Word verification on comments

Yes, I am very sorry to say that I have had to implement word verification on comments now. I have been bombarded with spam comments for a long time now. It was always a nuisance to be reading about printer ink cartridge sites and requests to link to the information on my site (though I never figured out why anyone would send a spam comment like that). But now I am getting really insidious spam comments for adult sites and I'm really trying to combat that. The suggestions on Blogger's help site say that by adding word verification the spammers will eventually give up if they can't get through. Obviously moderating the comments is not enough so I'm giving the verification a shot. I know how irritating it is to have to type in letters and numbers every time you leave a comment but I hope if the spammers give up then I can stop using word verification too.

NEW BEADS!!!

Yes, I am excited about these new beads. Big, fat chunky ones! I love the colours, I love the foiling and metallic paints. I could fill a big hole full of them and dive into the middle of them like one of those kiddies ball pools. The bright colours are my favourites but I've also made some in vintage script and music designs. They are one inch long and about 0.45 inches wide. Now I need to find some new patterns and designs because they are full of possibility.





Then there are slightly smaller ones too. These are rolled paper to form barrel shaped beads but instead of being coated in UTEE (ultra thick embossing powder) they are coated in many layers of varnish. These ones are three quarters of an inch long and about a third of an inch wide at the widest point. There are a variety of colours and a couple of sets that are one inch in length. The notepads I mentioned in my last post are destined to be decorated with some of these but I can also see them as earrings or a pendant. No doubt I'll be posting pictures of whatever I use them for. However there are sets for sale in my Etsy store so pop by for more pictures of them.

Partiality

I can't believe that it has been two months since I last posted anything. I wish I could say that I had been very creative during that time but that has been the problem - I haven't. I signed up for an Open University course on Greek Mythology and, along with some large bead commissions, that's all I have been doing. I overestimated the amount of time I had to work on a university level course so steam has been coming off my computer keyboard as I researched and typed.

I did manage to TRY and be creative. Unfortunately that means I have loads of unfinished projects on the go.

An unfinished notepad.


Unfinished new bead designs.


Another unfinished notepad. (Do you see a pattern evolving along the lines of notepads?)


Unfinished drawings.


Unfinished pushpins.


More unfinished beads.



Unfinished pompoms. (Not sure what I'm going to use them for but the Clover pompom makers are great fun.)


An unfinished sock on my sock loom.


Unfinished embroidery.


Unfinished lucet cords.


Unfinished spring themed cards.


In fact, in two months I have only finished one thing - a tag. With the lack of creativity in my life I was getting grumpy. So I managed to make myself a little tag reminding me - Don't be crabby - Live life and be content.


My course is drawing to a close in the next few weeks so I hope that normal transmission will resume soon. As it is I already have some new bead designs that I have added to my Etsy store so I'll be posting images of them next.

A new friend

I have a new visitor to my garden. This little guy has decided to come to get at the peanuts in the bird feeder. Well, after all, who needs to climb trees to get nuts when you can just go to the supermarket. But this feeder is right outside my living room window so I get to photograph and sketch him to my heart's content and he is none the wiser. I suspect there is more than one who visits though so maybe this spring I will have a bevy of squirrely friends come to visit.

Beads, beads and more beads

Where is the time going? Mid-February already! I don't know about you but it just seems to be zooming past. However, I have managed to get a few more sets of beads made with more on the way. Here are some pictures of the most recent sets listed in Etsy, some in smaller, more affordable mini bags so you can have something original to add to your craft projects but in smaller quantities.

2 Cute!

2 Cute Rubber Stamps is hosting a Valentine's challenge at the moment. The idea is to use one of the wonderful 2 Cute images to make a Valentine's theme creation. I love the animal images and was recently the happy recipient of two free images. So I had to make two cards, both shown below. If you want to take part, and there is a lovely prize of a $15 give certificate for the 2 Cute Etsy store, just get yourself a 2 Cute image and give it a go. You can even use one of the freebie images on the 2 Cute blog.

Challenge Gillian - December

So, this is my final entry for my year long challenge. There were times when I thought I would never manage to get to the end of the year but I did and I think it managed to get me back into the process of regular painting. That is a relief as I had really fallen away from sitting down in front of the blank page and getting on with things. Over the year I have tried new paper and brushes, new methods and techniques, new mediums and styles and had a real blast along side some trying times. Who would have thought that one year could bring so many new things in the sphere of my art.

So December's paintings consist of a very handsome rottweiler called Hugo whom I met on Facebook.


Some sketches of one of the robins who visits the garden regularly and dances around my feet when I have food to hand out. One thing I learnt from this was that I shouldn't use printer paper to sketch on if I am going to use watercolour to colour it. You can see the wrinkles formed by the water on the image.


A pencil drawing of an oyster catcher. They are a wading bird but they have discovered that farmland has as much to offer as the shoreline and are frequently seen in the field across the road from the house in the summer.

And finally, some winter sheep inspired by my trips into town during the very snowy weather.


I hope you have enjoyed seeing my progress over the year. I have enjoyed sharing my art and the supportive comments I have received. Thank you all very much. I hope you will stay tuned though as this year I will be posting plenty more art and crafts and am toying with the idea of some giveaways and demos.

JANUARY SALE

Yes, it's that time again. I have slashed prices in my Etsy store on many items, from beads, to art. Looking for a bargain? Then pop along and see if anything catches your eye. I have new ideas for my store for the coming year, with new products to make and sell so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, many of the items that I have put in my sale will not be renewed once the listing expires. Time for new things. Who knows what the coming year will bring but I hope that all you you will have a happy and prosperous 2011.

Christmas countdown

With just a short time left until Christmas day I thought I should post my pics from Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of Christmas before it's next Christmas. As for many people who play along, there was a lot of improvising from hand cutting my own shapes instead of using dies to creating my own vintage paper from copyright free images. But the fun is in the playing along with hundreds, if not thousands, of people all over the world. After all, the gift of giving comes in a million different guises and you can't get better than that during the holiday season. Wishing all my readers a wonderful festive season.

Challenge Gillian - November

The finish line is in sight now. One more month of drawings to do and I will have completed my challenge for the year. Phew! It's has been a slog. Although I enjoy painting and drawing very much, when you put yourself in the position of having to produce new works without a brief it is exhausting. never knew how much life got in the way either. So much pops up when you least suspect it. The question is whether I will do it again next year. There is a new blog that has been started to encourage people to use their sketchbooks more. You can find out more about The Sketchbook Challenge here but participants basically follow a theme in their sketchbooks for a month and they have the option to post their work in a Flickr album. It's not just for fine art though. Anyone who wants to have a sketchbook, even if it is just for doodles, can take part.

Anyway, last month's paintings were done in a flurry of activity. I was trying to produce work for the exhibition but due to heavy snow I couldn't get to the drop off and had to withdraw. I was very disappointed as it means more exposure and usually money in my bank account. Still, at least I got some painting time in. The first is my neighbour's cat enjoying the scenery through a Gothic window. He looks nice and cozy.


Then we have the nuthatch that comes to visit my garden.


The snail visits too.


And finally a little snowy cottage - just because it was so snowy here. This was actually taken for a painting exercise in a book but I changed it a little.


So, one more month to go. I already have a picture of a rottweiler to work on and I suspect snowy paintings might figure strongly too if the weather reports are anything to go by.