kiss from the USA

A week ago I received a surprise package from the USA

It was a lovely Valentine's surprise from the wonderful Pat

I am beginning to think that we don't celebrate enough in the UK.

Take Valentine's Day for instance.  We send a Valentine or celebrate it with our loved one.

Whereas is the USA , having read a lot of blogs, it seems that they spread their love around to include others.  I think that is brilliant, and I will do so myself in future.

But take a close look at what Pat has made

Isn't  it just cute, and dainty and feminine?

Guess what was inside?

A chocolate kisses tea bag! 

I have never seen these before have you?

So tomorrow afternoon, I shall experience for the very first time

Chocolate kisses in a cup of tea.

*****Oh I forgot to take a photo*****

I also received one of the gorgeous little heart Valentine brooches Pat made.

It is pinned to a jacket in my wardrobe - I will take  a photo tomorrow.

Thank you so very much Pat.

(I am currently working on a couple of projects for two people in the USA)

So might not be blogging much this week

Something different. Ikebana-ish - with a twist.

Before I begin my usual waffle - can I just say thank you so very much for your comments.  You have not idea how much they mean to me.   I haven't been able to do my usual blog rounds to all of you - but will do - I'm working my way around.

I went to a flower arranging workshop yesterday afternoon - torrential rain, flooded roads, but it was worth it.   I am really getting back into the 'swing' of things and hope to go more works shops in all things arty crafty this year.   I didn't get it finished yesterday as I only had two and a half hours and there was lots to do, so I completed it this morning.

To make this you need a some shrub branches, large metal rings, something to cover them with, some test tubes, spring flowers, a container and a bit of imagination!

 

This was really difficult to photograph as it is very tall. Here are some close ups.  The tulips have opened out overnight, the closed ones are those I arranged today

I used a square green plastic container which I have put in the basket

Our first task was to cover the bare metal frames with something.

I am not the most patient in the faffing about department but it was worth all the effort, so I was  told, as they liked the finished effect.  I wrapped the ring loosely with orange crepe paper, and stuck the ends down with double sided tape.  On top of that I layered some shades of orange sisal, and some knitting wool.  Then used silver wire all around to hold it all together - oh and some wispy bits of Kapoc stuffing - thought it would match the white gypsophelia and the other colours.

I had to repeat the process for the two rings and added the pearl beads as an afterthought

I cut up the branches and arranged them in the oasis, and secured the rings to them

The test tubes I covered in ivy leaves and wrapped silver wire around them,

 fixed them to the branches so that I could put tulips high up, and looking natural.

(Sadly you don't get almost 4ft high tulips)

I have tried to make it look interesting all the way around

And have use gypsophelia right up the middle through the twigs

It smells divine and the colours match the colours in my home.

It's a bit difficult to photograph indoors but here it is.

It looks better in the hall with a cream backdrop, but it was too dull there to take a photo.

Not bad for a total of £18 for everything - including the workshop!

I have booked myself in for next month - going to do something more traditional

I think it looks a bit Ikebana-ish, but with a modern twist.

 

Hey - the sun has come out - I am off to play with inks!