Sharing the Smiles xxx

Hello Sunshine!

I hope your day's been a good one? We've had weird weather here today - everything from hailstones and gusty winds, to cracking sunshine and almost summer heat! It's like the Earth is playing 'weather roulette' and having a whale of a time while she's at it!

Soooooo..I've managed to get Gertie (my little scanner) to follow the scanning instructions, but she's a tad on the over enthusiastic side....I think she's making up for her few temperamental days, and who can blame her?! I have, regardless, scanned in the lovely cards that my mum made for me when I was a little girl,rediscovered the other day while clearing her house. The scans are a bit over-bleached out so the actual cards look a LOT nicer and brighter in real life, but this is the best I can manage for now. Mum worked a long time as a commercial artist and had a lot of work published in newspapers and magazines, but would never ever send her wonderful little people off to a publisher -  she only made them for family and friends. So I'm sharing them with you - my blogging family and friends. I hope you like them.

That's little cartoon me in the piccies! I'm so incredibly glad that I found these. For the moment they're safe in a portfolio, but at some point I may go ahead and frame them so that I can see them every day, smiling at me!

Anyhoo - that's my offering for today! May tomorrow bring you sunshine and sparkles - love and hugs from Shroo :) xxx

To Heal My Heart

Today has been a tough day.

Today, my mum died. She has fought valiantly against cancer, staying strong and positive but infection wore her down and she was  released from her battle this afternoon just as the sun broke through the rain clouds that have dominated the week's weather. A group of butterflies took flight from the ground outside her window, and she was free.  

She was an artist, a dancer, a pure kind spirit and constant inspiration to all who knew her, including myself. I know she'll live in my heart every day, just as I lived in hers and I will feel her willpower and love with me always. 

I wanted to share this with you as I've been away from here, caring for her and loving her for some time now. She loved to read this blog while she was able and I wrote most posts with her in mind. I wanted her to know how much I value everything she taught me, and the gifts that I inherited from her. She was my guide through the darkness and my companion in the light and although I feel incomplete without her by my side, I take strength from knowing that all that she was is still with me now and always, in her words and deeds and in her beautiful art. 

She has danced into a glorious colourful meadow of summer flowers, accompanied by the sound of lark song and the love I sent with her. 

Love you mum. Dance and be happy. xxxxxx

New Year Catch-Up & Mum's Stuff & A Foxy Journal!

Well!

We're a few days into 2014...almost time for those Christmas decorations to be boxed away for another year. Did you add any decorations to your collection this Christmas? As previously blogged, the decorations that mum and I have tend to find a way to stay out on display SOMEWHERE! And surely festive fairy lights are an all-year-round bright and cheerful addition to ANY room?!

I'm in the process of making some new journals - some for my newly re-opened Etsy shop, and one for me. I've not filled LAST year's monster of a journal yet, but that's not a bother really, as I will be finding bits and pieces round the house for a while that still need to be added ... I'll keep you updated with the journals as they're completed.

I did make a lovely one (one of my favourites ever, actually) for my awesome friend. I included pages from favourite story books, bright and colourful to encourage him to experiment with the awesome artistic ability that I KNOW he has. Can you tell that I know he's reading this post? Ha. I made the book using coptic stitch, with sturdy covers, with a good selection of papers. I hope he's inspired - everything he's made so far is bloomin' awesome!  I didn't have a lot of time to take photos before I posted the finished item, but I took a couple to give you an idea:

 

The book is roughly A5 size and really quite chunky. The fox was sketched out and painted with neocolor II pastels then cut out and pasted down with tacky glue. I added some shading and detail, as well as the star, and then gave it several layers of lacquer, allowing each one to dry before adding the next.

The fastening is made with two sturdy waxed cotton bows (or knots - whatever's preferable), finsished with hand-painted porcelain fox beads. We both love foxes - all animals really - so I enjoyed hunting down these little treasures to add that perfect touch. NOW ALL HE HAS TO DO IS USE IT!!!! *grins*

For new year, mum and I exchanged pictures - we're both going to run out of wall space VERY soon at this rate! I wanted you to see the GORGEOUS piccies that she gave me... here's the first one:

AWWW!!!! How lovely is that?! I see some similarities between mum's art and mine - things that I've picked up subconsciously over the years. The spirals, for example. I LOVE adding spirals to my work - lots of swirly lines, and I think I've developed that from loving the way mum decorates her art. I also VERY much like making lollipop flowers and looking at this I am struck by a couple of journal pages I did a couple of years (ish) ago -

See? I think it's funny and cool that things like this sink into the brain all by themselves.  I like that my art has part of my mum's influence and arty gifts wrapped up in it.

The second AWESOME piece that she made for me is a gift from my three cats - two of whom are chasing angel mice and stealing heavenly bacon in the afterlife now.

This is my mantra - the Green Lantern creed. Did I mention I have no life?! Ha. It reads:

"In brightest day, in blackest night

No evil shall escape my sight;

Let those who worship evil's might

Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"

Well....it means something to me anyway!! If I ever get a tattoo it'll be the Lantern Creed, spiraled round Hal Jordan's (favourite Lantern... shush....) lantern logo. Shush again!  It meant so much to me that mum went out and found this and made it into this awesome art for me. I'll ba hammering more nails into the wall this week. Not sure, but it's just possible that my home is held up solely by picture nails!

The piccy I painted for mum is in lieu of the Christmas/New Year/next bloody millennium gift that I STILL haven't finished, due to artistic brain-freeze. ***Pthlll**(*blows raspberry*):

 

 This is little Daisy Shroo, wishing on her star. Sorry it's a bit blurry - the scanner appears to be angry at me! Mum's very fond of Daisy.

SO that's today's bundle of catch-up! Hope you've enjoyed it. Is there anything you'd like me to talk about or show you in my blog (keep it clean!!!) ? If so, just leave me a comment and I'll do my best to accommodate. I'll be back soon with the first instalment of the '12 Books Of Christmas', the anthology I put together for mum for the big festive day. Sneak peek -

Sending out love and hugs to everyone in blogland  - Shroo :) xxx

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***Additional: After loooooooong hard thought, I've decided to add this post to the Inspiration Avenue challenge to show work that expresses joy through art. Specifically, I want to enter my mum's 'hug' picture - it's so beautiful to me, and as I've said in the post, I see now how much her joyous style has influenced me, for which I am unutterably grateful. Head on over to INSPIRATION AVENUE and have a look at some of the beautiful work exhibited on the blogs that are linked there. ***

Christmas Treats :- All Seasons Hand-Painted Treasure Box

Fa-la-la-la-laaaaaaa! Yep - still festive here!

How's that turkey lookin'? A little sparse I bet! Well, I'm here to distract you with more by way of Christmas catch-up! I promised in my last post that there'd be more of that LOVELY treasure chest that my mum made for me, because she is the Empress of all Awesomeness and she's sooooo talented. You liked her lovely Yule dancer so much that I thought you'd enjoy sharing this latest wondrous piece of gorgeousness with me too.

So picture Christmas morning... mum and I still in our snuggly jammies wrapped up in brand new fluffy blankies (courtesy of my lovely neighbours - who are epic) while my kitty tried to play with ALL his new dollies at the same time, high as he was on copious amounts of nip...  There's always a build-up of excitement as mum and I always leave the pressies we've made for each other 'til the very end - a grand finale! This year, my last parcel was a big cube. Hmmm....what could it be? I opened it and -

 I so love this! Christmas fairies! She says it's a treasure box for all seasons.  It has pride of place on the shelves in my bedroom. I love it so much! I'm not sure of all the things she used to make her beautiful illustrations - I know she'll have used her Derwent Inktense pencils and a selection of acrylics and gouache paints as well as twinkly glitter... I'll ask her and add any details in a paragraph at the end of this post asap.

Hope you enjoyed that - I'll be back again tomorrow with another festive update about hand-painted wrapping paper and pom-poms!  See you soon, bug hugs from Shroo :) xxx

It's A Very Merry Christmas!!

HELLO LOVELY!

I'm so sorry to have been away - SOOOOOOO busy!! You know how it is at this time of year... I hope you're all well and not TOO frazzled with all the rushing about. Just three full days to finish those gifts before Christmas...... No pressure......

AAAAARRRRRGGGHHH!!! Can I have another week please, Universe?

SO - I'm taking this last opportunity to write a festive Cristmas blog post for you with a bit of artwork you've not seen, just so I don't feel uber guilty! First of all, yesterday I quietly celebrated Yule, which was lovely. I opened all the windows and doors - which was chilly! - and lit candles and mum brought a Yule logs decorated with yew, holly, ivy and mistletoe and lovely ribbons.  We do give Yule gifts - and we try and make them if we can. I made mum some jewellery which was based on the gorgeous white berry trees we saw on our day out a couple of weeks ago. I forgot to take pictures for you - I am a moron....  My mum painted me an AWESOME picture - a Yule dancing lady!

 Isn't she beautiful? I love my mum's unique and gorgeous art. She's been drawing and painting for me pretty much since the day I was born! I don't think there's been a Christmas, birthday, Easter or ANY celebration that's not been accompanied by something she's either painted or made for me! She's AWESOME - thank you, mum! I love you SQUILLIONS!! xxxx

I STILL can't show you any of my stuff at the moment, but here are a couple of piccies from last year's projects that I hope you'll like.

A 'Merry Christmas!' robin! ....and his reindeer buddy -

I'll have to get back into doing more of these in the new year... I promised myself I'd have a new portfolio by April.... ahahaha...... don't hold your breath!

Anyway - hope you like these. I'll link up to the 'Inspiration Avenue' website and their Christmas challenge. They're FABULOUS people and there's such a wealth of talent on display there.

I'd like to wish you ALL a WONDERFUL time, whatever festival you celebrate. I wish you happiness and joy for you and your families - including pets! May your festive meals cook to perfection, may your gifts be loved and may there be no arguments, hangovers or breakages! A great big hug goes out to all of you. I'll be back after Christmas with a project catch-up and festive piccies too, no doubt!  Have fun! Fa-la-la-la-laaaaa!!!   Shroo :) xxx

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A Visit from St. Nicholas

By Clement Clarke Moore

 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blixen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

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