Accessories Holder

My youngest niece recently celebrated her 5th Birthday, and as many of us girls do, she loves her hair accessories! I recently saw this idea online, and thought it would be perfect for her. I'm sure it won't organise her entire collection, but it at least allows her to display and easily access her favourites :)

Assembly was fairly simple, once I had the right equipment! I began with a 15cm square canvas, and attached a layer of wadding on top of it so that there was some give. I cut a square of fabric from my stash (I used to have some of this fabric attached to my jeans!), and attached various ribbons to make four strips. I also attached two small loops at the bottom to hang hairbands from.

I attached a hanging loop at the top, and stitched a ribbon bow on for some extra prettiness :) This particular ribbon bow actually came tying up a set of pyjamas - remember to never throw anything away! I then spread the fabric over the canvas, stapling it at the back. I originally tried to do this by opening my normal stapler out to use as a staple gun, but it was not going well! Thankfully my father-in-law stepped in with a proper staple gun, which worked much better :)

"Love" - Mixed Media Artwork

Without this turning into an essay, I began this canvas a couple of years ago when I was very ill. It allowed me to go into my art room for just a few minutes at a time, throw some paint around, and feel like I was creating.

Some days it was paint. Some days it was a scalpel. Some days a permanent marker, or silicone filler. Textured filler, or tissue paper. It has layers of hurt and layers of beauty. Paint added in so many different ways, words and colours that meant something to me over the months and years it took to make. 

I think it's finished now.

Grandmother's Buttons

If you follow me on Facebook, you may recognise the colour inspiration for this canvas, which I shared last month!

When going through my Nan's button collection recently, I came across these beautiful magenta, lavender and turquoise buttons tied together by a piece of yellow cotton. I love the combination - the button colours coordinate well, and I like the jarring sensation of the tiny amount of yellow!

You can see here I included a tiny amount of yellow, and I think it worked :)

There is also a sparkly shimmer made with pearl dust going across areas of the canvas - one just has to catch it in the right light!

As always, the print is available here, and do contact me if you are interested in owning the original painting, or for more information.

Art: Freedom

 The latest in my abstract painting series! 

I added some gold ink to this one, which gives it a beautiful shimmer :)

Again, prints are available on deviantArt, and this original is also up for sale, so contact me if you are interested :)

Art: The Second

I really adore painting like this. It is freeing, it is therapeutic, and it helps me cope with life.

Again, prints are available on deviantArt, and this original is also up for sale, so contact me if you are interested :)

Art: Barren

 

Following on from all my recent sketchbook art, I really wanted to take some of the techniques I have discovered and apply them to canvas. This is one of the first canvasses I have painted in a while (canvas board to be precise) and it has been such an enjoyable expression of emotions. This piece is mainly painted in acrylic, but there is also some colour applied directly from an ink pad.

Prints are available on deviantArt, and this original is also up for sale, so contact me if you are interested :)

Mini Hugs Canvas

I picked up a packet of these mini 7cm x 7cm canvasses a long time ago now, just waiting for an opportunity to come along for their use! They make for a lovely quick project, and I really enjoyed making this!

I created the background using a sponge and acrylic paints. I added the pattern by sponging over some of the netting that fruits come in - I have always loved this effect!

I actually used a silver marker for the writing, as it was the easiest way when working on such a small canvas! Perfect for a little space on your wall :)

Lotus Flower Canvas

I have had so much fun working on this commission for a friend!

The inspiration was a lotus flower, India, bright reds, pinks and golds, and a bit of sparkle!

I know it's hard to see, but the petals have pearly highlights, and the background is scattered with gold and red glitter... A lovely sparkle in the sun :)

[Acrylics on canvas.]

Star Wars Canvas

I really wanted to do my husband a piece of art for his Birthday. Finding something appropriate was more difficult than it should have been given how I really didn't have much time or energy!

The inspiration for this came from here. But of course, I couldn't do it the simple "cut and stick" method... I decided to stencil and hand paint ;)

I think it was worth it though :)

A Third Birthday [Classic Mini Canvas]

My youngest nephew turned 3 last week, and when I asked his Mum what his current fascinations were, the answers included the colour blue, and "classic Minis"... I spent a lot of time thinking, and realised I'd never actually given him a painting. I don't have a lot of time or energy atm, so I wanted something that I could make without hours of fiddling, and that would be suitable to grow up with him a bit.

After spending a while finding images and gathering inspiration, I looked at this image and adapted it into a stencil... A few coats of dark blue acrylic paint, and a quick bit of white spray painting later, and it was done!

I also used an (older!) needle on my sewing machine to try a new accenting technique with his Birthday card...

Think I'll be doing this a bit more in future! :)