Three boys!

Saw the challenge over at crazy amigos today which is back to school! Like most mums I think I am ready for my 3 sons to go back to school which is next week! Its been a baths and movies day so far as the weather is a bit overcast as usual and I am trying to persuade them to get their hair cut then its off to the library and the big shop..have a good day whatever your doing

sheep, camping and a chill...

Just returned from another couple of days camping in Snowdonia at our fav campsite which is full of sheep in the mountains. I wanted to do a quick sketch of sheep from memory and noticed that when I glanced at them in the fields as I did most of the driving I could only see the underneath shadows so wanted to capture this on the page. The journalling is from a poem by Christina Rossetti called "A Chill" which is what I felt as most of the time as it was raining...so glad to get home for a warm shower and my nice warm bed tonight!

What can lambkins do
All the keen night through?
Nestle by their woolly mother
The careful ewe.

What can nestlings do
In the nightly dew?
Sleep beneath their mother's wing
Till day breaks anew

If in field or tree
There might only be such a warm soft sleeping place
Found for me.

Just watching views of Hurricane Irene on the tv.. my thoughts and prayers are with all those struck by the powerful force of nature and have no warm beds to go home to.

Still I'lI rise

Did a quick journal page with words from one of my fav poems by Maya Angelou called Still I Rise. The words on the page read:

Just like moons and like suns
With the certainty of tides
Just like hopes springing high
Still I'll rise.

Click here to read the rest of the poem on poets.org or here to see Maya reading the poem on youtube.

Snowdonia and a boxing card!

Just saw this great image over at magic moonlight and wanted to use it on a quick ATC card. The theme over at just for fun is black, white and silver so have used some black n white papers, black thread and silver stars and eyelets on this fun card.

lovely clear water at Benllech

walking through the sheep at the farm we camped at

jumping over the waves at Dinas Dille our fav beach

Have just spent a lovely 3 days camping in Snowdonia jumping over the waves, walking amongst the sheep, visiting Beaumaris castle and my sons holding snakes & tarantulas at Pilis Palace in Anglesey! We came back early though as a storm blew the front of the tent in so glad it was only 2 1/2 hours drive away!

Blue Belt

So happy as my friend Jackie and I have just passed our blue belts in kickboxing..here we are looking mean! If you have a dream just go for it...dont let life hold you back:)

Back to ATCs

Like most mums I havent had much time to do much art lately as have been enjoying days out with my sons. I have been busy painting the house of a night time and have one wall in the kitchen to paint and then its all done..I am quite pleased as everywhere looks nice and fresh now. I thought I would use some of my stack of collage images to make some quick ATCs..have added some sewing for texture and put them on some nice background cards. Have a good day whatever your up to..my sons are still in their pyjamas playing with lego which is what tends to happen on school holidays..hoping to get them changed soon and off to the park!

Here comes the rain again..

It has been non stop rain today but at least its good for the plants outside. I tidied up all my plants in my greenhouse as I have spotted lots of green tomatoes growing and my dad told me to be sure to trim all the foilage so the sun!! can get to the tomatoes. I did this quick journal page while watching the rain. I tend to spray inks and paints on all the journal pages in one go and then its easy to add pastels, paints and collage images on top as I have done here.

experiment with fabric paper

front cover

middle with lots of pockets

back..just love that wild flower stamp

I went to my friend Pats on Saturday and she had made me some fabric paper to play with. I made this little book and added lots of stamped tissue images on it, sewing and stitches..its full of pockets and tags..I am going to keep adding various photos etc from my woodland walks.

Raining heavily this morning so we made cakes which didnt last long

Just been to play at the local woods with my sons..who needs crowded play areas when you have the woods to yourself with mud slides and finding ways to cross muddy streams!

bonjour amour mirror

I have been trying to use some of my cupboard full of alterable stash so decided to alter this mirror this morning. I have used old papers, collage images, pastels and paint from tester pots..its all sealed with pva glue. I have been painting the rooms with tester pots trying to decide what colour the room is going to be..I painted a small portion of one wall last night but it looked grey when it dried so glad I hadnt bought a big pot of paint! My sons were really funny in the paint shop this morning as they kept bringing me huge pots of bright red and green paint as I am trying to look at restful colours!!! I havent done any challenges for awhile and over at Theme Thursday its Paris..so be sure to look at all the other entries too..

make time for your life's passion

A journal page dedicated to all the mums out there finding time for themselves over the school holidays! I did this quick page this morning before my sons had crawled out of their beds..I do love the peace and quiet first thing in the morning..off to take them all out now...enjoy your day whatever your up to...