My Cosmic Gown

Hiya my lovelies!

I've got something a bit different to share today...

My little brother (who's not so little) got married in New York a few weeks ago!

The newlyweds had a reception here when they got back.

I originally got my dress from the Oxfam website.

I fell in love with it but wanted to tweak it a bit.

So, I decided to 'decorate' it.

I started by masking off the top of the dress.

I wanted to keep this plain.

I got out my Decoart Media Misters and my Daler Rowney

Pearlescent Acrylic Inks & basically went bonkers with them!

I had to take it outside after realising I'd got it all over my floor...

(I always realise after) but it cleaned up with baby wipes!

Round two was done in the garden hung up on the washing line.

Close up

It shines all different colours in the light!

I was over the moon with the results!

My very own cosmic, shimmery gown.

I had to make the happy couple a card too!

I used a stencil from TCW Mini Life Remembered & used some

pink and blue Daler Rowney pearlescent Acrylic Ink & sponged it on

as a background. Once dry I stamped the metal patchwork heart stamp from

PaperArtsy Eclectica Darcy 02 set for my brother (he's a welder) &

I used the word heart stamp from PaperArtsy Eclectica Darcy 01

set for his wife (she's a teacher) Get it?

Anyway, I went round the edges with Archival Ink in Watering Can

which I also used on the stamps!

Ta da!

My version of a CAS card which is a first! 

Now it was all going to plan until the day of the reception...

I spent most of the day sorting my tribe out (there's quite a few of us, 6 to be exact)

& getting ready. This takes me so much longer to do now.

Troweled enough make up on to render a wall,

remembering not to put my dress on til last,

otherwise I'd get it dirty before we'd even left the house!

Stepped in my dress to put it on & after 3 of us trying to

squeeze me into it & do the zip up,

it wasn't happening.

Yep, I've put on so much weight in 4 weeks it doesn't fit!

BLOOMIN' MEDS!!!

All was not lost, I had a back up dress.

All girls have a back up dress.

Still, I'm sad I didn't get to wear my cosmic gown.

One day...

Cheers for stopping by!

Feel free to leave a comment.

Crafty hugs

Sez x

Painted Bag

Hiya my lovelies!

After a break from doing the painted bags & some persuasion

from people who like my FB Page,

I decided to bring them back!

I was unsure if I would still be able to do them as my arm plays up

constantly but I have managed it. Took me longer than it used to though!

Now my arm is telling me off & I'll have to pace myself but I'm really

pleased with how it turned out. At least I know I can still do them.

More importantly Mrs Woodgates was happy too!

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Cheers for stopping by.

Crafty hugs

Sez x

PaperArtsy Pattern Challenge

Hiya my lovelies!

I'm actually going to enter a challenge!!!!

Woo hoo!

It has been too long, I know.

This project is for the PaperArtsy Pattern Challenge.

I found an old Amazon box, (other online stores are available)

you know the ones like a folder, & thought I'd give it a paint!

Items for this project are:

I'll tell you what I used as we go along anyway!

Ok, I started by gessoing the entire folder.

I then squirted Spanish Mulberry, Pansy, Concrete & South Pacific

Fresco Finish Paint (my fave colours)

& used a dry brush to slap them on! I love this technique because

you never know how it will turn out! Fabulous!

Turned out like this!

I then painted a coat of South Pacific & let it dry with the help

of my trusty heat gun. (I was getting impatient!)

I then dry brushed another coat on top.

Love the result!

On the hinge parts of the folder I stamped a hinge image

from the HP1103 set 2 inches down from the top & 2 inches up from the bottom.

I did this on each one using Jet Black Archival Ink.

I then stamped the lock from the same set.

I stamped the big stamp along the top & bottom using Watering Can Archival Ink.

Then using the leaf stamp I created some patterns.

These were in Watering Can Archival Ink too.

I then went around the edges with the hollow circle strip stamp from FR4 set

in Watering can Archival Ink. I then squirted some Pumpkin Soup Fresco

onto a palette & stamped circles using an old tape tube.

I lined up the rest of the stamps in FR4 set to make a pattern

& stamped the flaps using Watering Can Archival Ink. I also

stamped on the other side in the same ink but I used the cog stamp from EDY01.

I used some low tack masking tape around the area so I didn't overstamp.

I like to use this grey colour for stamping backgrounds as it doesn't stand out too much.

I decided to overstamp the lock & hinge stamps using Copper Pearlised Paint.

I also used this to paint a rectangle inside on the top flap and around the edges.

I overstamped the copper rectangle inside with the

Happiness stamp from HP1103 using Jet Black Archival Ink.

I added a piece of ribbon and a handmade (by me) polymer clay

bead as a closure & a notebook & pen.

 

Voila!

I really like how it turned out.

Cheers for stopping by.

Leave me some love & come back soon!

Crafty Hugs

Sez x

Other Interests

Hiya my lovelies!

Just a quick post to let you all know that I have started another blog!

It's purpose is to help me vent, connect with others and to share my journey.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have a chronic illness called Fibromyalgia.

I want to spread awareness and help others with this illness.

Maybe you know someone who has Fibro or maybe you are curious to know more about it

or just want to get to know me better. I can promise there will probably be lots of oversharing!

If you want to share my journey with me, Mr. Golf and the Tribe then please take a look.

http://www.fibrowarriorwoman.blogspot.co.uk 

If not, then thanks for reading this far.

Cheers for being here and come back soon!

Crafty hugs

Sez x

Summer Catch up

Hiya my lovelies!

How's your summer been? Hope it's been great!

Ok, some of you that still follow me
(I thank you from the bottom of my heart),
will know I've been a poorly bug. I still struggle but you know what,

don't we all from time to time?
I have managed to paint a bit and make cards

for the kids in my class during my time off.

The photo above is of the card(s) I made the kids in my class.

There's only one in the photo but you know what I mean... anyway,

I wrote out the quote which is from Dr Seuss and coloured it in.

 Now I think the kids are great, but I am in no way doing it 30 times! 

So I scanned it, shrunk it and printed 30 off... cheating I don't think so!

Added a sweetie and a message and they were good to go!

I took them in on the last day of term and gave them out.

Before

After

 Right, next I painted a post holder (if that's what they're called?) I got it in a discount shop. (posh for pound shop) It was boring and white. It was crying out for some paint so I gave it a makeover!

It's now totally lush and worthy of a place in my home!

I have also been commissioned to paint a bag... yeah I know I put them on hold, but I've still got a few left and why not?! So if you want one let me know via my FB or leave a comment!
I'll do a post when it's finished.

My lovely husband, (known to you as Mr. Golf) is great at bringing home items for me to makeover. We are a right pair of 'Skip Rats'!
I currently have a room divider (waiting for hinge repair before I can start on it), 3 mirrors, a table and chairs set for the garden and numerous other gems!
It keeps me busy planning on what I will do with and to them!
Love to recycle and repurpose!

I've also spent some of my time doing courses on Udemy.
What a great platform! I'm totally into lifelong learning and if you are then check it out. No, I'm not affiliated! I also search up stuff on YouTube which is free. (If you don't count the cost of WIFI) I'm not affiliated with them either!

Anyway I digress, I'd like to thank you for reading this far. It's been really nice writing this post, really helpful as hand exercise but also connecting with you. It's why bloggers blog. Connecting with other like minded individuals. So cheers to being here and I hope you come back soon!

Crafty Hugs
Sez x

Art For Healing

Hiya my lovelies!

I know, I know! A bit longer than anticipated,

but I have managed to make some art 
and this is gonna get a bit deep!

So here it is!

'Layers of Pain'

I decided to paint with my hands and fingers.

I have had trouble using my arms lately,
but I figured it might help!

I wanted to use my pain to fuel this piece
and tapped into my intuition.

I feel pain in 'layers' so I chose different colours
and textures to represent them.

For instance, red is 'burning', white is 'stabbing'
and the glitter is 'pins and needles'.
The black is the darkness of isolation and despair.

Sounds depressing and it is, but I found a real connection
painting this using my intuition.

It is ME on canvas.

Whoa deep stuff eh?!

You might think that I find it difficult to look at, but I don't.

To me, it is beautiful.

Pain tears you down but you can use it to build you up.

I choose to let it build me up - make me stronger.

Creating this piece has helped me feel more empowered.
I know art shouldn't need explaining, it's subjective after all,
but I felt the need to tell you all what it means to me.

Art can be used to heal
so that's what I'm going to do!

I really appreciate you stopping by!
Please feel free to comment.
Crafty Hugs
Sez x

Something Personal

 

Hiya my lovelies!
 

I know it's been a long time since I last published a post on here.

I usually post about my makes etc. but this post is a little different.

It is also very wordy and VERY long! I suggest you get a cuppa and a comfy chair!

   
     I have been dealing with a chronic illness which has gotten worse over the last year and a half. I am still working as a teaching assistant but I can only work part time now.
 I haven't really made much art as I have difficulty using my hands/arms and am in chronic pain. I have a condition called Fibromyalgia.
It causes widespread chronic pain and fatigue amongst other crappy symptoms. So I'm clumsy and knackered! My body is unreliable. I never know how I'm going to be from one day to the next. I'm on a multitude of meds that would probably knock out a horse, but they don't seem to do much to me!

Most days I cope ok, going to work and managing a household of six can be a challenge and I kinda manage. Sometimes I don't cope so well. Sometimes I stagger or drag myself to work, put on a brave face and carry on. But my family know. My daughters have to wash my hair for me, my husband has to lift me out of the bath. I can't lift the kettle to make a cuppa! Sometimes I cry myself to sleep. I try not to dwell on what I can't do, or slide down the endless spiral of despair and anguish, but it's hard! Outwardly, 'I'm alright, I'm always alright!' (and if you know me IRL this is my catchphrase). Sometimes the energy it takes to keep up the charade is too much and the mask falls away.

This week I'm off work. My body is having a tantrum. My hands don't do what I want. Typing is taking FOREVER!!!! My pain levels are high. My energy levels are low. We decided to buy an electric wheelchair. Just for when I'm struggling.
It's not that I can't walk, it's that I have a limited amount of energy. By the time I've gotten where I want to go, I can't do anything! I feel guilty for my kids missing out on family time out because of my illness. I feel angry for missing out on stuff because of this illness. So it was the logical thing to do. Now I can go places even if I'm having a poorly day and my family don't miss out. I can be pushed and have a kip if need be!

The house is a tip and I'm behind with the washing, (no change there)! Everything seems to take me longer and hurts to do. Which kinda puts me off!
But even though I hurt and feel so bloomin' useless, I am still alive. I can still have a laugh. I can still see all the beautiful things the world has to offer. I can still feel love all around me. I can turn the negative into a positive and I can learn! Life is a series of lessons. Every day we learn something new. So I choose to turn this pain and suffering into a lesson, one that teaches strength. 
After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?
My body is feeble but my spirit is strong!

I have been watching lots of arty videos to try and get the creative juices flowing. Unfortunately, I got frustrated with myself as I couldn't physically do what I wanted to. I wanted to join in challenges but the pain and the low energy levels didn't encourage me to create (nor did the grey cloud above my head). 
I signed up to www.arthealssummit.com
and the videos are emailed to you every day. I put all mine in a folder to watch later. I watched some today. They have inspired me to keep going. I plan to have a go at creating some art this week. (By writing it here, it makes me accountable) even if it's just mark making! My soul needs to create! I will post some pics etc. on here so watch this space!

I'm sorry this post was a marathon read but I needed to write it. It's been a long time coming! It also took me ages to type! haha!
So thank you for taking time to visit my blog and come back soon!

Gentle crafty hugs
Sez x