Freyja WIP

Gosh...I'm Posty McPosty today aren't I? LOL
It's getting colder again in the UK & we're supposed to have temperatures of up to minus 6 (in the windchill) Monday/Tuesday. Even in Helston we have been forecast snow...which rarely happens!
So I am tucked away in my studio...heater on, with a packet of biscuits, a cup of Chai Tea, my dog snoring in her bed (snout firmly tucked underneath her bedding) & 'The Box Of Delights' playing on the laptop.
This is where I'm at right now...

The top picture is the closest to capturing the real life colours of this background. It's more blue than purple!

I am currently working on layering the colours for her hair & skin tones. I'm so glad I have some super tiny brushes...lol...I'm a stickler for detail & thin lines!

I'm in my 1st treasury of the year

My painting of Kuan Yin's Garden was featured in this pink & purple inspired Etsy Treasury. Click the picture to view larger :) Or click here to view the painting in my Etsy store!

Then go visit Ellen's gorgeous Etsy store :)

Blog of the week...

I'm a little late with my weekly blog pimp, however, it's here at last :)

Today I'm giving a shout out to Karen Davis - 'Moonlight and Hares'!

She creates such amazing artwork & crafts, full of colour & dreamlike imagination, & her Playlist is pretty great too! :)

Thanks Karen for letting me use your pics here! xxx

BTW... THANK YOU to everyone who has already commented on my previous 'Bookmark giveaway' post, I am grateful for you taking the time to reply with your lists!

However it's not too late if you haven't done it already... just check out my previous post & go tell me your favourite bookmarks from my website & why you like them!

Couldn't be easier! *winks*

Bookmarks & a giveaway!

Been a busy bee today...re-designing the backs of my bookmarks so they look a bit more beautiful (they now have a little version of the painting, & a title, along with some arty borders)!
My Husband & I have been looking into having them professionally printed so that I just have to add my finishing touches with the ribbon & charms, & from there I shall be happy to try & get them into more shops (they currently sell like hotcakes in my Husband's shop in town...I can hardly keep him stocked up!).

So, I was wondering... what is it about my bookmarks that YOU like? (Tell me!!)
Is there anything you don't like?
And finally, if you would like to win a bookmark of your choice with matching keyring, I'd be very grateful if you could visit my website (link below) & write out your top 10 in order of preference.

I shall do a prize draw as soon as I have enough results to satisfy my curiosity...or failing that, in a week or so! lol
Bookmarks = http://www.juliaguthrie.co.uk/bookmarks.htm
(You can see closer versions of some of them here... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6434036&section_id=5756503)

*If you do not specify a bookmark of choice, I shall choose the number 1 on your list, if you are the winner! :)
Thanks everyone...your help is much appreciated!

The video that wouldn't post

Not terribly exciting on it's own but here it is...hopefully! lol
I will maybe do another one while painting...we'll see. Hopefully I'll get to have an arty evening as my Husband is out for a 'staff get-together' at the local Indian restaurant tonight.
Should be a nice peaceful evening...just me & the dog! :)

Just another art studio

So Kathleen & Jennifer have done it... now me. Not that you don't already see enough of my work space but oh well! *grins*

*Small but perfectly formed studio...minus the dog bed today*

*A 'recently tidied' desk...haha*

*Storage central... boxes up top contain charms & bookmark making supplies. Most of my stuff is stacked under the desk...& no, I won't show you! lol*

*Filling in details on 'Freyja'...the latest ancient Goddess to inspire me. Actually I've wanted to paint her for a while but the right idea hadn't come to me. Finally..I think I know how it's going to go! Imagine a starry night sky, a Goddess of magic with swirling lights & maybe fire...and her Falcon totem, all riding on a magical Viking ship*

You saw the other corner of my room, with my books & 'pretty things' in a previous post so won't post the same photos again :)

However, I just made a little video of me doing some sketching *as above* so if you are so inclined to watch, please feel free to click the play button :) The music I'm listening to is the Playlist on my blog page. A gorgeous mix of ethereal & classical stuff...with some 'All along the watchtower' thrown in for a bit of a rock moment :) hehe...

***Video embed is giving me grief...will try again tomorrow :)****

Oh & I must give a mention to Fran... she very kindly featured me in her blog recently so please go & visit & say hi! :) http://francaldwell.blogspot.com/
Thanks Fran! xxx

Blog pimp

Over the last few months I have discovered so many wonderful blogs, & made so many lovely new friends, that I feel it's time to start doing a regular blog pimp!!:)

It's been difficult to choose the first one, but I'm going to go with...

Danielle Barlow's 'Notes From the rookery'.

Danielle is an artist, based in the South West of England, & paints stunning watercolours of horses, fantasy scenes, crows, etc.
She has an Etsy shop here
And an Ebay shop here
It's a gorgeous blog full of lovely pictures, photos & chatter, so do check her out & say hello! :)

Thanks Danielle for being my blog pimp guinea pig, & for making my blog look pretty with your artwork!...hehehe!

Book tag - 7 random book facts

Tagged by the lovely Barbara at http://moonbindery.blogspot.com/
(Thanks Barbara, it was fun! :) )

The rules are:
Link to the the tagger, list 7 random book facts about yourself, and tag 7 more friends...so here we go:

1. When I get a new book (especially for xmas or birthday) I like to spend the first day just admiring it's 'newness'. Yes I like to pick it up....sniff it...read & examine the cover...all before I'm ready to actually start reading. Haha...

2. I don't mind spines being creased...eeeek! However, I don't like the covers getting creased or damaged though!

3. I cried throughout the 2nd half of 'Fool's Fate' by Robin Hobb. I stayed in bed for one whole Sunday to finish it!

4. My favourite books are my prized possessions... I might let you touch them, but I wouldn't lend them out!

5. My all time favourite book is 'The Dark Is Rising Sequence' by Susan Cooper (yes I've posted a pic before :)) I bought it when I was 11 yrs old. It took me a year to read it the first time.. & I re-read it roughly every 2 years. It's fallen to bits but I can't buy a new copy...no no....

6. As a teenager I was well known for my book-aholism. I would return from the library with a stack of books, shut my bedroom door, sit or lie on the floor with my legs up on my bed to examine them..& inevitably get rather engrossed in one....& end up staying there to read it. And I mean until it was finished! lol

7. I also have a notebook addiction... I see a pretty notebook or journal & I WANT it!! LOL My Hubby buys them for me...usually with Monkeys on the front! hehe...
Last year I finally taught myself to make them... I was very excited when I had my first stack of stitched pages ready! :)

I tag anyone who is obsessed enough with books to do this...hehe... let me know if you do it & I'll give your blog a pimp here! :)
xxx

A Friday full of art

Wow...don't you just hate being without internet for a couple of days?? After about 8 hours I start to feel really cut off from the world & imagine that all sorts of exciting things have been happening without me! LOL! At least I am back online now...& thats all that matters! :)

Good things did happen yesterday however, ...my Portrait of Nimh arrived in the post from Kristina Layton! ( http://crowhillalmanac.blogspot.com/ )

You may recall from earlier posts here, that we did a swap...she painted Nimh while I painted her furry kid, Gretel!

Well, I'd seen her painting online of course, but it's so amazing 'in the flesh'!!! Even my Husband grabbed it up for a few 'wow's...I thought he was going to make off with it at one point..LOL

So here it is... for real!

She also included some very thoughtful little extras... a handmade wooden fridge magnet (which is so gorgeous!) & a little piece of Colorado itself...some petrified wood from the area she lives in! It's happily at home now on my studio shelf alongside the driftwood, stones, crystals & shells I have gathered.

So later in the day I recieved another knock at the door... it's the Postie with more art for me...a print that I bought from a wonderful friend, Toni. It's a painting called 'Patience' & I've always loved it! ( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6187951 )

Here is 'Patience' all framed & hung in my art studio. It was extremely lucky as I had moved some pictures around a couple of days ago & had this frame sort of spare...& the print was exactly the right size!! Now to get a beautiful antique frame for my portrait of Nimh :) I am so lucky to be friends with so many talented artists!

Folksy... for the UK shoppers!

Well, I thought I'd give it a go... I set up a shop on 'Folksy'. It's a 'handmade' crafts shopping website much the same as Etsy (which is US based), however at Folksy I have the option to sell in UK Pounds (GBP) rather than in US Dollars & having the hassle of currency conversions.

*Click the picture to visit my new store*

I don't have much up for sale just yet, but give me a chance! *grins*
If you see anything on Etsy that you'd prefer to buy on Folksy because you're in the UK, just give me a shout & I'll get it listed!

*Currently it's for UK users only...however I believe they are going International sometime in Feb.

I thought this was worth posting

"When you try to justify where you are by pointing out how bad things are, you are headed in the wrong direction. Reach for the thought that feels better, And allow the natural Well-Being that is yours."

~Abraham Hicks~
Excerpted from a workshop in Detroit, MI on Saturday, September 27th, 2003

First finished art of the new yr!

New year... new regime...
Started a mixture of Denise Linn's 28 day 'Soul Coaching' course (I've done it 3 yrs running now) & all the other things I use regularly like Louise Hay affirmations & Marie Manucherhi's energy work. I posted about her cd's last year...here!
Here...as proof, is the fresh juice I made for breakfast (apples, celery, carrot & ginger) & Denise Linn on Hay House Radio! :)
My desk on Saturday...

'Peacock Butterfly' ACEO in progress...

This is for my secret project I'm working on, but I will probably make some very limited edition prints. If anyone is interested feel free to let me know in advance. :)

Thank you

Wanted to say a 'slightly belated' thank you to the lovely Kathleen Coy for mentioning my artwork here http://kathleen-coy.blogspot.com/2008/12/handmade-dog-collars-and-other-goodies.html , in her blog 'Life Earth Sky'!

She is a fellow artist who specialises in animal portraits, & her work is stunning...not to be missed, so please go check out her Etsy store too! :)

And while I'm on the subject of Etsy, I bought some gorgeous earrings & a trinket bag from 'Boo's Jewellery' based here in the UK

Copper hearts with Garnet stones. They are light as a feather & an absolute joy to wear! The trinket bag was quickly parcled up & sent to a friend for xmas...it made the most perfect 'Medicine bag'!

Ok, I should get back to my painting now... I am in the middle of a Peacock butterfly ACEO, while 'The Bridge to Terabithia' plays on you youtube *grins*