the Nest » mixed media artwork

Pages from a Sketchbook

Emily — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:43:11 +0000

Almost “done” on my Sketchbook Project… have to do the cover and inside covers, but I’m pretty happy with the pages inside- wasn’t sure what I would do, but my on-going obsession with houses, gates, fences won over all other ideas and started to appear on the pages!

All are mixed media on paper.

Landscape: Experimental

Emily — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:57:55 +0000

These are some pages I’m working on in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project-

all are mixed media- I have gessoed old pages from vintage books, then painting, rubbed and etched with watercolour dyes, crayon, ink and glue.

I have only a few more days to finish this before sending off to participate in the exhibition

(I would really need to get moving… fast!!)

Saturdays On The Ranch

Emily — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:34:39 +0000

I love Saturdays at home. I never get anywhere near what I want to get done, and usually wander off on some tangent or prolonged tea sessions with Fergal.

But today, I finished my tea cosy, using Debbie Bliss DK cotton-

well named… bliss to use! I really enjoyed working with this- much chunkier than I usually use (4 ply) and the colours were gorgeous! I crocheted the Granny Squares together using a raised double crochet stitch (I will photograph this tomorrow when the light is better- it is fading fast here) and edged it with a simple double crochet and picot edge. Very simple and easy to make!

The raspberries we gathered this morning from the polytunnel- the raspberry plant is like the magic porridge pot!! It keeps on giving!!

Fergal spent the morning chopping logs- we did a “site inspection” to check his progress and our friendly little red robin hopped over to say hello

(this little robin hops around the children when they are playing under the trees; Michael (9) is trying to befriend him with bribes of raisins and oats, which is hilarious)

Work in progress- some are finished, some have a long way to go! I have a few assemblages and oil paintings on the go too…

It is my friend Rosas birthday today – a signifigant one!!- so I am going to celebrate at her home with her this evening- I made this chocolate cake with white chocolate drizzled on top, and these

White Chocolate and Raspberry Cookies

(I used this recipe here, but since I could find no cranberries or other dried fruit (thank you, dear little savages, i.e. my children), which is indicated in the original recipe, I used the bowl of raspberries I picked earlier and a tablespoon of our raspberry jam. The result was different, but just as good)

Blend together: 160g butter,melted, 250g brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla essence

Mix and add to the above: 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1.2 tsp salt, 280g flour

Add: 50g oats, 150g white chocolate and {either 150 dried fruit} or {I used approx 100g fresh raspberries and 1 tablespoon of raspberry jam}

Put little heaps of the mixture on baking paper, leaving plenty of space between each of them, and bake in a hot oven (180′C) for approx 12 minutes or until they are golden and soft in the middle. Take them out sooner rather than later- they become firm and lovely within minutes of taking them out.

It really goes without saying: deeee-licious!

Plans and Resolutions

Emily — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:30:21 +0000

Had a quick peek at my last years intentions for 2009… you know that whole “Write my Christmas cards in June and post them in November” and “Print or make my cards in February”, well, guess what? That intention didn’t go to plan… although I did “(3) Organise my boxes of craft materials, and (4) Get felting, and stop procrastinating”. Oh, and that resolution to bring my crochet everywhere, well, yes, became like a natural extension to my hand!!

So more of the same really, for 2010, with a few additions:

-: more painting, mixed media artwork (Check out Viola… oh, I’m so inspired)

-: make some of these incredible paper crafts from The Toymaker- whether you have children or not they are completely inspiring

-: make some paper dolls- we were obsessed with these when we were children (remember the ones on the back of the Bunty magazine??) this is a great link here for some lovely dolls and clothes for any children wandering around the house!!

Keep checking in… I have, as usual, several projects on the go- apart from my trusty crochet hooks working away, I’ve been making needle felted tea-cosies, and I’m working on some custom-designed commissioned work, these make fantastic personalised gifts for new baby, wedding presents, birthdays or anniversaries. I want to make up a stock of samples before I post, but very exciting times indeed. Roll on 2010!!