UV RESIN - NEW UV LAMP I have recently taken up UV resin work, in order to make small embellishments for my mixed media projects. I began with an inexpensive starter kit which included a small UV lamp. This proved to be pretty weedy and it took ages to cure anything, so I…
HOW I START A NEW PROJECT USING UPCYCLED RUBBISH A little lesson in recycling! I thought you might be interested in seeing how I begin to plan a project using packaging to create folios and elements for albums. Whenever I'm about to throw something away, I examine it to see if it could…
SKETCHING IN THE COURTYARD AT DARTINGTON Today we revisited Dartington Hall to do some more sketching. It was still very hot, but there was also a nice fresh breeze which made things more bearable. We each found a shady spot in the courtyard to sit. This time I sketched part of the west…
A TINY FOLIO FROM A BISCUIT PACKET I think this is the first time I have ever produced an album or folio in a single day! I spent all afternoon and most of the evening yesterday, working on this project, and it was a joy to produce. It is very small, measuring about…
SKETCHING AT COMPTON CASTLE An afternoon sketching session today. It was extremely hot but I planted myself outside the main gate in the shadow of the trees and it was so cool and comfortable. My hubby took himself off inside the grounds and found somewhere to sit and sketch. Here is my reference…
DAWLISH LOBSTER POTS A fun mutual challenge between my friend Caroline and me, on the ArtKula forum. She showed us her drawing of lobster pots and I showed her a photo I'd taken of lobster pots in Dawlish some years ago. I said I'd love to see her take on my photo and…
BAGS At the recent village fete, I bought a new cloth bag to replace my old one, which is still serviceable but is a bit floppy and without enough pockets. There was stall selling bags and other fabric items, and this particular bag took my fancy. I love the sewing themed fabric which…
MORE OLD BOOKS I have recently acquired a couple more vintage books to use in my mixed media and album projects. Cassell's Concise Cyclopaedia I got this book on Ebay. As you can see, there is some damage to the spine. It dates from 1898 and contains a wealth of information and plenty…
DARTINGTON FEATHER During our recent sketching trip to Dartington, I didn't manage to pick up any natural treasures, but my hubby found this very pretty feather for me. We think it is probably a pheasant's feather. I had to tape it down to make it lie flat in order to photograph it. Today…
VILLAGE FETE 2026 On Saturday we returned to the village where we used to live, to attend the annual village fete which always takes place on the last Saturday in June. After the extreme heat of the previous days, the morning began slightly overcast and there was a tiny bit of rain, after…
