Impressive...

I recently visited the town of Stamford (which is very nice indeed) and found this graffiti. Check it out...

One more picture...

... and then I will blog about something else!

Another acrylic painting ...

... entitled 'The Ocean'.

My latest painting...

I painted this the other day (acrylics on canvas). I have been using acrylics quite a bit recently and wonder why I left it so long (the last time I really used acrylic paint was probably back in 6th form). They are so much fun to paint with; a rediscovered love!!

Tea-cosy solutions...

What do you do when you have an old, holey tea cosy which no longer adequately keeps your tea warm?

The Answer: Make it into a purse! It will be totally unique!

A beautiful book...

This book is one which has been passed down through our family, and I came across it just the other day. I just think that the cover is brilliant and I love the illumination on the front.

Contrasting contrasts ...

I've just been investigating the many ways that brightness and contrast can affect a simple photograph and alter the emphasis of the picture. For example, these three pictures are all the same photo (a cherry blossom taken a month or so ago). The pictures are identical except for the amount of light/dark/contrast in each, and yet the focal point is completely different in each. In the first (bottom), your eye tends to be drawn towards the top right hand corner of the photo; in the second (middle), the focus is on the flower (off-centre) and the leaves just below whereas the third (top) there is almost a silhouette, with the light just bringing out the daintiness of the petals...

A door to be envious of...

I found this door at a ruined Abbey - just look at the hinges on this thing! Wouldn't it be great if all doors looked like this!

Beautiful bluebells...

I took this picture earlier in the year just as spring had sprung! It was such a beautiful scene which is captured here by the contrasting greens and purples.

Funky card...

I managed to pick up this up in a craft shop the other day. It is paisley print material which has been cunningly attached to cardboard making it perfect for all sorts of paper crafts. The only problem is that it is almost too pretty to cut up!

Bags galore...

This bag started life as a skirt from a 'swishing party' (where you pay a set fee, donate some items of clothing, browse the other clothes that have been donated and grab what you want when somebody shouts 'swish' (at least this was how the one I went to worked out!)). Anyway, this skirt was about 5 sizes too big, but I really liked the material so I cut it up and made it into a hobo bag. It could do with having a lining, but I haven't been brave enough to try that yet!

For a first attempt though, I am quite pleased :)

Nature and art...

I think insects are just amazing - there are so many varieties (representing more species that any other class of animals on the planet). I am really intrigued by the work of Christopher Marley, and the synergy of taxonomy and art. Have a look at his work at: http://www.pheromonedesign.com/public_html/index.htm

(Picture is an unidentified insect photographed in the Western Ghats, India)

Recycling crafts...

These are my first attempt at tin can lanterns: I just used old soup tins, filled them with water, put them in the freezer (this prevents the cans from losing their shape) and then used a hammer and a punch to make different patterns.

I used wire and beads for the handles and put extra-large tea candles inside.

What a great colour...

I love the colour of this bottle top ... in fact I liked it so much that I had to sneek it away from the restaurant after we'd had our drink so that I could keep hold if it. I wonder if B&Q can mix-up paint from a bottle top?!?

Buttons...

I recently went to a shop in Yorkshire called 'Duttons for Buttons' which stock literally hundreds of unusual buttons. The shop is quite tiny but is packed full of every type of button you could every want, and each one is priced individually. I actually felt quite overwhelmed! If you like buttons even a little bit, you need to visit this place.

Their buttons have even featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean films!