My dog has a blog!

Yes...Madam furry trousers has her own blog now. As if her ego needs any more stroking! lol

Please go visit her & follow her ramblings...or she will end up a 'madam grumpy trousers' instead!:)

http://secretsofnimh.blogspot.com/

In other news...I have been reaping the rewards of my gardening this year. Not bad for a beginner!! Lots of fresh salads...

Mixed lettuce, rocket, radishes, chives...& soon to include courgette & tomatoes! (The courgettes are looking fantastic!). I shall be expanding my veg patch considerably next year..I want to try some fruit aswell.

Well, the rain & thunder have ceased...but I shall try to make the most of the sun's hiatus by getting my new website design finished *hopefully*. It's been so hard to make myself work indoors lately...I love the weather we've been having this summer!:)

Special customer offer!

As a thank you to all my previous customers, between now & 1st Sept, I am offering a 'Buy 1, get the 2nd item half price' deal.
PLUS, if you use the offer *quoting the voucher code* you will also be entered into a prize draw to win a special thank you package from me.

The voucher will be going out to all customers who make a purchase this month, with their own individual number to quote.

If you have already purchased something from me you can use the code on the voucher printed below...

I WILL be checking my records to make sure you are a previous customer, so please let me know if you are now using a different name or address.

So...what's this special thank you package then? Well I haven't quite nailed down the details just yet, but it will include a print, a bookmark, an ORIGINAL ACEO painting & perhaps a few other bits & bobs. Well worth winning! :)

So...if you are not yet a customer of mine, you can remedy that very easily, & it won't cost you the earth! Bookmarks, Prints & Greetings cards are all available from these online shops...

http://eastofthesunart.misi.co.uk (Prints, originals, gifts)

http://thefoldedcorner.misi.co.uk (Bookmarks & greetings cards)

http://eastofthesunart.etsy.com (Prints, orignals, gifts)

*When using the voucher, please purchase & pay as normal, & I will refund you the offer value.

*If you prefer, you may email me your order & I will send you an invoice to pay for the correct amount.

*If you wish to purchase something that you do not see in my shops, please feel free to email me with your request.

Blog awards & tags...

I've had a few in recent months but slap me on the wrist I keep forgetting to come here & post them!! So sorry...
I thought I'd remedy that by blogging about my 2 most recent ones!:)

Thank you very muchly to http://gypsymoondesigns.blogspot.com/ for the Premio Meme award... here is my little contribution below :)
"The rules of this award is that I am to give 7 facts about myself and pass it to 7 people. Here we go!"

1. I love books & will choose books every time over anything else for birthday or Christmas presents! LOL *The new Robin Hobb is just out...in time for my Birthday next month!! WOOHOOO* Excited? Me?:)
2. I dunk my biscuits (cookies) in my tea!
3. My favourite food is cheese...lol..any kind. Some crackers & glass of Port are never turned away either...
4. I love Dragonflies. I paint Dragonflies into pretty much all of my paintings, I have various Dragonfly oranments or windchimes. And when I see one for real (sadly not that often) I just stop...wherever I am...& try to peer as closely as I can at it.
I once found a dragonfly wing (no body) & I took it home as it was so beautiful & delicate it seemed wrong not to!:)
5. My Uncle makes Boxes for a living... if anyone here in the UK watches 'Deal or no deal' (Noel Edmonds game show), you will have seen some of his handiwork. He makes the boxes they use in the show!
6. My Parents are currently holidaying in Italy...& I am quite envious! lol
7. I have been with my Husband for 13 years & married to him for 3 (this December)

OK... & the other 'tagger' was Karen from http://moonlightandhares.blogspot.com/
"The rules :1. Respond and rework ; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention or add one more question of your own.2. Tag eight other people."

*What is your wierdest obsession?
Notebooks... I can't go into a shop that sells notebooks without drooling over them. If there are pretty ones with ethnic style patterns or pretty fabric I have to pick them up & stroke them longingly. I would rescue them all if I could. lol

*What are you wearing today?
Long summery skirt , pink flipflops & my 'freebie' black 'Wolverine' t-shirt that Hubby got sent to promote the computer game release. lol (We own computer game shops btw!)

*What's for dinner?
Curry & chips...at request of my husband! (Darn why didn't I do this yesterday when we had salmon & salad?! lol)

*What would you eat for your last meal?
Crispy beef, chicken chow mein, sweet & sour chicken balls, prawn crackers...nom nom nom

*What's the last thing you bought?
2 packets of Jasmin green tea from Whittards in Truro on Sunday & some new dinner plates (also Whittards)

*What are you listening to right now?
Now the cars have all stopped brrmmmm brrmming in the car park...absolutely nothing! ahhh peace!

*What's your favourite ice-cream flavour?
I don't really like ice-cream, but if pushed I would eat the Lemon meringue pie flavoured cornish clotted cream cone from the ice cream shop on the prom' in Penzance:)

*What do you think of the person who tagged you?
She's lovely, sweet, kind, inspirational person, who paints magic with her brushes & paper!

*If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be ?
On the clifftops of Cornwall please :)

*If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Gosh...how could I choose? Definately somewhere I could go & have tea with at least one of my online friends!:)

*Which language do you want to learn ?
Dog

*What’s your favorite quote (for now) ?
"~It's not about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain~"

*What is your favorite colour ?
At the moment it's deep earthy red

*What is one of your favorite daily/weekly rituals ?
Sunday morning bacon sarnies & basking in the back garden in the sun:)
That or watching Gardener's World on a Friday eve with my dinner..lol

*If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on ?
BOOKS!!!

*Favourite designer ?
Clothes designer? I have no idea...I like 40's style dresses if thats any help! lol

*Do you admire any one’s style ?
I like people who do their own thing & love the way they look

*Describe your personal style ?
Arty

*What are you going to do after this ?
Put the kettle on

*What are your favourite films ?
LOTR trilogy, Labyrinth, The dark crystal, the Narnia films, Tomb raider, The Da Vinci code, Pan's Labyrinth, About a boy, Armageddon, Pirates Of the carribean, Company of wolves etc etc

*What’s your favourite fruit ?
Not so keen on fruit...will eat it in juices or smoothies tho

*What inspires you ?
The sea, the countryside (as long as you can see the sea), period houses & furnishings, other peoples art, fairy tales, books, my dog, my dreams

*What is on the walls in your bedroom ?
Pre-raphaelite prints, sketches of my dog, a large mirror, prints by Stephanie Law & Toni Cogdell, a large patterned throw/rug

*Your favorite book ?
Robin Hobb... couldn't pick one book, but if I had to pick a trilogy it would be 'The Farseer' trilogy.

*Do you collect something ?
Apart from rubbish? lol Pebbles, bits of driftwood, notebooks... yes, I am a notebook addict as you know.

*What is one of your pet peeves ?
Husbands who move things or get things out, then leave them out!

*If you could be an animal , what would you be?
A monkey

*Who is your favourite Artist or Artists?
Waterhouse, Alma Tadema, Rackham, Goble, Stephanie Law, Jackie Morris, John Howe

Shockingly long post I know...I wont do it too often! lol Besides...you know everything about me now!
Tagging everyone who reads all the way to the end! haha... Medals will be provided on the way out... :)

'Summer Goddess'

New art...

'Summer Goddess'
9.5x12.5" Watercolour
'The Summer Goddess represents the Midsummer energies of abundance & growth. The fullness of life is all around us & now is the time to dance & enjoy life. This Goddess shows us how to enjoy a fullfilling life...with rose buds & flowers in her hair, & a glass of wine. She sparkles with life-force energy while Butterflies, bees & hummingbirds come to greet her.
She shares the magic & abundance of her gardens with us.. drink wine, be merry & enjoy your acomplishments she says!

Thank you to Willow of http://willowslantern.com for the inspiring & beautiful photo reference!:)

Nimh Tales

Ello Basset fanz... Mummy 'og duzent know eye iz playin on her puter so "SHhhhhhhhhhh!"

Today was buzy buzy buzy... Mummy & Daddy 'og woz digging & messin wiv fings all day in the garden. It was tiring me out just wotching them!

I had the most importent job of keep wotch for moglets & people wot shouldnt be there of corse....

It got a bit borin tho so eye did go 2 sleep for a bit.... eye ate some nyce cold celery stiks Mum gave me & staired at Mum & Dad wyle they ayte a choklit muffin wiv coffeee.

OH...& I barked & ruffed at next doorz Tortoise Sampson. He woz by the fence but walked off....Eye finks it looks lyke a big meat pie & he knows it...haha.

I did manage to lick his shell through the fence once....

Anywayy, this is how fings look now. Mum has sumfing called a 'Veg Patch'. The fence is to keep me out they say...I dont even lyke tomatoes or leeks or chives... pah! Corgettes sound nyce tho...& they are in the big pot not even behind a fence!! :)

This is anover flower bed that got used for radishes & rocket & lettuce. Lyke a practise go at it. There are poppies growing there for the bees so mum sayz.

I fought I woz gonna be in truble when Dad moved the compost bin out to empty it, as it backs on to my Den under the conifer trees. Eye took fings there when I could steal them out of the bin (before the new one wiv the strange push lid that is too high for me). He found the bacon packet & the yogurt pots & my squeeky toy, & the sprite can that I like to push around coz it makes a good noize! hehehe...

But eye didnt get told off & Dad even took out sum big twigz that used to stik in my bum when I sat down. So itz even better in there now.....

Mum sayz she has more pics to show u 2morrow of our nyce walk we had round Porfleven harbor this evenin. She kept takin piktures of the sea & fings but I wanted to sniff all the bushez & grass. Eye did fynd a WHOLE ginjerbred man biskit on the floor & mum let me eated it all up for a change!! I felt VEWY LUCKY!! :)

Night night, luv Nimly xxxxxxxxx

Beach Treasures

Monday was a bank holiday in the UK so my Husband & I chose to spend the afternoon snoozing behing a rock at the beach, with sandwiches & tea:) It was quite windy & overcast but cozy & warm behind our rock. There was masses of seaweed on the beach which also meant lots of driftwood & pretty things... I painted some of those things yesterday (above).

Now I must get to work... the hardest bit is trying to choose which painting to work on first!:)

An 'East of the sun' Oracle deck

I've had this project plodding along slowly for a year or two now, it was slow because while I had a vague idea, I wasn't really 100% sure what direction it would take. However, lately I've had a new rush of ideas & am now able to formulate a proper plan of action!:) I hope to start moving forward a little quicker now...lol...

So, what's the big project you're asking? (As if the blog title didn't already give it away!) It's an Oracle deck of course!

I had used Tarot many years ago but only started gathering Oracle decks a couple of years ago. And I love how the cards can often give you exactly the insight you are looking for!:)

So, lets skip back a couple of years...I had this really bizarre dream. The kind that just won't go away. The kind that you just 'know' has meaning for you!!

It had begun with a journey, of sorts. I seemed to be in an Asian country, Chinese perhaps. I was moving through a series of large rooms, encountering people & most importantly 'symbols'. Symbols that took the form of statues.

I recieved a new statue in each room & then finally moved on to the last one, where something that at the time, seemed quite frightening happened. But on reflection it was an amazing spiritual experience!

I will save that part of the tale, & the accompanying piece of artwork that I created because of it, entitled 'The Moon', for the next blog entry...

So...after I had this dream I pondered it all day but couldn't figure it out (I do enjoy dream interpretation, & have become quite good at recognising symbolism in dreams now), & later that evening I had a nice relaxing bubble bath (always with candles...baths aren't for washing...they are for relaxing!lol). Now during that time I had found that if I wanted to connect with spirit guides or my own intuition, it was always easier & clearer while in the bath! (Water!)

As I lay there I asked in my mind what it was all about & recieved the answer....it was a representation of my own personal journey, & showing me how far I had come already!

Then I was given a phrase..."The Journey & The Seven Symbols" ! it just popped into my head, & I imediately thought 'wow that would be a good idea for a painting!!' It was then I realised how perfect it could be for an Oracle deck...

I couldn't wait to start sketching ideas, & one of the first I created, was what will be the very 1st card in the journey.

'Leap Of Faith'

"To follow your dreams sometimes takes courage. Taking the first step on a journey is always the hardest, but when you look back you'll know it was the best thing you ever did."
The first in my Oracle Card set. This depicts my own journey, both spiritual & physical. The symbols woven into this painting are symbols from my own life, the Dragonfly came to me early on in my art career & has played a big part in my inspiration. It also symbolises transformation, breaking through limitations & a new dawn!

While this project is a very personal one, & based on my own journey through this phase of my life, I hope that perhaps when it is complete, other people will be able to relate to it aswell. Indeed, 'Leap Of Faith' has already brought someone into my life who quickly turned out to be a kindred spirit & a very close friend.

So, here begins a new 'public' journey with this project, & I hope you will be patient enough to see where it will take us.....

I have pretty ears...

Well I do now... thanks to the lovely Jo of Gem Heaven Jewellery! :)

After a nice morning of posting parcels, then hanging out with my Husband at our shop, drinking cappucino & eating a Caramel doughnut (cream filled & covered in caramel deliciousness *homer drool*)... don't worry, I walked off the calories getting home! lol... I arrived home to a lovely parcel courtesy of Jo.


Much *squeeeing* ensued over pretty sparklies...
Take a closer look at these... 'Ring O Posies'
They have been adorning my ears all day...& tomorrow I shall be wearing the other pair:) And might I say that these earrings look so amazing in real life...the computer screen really doesn't do them justice.
I don't think it will be long before I am hanging around her Etsy shop again...LOL
Thanks Jo, hon, you made my day:)

Find Gem Heaven jewellery here...
http://gemheavenjewellery.com
http://gemheaven.etsy.com
http://jelli.etsy.com

A celebration of Spring

"Listen to the salutation to the dawn,

Look to this day for it is life, the very life of life,
In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of our existence.
The bliss of growth, the splendour of beauty,

For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision,

But today well spent makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well therefore to this day.Such is the salutation to the dawn.

Pics from my garden earlier today...:)

Don't be disillusioned

For this I am totally laying the blame with Nic, of 'Nicsknots'...read her blog here http://wilbertandherma.blogspot.com/
Messy workspaces? You got it...ROFL This feels strangely wrong to post pics of...a bit like I've gone out with my skirt tucked into my knickers?!
Don't worry though, I always have a good tidy up before I start any projects! lol

My storage system... various boxes piled up in the hopes that someone will confuse it for a proper set of shelves or drawers! hehe
Oh & my trusty basket...the pretty piece of pink fabric hides a multitude of goodies (that's a can of fixative spray & my glue gun you can see poking out!) It continues UNDER the table....hehehe
Desk... practise print of Freyja on Watercolour paper, awaiting to be embellished with gold paint & sparkly bits. Some hand painted cards I am thinking of adding to my Misi shop. Camera case. CD flip case. Various music cd's & a rather dodgy 'positive thinking in business' cassette (it was my husbands) that are all shortly to be sold at a car boot sale! lol

Filing cabinet drawer open (well I had to get my camera out ok!), paper cutter, paints, lava lamp & sadly neglected 'Summer Goddess' on the easel.

Ok...now who else dares post pics of their mess? LOL