Grow Your Blog Party 2015 - Welcome!

Hello Gorgeous!

Thank you for visiting my paint-filled, splooshy corner of the blogosphere and WELCOME one and all! It's the epic and legendary 'GROW YOUR BLOG PARTY 2015' !! Hurrah!!

My name is Rachael but I'm known as 'Shroo'. I live in the middle of varied and wonderful landscapes here in the UK, equidistant from the wild beauty of seas, rivers and lakes, farmland and wild protected areas of stunning rural splendour, and the quirky urban towns and villages that nestle linked by this natural beauty.

I live with my black cat, Harvey, or to give him his full title - Count Harvelstein Fluffpants III. He likes to be addressed as 'The Colonel' and has many adventures. He puts up with me and reminds me on a daily basis how fortunate I am that he allows me to cuddle him, wrap him in warm blankies, buy him funky toys and feed him his nippits (biscuits).

I love to be surrounded by interesting and beautiful things, bright colours, books and artwork as it keeps me inspired. I've been an artist since I was a baby, holding my first pen, but life led me away from my joy of all things arty for many years, replacing it with the more mundane and practical aspects of adult life. Recently, however, I've been moved to rediscover my artistic heart and fill my life anew with all things colour - paints and pencils, inks and papers - and what a joy it has brought me ....and it's rescued me in so many ways

I started my blog a couple of years ago and discovered the wonderful people that are part of this online community. They're an inspiration to me every day. I took a break last year after my mum passed away but returned at Christmas to begin again. I invite you to join me in my arty journey through life as I test out my skills and learn new ones and share them with this amazing arty family.

A little bit about my art.... I'm a mixed media artist and illustrator. I work intuitively which means that I rarely plan a project, rather I just sit down surrounded by supplies and just throw things onto paper or canvas (or whatever!) until it looks right to me. I am a journaler, and this year I'll be sharing my own journaling progress as well as encouraging my readers to join in with their own life recording process. I'll provide exercises and examples and encouragement in bucket-loads. Here are some of my journal pages. You can see more in my other blog pages or click the pics to see other blog pages and galleries.

I love to make my own books and journals - you can see a few of them HERE. I'm currently working on some new ones so that I can re-open my little Etsy shop next month - here's a preview of some of the latest offerings:

I like to make jewellery - basically as an excuse to hoard pretty beads (a lifelong obsession!). This year I'd like to advance my skills and learn some new metalwork techniques, but for now here's a little glimpse at what's on the work desk:

I love to doodle - it calms my mind and helps me to relax. I tend to theme my doodles in each book or journal...they'll never win awards but they make me happy! Here are a couple of my recent journal pages:

I also like to illustrate the variety and beauty of the wildlife that shares this planet with us. You can see an example of my pen & ink work HERE, or click on the picture below:

I love books and poetry and love to incorporate elements of them into my work, whether it be quotes,

 character illustration,

Aslan - The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis

 or pages of the books themselves added to my paper collages...

So that's a bit about me. Coming up here in the next month will be some book making & bookbinding tutorials, suitable for anyone to try. You can find my last bookbinding post HERE, and for now here's a sneak preview of one such upcoming post-ette:

There'll also be some thoughts about and ideas for making altered art on a budget. Here's that sneak preview thing again! -

I'll be talking about how I use art and colour to help me cope with the ups and downs of life. I want to talk about public and private art, our insecurities and how to - hopefully - overcome them. Here are a couple of bijou hint-ettes at what will be on show...

I'll talk about supplies - my must-haves, my recommendations and top tens! (who doesn't love a list?)

 - and you can witness the perpetual horror that is my workdesk!

I'll also be blogging about crafting on a budget and about making your own unique elements:

Yep - there's quite a lot lined up to take us through the rest of January and right through February. You'll have to put up with my ramblings, but you can always do what The Colonel does and bury your head in a blanky and snore 'til I shut up!! (That's HIS recommendation anyway!)

It's so awesome to see you - I'd LOVE it of you'd add your epic self to my list of blog followers, and/or to my circles so that you'll be the first to be updated on new posts. Please leave a comment - I'll do my best to reply to everyone and I'll be visiting your blog asap!

I'd like to thank Vicki at '2 BAGS FULL' for all her inspiration and hard work. Enjoy the rest of the party! Love and hugs from Shroo :) xxx