(all paintings by Rita Maria)

I LOVE her abstract paintings- don’t you? Vibrant, luscious, and inspirational. 

I love them so much I bought myself a print (above, on windowsill) which arrived today- HURRAY!!! It’s gorgeous, the print quality is beautiful, and I cannot wait to get it framed and on the wall. This is going to be my mascot towards unlimited artistic freedom (and possible madness. Although someone around here remarked recently that that milestone has already been achieved)

As I paint, I’m pushing my own boundaries as to what I “can” and “can’t” do (it’s extraordinary how your head can make you pause indefinitely, making you believe that something like sloshing paint is something you can’t do), and, even though I start off with extraordinary energy and excitement, halfway through, I feel as though I have cycled almost to the summit of a hill and whilst pedalling furiously I am slipping backwards down that same darn hill. The struggle, therefore, is to keep going onwards and up!! Not a particularly easy task. In fact, it is frankly terrifying. But good and energising and fills me with horror and delight at the same time

And so I am experimenting: I’m using mixed media (goauche, watercolour, inks, acrylic) on Fabriano rather than oil on canvas (sometimes things out of your control can be a great thing: I usually have baby in the room or relatively near my while I paint so I don’t want any fumes from the process) The whole struggle not to paint in oils has been hideous and has caused sleepless nights (I know. Sad) (Maybe not as sad as dreaming of lichens every night for a week. Thats Very Sad) but painting in unfamiliar territory is teaching me more and will, I know, feed future oil paintings in great ways. And I’m starting to get the hang of these other mediums- wow, the freedom is extraordinary!!- and I just have to take a great big leap into the unknown. (I’m sure there is a fantastic quote that I could put in here to finish on a more succinct note, but no, couldn’t find any- a little difficult when a cute, bald baby is bashing a singing Cookie Monster toy on my knee!!)

(When I get my camera back- I have had to borrow one, and can’t use it properly- I’ll take decent photos- have a few more paintings on the go too!!)

Today, I learned how to make hearts on the computer (thank you John) I now feel the compulsion to heart everything I see, so let me just get it out of the way:

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Whew. Thats better!!

Anyway. On to things of a more serious nature.

I don’t think I posted this picture yet (gosh, I hope I didn’t, I can’t seem to find it if I did…)  When we were in Britain in November, Fergal found this donation-only thrift/ charity shop in Fishguard. Let me just tell you, the temptation to just keep piling things into my arms was overwhelming. But I restrained myself, and came back with some really delicious treasures, amongst them: 

These are all original photographs from the late 1800′s, and early 1900′s. I have photocopied and photographed them for use in many mixed media projects so far. I always think it is quite sad to see old photographs that have been “abandoned”: to think that these people had a family somewhere, or perhaps, there is no-one of their family left anymore… 

♥ I hope I can breathe life into these fragments of a life again ♥

I really enjoy making these, and am very happy with how they turned out!

Meanwhile, I was most unhappy with this tea cosy I made a while ago with some “experimental machine stitching”- the wording said “rose garden”

and I had some needle felted roses on the front:

But I didn’t like the wording at all, so I’ve ripped it out and have it on the top of my work basket waiting for inspiration to strike.

Hand embroider the letters? Applique…something? 

Ideas? Anyone?!

and some finished work: (The jury is out as to whether the shell is wierd or not- what do you think?)

and some tags which I have just listed in my etsy- The wonderful John in Pixelcode is working out a new shopping cart system so that I can list things in our Nest shop and offer free or very low postage for things like tags… this will be implemented in the next few days and I’ll list them there then…

(These Tags are coffee dyed, vanilla scented, cut, punched, strung, scripted and decorated by Yours Truly)

They can be used in so many ways: from decorating a present, using in scrapbooking or attached to the front of a card.
I am nothing if not industrious…….

(Edited to add that I’m linking up to Lush Friday! See you over there!)

These are elaborately layered personalized art pieces…..unique to each child.

These personalized paintings are one of a kind, painted using mixed media: paint, collage, stitching, buttons and photos.  They make great gifts and can be done in any theme/color scheme to match a nursery or child’s room!  Each painting is completely original and can be personalised with name, date of birth, birth weight & time etc.

I also have made these:

 This is a limited edition print of an original painting which can be inscribed with the name, date of birth, birth weight etc ….. making it unique to the child. Each print will be signed, dated and numbered, and only a limited number of 10 are printed of each painting.

The original painting was painted using watercolour inks and pens.

Available in our shop, and as soon as I can get my Etsy shop up and running too!