live love cherish

Our Urban Wildflower Garden

2011-08-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

One of our neighbors keeps lots of bees. Every year he and his bees produce the most delicious honey which sells like hotcakes at all the local shops around here. We thought it would be nice to help his little fuzzy flying friends out.

It started out as a patch of land that used to be the base of an old green house many years ago. The dirt there is very poor and not far below the top soil it is full of rocks and rubble. We decided years ago that it was just too much hassle to try and get it in good enough shape to grow veggies, so we left it.

This year we thought we would try something different. We had this huge bag of wildflower seeds that we bought somewhere...can't remember...mixed the seed with some sand and decided to just throw it in there and see what happened. We had to pull out loads of weeds first and soak the ground but we were pleasantly surprised to find that the seeds took! Mostly California Poppies came up first and then loads of Fennel. Soon other stuff like Cornflowers and Calendula started coming up and blooming like crazy. I then planted in the Sunflowers that I started in pots in the green house. This proved to be a really good move because every year our sunflower heads get eaten off by the squirrels...but planting them in between all the wildflowers seemed to deter them. Squirrels are cute, but bastards nonetheless, and very hard to outsmart!

Our impulsive little wildlfower patch turned out to be a success because it was the ultimate bee haven! It's not the most tidy garden...it looks totally wild actually...but I like shaggy gardens way better than manicured ones so I was really pleased with the results. As long as the bees are happy, I am happy!

Summer Harvest Part 1

2011-08-21T05:06:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I thought I would post pics of our summer harvest so far. There is way more to come and I will post more pics as and when they come. Can you see why I have been so busy cooking and preserving?
It's all good!

x

A Day Out in Whitstable

2011-08-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

For Wayne's birthday we went to Whitstable for the day to hang out with some good friends, eat some good food and mooch around some art studios. It rained most of the day so we didn't really go near the sea but we could smell it which is just as good as being in it! I brought some of my new textile work (pictured above) for my friends' new beach house and found a few shops that are interested in stocking some of my work. Wayne is from Whitstable...I love it there. Will we move there someday? Hmmmmmmm....maybeee...wink wink.

Life Just Is

2011-08-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hello! It's been a long time hasn't it?

I have not stepped foot into Blogland for over a month! Life has been happening and I have been busy taking care of the practical things in my life that always seem to get neglected when I'm in ultra productive mode. I've mentioned it before, but I've got an autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's) that tends to hassle me from time to time. I had been feeling really unwell for months and couldn't figure out was was wrong. Then my blood tests revealed that my Thyroid levels were way outa wack. I was really sick for nearly two weeks and couldn't work. But...thank goodness, I'm on the mend now. They've upped my Thyroid meds, I've been on a 'blood-sugar-balancing' diet for three weeks, I've quit caffeine and lost nearly 14 pounds...so today, I can say I am feeling like my old self again...good, creative and energetic!

This past month has really just been about pulling inward and getting rebalanced. I've done lots of reading and writing in my journal. I have been cooking all the yummy veggies from our garden, playing with the dog, hanging out with my husband and de-cluttering and 'fairy-lighting' my studio. I have been coming up with ideas for new projects, classes to teach, things to make and places to go. I have hardly done any making or socializing but for the first time in a long time, I feel good in my skin.

Ageing is such a good thing sometimes. The wisdom it brings. Rather than beating myself up for not being productive this month, I am grateful for my body telling me to slow down, rest and take stock. This is a new thing for me. I like this new pace. The creative energy it brings is fresh and full of promise.

Penshurst Place...Is it Haunted?

2011-07-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Could this be the grave of one of the ghosts?

I'm sniffing lavender in case you were wondering...

Chock-full-o-ghosts!

Apparently this is supposed to be a porcupine.

Dag and me

Lord of the Manor

The Union Jack Garden

Yes it is haunted!
This post is a bit outdated because it was over a week ago that we treated our friend Dagmara to a day out at Penshurst Place (for her birthday) but it's only just now I have had the time to sort out my images from that day. Penshurst Place is a medieval manor house with vast grounds and gardens, built in 1341, located in Kent. They never let you take pictures inside the house which is why all the pics are of the garden...which was beautiful...and magical. We try to go to as many stately homes as possible and oogle over all the old stuff. I get caught up in the romance of it all and can literally transport myself back in time and picture what it must have been like and it gives me butterflies in my stomach. Wayne likes to admire the old furniture and try to guess how much he could get for it on Ebay. We always have a chuckle when we think that the rich, dead aristocracy of these old places must be turning in their graves knowing that now, a few hundred years later, their gorgeous castles are open to the public and crawling with peasants!

I'm not a 'ghosty' person. I do believe in them but I can take them or leave them. I'm not particularly drawn to that kind of stuff and I'm definitely not a medium or psychic or anything. I don't look into whether these places are haunted before I go to them...partly because I don't really care but mostly because I just assume a house that old must have some spirits rattling around in them. I've been to lots of old houses and castles...never saw or felt anything. But Penshurst Place definitely had some 'ghostly' stuff going on...a cold, tingly, angry energy that I felt through to my bones and back up my spine again. Even Wayne felt something (that he described as an electric, buzzing feeling) and he's a total sceptic. The Tapestry Room and the Nether Room were the worst for me. I felt angry and cold and I couldn't wait to get out of there. There was a painting that I swear was watching me and I kept getting whiffs of woodsmoke and frankincense. Neither Wayne or Dag could smell it. I even asked the lady who worked there if she smelled it and she said no. I asked her if the place was haunted. She said no. Below are the two rooms that I am talking about. I didn't take these pics...I got them off of a Google Image search so I don't know who took them...so apologies for not properly crediting them.

I also want to say that I have dreamt of these rooms...and the long hallways of Penshurst Place...many times over the years...way before I even moved to England. They were always scary dreams...and full of ghosts and evil stuff. I decided to read up on it and it turns out, Penshurst is haunted by many ghosts. Not only that, one of them apparently smells of woodsmoke! I'm certain I was smelling him when I was there. Anyways...if you like ghosts and chilly vibes...go to Penshurst, it's got all of it going on...and wear something warm, it feels like death froze over in there!

The day was truly lovely though. I bought some sweet peanuts and strawberry bons bons in the gift shop and we came home pleasantly tired and had some freshly brewed tea and gluten free chocolate birthday cake with a mocha cream frosting...(I made it)......heeeeee!

Beautiful Dungeness

2011-07-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the closest thing in England to an American desert.

The weather was perfect.

Amazing, eerie, inspiring, beautiful, haunting, minimal, harsh, dead, alive, magnetic, strange, mystical, radioactive, romantic...and one of my most favorite places on this planet.

Dungeness. The farthest tip of land at the most southern part of Kent. Four miles out to sea.

It's like nothing else anywhere.

More pics here on my Flickr.

x

Going Nuts Over Porcelain Flowers

2011-06-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

1.Valeria Nascimento 2. Far4 3. John Whitehead 4. MaaP Studio 5. Studio Klimenkoff 6. Elizabeth Prince 7. Melissa Gamwell 8. Source Unknown 9. Source Unknown

I should be working right now but instead I have spent hours trawling the Internet looking at porcelain flowers. I love them. The ornate, delicate white ones make my heart skip a beat. I almost can't bear it. White porcelain just seriously does it for me. I can feel another obsession coming on. How much I wish I knew how to work with ceramics...and wasn't so clumsy handed...I'd love to be able to make some of these. These are just a few I found to be particularly lovely but there are tons more out there waiting to be seen and adored.

x

Making Millinery Flowers

2011-06-27T05:51:00.000-07:00

My passion with flowers doesn't stop in the garden. I have also been harboring a serious millinery flower obsession for as long as I can remember. As a child, I used to go to the dime store and buy all sorts of velvet flowers, fruits and berries. It was the 1970s and things like that were in abundance. Sadly millinery flowers that have the kind of quality of yester-year are very, very scarce. In fact the whole artificial flower business is quite elusive. Most artificial flowers that are readily available are mass produced in the Far East and are made from cheap polyester and come in garish colors. There are places that sell good quality millinery flowers, but they are so traditional. I want something unique, funky and kinda quirky. When I do find some old millinery flower stock though, I find it very hard to part with it.

Lately I have been busying myself with trying to make some of my own. These are some of my first attempts. Try not to laugh. They are 'flat' and 'new' looking and aren't really 'there' for me. I think I will try to dye some of my own fabrics next. I am also ordering a set of heat flower presses which will hopefully give future flowers that I make a more 3-D appearance. I want my 'new' flowers to look old and vintage...so onward and upwards with experimenting!

Meanwhile...these flowers may just end up on a fascinator base with some other embellishments...so stay tuned.

I Have A Website!!!

2011-06-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

www.ginaleebean.com

It has been one long road and I never thought it would get here, but I finally have a website. My poor old analog brain has been dragged kicking and screaming out of the dark ages, and with the help of my good friend Jason (who has one of them amazing computery brains and a ton of patience), I now have a teeny little place to call my own on the Internet. It's nothing flashy or fancy-shmancy...just simple, clean and easy to navigate...just how I like websites to be!

Please have a look and let me know what you think...and feel free to sign up for my mailing list.

x

Summer Wedding Fascinators

2011-06-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

Wedding season is here and I have been busy making fascinators. Both of these were made with vintage flowers and bits so they are one-offs....but I have also been very busy making some repro flowers too. I have been studying vintage millinery flower techniques and although I'm still in the experimenting phase, I hope to have some fabulous ones (with a funky, modern twist) made up and in my shop very soon. I'm not really a hat person but I can't seem to resist floral fascinators...or huge flowers in hair! I can probably trace that obsession back to the day I fell in love with Frida Khalo. I spend most days alone in my studio so I never have a reason to put my hair in bunches and festoon it out with huge blossoms, but I am going to a big bridal fair on Thursday...so maybe it will be as good an excuse as any to stick flowers in my hair!

x

Another Lush Batch of Gluten Free Cupcakes!

2011-06-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

The Gluten Free adventure is still on but I have to be honest that I haven't been on it 100% which may explain why I don't feel any different. But I can say one thing...if I eat something with lots of gluten in it....like pizza or a big portion of pasta...my Fibro symptoms are way worse. I have really noticed it since I have been (mostly) gluten free. Maybe I needed to cheat here and there to kind of test it...I don't know...but I do plan on going at it 100% full throttle very soon. I'm still poring over all the cookbooks I bought and planning meals etc. Will keep you posted.

Meanwhile...will you look at these gorgeous cupcakes! They are chamomile, lemon and courgette with a chamomile/lemon butter cream frosting...and they are gluten free. I made them for a dinner party and everyone there said they tasted better than cupcakes made with wheat flour. They were delicious. The recipe is from THIS amazing book...I highly recommend it.

Have a great weekend!
x

Caroline Victoria Rose: A Rose for the Arts

2011-06-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous, strong and elegant rose created in memory of Caroline Victoria Coldicutt, a young and talented artist who's life was cut short by a tragic death. Read more about the rose here...and read about the Foundation here.

Mine is blooming and filling my studio with the most heavenly fragrance.

I so love roses.

x

What I Wore Today: May 30, 2011

2011-05-31T15:34:00.000-07:00

The daisys are blooming so I thought I'd dress up for the occassion.

x

'Going Gluten Free' Celebration Cupcakes

2011-05-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

I have recently made the decision to try and go gluten free. I'm not Coeliac but I do have some other autoimmune problems such as Hashimoto's Disease as well as Fibromyalgia. I guess the writing has been on the wall for a while now. I have some friends who have Fibro who have seen a huge improvement in their symptoms once they went gluten free. I also have a good friend who is Coeliac and she has shown me that eating gluten free isn't as limiting as I first thought. She has been so generous by passing on information, giving me tips and advice and loaning me some of her cookbooks. (Thanks L...hugs, hugs.)

Giving up bread and wheat isn't so daunting really...but it's the baked goods that had me concerned. My beloved cakes and pastries would be no longer! I thought a gluten free cupcake would taste like dust. I was so wrong! I made these delicious cupcakes today from the 'Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes' recipe from this gorgeous cookbook by Harry Eastwood. The cake part is made from courgette/zucchini, ground almonds and rice flour. There is a dollop of strawberry jam in the middle. The frosting is made from icing sugar, a wee bit of butter, vanilla and mascarpone cheese. It's not as sickly sweet as a conventional buttercream frosting and not as sour as a cream cheese frosting...and I kinda like that. Wayne wasn't too crazy about the texture which is a bit grainy rather than spongy but he thought that they tasted better than regular cupcakes. I think they taste better too. They taste real. Like real food and not sickly and processed-like...does that make sense? Anyway, I am now in love with Harry Eastwood....I can't wait to make more stuff...and to share it around. Life is just better if you can have cake and share it with those you love.

x

I Saved A Bee!

2011-05-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

Today when I came home I found a flaked out bee on the bathroom floor. His little legs were all stiff and twitchy...he looked like he was nearly dead.

Rewind about 30 summers ago when I was aged 14 sitting on the porch watching my great aunt Lou do her gardening. Being an avid gardener and a good Christian, Lou loved all of God's creatures, especially the bees. Whenever one was found fizzled out and struggling she would drizzle some honey near it to revive it. Being an angst ridden and bored teenager I probably rolled my eyes, but Lou's method of saving bees must have stuck with me because it's the first thing I thought to do for this little bee. (and little he was...not a honey bee...more likely a solitary mason bee perhaps?...not too sure.)

Anyway, it worked! I put some honey on a butter knife, picked the bee up with it and he immediately started licking it up. Lick, lick, lick...I could see his cute little curly tongue lapping up the honey. Gradually there was movement in his legs, then his body, then his wings...and after about a half hour, he crawled to the window and flew away!

Bye bye Mr. Bee!

x

Victorian Cemetery and Church Love

2011-05-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's a cliche, I know...being an American here in England, oogling the Victorian architecture...but I can't help myself. No matter how many Victorian churches and cemeteries I see, I never tire of them and I never cease to be amazed at how romantically beautiful and atmospheric they are. All those people, dead for over 100 years, gravestones faded and weathered, loved ones long gone and probably forgotten. It seems so sad, but there is always such a strong presence in Victorian cemeteries that can't be ignored. Perhaps it's because I'm from California and there is nothing this old or ornate there. The really old architecture seen in California is of a Western/Mexican/Pueblo style...very 'Ranchy'...which is beautiful too and gives the perfect backdrop for cactus (which I love). But because I grew up with that, I'm used to it.

European architecture though...simply gorgeous! These photos were taken at Nunhead Cemetery and All Saints Church, both in SE London.

x

My Illustrations Featured at Laura Ward Photography

2011-05-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

This is some illustration work that I did for an amazingly talented photographer named Laura Ward. Honest, feminine, deep, nostalgic and multi-layered is how I would describe her work which is communicated by her use of various types of cameras (and techniques)...especially the old, hand windey up ones (sorry I don't have the proper terminology) but they are lush. I really enjoyed this job because not only is Laura is a joy to work with, but I really admire her work as well...and besides, I can draw tea related stuff all day...I love it! Thank you Laura for such a sweet and generous write up about me, my work and my studio. Fred says Hi!

You can visit Laura's blog here and see more of her work here.

x

Armstrings

2011-05-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

One in a series of drawings I have been working on...gradually...which explores the relationship and attachment to the Pain Body.

I will post more once I can rig something to photograph the others...they are much too large for my scanner and because I am trying to preserve my sanity, I won't be trying to piece them together in Photoshop.

I often forget how therapeutic it is to draw...hair especially...using the hardest graphite and the sharpest point...gently building up the layers is so relaxing.

Graphite on paper...9" x 12"

x

Baby Foxes!

2011-05-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, here's the deal. There are about a zillion foxes that live on our property and every year they have babies but we don't always get to see them...and the times we do get to see them, it's dark outside and you can barely see them let alone photograph them. Well, one of the vixens that has been here for quite a while now (she's about 4 years old) had four cubs this year and today she brought them out in daylight and I was able to capture them playing and exploring! Pardon the poor quality pics, but I was far away and my zoom is bare basic. I know I won't be wining the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award but I am so happy to have even got these. I wish I could have got a good shot of all four babies together but they were running around so much I couldn't capture it...but I did get a good pic of Mother kissing baby. Go here if you want to see some more.
Aren't they cute?

x

Acknowledging...

2011-05-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

...the pure perfection of love and the infinite beauty of nature, whilst trying to make sense of all the hurt and betrayal that goes along with it.

These are indeed very strange and sad times.

x

Oh My...This is So Cute!

2011-05-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

This Weekend:

2011-05-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

I admired the first rose to appear on the climber and caught an aphid red-handed, made some custom bunting from upcycled textiles for this amazing wool shop, was in awe in the abundance of blossoms appearing on our trees, gave a gift, ate cupcakes from here, realised that poppies bear a close resemblance to my unshaven legs....and...on top of all this, I found time to get some things ready for my upcoming etsy shop.
(Oh, I did some laundry and ironing too, but I didn't feel inspired to take a picture of it).

And...how was your lovely weekend?

x

The Royal Wedding Festivities

2011-05-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Any excuse to bake a cake, wear flowers in your hair, hang bunting, bring out the Union Jack and close the street and have a party is Ok with me. What a great day Friday was!

My Guru, Mentor and Spiritual Advisor

2011-04-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

Lilacs!

2011-04-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hello! I hope you like purple because this post is full of it! Every year it's the same thing. About this time in the April I raid the lilac bushes in my garden. This year, however, was something else. The abundance of blossoms was overwhelming. I picked so many lilacs that I could have seriously flowered out the Royal Wedding...or at least opened my own flower shop. And after all ~~my picking~~ (actually Wayne did most of it) I didn't even make a dent. ..there's millions more out there...wafting their sweetness in the warm breeze.

The house is full of lilacs. Every single solitary vase I own is being used. It's almost too much. The house smells like a funeral parlour...or an old lady's knicker drawer...(clean ones of course!)...but I still love it.

I love lilacs. Especially the white ones (which we don't have). Their time with us is so brief...before you know it, they are gone. I can almost say that perhaps lilacs just might possibly be my favorite flower...that is until my roses start to bloom...or the giant sunflowers get super giant...or in late summer when our wildflower garden is in full swing. Is it possible to have a favorite wildflower? There are so many! Do you have a favorite flower? Tell me about it.

x

Craft Fair Amazingness!

2011-04-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Laura and I went to the Etsy sponsored Crafty Fox Pop Up Market at the Dogstar in Brixton. What a terrific venue and one of the best craft fairs I have been to in a long time. I didn't see a single thing that I didn't like and I found it very hard indeed to stick to my budget because I swear I wanted to buy just about everything in there. The crafting community is so friendly and I met a lot of really nice people there. I was so busy oogling stuff, socializing and eating (the most delicious) vegan cupcakes, I completely forgot to take any pictures. I always do that...and I kick myself later for it.

I treated myself to two new beasties. The market was full...and I mean FULL...of all kinds of beasties. Cute ones, funny ones, fuzzy ones, lavender smelling ones...soooo many beasties. But I chose these two beasties because they spoke to me. No, I'm not some crazy nutjob who talks to softies (actually, I do sometimes). What I mean is...my heart melted and I had to have them.

Meet Long John. A miserable, sleep-deprived old sod (just like me) lovingly made by StuffedNonsense. These gals make some of the cutest softies I've ever seen. Sweetness and humor with a dark side, each creature is named and given a description of their quirks and habits, and everything is made so darn well. I highly recommend you take a peek at their Folksy shop and look at some of them...you will love them all!

And then there is this little guy. I laughed and almost cried and absolutely feel in love with this little teeny tiny itty bitty limbless needle-felted baby opossum made by Fibrous. He is tiny (nearly 3"!) and helpless and so damn cute. It was hard to choose though. She had some really cute squirrels and hedgies...and I'm a sucker for squirrels and hedgies. Thea, the gal who makes them is so nice and has such good energy...her personality is in every one of her creations. Check out her Etsy shop...and look at this adorable guinea pig on her Flickr. Thanks Thea...baby possum is being well looked after by Long John.

Crafty Fox should be doing another market at Christmas time...so, if you live near...I highly recommend it!

x

Bizy Azzz A Bee in the Springtime

2011-04-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

Wow...well, it's been a whole three weeks since I posted on my blog and it feels kinda strange poking my head back into BloggyLand. Life just kinda took over and I have been doing lots of mundane practical things that I guess I felt weren't interesting enough to write about...or take pictures of. But hey...it's the simple things that make life so special...so here goes.

Springtime is always super busy here while we get the garden ready for planting and all the wee little seeds get lovingly tucked into their little compost beds. We have nearly 2 acres of lawn that needs mowing and lots of things need weeding and cleaning up. The bees are buzzing and the garden is full of butterflies already! Today I saw the most beautiful white and peach colored one...I have never seen this type before...I wonder what kind it was? Our massive compost heap is housing a bumblebee nest and well as many cute little mice that looove to eat rotten vegetables. I don't really like the wasps that enjoy living there too...but they are Mother Nature's creations too...so I 'tolerate' them...even when they dive-bomb at me...eeeeek.

I have been really focusing on healing my body and I have been cooking healthy meals and exercising as well. Meditation, centering and 're-programming' have been top of the priority list. Wayne and I have been sorting and packing and preparing for shipping some of our favorite things...getting ready for our big move Stateside later this year. There is so much involved in a move abroad and the logistics of it are almost all consuming. It's a crazy, emotional time for both of us.

As well as working on my new website, I have been beavering away on some very special textile projects which will be for sale (soon!) in my shop. I will keep you posted. I'm not sure if I'm going to do Etsy or Big Cartel or ArtFire...any suggestions? Etsy seems like the best bet but I have read some pretty bad stuff about Etsy lately...so I'm a bit cautious. So if any of you internet shop veterans happen to be reading and can impart some pearls of wisdom, I'd be most appreciative!

Speaking of Etsy...I went to the most amazing Etsy sponsored craft fair yesterday and bought two new beasties to add to the family. Stay tuned, I will post about it tomorrow.

Big 'Hello Again' hugs to you all!

x

Some Weekends are Like That

2011-03-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

Thinking, sleeping, reading, day dreaming, digging, being, crying, sketching, sniffing, listening...lying on back looking at the blue sky...loving.
Nothing...yet everything accomplished this weekend.

x

Intuitive Painting #1

2011-03-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

A while ago I posted something about these Intuitive Painting (also called Process Painting) classes I have been taking. The goal of these classes is to paint as freely as possible, without thought or connections to an outcome. There is meditation and painting is done in silence. A disconnection from the mind and total connection to the signals of the body is the aim. Freedom, play, fun, acting on impulse, keeping the brush moving and no stopping and looking. No judgements or discussions at the end. No critiques. No comments whatsoever.

People of all sorts take this class for various reasons. For me, it was about trying to quiet the inner critic...the constant chatter in my head of not working hard enough or being good enough. I was hoping for some kind of breakthrough, a release from the daily grind of working so 'tightly'. I loved it. I even slept better on the nights that I took my class. I liked how I could work abstractly, for fun, and not be judged for it. I love how I used every color under the sun when normally in my practice I use a limited palette. It has opened me up to working larger scale, working standing up and even stepping outside my comfort zone in how the paint is applied.

In the third painting above, toward the end, I started to feel restricted by the paintbrush. It was too hard for me to disconnect from my artist brain as long as I was holding that familiar implement. In the upper right corner you can see where I started to paint with my fingers. Dainty and clean at first...it kinda grossed me out. But then something clicked and I went on to a clean surface, which is the fourth painting. This one was painted totally by my fingers, palms, arms and elbows. It was messy and fun and out of control. There was paint everywhere. I laughed, and hummed and felt like a child blissfully playing with colors. This is soooo out of character for me. But...It was me. That IS me. So sweet and so surprising. I'm not so wound up after all! I can't wait to do more. I can't recommend it enough.

x

Dog-Zilla The Mighty Staple Remover

2011-03-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

Don't be scared, it's only Jake having a big fat yawn...but don't look too long, you might fall in and never be seen again!

x

This is What Happens When you Turn Your Back on a Squirrel

2011-03-21T03:56:00.000-07:00

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich...gone forever.

x

Dreaming of Spring...and Summer.

2011-03-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

Just close your eyes and imagine the warmth on your face and the sweet smell in the air.
Hear the birds singing and the bees buzzing.
See the waitress coming over with my Margarita.

x

Birthday Treats

2011-03-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday.

It was filled with all the people and things that make my heart sing.

Simple...minimal...loving.

I turned 44...which is an 8 in numerology.

8 = Prosperity.

Perfect.

For Japan

2011-03-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

Working Large Scale

2011-03-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

I have recently started taking some Intuitive Painting classes. So far I have only attended two classes and it has been amazingly freeing. I will post more about it later when I have something to show and something more to say about it. I will post some of the work I have done...(which looks like I was partaking in psychedelics)...and hopefully we will be able to see a progression happening. One of the things that has influenced me so much already from that class is working large scale and standing up at an easel. I feel it has opened my spirit right up. I always work small, sitting down, hunched over my desk (no wonder my shoulders and ass always ache)...so this has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I am finding that I really enjoy working large. Maybe some day I will be brave enough to try oils. I love, love the smell of oil paints.

Just for fun I put a big piece of brown parcel paper on my studio wall, blew the dust off of my acrylics (had to use pliers to open some of them!) and started to paint. This really is big for me...36" x 28"...and very intimidating, it uses up so much paint. I started with the background and then I just painted what ever came to mind, didn't care about outcomes or anything...and this angry lady appeared. It will be interesting to see where my intuition takes me (and the painting) next.

x

Naughty Little Nest Makers

2011-03-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

I really struggled with this painting and I'm not entirely happy with the results but I decided to post it anyway. I had the idea about a year ago and did a sketch with the eventual plans of painting it. I kept putting it off because I couldn't decide what colors to use or how to present it...blah blah.
I used acrylic on this. Normally I use ink or gouache or watercolor. I haven't used acrylic paint to do an illustration since my art school days in the late 80s...and I still have some of my old tubes of paint from those days...and they are miraculously still useable! This is one of those paintings that gave me a major identity crisis. It reminds me so much of my older work. To my eye, it looks so dated...so overworked...so heavy. Maybe it's the medium. Maybe it's me not understanding the medium. Maybe my work is dated. People will think I can't paint if they see this. It's too whimsical. I hate whimsical. I want to be someone I'm not. I need to stop comparing myself to other artists. I need to stop thinking so much. On and on my mind goes until I can't think objectively any more. I had to stop and start this piece so many times because of this. I suppose it's part of being an artist. We never stop learning and something always needs improving. I've got really high standards and it's so hard not to judge myself...and others. I must remind myself..."To compare is to despair".
x

Blue Girl On A Bag

2011-03-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

I Now Have A Facebook Page

2011-03-04T03:01:00.000-08:00

Pop on by if you Like, and Like me if you Like.

Gina Lee Bean Illustration on Facebook.

If you have a Facebook page, I'm sure I will Like it too...so please send me a link...if you Like.

x

They Don't Make Them Like They Used To

2011-03-02T05:12:00.000-08:00

My mom has recently decided to take up sewing again...which is great news because she is so good at it. She dug out my Grandmother's old early 1970s sewing machine and thinking that it might not work or at least need to be taken in for 'servicing', she discovered that it still works like a dream. Amazing. Inside the box was this user manual that came with it. I love the illustrations on it. I was a young child in the early 70s and I remember staring at fashion illustrations constantly...admiring how well drawn they were and how pretty the ladies are. I wanted to be one of those ladies and I wanted even more to be one of the illustrators who could create them. I am certain that all this observing (and copying...I would spend hours trying to draw like that) has contributed to my style and skill. I also love how companies really used to make an effort to make things nice to look at in those days. The manuals that come with stuff nowadays are so boring...black and white...only with 'functional' illustrations and diagrams. Mass production and the need to save money has taken the lustre off of almost everything on offer these days. I also love my Grandmother's writing on the cover. Feminine, optimistic and old-fashioned. It reminds me of her. She passed away several years ago. I miss her terribly.

x

First Signs of Spring

2011-02-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

Wayne picked these for me this morning.
The first four Daffs of the year.
They smell sweet and warm.
There is light at the end of the tunnel.

x

What To Do With Boring Brochures

2011-02-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

I picked up one of these floor plan/guide/brochure thingys for The National Gallery when we were there last week. The layout is sooooo dull and boring, so I thought I would spruce it up a bit. What do you think?

x

30 Pictures of Something Good

2011-02-23T05:09:00.000-08:00

Feeling inspired by this fun project that Sandra Juto introduced on her blog, I thought I would do one too. I know that mine is mostly pictures of my hubby and my dog...but my world is pretty small these days which is how I like it and need it to be.
Pop on over to Sandra's blog...it's full of eye candy.
Please do one too...and then leave me a comment telling me about it...I would LOVE to see it! Don't forget to put the link.

1. Someone I spend a lot of time with.

2. A picture of myself

3. A picture of someone in my family

4. A picture of something that makes me happy.

5. An old picture of myself.

6. A picture of my sibling

7. A picture I never posted on my blog before.

8. A picture of a person I miss.

9.A relative of mine.

10. A picture of my favorite place.

11. A person I can tell everything to.

12. A picture of my everyday life.

13. A picture from a place I love

14. A picture which reminds me of old times.

15. A picture of friends from my childhood.

16. A picture of myself.

17. An unusual picture.

18. A picture of my spare time.

19. A picture I'm satisfied with.

20. A picture of the people who are closest to me.

21. A person who is always there for me.

22. A picture from a time in life I miss.

23. A picture from last summer.

24. A picture that makes me happy.

25. A person who always makes me happy.

26. Someone I'm always having fun with.

27. A picture I always laugh about.

28. A crazy picture.

29. The latest picture of myself.

30. Someone I will never let go of.

Punk Stuff

2011-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

Sorting, listing, purging, photographing, keeping, investing, selling, scrapbooking, stacking, recycling, packing, shipping, remembering, laughing, crying and coming up with loads of creative ideas of what to do with 30+ years of collecting Punk Memorabilia. It's crazy...but it's good!

x

Nail Polish Love: Greys

2011-02-21T04:47:00.000-08:00

Ok...it's a bit unconventional for an artist's blog but I want to start sharing with you my obsession with nail polish. There is this need that I have to fill in the spaces of my life. Nails to me are a tidy little space, a teenie little canvas crying out to be painted. The act of meticulously filling in that little space with a juicy colour fills me with so much satisfaction it's almost palpable. I can't help myself. If I see someone in public with nice nails that also happen to be unpainted it drives me crazy. It's like that unbearable urge to go up to the chalkboard and erase that tiny little bit of chalk at the top that the teacher missed, or the need to fill in all the outlined spaces in a colouring book. Once it's done...it's soooo good.

I am always on the lookout for interesting nail polishes and I have become somewhat of a nail polish connoisseur. It's no different than finding pleasure in flipping through a Pantone book for hours (which I also do) and trying to challenge yourself to pick ONE favourite. I am always partial to neutrals and anything matte and usually gravitate toward these colours but I also like unconventional colours when it comes to nail polish. Some colours make me swoon, whereas some others (like pink or coral frosts) just turn my stomach. I also can't bear long, airbrushed fake nails either. Short, squared nails are the best...like trimmed little topiary trees...symmetrical and tidy.

I buy a lot of nail polish. What I have discovered is that price doesn't necessarily mean good quality. The Barry M range of nail polishes only cost £2.99 a bottle, go on smooth and last for ages...plus they have a really good range of bizarre colours. Dior nail polish costs nearly £20.00 for a bottle and it's rubbish! It chips after one day and the colours lack depth. Chanel polish is good because the colours are rich and deep but they take absolute ages to dry...ages...and they still don't last as long as the Barry M stuff...and we all know how expensive Chanel is! So far the best nail polish ever has to be OPI. When used with OPI top coat it lasts...not kidding...for one week (and that's even doing the dishes without rubber gloves!). I love OPI so much it's ridiculous.

Above are the two new OPI colours I just acquired. The top pic is 'Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees' from their SUEDE range. The suede range is amazing because it is completely matte (no shine at all!) and has a velvety touch to it. The other is 'I Want to Be A-Lone Star' and depending on your skin tone and what colour clothes you are wearing, it can change colours. Sometimes it looks like a matte grey, other times it looks like sky blue and other times it looks silver! A really strange colour...I'm still deciding whether or not I like it. Anyway...I will be posting more colours in the future so stay tuned if your interested. I have just bought a bunch of amazing colours from the TopShop Makeup range...looking forward to trying them out!

x

A Rare But Lovely, Lovely Day

2011-02-16T03:42:00.000-08:00

A Rare day because Wayne and I rarely ever take a day off from work to just enjoy ourselves and do something nice for us. Work and practical stuff always seems to come first. We decided to take Monday off to celebrate Valentines Day by going to The National Gallery. Rare and Lovely because after days and days of rain and greyness, London had one of the most gorgeous Springlike days in ages. So clear and the air was fresh and crisp. London really is a beautiful city and when the clouds clear you can really see just how marvelous it is!

The National Gallery was a real treat. We had coffee and cake in the Gallery cafe (which has THE most amazing selection of cakes and treats) then mooched around looking at art. I took a picture of one of the main areas and immediately got reprimanded by one of the guards...(you can see her coming at me in the picture above!) Honestly...I know you can't take pics where the art is...but I had NO idea you couldn't photograph the lobby! Woopsie. Aw well...I wish I could have taken more because in that lobby there were these HUGE pewter urns (and when I say huge, I mean giant...like 7 feet tall!) chock full of fuschia Gladiolus...massive pink explosions...and against all that marble, it was amazing. The gift shop was a test of will. You have no idea how hard it is for me to go into a museum book shop and not want to buy at least 10 books. I was good. I only bought a print of an old map of London...£3.00...I thought I might do some illustrations on it.

It's probably also wise to say that although I was very strict with my spending in the gift shop, the same can not be said for my diet. I allowed myself a full fat Latte, a cherry bakwell tart...then we went to Pizza Express and not only did I get a really cheesy pizza and ate the WHOLE thing, I also indulged in some Dough Balls and a Sicillian Lemonade. Did I count my WW points. No. Do I feel huge and bloated today? Yes. Was it worth it? Hell yes...totally!

On top of all of it, I got some really nice gifts from the Hubby too. I had been eyeballing this gorgeous Teal Quartzite necklace from Lola Rose for ages...and this sweet little beaded flower ring is so me,...how did he know? The only thing I kinda regret from this day is that although I took my sketchbook in all good faith that I would do some sketches in The Gallery, it never made it out of my bag. When will I ever learn that I don't feel inspired to draw when I am in a museum...never have, probably never will. Why? Who knows...I should feel inspired...maybe I do but I just can't be arsed to stop my 'flow' of looking at stuff to draw it. Also who wants to sit perched on the edge of something uncomfortable, sketchbook teetering on knee whilst I fiddle about with my pens and stuf?. Not me...I just wanna walk and look!

x

Valentine Mobiles and Cards

2011-02-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

I love hearts...always have and I can never get enough of them. This year, rather than give cards that will probably eventually get thrown away, I have decided to make them a wee bit more functional.

Since I was a kid I always enjoyed making these dainty paper heart mobiles. Watching them gently turn and twist in a gentle breeze (usually from the radiator) relaxes me...makes me feel all cozy...maybe because they are a wintertime project and usually end up hanging in a window that frames a winter landscape. Usually I make them out of tissue paper but this year I wanted to use the antique atlas index papers that I have lying around. I also have an old London A - Z which came in handy too.

They are quite easy to make. Just cut various shapes of hearts out of a semi-transparent paper. Then with your sewing machine start sewing and gradually add a paper heart as you go along. Be random with them...it looks better when they are all higglety-pigglety. You can use ribbon instead of the actual machine thread too but I have found that they are far more dainty and blowy if you use thread. Then decorate them! Write lovely things on them. Hang them from found objects or simply tape them to the top of a window frame.

Since this is the year of 'Being Your Authentic Self' why not tell my nearest and dearest what it is about their authentic self that I love so much. It's so nice when people remind us that just being 'us' is good. I wish it happened more often.

All my love to All of you!

x

Happy Chinese New Year: THE RABBIT

2011-02-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

The Rabbit

I am in tune with the

Pulse of the universe.

In my quiet and solitude

I hear the melodies of the soul.

I float above commonplace

Dissent and decay.

I subdue my ability to conform.

I color my word

In delicate pastel hues.

I epitomize harmony and inner peace.

I AM THE RABBIT

By: Theodora Lau from 'The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes'

THE RABBIT year will be full of introspection, relaxation and gentle grace...just what we need after the ferocious Year of the Tiger.

Sexy Club Girls

2011-01-27T14:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Geninne I have found a new toy that I am now officially addicted to. She posted THIS amazing digital drawing tool on her Facebook Fan Page today and I have been having so much fun playing with it.
I can predict that lots of work is going to get neglected tomorrow...oh dear...another distraction. *sigh*

These are my first three, posted in the order that I did them. Thanks Mr. Doob for Harmony!

Why don't you have a go at it...and then let me know how you got on. I'd love to see what you come up with.

x

Garden Birds Behaving Badly

2011-01-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

This is a new series of drawings I am working on inspired by what I think the creatures in my garden get up to when I'm not looking. More to come...stay tuned.
x

Random Mobile Uploads: #3

2011-01-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

Signage, Atlanta Airport, GA USA July 2010

Lilacs, Greenwich University, London May 2010

Funny Funnel Nose Oct 2010

The Verminator, London July 2010

Feel Good Monday: 'Wild Edges'

2011-01-17T05:59:00.000-08:00

"Exploring the idea that the places in us that make us different, unacceptable,

or feel isolated from everyone, are the places where our greatest

power and deepest magic lie...our own 'wild edges',

where we aren't quite sure of our ground and touch the liminal spaces."

This powerful quote/thought/idea/message was posted today by a good friend of mine on her Facebook page. Her name is Jacqueline Woodward-Smith and she is a Priestess of Avalon, a healer, a writer, a poet, and one of the most loving and open people I know. In all the 10 years I have known her I have found her outlook on life and the things she says (and doesn't say) to be a continual source of inspiration to me.

I have been reading a lot these days about 'Authenticity'...accessing the inner source, embracing it, accepting it and building our dreams from it. But...there are parts of my 'Authentic Self' that aren't very 'nice' and I have spent a lifetime trying to hide them. Why would I want to unearth them? This is why Jacqui's message came to me at the perfect time. My 'wild edges' are pretty dark and negative. Most people wouldn't like it. The people pleaser in me wins every time and the 'wild edges' get smoothed over with social niceties. But the more I meditate on Authenticity it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to hide my light (or my darkness)under a bushel. In my attempt to be true to myself, warts and all, I have become far more intolerant than ever. My 'wild edges' are 'intolerance'...at others, but mostly at myself and my own imperfections. This is good medicine, because I can now really get in there and start healing that part of myself. Why am I such a perfectionist and why can't I just chill? Perhaps facing my fear of flaws will dissipate them altogether.

What are your 'wild edges'? I'd love to hear your story.

x

Illustration: The Gallery B&B

2011-01-08T06:06:00.000-08:00

This is an illustration I did of the dining room at The Gallery Bed and Breakfast in Blackpool. We stayed there in August and I have to say it was one of the nicest B&Bs we have ever stayed in. Blackpool, understandably, has a bit of a bad reputation for presenting some of Briton's worst B&Bs but we were soooo lucky to find this one. It's clean, the guys that run it are nice, warm, welcoming and best of all...they are well travelled and arty...and it's the same price (£50 a night for two peeps) as all the other B&Bs in the area! Their B&B is full of art and antiques they have collected over their years of travels. The best thing about it for me though was how inspiring the decor was there. We were there for Rebellion Punk Festival...but I was like "screw the gigs...I'm gonna stay in and do some drawings of this place"...which is what I did...saving myself lots of money and a hangover!

x

I Heart Vintage Coats, For Better/For Worse

2011-01-06T07:43:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time coming but my beloved vintage, hot pink, 1960s mohair coat finally bit the dust. The entire day yesterday and part of today was spent lovingly taking her apart and putting her back together again. She is now a new woman. Thank goodness I still have my industrial flat machine in my studio because I don't think my little domestic one would have been able to cope with the weight of the fabric.

She had been falling apart slowly and in small bits here and there for ages and every winter I would take her out of her 'sleeping bag' and fix little things by hand. The good thing is that the original material is in very good condition. It was only the threads in the seams that were deteriorating making it pretty easy to fix. Well, sadly (for me) this winter I decided to wear her to an important meeting thinking all would be OK but all the threads (bar a few) decided to give up the ghost on that day. By the time I got to the tube station, both arm holes in the back had split open. I knew because I could feel the cold, damp breeze blowing in. By the time I actually got on the train someone brought it to my attention that the entire side seam was flapping open. Gee thanks...now I'm totally embarrassed. By the time I got off the bus at my destination, the collar started to come away at the back and the other side seam started to pop open. Every time I moved, something more would rip open. Ok...so by the time I walked into the building where the meeting was, one sleeve had come off completely leaving only the lining there, the other sleeve hanging on by a few threads and both side seams wide open.

By now I was so self-conscious thinking that everyone must be thinking..."go out and get a real coat you freak"...or knowing that I was an artist they must be thinking "eccentric freak". Mainly...no one noticed. This is London after all...you could run around stark naked with 20 ferrets wearing tutus on your head and no one would notice. Needless to say, I put my coat in bag and froze my buns off on the way home.

I felt tremendous compassion for my poor coat. She has a lot of sentimental value to me. She was the very first 'proper' coat I ever bought in my whole life. See, I'm from Los Angeles and it rarely ever gets cold enough there to warrant a big coat...so I never had one. Shortly before I moved to England in 1999, I went shopping for a coat. There were NO coats in California...unless you went to a ski shop...but I don't do ski coats...no way. It was on a random trip to a Salvation Army thrift store that I found her...for only $15.00...and in such good condition. I mean seriously...how often do you find a vintage coat in a size 18, in mint condition, in super hot pink, made from mohair, with a stripey lining for only a song?
Her and me...we were meant to be!

Here is a picture of me wearing her shortly after I moved to London in 2000. I had just cut my very long hair to this short little poofy do. I thought I looked so smart, with my LuLu Guinness handbag...I kinda cringe now...I look so conservative!

I do love her so...even though she stinks to high heaven when she gets wet and even though people need to put on their sunglasses when they see me wearing her. Her cute Peter Pan collar, snug little raglan sleeves and tulip shape is so divinely vintage...such a gem!

x

My Illustrated Travel Journal in Selvedge Magazine Issue #38

2011-01-04T11:07:00.000-08:00

I am very pleased to announce that Selvedge Magazine has featured my little illustrated travel journal/book on Ganseys from North East Yorkshire in the Jan/Feb 2011 Issue #38. I love Selvedge Magazine. It is so full of eye candy, which makes it one of those decadent treats that you hanker over until it finally arrives on your doorstep, every other month or so, full of goodies, waiting to be devoured in private with some good music and a cup of tea. I feel very grateful indeed that they have chosen me to publish in this special issue. Thanks Polly and Beth...you gals rock!

In short, Ganseys are the hand knitted jumpers (sweaters) made by the wives and womenfolk of fisherman in the UK. Traditionally, the wool used was unprocessed in order to keep as many of the natural oils found in the wool intact. This helped to keep the jumpers relatively water resistant and the fisherman warm. The necks and sleeve cuffs of Ganseys were knitted very tight as to not let wind and rain in...so much so they were virtually impossible to remove without injuring ears! Each fishing village has it's own knitted (Aran) pattern which served to represent the family who knitted it as well as to identify any fisherman who may have perished at sea. As an artist, I find the romance in fishing folklore too hard to resist. I lose myself in the mystery and the stories and the memories...and I'm absolutely mesmerized by how hard they worked and how devoted they were to God and family. There are countless superstitions and myths that go way back...and some are still practiced to this day!

I love British fishing history and maritime folklore. I always have. Being American, I never really got to experience it first hand until I moved to England. My first taste of it was when I visited Tintagel, Cornwall in 2000. The rugged landscape and minimalist architecture there blew me away. There was a sea shanty (or rather a very small wood cottage, but I just love the word 'sea shanty') right on the cliff side, covered in nets, and glass floats and had an old brass diving bell in the garden. At night, you could see into the little house and there was a wood burning stove, beamed ceiling and an old man sitting inside reading the paper. I so wanted to knock on the door and invite myself in for tea and chat...about old times...fishing stories...some songs perhaps. Of course, I didn't, but seeing that house will always stay with me and fuel my imagination of what it could be, could have been, was...etc.

Since then I have tried to visit as many old fishing villages in England as possible. I am particularly drawn to the domestic life of fishing families. I'm sure it didn't seem so at the time, but there is a certain romance in the way they lived their lives, so totally dependent on the sea and at the mercy of her moods. Fishing was extremely dangerous and many, many fisherman never made it back home. It was common for fathers, sons and grandsons to all go out fishing and if tragedy struck, it could wipe out a whole family. This precarious, teetering on a wire way of living fascinates me. A strong connection to God, faith and superstitions was woven into all aspects of domestic life...including food, crafts and even how and when the women did their chores. All of which is fertile ground to create some great imagery. I have been researching maritime folklore, on and off, for a couple years now and I never seem to grow tired of it. Not a day goes by that I don't think about some of the amazing little villages I have seen and I keep the 'wish fires' burning that perhaps some day I will be in a position to buy my own little sea shanty (in Cornwall for sure) with a fantastic view and a wood burning stove.

x

Feel Good Monday: New Years Message

2011-01-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

(Image source unknown...)

Random Mobile Uploads: #2

2011-01-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

We went to Brighton on New Years Day to mooch around the shops (most of which were closed) and have a nice meal. The sea air was the perfect remedy for a seriously bad case of cabin fever. I forgot my camera...(as per usual)...so these are some snaps I did from my phone, just some things I found interesting.

x

Random Mobile Uploads: #1

2010-12-30T05:10:00.000-08:00

Plastic cacti in London, in wintertime February 2010

Humongously gigantic cakes, Marietta Grill, GA USA June 2010

Congregating mannequins, M&S Bluewater, Kent December 2010

Stinky dog feet, London May 2010

Crochet: Cashmerino Bow Beanie Hat

2010-12-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

This is one of the Christmas gift hats I crocheted for a friend. It is made from Debbie Bliss Cashermerino wool which is super lush, ultra soft and a dream to work with. It seems to have a lot more stretch than standard Merino wool...very nice indeed!

x

Feel Good Monday: "Life is an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet"

2010-12-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

I once read, many years ago that there is not just one cake. There is an endless supply of cake that everyone can eat and it never runs out. This resonated with me big time and has stayed with me all these years for a couple of reasons that I would like to share with you.

One: I love cake and the thought of having an endless supply of it fills me with comfort and joy.

Two: I was formally trained at a very traditional art school in the 1980s. The thinking back then was that competition was fierce, artistic success was rare, ideas got stolen quite easily and to keep your creative essence close to your chest. Even though it was California, people hadn't caught on to the 'Consciousness Craze' yet and The Law of Attraction was something only the whacked-out new-age hippies were taking about. I never liked the feeling that there was only one or two cakes available and we all had to fight for it. This created a sense of urgent competitiveness that never sat well with me, which resulted in me dropping out of anything competitive in nature. At a time when I was young and impressionable, I wanted to reach out to other artists and talk to them, pick their brains, find out what makes them tick, how they do their work and what inspires them. Not because I wanted to steal their ideas, but because I wanted something to measure to my own creative process. Was what I was doing normal? Was I doing it right? What is the creative process like for other artists? I couldn't establish open and loving relationships with other artists which often left me with a feeling of self-doubt in regards to my work/life balance. What I would have given for the beauty of the Internet back then!

Fast forward to now and I find myself thinking about all the cake that artists from all over the world are feeding off of. The cakes lovingly made and shared by you and me. You see, creative inspiration is infinite and so is the success that it can generate. Each time someone shares an idea or a story or insight into their creative journey, it influences someone else. That influence can manifest in many different ways. It can be the spark to try a different medium or the empathy someone needs to pick themselves up and try again, or it can be the 'green-light' to go ahead and do art...regardless of any self-doubt. People sharing their artistic stories and journey via the Internet is such a blessing because it lifts the veil of 'pretentiousness' that once clouded the art scene. It has created pockets of love and support which has enabled a lot of people to be brave and go forth and do art. The more love and support that is generated, the wider the inspiration pool gets...and the bigger the cake gets, the more we get to eat!

I am so grateful for this.

x

Feel Good Monday: "Do your best and don't worry"

2010-12-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

I have a poster of this quote hanging in my studio. It's a perfect daily reminder to me to be gentle on myself.

For the past week I have been struggling with fatigue and a bad frozen shoulder. I haven't accomplished as much as I had hoped and that makes me feel stressed. If it was a good friend telling me this, I would say to her "Do your best and don't worry...things always get accomplished eventually...and if they don't...it's not the end of the world".

It is very hard to take one's own advice LOL.

Ahhhh, but tomorrow is another day!

x

Crochet: 'Peaches' Slouchy Beret

2010-12-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

Hi there!
I have emerged from my Christmas crochet frenzy to post some pics of this amazing beret pattern that I have been crocheting. Once you have done the first one and figured out the 'quirks' it works up pretty fast and they make terrific Christmas gifts. I have already had people come up to me in public and say how much they like it!

The pattern is called 'Peaches' and it is from the Kim Hargreaves 'Breeze' Collection Spr/Sum 2010.
Kim used to design for Rowan but now has her own range and I can honestly say I love everything she designs. The styling of her books makes my heart skip a beat...the clothes...the models...all so darn cute.
The picture at the top of the page is from one of her books. The middle picture is one I did in this lush fuzzy green angora. I also made one in powder blue mohair...gorgeous! The blue one in the pic was made from organic cotton by my friend Susan. She owns Sharp Works...which is THE place to go in London to get top quality, all natural wools,cottons...books, haberdashery, lessons etc.

Well...back to my crochet...I am making a red and black stripey beanie cap for my husband...ssshhh, don't tell him, it's for Christmas!

x

Winter Colours

2010-12-08T04:36:00.000-08:00

Cashmere

2010-12-07T06:46:00.000-08:00

Acrylic, watercolor, gouache and graphite on paper.

Feel Good Monday: "Things Always Look Better in the Morning"

2010-12-06T04:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I almost threw my artwork on the fire.

After days of working tirelessly on a very detailed painting, I decided that I wasn't happy with the background. It needed something more...something with more guts. So I got out the acrylic paints and painted a thick textured background. It made it worse. The dominant background swallowed up my delicate painted figure in the foreground and well...it looks dreadful. (The illustration above is NOT the painting I'm referring to by the way). Anyway, I was convinced last night that I was a terrible artist. I had no talent. Everyone is better than me...blah blah blah. I had anxiety and nearly gave up on that piece of work, my creative career and wished I had become an accountant instead!

I'm glad I didn't.

Because after a good night's sleep, a strong cup of coffee and viewing the painting in natural daylight...it isn't so bad after all. It still needs lots of work and it may still end up to be something not portfolio worthy, but I can see progress and growth. I read an ace article recently written by designer Bruce Mau that gives some really good advice to artists saying that mistakes are good and to embrace disasters because it means that we are pushing our artistic boundaries. Forcing ourselves out of our creative comfort zone fosters growth...and growth is good. My brain is hard-wired 'Commercial Artist', so being experimental makes me very uncomfortable. Face the fear...it's only paint after all...and things do indeed look much better in the morning.

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Sneak Peek: New Series of Illustrations

2010-12-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

Hi all!
Are you enjoying the snow? I am enjoying it very much....through the window, from warmth and safety of my studio...heeeheee. I went out on Wednesday night and slipped and fell on the ice...twice. The first time both feet went out from under me and I fell square on my butt (which is broken now). The second time my left leg went in one direction and my right leg went in the other direction. I did the splits...in the street...and it's a damn good thing my parents didn't name me Grace. Aw well...winter fun and all that. I'm ok, by the way.

Anyway...here is a preliminary sketch for an upcoming series of illustrations I'm doing that explore the inter-connectedness of needlework, history, romance and femininity. Ideas are still brewing and it's so fun to watch them unfold as I sketch them. I only just really, properly, realized this...but I am mad about needle work. Goodness knows why I didn't do Knitwear...or Textiles when I did my Fashion degree. It is (and has been) such a huge part of my life, even as young child. I entered an embroidered ladybug, watering can, flower picture in the Orange County Fair when I was very young...maybe 7 years old?...and won first prize! So, in this series I hope to communicate this passion and show how needle craft is present in every one's life...even in ways we may not know yet!

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Pet Portrait: Bella

2010-11-30T03:55:00.000-08:00

Mixed media pet portrait: Fabric, acrylic paint and free machine embroidery.

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Feel Good Monday: "Do what you do and the rest will come naturally"

2010-11-29T04:22:00.000-08:00

I've been having the same scary dream lately. I'm in a jumbo jet, full of passengers. It's night time and my husband is sitting to my right. The plane is going to crash. As the plane is nose diving, I can feel the extreme heat from one of the burning engines and the sound is deafening. Everyone is panicking. One of the cabin crew is hunched over a passenger who is having a heart attack. I know that I am going to die but I am strangely at peace with it. I wake up before the impact.

You know they say that Airplanes represent career and life goals and when the plane crashes it usually means that one has set too high of goals for themselves or that they lack the confidence that they will be able to meet these goals. It's our fears that our life/goals/career will....well, 'crash and burn'.

You know how sometimes when you wake up and you have some really annoying song stuck in your head and you just can't get rid of it all day? Well, I had that when I woke up on Sunday morning except it wasn't a song. It was this: "Do what you do and the rest will come naturally". Somebody/something in my dreams that night (I don't remember who or what) said this to me. It stuck with me all day and I woke up today still thinking about it which is why I have decided to share it with you. It's a powerful message for me...and anyone else who may be the sort of person who has set really high and perfectionist's standards for themselves.

My acupuncturist is always saying to me...'Just BE'...!
Just BE? What does that mean? Just sit and do nothing? I can't do that! Nothing will get accomplished!
To me, 'Just BE' means...just be me. Stop striving to be something I'm not. If being me means that I am just this small little artist living simply doing my small art and nature-loving thing in a tiny fold in the world, rather than being popular, gorgeous, in demand, high flying business woman...well, so mote it be. Do what you do naturally and all the other stuff will fall into place. I promise!

Today, if you have the time, make a list of 5 things that you do that come naturally. I like to call these your 'default' settings. What things do you do automatically? Good things, things that make you happy. For example, biting your nails might come naturally, but you may not like it and it may be something you want to quit...so don't put stuff like that. I'm talking about the things that you don't even need to remind yourself to do. These are probably things that other people who don't do them naturally would be envious of you for. For example...do you like to get out in the fresh air and go for a jog? Do you do it naturally because you love it and it makes you feel good? Does nobody have to nag you or 'remind' you that have to do it? Well... I envy this person. Exercise doesn't come natural for me...but I'm gently working it. If exercise is your thing...put it on your list! Now make a list of 5 things that you think you 'should' do...or 'need' to do. Things that nag you and make you fell like poo when you don't do them. Compare the two lists...cherish the things that you are...and let the other things unfold in their own time.

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The Jack Russell Diaries I

2010-11-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

Discovered the dangers of chasing foxes through the woods in the dark.

A Bit Skint This Christmas? Make Your Own Gift Tags

2010-11-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

It doesn't take long to whip up these tiny little gems. The artwork part can be peeled off later (as long as you use Pritt Stick) and easily framed. The recipient is happy because they get original art work by you, you are happy because you aren't spending a fortune on Christmas gifts... it's a win win situation! :-)

New Website

2010-11-23T05:44:00.000-08:00

Hello!
Things are changing around here and my new website which features new work is currently being built. Apologies for the inconvenience.

Meanwhile, you are welcome to pop on over to my Flickr page if you want to see some of my older work.

Thanks muchly for visiting! x

Hello!

2010-11-21T05:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog.
My name is Gina and I'm an artist, an illustrator, and a teacher. I'm originally from Los Angeles but currently I'm living in London with my husband, one crazy Jack Russell Terrier and a huge garden full of entertaining little critters.
In this blog I will share with you little snippets that inspire me from this fabulous creative and spiritual journey that nature has so lovingly given us.

Thanks for visiting...I hope you'll stay a while.