wistman's wood

On Sunday we went up onto Dartmoor and walked the 2 miles from Two Bridges to Wistman's Wood, an ancient oak woodland - it was a magical place, one I want to visit again. Here's some pics from our walk there and the woods themselves ...

fishy pics

Here are some initial idea sketches from last weekend ...


Sorry the quality isn't that good, I tried for some "arty" type photos, but they'd be better scanned, oh well.

I want to see how they work with colour now, I'll post the results when I've done those.

on a more positive note ...

I've some ideas underway for my Chritmas cards - I'm really please with them at this stage, so I hope to get the time over the weekend to get the paints out and do some colour roughs. I won't post those seen as they are my Christmas cards, but I will try and work up some of the other ideas I've been working on and post those ... ;)

I'm also waiting on a delivery of some bits I bought on ebay, if those arrive I could be busy doing something else too ... I'll post some pics if the stuff arrives, all all should become clearer.

it could be worse ...

Sorry, I just had to get this off my chest some where ... I've been having some hassles recently and the final straw came this morning when I was told that our central heating / hot water boiler has been condemed! It will be replaced late next week - so a week without hot water! A nightmare for me ... I've just got to console myself with the thought that it could be worse ...

the fairies have been ...

When I got home from work on Friday, after a stressful week, I was greeted with the sight of a suprise parcel. As soon as I saw the stamps from Cyprus I knew from whence it came ...

I was so excited ao I opened it very quickly, to reveal ...

... some delicious edible treats (nougat pie, almonds in honey ...), sparkling trinkets, with glass beads and rose quartz, Greek coffee, herbs and a beautiful card with even more beautiful words inside ...

Thank you to the very kind fairy (you know who you are), it was such a touching package ;) XX

quote of the day

Haven't posted much of worth lately, mostly as I don't seem to have much to say, so I thought I'd post a quote ... here goes ...

"So you see, imagination needs moodling - long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering." - Brenda Ueland

That's what I'm doing - "moodling". Hopefully I'll find something interesting to share soon ... ;)

a new blog - S.O.S.F.

Take a look at a new blog - S.O.S.F. ... there's an invitation if you'd like to join in ...

Have a go - I've got a feeling this could be fun ...

time flies

Wow, I can hardly believe that it August already. 2006 seems to have gone by so quickly. I must get my skates on and get moving with some of my personal projects ... I think I need to start making lists again ...

another friday afternoon

Well, time is really whizzing by - it's Friday again ...

I've spent some time trying to jazz up my blog - see the custom header - it took me ages to get it code in properly. It's not 100%, but it's better than what was there 2 days ago!

Have a good weekend everyone! ;)

hot ... hot ... hot ...

Phew it's hot here in Devon, and in most parts of the UK by the sound of it ... it's very uncomfortable sitting in an office all day (except for the half hour at lunchtime when I manage to "escape")!

I've taken to going for a little walk at lunchtime, just around the block from the office is an allotment area and across the road a field of corn (I'm guessing there) which leads off into the distance and the rural surroundings.



It's just so peaceful to stop and look out over the fields, with the corn rippling in the breeze and the swallows diving over it, almost like a golden seascape ...

still here, still alive ...

Just a quick post to say that I'm still around - not fallen off the face of the earth or anything - although it does feel like it at times ... It's been really hectic in my 9to6 recently - no time for anything other than the project at hand!

Yesterday was a celebration in my personal life as my boyfriend and I marked 6 years of being together - does time fly or what!

I'm hoping to squeeze in some time next week to beef up my blog ...

Oh, and congratualations to my friend Rachel who I've just had an eamil from telling me that she's just passed her teacher training course! Well done and good luck Rachel!

I'll be back soon - promise ;)

soooo busy ...

Sorry about the lack of posts recently - I've been very busy in my 9to6 and therefore haven't had much time for my "own stuff" ... Also I've had a bit of a cold - that hasn't helped! Feeling a little better now - but still not 100% ..

On Saturday I went to the Plymouth Calligraphers' monthly meeting where we did some marbling on paper (something I've never done before) ... I was amazed with the results ... I must try and get some on here, but I'm not sure how they will come across as some of my favourites were very subtle. I had great fun - it was like being back at school ;)

Light into Colour - Turner in the South West

On Saturday we went to see an amazing exhibition of paintings by JMW Turner at the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery. It was really good to see such beautiful paintings as well as some of this great artist's sketch books. The exhibition was organised by Tate St Ives.

The gallery was empty so we had plenty of time to wander around and look at all the pieces. I have to repeat myself - it was amazing. The title of the exhibition says it all - Light into Colour. Well worth a visit if you are in the Plymouth area ... It's FREE too!

other blogs ...

I've just spent about 15 minutes looking around at other artists' and illustrators' blogs, and it's amazing what's out there ... everyone seems to be at this blogging lark. It's also making me think that things here in the land of my blog are a little bland, so I'm going to try and come up with some ways to spice it up a little ... any ideas anyone?? ;)

some sketches ...

Just a couple of sketches and doodles I've done over the past couple of days ...


... I doodle when I'm waiting for things to process on the computer ...
Have a good weekend everyone! ;)

introducing Callum James Bennett

Here's one of his first photos ...

welcome to the world ...

Yesterday my brother and his wife in South Africa had a little baby boy - Callum James Bennett - born 8.12am, 3.380kg, 49cm. Congratulations Carl & Liesl and welcome to the world Callum ;)
- A Proud Auntie Gail ;)

I'm still here ...

I've been a little quiet recently - my 9to6 is keeping me very busy - just a quick catch up ... the garden is going well (and looking pretty good if you ask me!) - except for the slugs, snails and greenfly who seem intent on wrecking havoc! I'm sketching as much as I can and the web site is formulated in my mind, but not quite on screen yet ;) I'll get there - I promise!

how does my garden grow ...

Last night when I got home I checked on the seeds I'd planted in pots in the garden I was pleased to see that some of all the different types have started to surface - from the corn field mix to the giant sunflowers ... it's sad I know, but I find it exciting to see the little plants poking through the soil ... fingers crossed they'll all grow and grow ... ;)

fishy tales ...

Just something I did the other evening, playing with colour ...