ROCKING HORSE RE-VAMP!

a while ago we bought this wooden rocking horse for stanley for cheap from a flea market. i liked it, but was never in love with it and always thought it needed something more. it's face always bothered me, especially the naff boggly eyes, like it lacked character or something... well this amazing bit of sunshine inspired me go outside and give it the paint job it deserved!

so in the end we went from this:

to nicely sanded and ready for paint.

i chose these colours from fired earth and

did some design research.

in one afternoon i had achieved this...

i then gave a spray with some varnish as the paint is quite chalky and i didn't want it to rub off with use. i think stanley approves too!

inspired by the presto, change-o! post on frecklewonder

BOOK LOVE: INSPIRATION

i have many books that i like to turn to for my work. i find them a valuable source of inspiration...when i'm stuck in a rut and bored with trawling the internet, there is something wonderful about turning the pages of a book. i wrote briefly about some of the type books i own that help me out with my work. well i'm going to try and show you some books that are just there for inspiration. i'm starting off with these two. i love them for their sheer beautiful layouts. the repeat of pattern. and the unbelievable beauty of drawing. oh yes all DRAWN. i hope you like them too.

first up is ERNST HAECKEL ART FORMS IN NATURE. Haeckel was a biologist, a sort of german darwin if you like and his drawings are stunning. beautiful visual inspiration for artists, designers and anyone that likes pattern...

the next book is BLACKSTOCK'S COLLECTIONS. Blackstock is autistic and an artistic savant. A retired pot washer he creates visual lists of everything from wasps to hats to emergency vehicles. he has never received formal artistic training and it is very similar in it's outsider art style to someone like henry darger. totally beautiful, a real insight into the mind of a man making sense of life through his drawings.

LATELY

1. Speedy baby || 2. choosing a record || 3. mother's day flowers || 4. lazy betty cat || 5. picture re-shuffle  || 6. spring || 7. i love blue skies || 8. tomato seedlings

THE BIG BOX.

we had a new cooker delivered to replace the very odd one we inherited with the house. which although i loved, (it was a beautiful retro smeg one) it didn't work for toffee. you had to heat it up for an age before using it and cook everything for about twice as long in it. now we have a more efficient shiny new one. so exciting... what was more exciting was the huge box it came in. i had been dealing with a very ill stanley for the past few weeks and finally saw the doctors who gave him some amoxicillin which seemed to make him worse before better. anyway the four walls of the house and having to be with just me and day long was making him grumpier than normal. cabin fever for all. thank gawd then for this box. a couple of well cut holes and VOILA! a happy baby!

 

WINNER.

It's always nice to be sent an email to say you've won something...especially when its children that have voted! recently i received an email to say that my book had been selected for the 'Early Years Category' at a big event at Didsbury Road Primary school. two hundred children had a selection of books to vote for and Mrs Muffly's Monster won my category! they have a huge school book day event where messages from the authors and illustrators are read out in assembly so i sent them this huge picture as a thank you message....

so much fun drawing on a large scale! and it's going to be framed to hang in the school - hoorah!

talking of votes ;)

his & HERS

we had a bit of a set back with eating due to an illness that hit little Stanley for the last 3 weeks. he really only wanted small squares of beige food?!? and for the worst of his weeks he ate hardly a thing. just squeezy fruit pouches! anyway we seem to be back on track so i'll try and post more soon....

mama (top) - falafels, grilled avocado, pitta, hummus, peppadew piquante peppers (which i'm addicted to.), cucumber
stanley - the same minus the peppers...too spicy....

mama - baked salmon, lentils with spring onions, parsley, lemon & olive oil
stanley - vegetable 'fish fingers' plain lentils, salmon. (he avoided the lentils!)

THE FOLDED MATTRESS.

who knew what fun could be had from a manky. old. stinky. yet to be 'febrezed' sofa bed mattress. my better more hygienic self thought i shouldn't let him play...but hey, i got at least 10 whole minutes of peace so why not. even the cat had a blast!

 

STANLEY STYLE

FOOTNOTE: i made this post when the weather was colder, but i wanted to share it now with you anyway...i obviously don't put the poor child in tights very often but it was flipping FREEZING when i took this picture!