I wish I washi

I love washi tape and I use it quite a bit at home, 

I love the feeling of it and the patterned joy it brings! 

I've used it several different ways this last year - 

I've covered clothes pegs, used it as a wall frame, it's on the keys of my laptop,

I've covered boring picture frames with it. 

It's also spilled into some of my illustrations! 

My favourite etsy shop stocking washi tape, Loollipop 

has a 15% off coupon which ends today - I just bought myself a new supply:)

Here are a few washi ideas from clever people on the web. 

Image from design*sponge

A cute little upcycled globe here

 Little miss Lolly dollies here

Pretty bunting for packaging here

 I might actually do this

One for the boys! here 

 Washi tape clothes pin - link here

 I really like this Rosa House. Find it here.

Summer List 2013

It's Summer List time again! 

This piece of paper got me out of several brain freezes last year (see last years Summer List here.)

Are you doing one?

:)

A little colour study

Compiling a list of colour combinations 

- thought I would share My Water Baby Sketch!

Happy Love Day

Maiden Voyage

Today's quick sketch is looking at light and perspective - and the joy of setting sail for the first time. x

Let's do this thing.

Sketch from your life experiences' they said - 'it will inspire and lift the spirit' they said. 

Well, ok then.

Over the next while I plan to work on my drawing skills, 

and put down the results here! 

I'm not promising anything astounding but just some sketches from the heart. 

Doing a Boden

I love the clothes at Boden, particularly for kids. 

Their designs are bright and colourful, a little quirky and cheeky and slightly retro. 

Every time I look, I ooh and ahh over their cute little designs and fabrics.

Boy's Top here 

 Girl's top here.

Ruby (5) and I were looking at the website the other day 

and we decided we'd *try* making a version of our own. 

Within 30 mins we were laboriously snipping and matching fabrics.

This is what we made!

It probably won't last a wash in the washing machine. 

We had fun and she wore it to school the next day, 

waggling her tummy so that the bird's legs swished. 

That's what was important, after all!

Dip dip who's in

So I just 'dipped' my chair... 

Pinterest is bursting with images of dipped, well, anything really these days...

Ok, not so much 'dipped' as 'painted on badly' 

but the effect (from a distance) is the same. A sitting bum won't notice... 

Phil's only comment was 'Are you going to leave it like that?' :)

These chairs were in Phil's family and now they are ours. 

They are bockity and were varnished big time, 

but he remembers playing at ground level beside them. 

And now, freshened up for this next season our kids are too!

Got to love that.

Free owly printable from three-eyed bear

What to do at Easter when you're stuck inside

Russian Doll Art!

 Well, little stickers on slices of wood - no talent required here!

The effect is great and there was no mess to clear up. 

And the kids thought they did a craft!

Win win all round, I say!

Try Something new - Maps

Recovered a lamp I've had with Cavallini vintage-style map paper. 

I've been meaning to do this for AGES!

Cavallini Papers & co make beautiful classic papers. 

I bought mine in Avoca - but I think you can get them all over. 

Try Something New

My lovely Brother and Sista-in-law were having a

'Try Something New' week

with their kids.

Their one was to do with food -

the kids had to try a new food every day and got a treat at the end of the week.

Such a good idea.

I was thinking about us grown ups -

we often get into patterns of behaviour

which means there are

HUGE chunks of life

we don't get to experience.

So.. my plan is -

every Friday I hope to post on

Something New that I've tried.

This week - Painting on black backgrounds.

Must do more! I like the outcome:)

My Haberdasher's Happy Place

The little of sewing I've done, I've loved.

I sat a class in creative embroidery in Art College

and it was perfect for me as I'm not perfect at sewing.

The sticky-outy threads and very zigzaggy stitch work

covered a multitude of sins and for a while

I made it my happy place of all happy places!

So, in an effort to return to stitch heaven,

I enrolled in a one day Quirky Creatures course

with Textile Workshop Dublin.

Quirky Creatures Course at TWD

I mean Quirky? Creatures? Sewing bits and bobs?

I had to go.

I met the most lovely Paget Scott-McCarthy

(who is one of the founders and amazingly talented)

and with her clear and gentle instruction,

I made these (don't laugh now!)

This is Roderick Ryan O'Connor Reilly

(I think he most definitely is Irish)

and Doris the Sausage Dog.

But I've been practicing a little at home,

starting to use paper, pretty fabrics and simple designs.

I have loads to learn, but am having fun while I'm doing it!