Memory Journal Doodles - My Grandpa

Happy Saturday!

I had a nice little break from posting there - hope you don't mind? I bet you've had ALL sorts of cool busy stuff going on anyway. How's the weather? It's been raining and raining and raining and RAINING here...The Colonel's employed his trained mice in constructing a raft in case of flooding emergency!

I've been a bit busy with more of that 'functional life' stuff - which is proving a challenge, so I'm currently arguing with that twitchy brain imp again. I've appeased it by making more memory journal doo-dahs to share with you so I shall proceed with the ramble, as is becoming tradition on this here blog!

The last waffle I'd had reminded me so much of my Grandparents that I thought I'd add a bit to that and enjoy the memories of two people so special in my life....this time especially my Grandad. He was a carpenter by trade, but he also later worked for the local gas board and then the council, which meant that he actually seemed to know EVERYONE we passed in the street. He was everybody's friend and liked solving problems. I have SO many wonderful memories of him...each one seems to uncover another. I've selected just a few for now.

During World War II, my Gradad was posted secretly to work as a foreman on the Mulberry Harbours. My Grandma was left at home with a baby - my mum. When my Grandad came home he found the street altered - all the iron gates and metal window and door frames had been taken for the munitions factories and the street looked shabby and diminished. Although he would be stationed away several times throughout the war, whenever he was home he set about making replacement  gates, doors and window frames for all the houses in the street, so that by the time the war was over everything was repaired and renewed. Some of those gates and doors are still there today. I picture them standing there - a little family...Grandma, Grandpa, mum and my newly born baby uncle.

Even when he retired, he still made furniture and was forever tinkering with DIY projects. When he was very elderly his 'creations' would lack a little of the finesse that had been his trademark in younger years. In fact, he built a sink unit for my mum in our tiny, TINY bathroom which was fondly - and accurately - named 'The Bismark' as it loomed over everything and was certainly bordering on the indestructable!

When he wasn't tinkering, or growing tomatoes, or making his daily rounds of visits to friends, he'd keep himself occupied by reading cowboy stories, watching sports or movies on tv, and playing fun games with me. He taught me (and my mother would have a hairy fit here) to place bets and gamble! AWESOME! Mum would tell me I'd explode and DIE if I gambled, but my Grandad had greater faith in my ability to not spontaneously combust. We'd play board games and card games and he'd stack up the copper coins from his pocket change and we'd begin. As the years passed, he'd stack up the silver coins as well... When we started, he'd be kind, as people are with children and LET me win. But as I won more and more he'd start to focus and wriggle in his seat. And I'd still win. Why? I marked the cards. Well - I marked the lotto cards, the playing cards were an old deck and I learned to recognise the time-worn notches and scrapes! I'd make out like a bandit so much that he made me open my first bank account to save my winnings in. Heh heh heh. Plus he had a 'tell' when he was losing! ....There's a chance my mum might have been right to worry!

My Grandpa had very painful knees - partly due to arthritis but also something to do with his time away in the war, which he rarely spoke about. When he went on his morning shopping runs he found it more comfortable to wear his house slippers, much to my Grandmother's constant horror! To make it worse, they were lined with his own cardboard insoles, cut from old cereal boxes and he held the slippers secure with enormous elastic bands (I think I inherited my fashion sense from him!) One day when he returned from his shopping trip he was unusually grumpy, complaining that his left slipper felt lumpy. Upon removing said sorry foot garment, it became apparent that the offending lump was - or at least had been - an unsuspecting mouse that had evidently found a place to snooze overnight and been too startled by the appearance of an enormous foot to escape. The poor creature was welded to the underside of my Grandpa's sock, its soul resting in the mousey afterlife! He kept the sock.

On a not-too-dissimilar note, my Grandad had a full and glorious set of dentures - had them since he was quite young. It was the done thing then to have all of one's teeth removed and replaced by glistening 'falsies'....thankfully THAT has not continued! It didn't help that he had eaten sweets for years to assuage the cravings when he gave up smoking...made the job easier for the dentist (I'm picturing the one from The Little Shop Of Horrors as portrayed by the awesome Steve Martin!) He HATED wearing them and evenually, when he was really quite old, he stopped altogether whereupon - with some concerted  effort from himself - they disappeared. When mum and I were clearing the empty house after my Grandparents died we found the teeth in the drawer of Grandpa's bedside cabinet and oh we did laugh! Why? Because the last time they'd been seen, it had been when I had heard a strange clattering eminating from the kitchen one day. Upon investigation, I found the family cat in hockey goal-keeper mode, skidding the offending teeth like a hockey puck across the tiled floor and bouncing them off the skirting boards - and having a grand old time in the process! Genuinely one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life...truly!

My Grandad was my hero. He was the best of men and there's not another who'd measure up. I miss him every day - but somehow the crazy memories of squished foot-mice and cat-powered denture-pucks keep the sadness at bay so that I am free to remember the awesomeness that was my lovely Grandpa.

That's all for today. Anyone tried memory journaling yet? You don't have to draw them - unless you find that easier. These memories are the ones that make things real, personal and unique. Hope you give it a go and have some fun - maybe get the rest of your family involved as well. Sending out some soggy summer hugs to you from me and The Colonel and his team of rescue rodents! See you soon - Shroo :) xxx

Greetings From The Colonel!

Hello Lovely!

It's just coming to the close of a surprisingly busy Sunday, working on a commission and losing track of time AGAIN! So just a quick hello from me and a VERY sleepy Colonel, who's had a LOT of sun soaking today and is a sleepy boy. Here's a picture of him fast aleep -

...and here's his fluffy self just BRIMMING with energy -

BOOM! BAZINGA!

I actually took these pics the other day but he looks just the same today! And yesterday....and the day before! And more fluff than is surely normal for any single creature...if I brush him I'd get a whole extra cat!

Anyway - we send you love and hugs from both of us, and some kitty drool from Colonel Snore-Face! xxxxx

Art Cards In My Etsy Shop

Back again!

Well....three hours sleep is better than nothin'! Would have been longer had the Colonel not landed on me like a furry sack of wet cement and woken me right up! Not to worry. I don't recall EVER having a regular sleep pattern so I'm used to this and a couple of snuggly hours in soft blankies with a hot water bottle is very refreshing! Things only get dodgy after a five+ day run without sleep - that's when the world goes a bit 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' as my mind makes up a toon world that'd make Walt Disney weep bitter tears of envy into his cryogenic chamber! Can't complain - there are flying blue toon bunnies. Aaaaawesome!

So, against the odds I have managed STUFF today....nooooooo, no vacuuming still.... I'm writing that off for the week with all hopes for next Monday, but let's not hold our breath there! I've picked up the big bits. That'll do fer now!

I HAVE, however, listed my new Etsy stock - a range of little art cards/tiles (each slightly larger than an ATC or ACEO). I had such fun making them and I'm quite pleased with the colourful results. Best part is that they don't cost a kidney to ship! WOO! So, without further ado, here they are -

I'm quite nervous - I've not listed these little things before so I am going to keep fingers crossed and hope that people like them enough to buy them. Wish me luck!

My next project will be to make some more journals - all the elements are ready so I have no excuse!

I still like Etsy... I have sold on Ebay for years as part of my old job and they're a nightmare. Etsy, by comparison, are far more reliable - and a hell of a lot cheaper! There are some incredible shops on there and some GORGEOUS unique works of art. I thought I'd just take the opportunity to share just few favourites - click the picks to visit some splendid arty Etsy shops. These belong to some lovely fellow bloggers:

Patti Vanderbloemen's Shop

Karin's Shop - GinkgoetCoquelicot

Isobel's Shop - Threadnoodle

Kathy's Shop - KathyinozarksFibers

Jill's Shop - Kiln Fired Art

Niina's Shop - Fairychamber Fantasy Art & Illustrations

Just a taster of what's available!

Ok - that's me for today. The Colonel's fixing me with his gimlet stare - I suspect that it's cuddle time, which means that he'll plonk his furry bum and prickly claws on my knee again....wonder how long it'll be before my legs lose all sensation! Kitties....what can ya do eh? Thank you for stopping by again! Sending hugs from me and gravelly purrs from The Colonel - see you soon! Shroo :) xxx

Into The Light - Arty Stepping-Stones

Hello !

*waves from behind the sofa*

I'm feeling fragile. I've had a selection of random head glitches sparked by some rubbishy life events and have disappeared into a hole again, but this is me poking my twitchy head out into the light and just reaffirming that I'm NOT gonna get smacked in the face with a shovel! 

Are we all ok? I hope you've had an EPIC couple of weeks because you know you deserve the best of all shiny splendidness, like magic calorie-burning cupcakes, and great hair days, and a visit from tap-dancing, glittered cats, or Hugh Jackman .......(gimme a minute................ok -) yeah - all kinds of awesome! Spring seems to be edging its way through the biting frost-coated winter drapes that have blanketed the world for what seems like an eternity....little delicate flowers appearing, strong and fragile at the same time. That's kinda how I feel - who knew I'd be a snowdrop?!

Yet again, planning ahead hasn't quite gone as smoothly as...well...planned, but I'm going to try and let myself off the hook - I figure that the world won't stop spinning if I don't follow my post schedule....nothing's likely to combust or explode...there appears to be no zombie apocalypse (awwwww......dammit) so I'm just going to pick up and ...I feel that there should be some sport-esque bijou analogy-ette here, but I'm allergic to sport in all its evil forms so .....bazinga! Without further ado....

I've had a LOT of journal time....a LOT..... It's the kind of journaling that I reserve for the 'special' books - the ones on the (cue spooky music) daaarrrk shelves..... Here's my journaling tip for anyone who experiences grotty dark patches and breaks in reality..... keep a selection of journals JUST for these times. Experience has taught me that if I inflict negativity on my regular daily journals/art journals that they become somewhat oppressive to me and in turn that affects my mood when I return once the darkness has passed. I have everyday books for everyday thoughts and emotions, sad books for sad days and angry books for angry rants and crazy painting. And I find that it's ok. I ALLOW myself to be angry or sad; I don't deny it. It needs to escape and get itself the hell away from me so that I can be happy again. Keeping these journals separate and specific helps me to clarify my feelings and find that release. They're no longer a bad reminder or oppressive judge, rather they're a support network of familiar and safe book friends that listen and forgive. I don't feel compelled to destroy them, rather I feel more secure knowing that they're there when I need them. I keep them apart from the rest - they don't mind, they're understanding that way and I can ignore them until I need them again.

I can't share - or rather I choose not to share these [dark] journal entries and art this time around. Everything's still a bit raw and also it's a bit grim and let's face it, none of us need more grim.......instead, just keep thinking 'Hugh Jackman, Hugh Jackman'...... (gimme another minute....... *sigh*)

This time around I found that I needed quick arty fixes to help me stepping-stone my brain back into the light.  These I CAN share with you 'cos they're WAY less freaky...

I grabbed a couple of old sketchbooks and just played....drew things that made me happy - my go-to subjects: mermaids, kitties, fairies, flowers, seaside-related stuff... I found it hard to begin with, but I followed my own 'muse taming' techniques and coaxed that pesky musey minx into some happy arty activity, reluctant though she was at first. I find that these techniques help me loosen up, reduce that pressure to perform.

Silly scribbles and cartoons, doodles and zentangles - do these things as often as you can...when you're talking on the phone, watching tv, waiting for dinner to cook, waiting for the bus or the train - whenever the opportunity presents itself. These little arty moments provide an excellent exercise for that lazy-ass muse and they poke our brains with a stick so that we LEARN AND DEVELOP skills and techniques, teach our hands to move just right.

 Catching up a little further - the sad loss of Leonard Nimoy (I'm a massive fan) prompted some journal doodles, which echoes what I said about using special days and moments as an incentive and guide for a journal entry - they're markers in time and something that I'm always glad of recording when I look back at past journals and sketchbooks:

I honestly don't care whether these are accurate or perfect... these are my personal journal pages - they don't HAVE to be perfect. LESS pressure - there's so much stress in life, our journals and our art are supposed to be a positive light in our lives. We don't HAVE to be the same as someone else....we don't HAVE to be 'on trend'... we don't HAVE to follow the competitive fashions and fads.....we can just be happy and creative.

 Art is truly in the eye of the beholder so when you look at your work, know that it is a reflection of something unique and beautiful within you. And the more you doodle and scribble and play, the stronger you will become with techniques and skills and tricks of the trade. A line on a page doesn't exist 'til you draw it. What you draw and paint is born because you WANT to make a mark on the world - and what could be more beautiful? Love what you create. Nurture it. Be a proud parent to your art and in return it will reflect the coloured facets of your soul like a mirror ball - (and don't we all need a little disco beat to groove to?)

I'm feeling better for having completed this post. Thank you for putting up with my rambling AGAIN!  I'm so late with my planned posts now that catching up is the blogging equivalent of jogging through treacle, so I'm going to re-think and re-jig the stacked up backlog and move on with less of that pressure. I annoy the crap outta myself when I realise that I'm adding my own stress....it's just stoopid! I'll see you soon and in the meantime - be friends with your art, and hug your books and journals and arty supplies and be kind to yourself. 

Big smooshy cuddles from Shroo :) xxx

Taming Your Troublesome Muse!

Hello again!

Are you well? I hope so. If you're having a great day then THANK YOU for sharing your sunshine! If you're having a poopy day - here have some sunshine to brighten it up -

Today's post is a fun little exercise to help free up your arty doodle muse. How often do we sit down with every artistic fibre of our souls straining at the leash, ready to burst forth with creativity and awesomeness, AND

....... meh.....

Nothing......

Our muse is off at the shops or snoring in a corner. It's SO frustrating, and it only takes a couple of times for that annoying little voice that lurks in the dark parts of our brains to pipe up and tell us that we CAN'T do this, we CAN'T make art....we should give up.

Well. That's NONSENSE!....a load of rot!  Lazy muse just needs to be woken up so that she can pay attention! In time, you'll develop your own muse-nudgey methods, but for now here's a fun little exercise that might just help!

This exercise is to help you put marks on paper quickly- NOT to produce universe-altering art! Judgement free fun! You'll need some scrap paper, a pen or pencil, and some colours - either pens, pencils or crayons would be ideal.

You're going to make eight little drawings, each one taking no more than one minute. Yep - ONE minute! I promise - this is easy.  The pictures will all be variations on a single theme, which is easier to show than ramble on about, so without further ado....

Choose something simple - you'll need to think of eight different images! Start with something basic - SHAPES.You're going to draw eight different shapes and colour them and each one will take you less than one minute! So - pens and pencils at the ready.......GO!

HA HAAAAAH!!!! Scribbly fun! That was easy, huh? TOLD ya! You can do this as often as you want or need to. How's about upping the ante a bit? Something a little less basic - stretch the thinky muse! How about......emoticons! Circles with faces on them....different expressions.....GO!

I'm not stressing AT all - no worry about colouring in neatly! Scribbly scribbly. But lookee - that's sixteen drawings in the blink of an eye! And you thought you'd stare at a blank page for HOURS! Holy moley, you're AWESOME!  What else can you do? If you need more exercise, choose another thing to draw....not too complicated......err......LEAVES! there are thousands of variations! Ok....think about a few plants or trees in your garden.......got it?  ok.......GO!

BAZINGA! You aced it! Another eight drawings! That's .....err.....twenty-four pictures in almost no time at all - you're on FIRE baby!

If you do this regularly, it'll feel like a game, and you'll be able to challenge yourself more and just enjoy the silly fun of it. Here are four further doodle topics I chose to stretch my (VERY useless) brain a bit -

- flowers, buildings/homes, woodland creatures and cats. Same time restrictions apply -

THAT was fun! I have a stack of weird, scruffy doodles and my muse is wide awake and ready to kick some arty arse!

This is a great exercise any day, any time. If you're with a friend you can do this together - see what nutty stuff you both come up with! (can be quite questionable if you've both had a glass of wine! I am not responsible for your dodgy-doodle-related trauma!!) You can do this with your kids - make it a race. I like to cut eight pieces of paper (just roughly the same size), stack them in a pile and turn each one upside down as I finish it so I don't waste time staring at the ones I've finished. Plus each time I doodle it's a new little blank page - no fear of them for me now, my friends, OH no!

What to do with all your doodles? Well, that's up to you. You can throw them away - OR you can incorporate them into your artwork or journaling and make that muse work a little harder for you. Here's a page spread I created with three cut-out doodles -

Step one: Choose a book of booky bookness, liiiiiike so -

Step two: Cut out the doodles you want to use and riffle through your bits and pieces of arty crafty supplies until you have a bundle of inspiration lying in front of you (forget tidy - this is about fun!)

Step three: a background. I scraped a little white acrylic paint onto the page, then tore up some pretty paper pieces to fit onto the four corners, plus a bit extra because it looked cool... Then sticky sticky sticky with your sticky stuff of choice (not jam....jam is not good for this....make toast for your jam):

Oooooh! It left a white spot. Looks like a cloud.... I'm taking that and running with it....

Step four of fourness: Sploosh on a little sexy colour. Go ooooooon....  I used my trusty Gelatos and Inktense pencils and added a bit of a border and some life to the whole thing. Go on - get mucky!

Smooshy smooshy! Be messy - be creative! Paint with your fingers! Let your cat paint for you! No....that's probably not a good plan.....wet painty paws and angry claws.....Paint with your fingers! Aaaah.....you rebel you!

Step the fifth: I cut out text from some magazine clippings I've obsessively hoarded (as you do). You don't have to....you can always write!

The sexy sixth step! - This is where you get to add your awesome doodles! TA-DAAAAH!

The final lucky seventh step! (you take AS MANY as you jolly well like!): Add faffy fun doodles to bring the page together. Add some colour to the border if you need it, then do a happy dance!

Now stand back and and admire your work! You....are.....EPIC! Hug your muse, that way she'll come back quicker and pay attention in the future... Now party like you've earned it!

This is a good day and you're a legend! I'm off to boil a kettle ....and make toast! I'll see you soon with more journaling exercises and some notes on my favourite art supplies. NOW GO AND LET THE WORLD WITNESS YOUR AWESOMENESS!!!!

Love and hugs from Shroo :) xxx

 

Me and my mum - my inspiration!