I am a collage chicken...

(my first tentative attempts at collage backgrounds... so far)

I am so mindful of making a mistake, I am too scared to try different things, to try different colours together, different textures and using new painting mediums.  I do these things in my mind and decide that it wont work without even giving it a go.   I think part of it is that the cost of things sometimes puts me off using papers, and products etc... in case they don't work and it becomes a waste (and I'm also just a big chicken).  So I had a little go tonight (images above) and am happy with the results so far although I am a little scared, I am kind of looking forward to the following week,  where I will be trying some new collage ideas for backgrounds... I am thinking of this as a completely experimental week (when I say week I mean the few hours in between kids and work).  

I will be starting Kelly Rae's e course tomorrow, so I am really looking forward to seeing how it all goes and to 'working' with all the wonderful people who have also signed up.

no rules and no pressure...

This is the beginning of my third series of work for my exhibition... I am actually ahead of schedule.  I have planned to do one series of work (about 7-9 pieces) per month.  I have just finished May's this afternoon.  I kind of figure if I get one series finished a month I will have enough work by October to fill the gallery without too much stress.

I got some paper the other day from BasicGrey's new range, Cappella and it is so lovely, soft and pretty.  I have been thinking for a while to try some collaged backgrounds which I might do with this next series.  Although I really do like the plain simplistic backgrounds,  I actually think that is just what I am used to doing and I would like to push myself a little...so starting Monday I am going to spend the next week playing with backgrounds, no rules and no pressure... just playing.

I rang our local bookstore to see if they had the above book in stock and she said it hasn't been published yet! I said 'but I know a few friends who already have it in their hot little hands', she said 'Oh really, let me see what I can do'... well her advise was to order it from Amazon.  Sooo I have just ordered it (my first Amazon order)!!!... and I can hardly wait for it to arrive!  Thanks to Michele at Pipi La La for letting me know it existed.

I have also listed a few card sets to my etsy shop!!! if anyone is interested, but only if you don't live in New Zealand.  Kiwis have to buy from  a local stockist, email me if you are interested.

With good in my head...

(with good in my head to help me on my way)

I stumbled upon blogging by accident.   One day a tutor at work told me to look at etsy.com ... I asked why, she said (rather loudly) JUST GO LOOK!  The first thing that caught my eye on the front page was Kelly Rae Roberts... I checked out her shop, and then after thinking what kind of crazy people write a blog, I read her blog from the first post to the last... I went home and told my family that I had a new best friend, she didn't know I existed but I felt I had known her for ever.  So now I have an etsy shop of my own and I am one of those crazy people who write a blog.  I started checking out other peoples blogs and started to form my own little community, a tribe of fellow bloggers who I now call my 'friends'.  It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I discovered KMB... I am amazed and delighted to find such a group of lovely talented mummy bloggers in my own back yard!!!

giveaway winners are...

Thanks everyone for entering my giveaway, the winners are...

#9 Cadi
#16 NatashaMay

So if you both send me your postal address to katherinequinn@xtra.co.nz I will get your cards sets away to you along with a few other goodies.

(winebox front and back "I like it here can I stay")

I have been busy the past week finishing off my wine box (above) and am just over half way through finishing my second lot of works for the exhibition.  Both of which have been inspired by the piece I was going to chuck in my reject folder a few posts ago.   It is funny how looking at it with new eyes or through others eyes has made me see qualities I'd missed before, so thanks for your feedback.

I have a bar code!!!

Yay!!! my cards arrived the other day in a little brown box... so to celebrate I am going to giveaway two sets of 6 cards.  If you are interested in entering all you need to do is leave a comment by the end of Tuesday 18th May (NZT) and I will draw out two winners on Wednesday 19th.  Good luck.

I will put a few sets up for sale in my Etsy shop soon, but you can only purchase them if you don't live in New Zealand.  If you do live in New Zealand and are wanting to purchase a card send me an email and I will let you know how to go about it.

the constant creative urge...

(everything depends on how near you stand to me)

Ok... so the painting from my last post has been saved from the reject folder, I have added a few little details and I am quite happy with it now.  One of those happy accidents that happen every now and again.  It has actually given me inspiration for the next set of works for my exhibition.  So thank you for all your kind comments, they saved it from the dreaded folder.

I have nearly finished the front of my winebox so I will take pictures when it is completed, and will probably post them next week.

I think I have said this before (probably a few times) but when my creative side is being fueled and all is going well, I am a happier person then when its not.  It amazes me how strong this is and sometimes it is just scary how much my world revolves around it.  It is a hard thing to explain (the constant creative urge)... it's something I have felt for as long as I can remember.  The need to have my mind and hands busy with making things, turning blank pieces of paper into new little worlds of their own.

These girls above are actually looking a little sombre... I might need to work on their lips.

I will have some good news and a giveaway at the end of the week so stay tuned.

cutting, glueing, making...

(I am not sure about this one, it may end up in the reject folder?)

I am very excited to be a part of Kelly Rae's e-course at the end of May... so many wonderful people have signed up and it has been really interesting reading their stories.  

I have started working on my winebox this week... and I have the back, top, bottom and sides sorted just not the front yet, and I have nearly finished the first lot of works for my exhibition.  It feels really good to be back into cutting, glueing, making, thinking, creating, sticking, smiling, painting, smudging and drawing again...  yep this feels good.