Flowers and little bees

Woo hoo the flowers are out and little bumbles are saying hello!

Found this beautiful Rose peeking out from behind a bush searching for the sun.

More bumbles dancing around the flowers, with the decline in bee numbers, I recently seen a post about how to look out for tired and weary bees.  If you see a bee on the ground, we often think it's dying but apparently it may well just be exhausted, so try leaving a solution of sugary water on a little plate, or on a spoon so it can have a drink and regain it strength....... Love this idea so my mam and me decide to dot these little bee dishes with rocks and broken crockery for the bees to climb on around their favourite bushes.... Hope they like it!

 

Spring is here!

So spring is finally here.  Had some beautiful weather lately......mind you don't know how long it will last!.

Sitting in mams garden soaking up the sun, flowers in full bloom, especially love seeing the blooms in this photo - when my dad passed away, it seemed like a fitting tribute to plant flowers in his wellies and put them out on the patio - his favourite place to sit and read in the afternoon sun.  Just love this time of year - full of good memories x 

Bahhhhhh! Damn this rat race malarkey !

Is it just me or does everyone else sit at work pondering over the fact that surely there must be something better than this?........working the old 9-5 day in and day out.....now I am fairly new to this work schedule, after 10 years in a busy ED department to now doing desk work is a bit of a culture shock to say the least!.

I spent so long feeling lost - as if the path I was on was completely clouded and I couldn't find my way.  I felt I had lost my drive my creativity, my messy mojo......what ever you want to call it - it was gone!. I've always been arty....well just loved making a mess really, but after leaving school I never followed my one true wish and that was a career in some kind of art and design.....thing.
But with my inner art soul squashed and hidden for so long, I never thought I'd find it again.......until recently that is.  I could feel my inner voice and whispers (of the soul that is) trying to guild me to something more creative....yes this sounds ridiculous but honestly this is how it felt, I just had such a urge, craving, and must to start something creative.  So card making was first, inking, stamping then mixed media, altered art, canvas, modelling clay,melting pots, you name in I was loving it!

While discovering these new styles, designs, techniques I found that my soul cravings would ease and my inner whispers were calmed but also totally engrossed and excited at the same time......which lead to a very happy me, a fulfilled me.
It seems the more I do craft, design, make a mess wise, and the more techniques I try and love, the more I yearn for a more creative life.  The most eye opening example of this was when I purchased Kelly Rae Roberts book -' Taking Flight'...OMG! I can't even begin to explain just how this hit home - in a huge way.  It was almost like she was describing my exact situation, life, needs, desires, dreams and it made it all to familiar as she too had come from a nursing type background, so I could totally relate to her.  This was the catalyst that set my arty desire to life - I realised that making a career from your passion is possible and there was a whole world of like minded people in my exact same boat - all looking for other similar people to connect with.

With this in mind the blog was born......which only lasted a few month if I'm honest, but I'm back on the messy arty wagon so I'm must blog a post at least once a week if not more!....mind you I'm still working out how the hell to work this thing - but I'm here to stay so I guess I'll get my head around this.........one day!

Sending you rainbows Dad x

So June is a bit of a difficult month - Father's Day today and my dad's memory tomorrow (16th)

So nothing like soothing the soul with some art for the heart!.  Made this for my dad while lost in my own little messy crafty world, decoupage, distressing, inking, stamping, little wire wings, topped off with a crystal  door knob! X

To do list

Ok it's been a week....almost since the last post - but I've been busy ticking off chores from the 'To Do' list, one being varnishing the stairs, so with all necessary items purchased it was time for some elbow grease........ok so it wasn't my elbows but the other half's - now he's no DIY king more like jester but at least he tries!.

Now it was time to tackle the craft room.......OMG! Talk about organised chaos!.....lets just say chaos.

Well I did have full intention on tiding up.....but the paints were calling - honest.  So with 2 canvas started and 2 birdcages painted my creative soul was fed and watered, with he messy crafts done it was time for the crocheting.

So with a few crochet blankets  completed and great responses on the outcome, I've decided to try my hand and crochet cushion covers.....seen some on Etsy and they look great.  

If all goes well and I end up making enough then I might venture to the craft fair at Tynemouth market.....mind you it may take some time to build up on stock, so let the crochet marathon begin!!!.

Arghhhh that Monday feeling!

Well it's Monday morning, sat on the train to work.  Although it has been some what of a successful weekend of mess, made 2 birthday cards for my niece (16th).....my hands are still dyed from the Inking I did for her cards!!!....I'll see if I can get a photo of the cards as I was quite chuffed with how they came out!

We then went out for a curry for her birthday - it's some what of a tradition for the Carey clan to do......well saying that, it's any excuse for a curry really!!!.

Inking done and successfully covered the craft room (and me) in mess! - it was time to attempt to finish my friends anniversary present - a rainbow blanket.  Well I'm almost done, nearly up to the edging now! 

Granny square sunburst ooohhhh

Well the crafting weekend was somewhat of a success. One baby blanket complete and given to the beautiful little Violet, hope she likes it!.  

Well we all know how the baby booty turned out - failed as a medieval shoe! think I'll be giving those a miss for now.

I did however learn a new granny square pattern - sun burst which I picked up on Pinterest (love it).  It contains, puff and cluster stitches - hence the new start of a granny square blanket!.......just have to learn how to stitch them all together at the end - no doubt that we be a treat....not!!! Photos soon!

Crochet, paint, mess and wool......ohhhh my favourite kind of fun!

Ok so after a sneaky little days holiday on Friday from work......nice long weekend for me woo Hooo!.  So let the crafting from dusk till dawn commence!......well ok Friday had a snipit of crafting as I decided that me and the Gypsy ( AKA Anthony the other half) had to get down to some dirtiness..........that is cleaning the house including cleaning out the fuzzies (ferrets), yes I have 4 of the little buggers.

Zebedee, Bear, Boo and Betty ( must find a photo of Betty ).  Oh and not to mention the newest addition to the family Roscoe my Bengal kitten!

Although between her and the ferrets I don't know who is the naughtiest.  Since I lost me beautiful boy Zion, my Dogue De bOrdeaux last year the house has felt so empty, but with these five they surely keep me entertained!!!.

Ahhhhh isn't he just beautiful!!! 10 stone of slobberyness and cuteness !!!

So after the boring jobs done around the house I thought I'd finish some of my blankets off, heresthe 'Violet' blanket for the baby.

I'm actually really pleased how it turned out.....mind you I didn't realise just how big it was! - hope baby Violet like it!.

Ok one blanket finished - now to try something new......a baby crochet bootie......

Yes it should probably come with a warning of hideousness.......is it me or does it look more like something a Viking peasant would wear back in the medieval days......oh well practise makes perfect.

Ohhh and the circles are coming on a treat - well it seems to be more on the flat side at least!!!

 

Think I might just carry on the rounds to see what a blanket turns out like.....watch this space!.

Rainbow blankets galore!!!

Now I am looking forward to a long weekend of crafting ahead - got one baby blanket to finish crocheting for a lovely new baby called Violet.......so hence the blanket is all shades of Violet colours, lets hope she likes it.  I'm also half way through a wedding anniversary present for my best friend - this year is the year of cotton - so wool is a close enough to cotton right???, any excuse for a crochet marathon.  The blanket is all rainbow colours.

These rainbow blankets have a special significance to me and my family.  Ever since I lost my dad a few years back, I have come to associate rainbows with him, whenever I felt really down and sad, somehow a rainbow would always appear....hence the title of the blog which follows this - as he is always sending me rainbows when I really need him.  So with this in mind I decided to crochet a large granny square rainbow blanket for my mam for Mother's Day this year, and for my two sisters - so we would always have a rainbow with us when ever we needed to feel close to him.

Ohhhhhh can't decide???

Well it's day 1 of my return to blogging......2nd post may I say......hope this time lasts longer than the last - let's hope its within the same year this time......shocking I know!.

So with my new lease of crafting / making a mess! I have been changing my blog around, trying new backgrounds, colours, layout etc etc......I'm more confused than ever!, or should that be - I've got no clue what I'm doing!.

So after umpteen attempts and trials of blog looks I've decided on a wood type background.......lets just see how long this one lasts.

I look at other blogs and they all look brilliant, really professional looking, with great layouts and backgrounds.   Well it looks like I'm just going to have to keep try stuff out and experimenting.......practice makes perfect and all that jazz!!!.

So I'm looking forward to more daily posts with all my tales of joy and woes from throughout the day, boring it may be but I've set myself the challenge of daily posts no matter how short and sweet some may be!.

I'm back!

Well too say its been a while is an understatement, but after some much needed inspiration and artist mojo I think I'm back in the swing if things......well slowly at least!.

When I first started this blogging malarkey I was full of excitement and wonder at the possibilities of what i could achieve from it.

I mean what can be so hard about documenting your life for all too see, sharing your woes and achievements, show casting your good, bad and the ugly!

I thought that setting aside an hour a day to blog about my day - good and bad was achievable - then that became, well I'll try once every couple of days.....,ok maybe once a week....... 6 weeks later and I still had not got round to posting regular stuff.

Before I knew it months had gone by and the poor blog had been neglected, spider webs, tumble weeds the lot!!!.  Even my craft room had become abandoned.

But over the last few months I've slowly found my crafty bug. I've learnt a new craft .........bring on the crocheting!!!....it turns out I can only seem to manage giant granny square blankets as it seems I have yet to master a circular shape ( for some reason mine turn out to look more like a bowl than a flat circle.....photo to follow as its hideous).

So with this new love.....crochet, my crafting bug is back!.  I've sort inspiration from the much loved Pinterest and recently enrolled on Kelly Rae Roberts e-course......which I must say is one of the main reasons I managed to get back into the swing if things. Part of the course talks about blogs and blogging and the joy ,love and sense if achievement folk get from blogging.....hence my return.

Wedding of a great friend, adventures with the Gypsy and still time for crafting!

After a fantastic weekend at a friends wedding, topped off with the evening in a teepee and a firepit, hog roast and wine flowing, not to mention our little trips around Hexham on search for treasure in charity and antique shops......nothing better than a good treasure hunt!.

Whilst searching the rows of antiques in dusty old shop, I stumbled across one of my favourite books - one that I had been looking for, for my beautiful Button..........'The Velveteen Rabbit', such a beautiful story.........well it didn't take long before I had too have a go at creating my very own creature - mind you my sewing skills leave a lot to be desired but practise makes perfect and all that!.

So many ideas so little time!

Well after a busy weekend catching up with old friends, and celebrating a friends hen do, I even managed to squeeze in a little creating of one of my.....well I suppose creatures is the only way to describe them, here's one I made earlier - as the one I've just made is still drying after being....aged....well dipped in tea, coffee and vanilla extract anyway.

- and I even managed to see my beautiful nephew Button.  He's such a character, changing everyday - a real Rug Rat in the making, he's speeding around on all fours and getting faster by the day.

He is my shining light through the shadows - guaranteed to put a smile on your face even on your 

most downbeat days.  He was a gift from above during my families most darkest of times, but he has

brought us through the other end, together, and stronger.

Listen to the Whispers

Ok so there been a few changes - new art work and name for this blog.....well for now anyway.

When I first started this blog, under the name of Art for the Soul it was very meaningful and personal to me.  During this time my dad had been diagnosed with cancer and sadly lost his fight 4 months later, devastated was not the word, I felt I had lost part of my soul.

  Crafting and painting for me was the one thing that enabled me to escape the pain, it created another world where I didn't have to think about anything and my mind and soul were free, this was my escapism.

Art was a way of mending my soul - well helping too anyway.  So Art for the Soul was born, a very personal message that has helped me greatly.

Now I feel like I have grown as a person and this blog needs somewhat of a face lift, my soul is mending - slowly but surely, so it's at this time that my next healing journey needs to be focused upon.  When my dad -' went away' as I like to call it - as he travelled the world all his life and would often 'go away to work' - so hence this adopted approach to help me cope, as the real prospect just completely terrifies me.

 The reason of this change in name is mainly due to the strong soulful connection with the gifts I truly believe are sent from my dad - yes I know this sounds completely mad, but I believe that there are 'whispers' everywhere - they surround us -we just need to open our eyes and souls and listen.  Have you ever been daydreaming about someone or something and the next minute you know you bump into the person or the song comes on the radio that totally reminds you of them, or that familiar smell of their aftershave or perfume drifts by with not a soul in sight.......well these are what I call the 'whispers'.

Sending you Rainbows has a personal message for me and when I was playing around with new names for the blog, this one just felt so right and struck a cord immediately - it just feels so right.

Rainbows have a strong connection with me since my dad, one appeared right above his house the day of his 'party' and it brought a smile to our faces - we just looked up and thanked him of sending it our way when we really needed it most.

When I'm feeling down and my soul is lost and confused at just how to deal with the loss - I look around and listen more intently for my whispers, and what ever it may be, a rainbow, heart shaped cloud in the sky, that tune on the radio - then I thank him for being right by my side.

Should my blog title really say it all???

Well it's the 2nd day of blogging, and when trying to figure out what this post should really be about - my mind started to wonder....what should I start with, what should I discuss, should there be photos etc etc........so stripping it back to basics - for starters -
* Should the contents of the blog only be based around the title of the blog e.g.  Art for the Soul - a somewhat focus on all things crafty I feel!.

Originally this was started as a craft based blog to simple show of all my inky messy creations - and that of others that I inspire to be like.  However the more I think about it - this is more like a platform for me to discuss, challenge, create, and express all things........well just about anything really!.

Now some might say I'm fairly indecisive, one being unable to decide what to write about and the other what the blog should look like..........don't be alarmed as this keeps on changing on somewhat of a daily basis.  I'm also thinking of changing the name - something more....well different!

So what started off as being a blog based on all things crafty - may now be the start of ....well a dairy, contains my love of crafts, everyday struggles and joys, problems and probably anything and everything in between.

So lets see what tomorrow might bring!!

It's been a while!

Well it's a lively start to the day, even though I'm off to work, it's full of sunshine.  

I've just recently bought my 1st copy of 'artful blogging' - hoping to give me some inspiration to get into blogging again - yes it's been a while since my last post - and I'm still no further forward in knowing exactly what I'm doing on this thing.

I've been checking out Pinterest  for advice and blogging tips - so hopefully I'll  be producing some interesting  blogs soon......watch this space!

My love of Buttons !

Anniversary Wreath

Definitely found my new found love - made this for mam & dads anniversary last year.

Wreaths for all occasions.....my new found love!

Oooh sewing - my new favourite!