Creative Blog Hop

 I was asked by the lovely & super talented Massofhair to do my very first blog hop! 

She is a fabulous artist & inspirational woman! Well worth a follow on her blog & on Twitter!

The blog hop is about getting to know more about each other by answering some questions, so here goes!
 

Journal page 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'

 About Me

 

I'm a 35 year old wife & mother from Northants in UK & I work as a Teaching Assistant in a local primary school. I am also partially deaf and currently studying British Sign Language.

 I started making things from a young age. My Grandma taught me to knit, crochet, embroider, cook & to embrace my creative side. She even allowed me to paint a mural on her bedroom wall when I was 9! I started distressing jeans long before it was fashionable & have always had my own sense of style. I always wanted to go to art college but unfortunately it never happened... My art teacher didn't like me much & told me that I wasn't very good so I didn't continue with my creative journey until I was much older. I re-started my journey by making cards, which my Mum encouraged me to do! Thanks Mum!

 

Greetings card.

Then moved into jewellery...

 

'Saracen' Necklace.

 and also mixed media, which I love!

 

Altered box.

 Before working in school, I was a self employed mixed media artist & sold my wares at local art markets & emporiums. I also taught workshops in various techniques and medias. Guess my art teacher was wrong, eh!

I was also on Stamping Dragon design team & have taken part in art challenges for PaperArtsy.

 

Why do you create what you do?

 

I used to create commissions for others but it can be very frustrating to create things for sale! I mainly make art for myself & as gifts to others. My art is my therapy! My job can be very stressful but also very rewarding. I don't get a lot of spare time as I have 4 children, 3 step-children & 2 beautiful step-granddaughters, but when I do, I love to get messy & the kids can join in too!  

 

'Elsie' Wedding Posy made with polymer clay.

 

How does your creative process work?

 

 I usually have an idea of how it will look & my brain is fabulous at keeping me awake at night with loads of ideas! I even dream ideas... Although I quite often 'see' my creations before they actually exist, I do love the freedom of 'randomness' & going with the flow.

 

'Lydia's Happiness House' made for my daughter's 13th birthday.

How do you stay motivated?

 

 I will be honest, I have lost my mojo & found it hard to get it back. I'm the first to admit I am, (as most creatives are) emotionally charged. So my art is closely linked to how I'm feeling. I have suffered with depression in the past and am very aware how quickly the downward spiral can start, so I try to stay positive as much as I can. But sometimes the fight becomes too hard. My art can reflect this. Sometimes I dry up completely, then other times my creative juices overflow! I must be a challenge to live with!



'Tears' journal page.

What are you creating at the moment?

 

My latest make was a 'Positivity folder'. It stores my inspiration papers, which I hope will help me fight off the mojo eater! I am a member of Jennibellie's Journal Workshop and made an 'Inspiration Station'. Check out her YouTube channel, she's fab!

 

'Positivity Folder'

I hope this 'getting to know you' post wasn't too boring...

Thank you for taking the time to stop by & read it!

 

Now to introduce the creative souls I have chosen to pass the baton too!

Mary Woolley from Black Flower Creative.

Find her on Twitter as @Mezzy1306 

and the lovely Emma Taylor from Pink Sparkle Days.

Find her on Twitter as @pinksparklegirl

Give them both a follow & pop over to read their inspirational stories next week!

Crafty hugs

Sez x

 

 

Update!

I know it has been a while! If you still follow me on Twitter then you'll know I have kind of fell off the face of the earth! Sorry!
I've been catching up on housework & family stuff when not at work, which seems to have taken over everything!
I fell down the stairs last week (whilst hoovering!) & had to have a week off work... (I have bruised my coxyx so I'm finding it hard to sit, but am now back at work!) So to keep myself from sitting I had a mass sort out of craft stash!
I have decided to keep some things to do journalling with but the rest of my craft stash can go! In my next post I will upload pics of what is for sale with prices etc! There will be embellishments, stamps, ribbons, beads, wire & all sorts of stuff! So watch this space!
Crafty hugs
Sez x

My Last Lunchbags & Art for Me!

 Hi there my lovelies!

I know it's been a while since I shared anything with you...

I've been so busy with work, training & family stuff that I haven't had time to do much!

If you follow me on Twitter, you might recall me getting a large order for bags. 

Well, thankfully it was cancelled!

I know some of you might wonder why I use the word 'thankfully',

 but in all honesty I am thankful!

Since starting my job I seem to have less & less time to do stuff...

 (My washing is cascading down the stairs as I type!)

My brain is turning to scrambled egg with all the training I'm doing & I'm feeling like

I've been plugged in & drained of all energy... mentally, physically & emotionally.

But putting all that aside, I know that once I get to the Easter Break I will be able to recharge

myself & put in place strategies that will help me & my family cope better.

Anyway, getting to the point of this post...

I have FINALLY finished my last order for lunchbags!

I have decided that the 23 bags I have made up to now are a limited edition!

Not only have I not got the time to do them, but I have lost the joy a little so I need to do something else! Which I'll come to in a bit...

 

 I made these bags for a colleague & her daughter.

 

Her favourite things are seahorses & rainbows... The same as me!

Her daughter loves campervans & her stuffed toy 'Moley' so I made him driver!

 

I hope they like them!

 

So, to the something else!

Earlier, I said that I feel drained. So, I have decided to heal myself using my art.

I have signed up to a free online course that the fab Jenniebellie is running.

She shows you how to use what you have to make an 'Inspiration Station' which helps in times of creative block & she shows how to make your own journals.

 I love Jenniebellie's videos on YouTube & I urge you to take a look at them!

I am going to spend what little spare time I have just making art for me,

to help me work my stresses away & to calm my spirits.

 I may share some of what I have made with you.

 

Thanks for stopping by I really appreciate it!

Feel free to leave a comment.

 

Crafty hugs

Sez x

 

 

 

Feb ATC Swap & Confession!!!

 Hiya!

For those of you that follow me on Twitter, you will know that I host

an ATC Swap once a month. For those of you that don't, you do now! ;)

Now, I should've done a blog post for each month but I didn't...

The reason for this was that I haven't actually joined in!

Well, not since October!

My time has just run away since starting my job. I know that's no excuse!

I have found it hard to keep up with everything, house, kids & bag orders that I just haven't got round to doing anything arty just for me. :(

Well this month I am joining in!

The lovely Jax has chosen this months swap theme...

Inspired by Beatle Songs.

 

 

I chose to do 'Love is all you need', 'Here comes the sun' & 'Help!' 

 

I hope all my swappers are not too upset with me for not joining in all the swaps!

Crafty hugs

Sez x

 

 

More bags...

 

Hello my lovelies!

As you know, if you are a regular reader of my blog,

that I've had loads of orders for my hand painted jute bags...

Well here's 2 more!

This one is for one of my colleagues...

 

 

 

^This is her favourite quote.^

 

This one is for another colleague. It's for her daughter.

 

I hope you like them.

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty hugs

Sez x

 

Memorial bags.

 Hello my lovelies!

Just a quick post to share my latest commission...

This was a tricky one!

My friend asked me to make 2 lunch bags for her sisters but with a difference...

She wanted them to feature her dad & the things he loved,

 as she was giving them to her sisters at his memorial.

He always wore black croc shoes,

he love the gee-gees (horseracing) & he played darts & bingo, so

I featured these on the bag with a simple portrait of him.

I found it hard to get them exactly the same.

I hope she likes them!

 Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty hugs

Sez x

Latest makes...

Hi there my lovelies!

Just wanted to share 2 more bags that I was commissioned to make...

This one is for Archie... yes you guessed it! 

My first boy portrait!

 Find boys harder than girls for some reason!

This one is for my friends mum.

First time I'd done flowers too!

 

I hope you like them!

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Sez x 

Jan/Feb Makes

 Hiya my lovelies!

I'm sorry for the lack of blog posts lately, what with work & making

stuff & family stuff I've been so tired and/or busy to bother!

No excuse really!

Anyway, this post is to sort of catch up with you

 & let you know what I have had time to make....

First up is an Owl Bag I made for my dear friend Maria.

She loves all things owly!

I wanted to have a go at animals so made her this for her birthday.

She loved it!

 

Next up is a lunch bag I made myself. Well why not?!

I love this quote!

 

Then of course my son wanted one too!

Thought I'd do him a sporty one...

A friend asked me to make one for her daughter so here it is...

 

I hope you like them!

I have a few more orders to do so watch this space!

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty Hugs

Sez x 

Teacher Tote bag.

 Hiya my lovelies... last post for today!

Here's a midi shopper size I made for one of my colleagues...

Perfect for all her files etc.

 

Hope you like it as much as she does!

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Sez x

More lunchbags...

 

Hiya lovelies.

 Here's the 2nd post for today!

Here's some of the lunchbags I've been making...

 

 

 

All bags come with a charm 'necklace'.

Hope you like them!

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Sez x

 

My Bag...

Hiya my lovelies!

Sorry it's been a while again!

I've been busy back at school but also making bags.

 Since making some for presents (see previous post)

 I've been inundated with orders!  

This is the first of 3 posts...

I thought I'd start with a bag I made for myself!

It's a midi shopper size perfect for my planner etc. for school.

I used Fresco Paints by PaperArtsy.

I also threaded some beads onto wool for some dangles.

I LOVE DANGLES!!!!

I hope you like it as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Sez x