Focus On Life - Collage of Love

The theme for February over at the Studio Sublime has been cabin fever.  This week is all about beating cabin fever and creating a collage of love.

 I have had rather a long stretch of artistic inactivity, but the greyness of winter, the appalling weather conditions and the dark, cold evenings have encouraged me to nip off to my studio and make things!  So I decided to photograph some of the little areas of my studio (the not so messy areas actually!). 

I love my space, I love working here and I love the bits and bobs around me that I've collected over the years from flea markets and antique fairs.   

When the lid got smashed my great-grandmother's sugar bowl became my new brush pot! I know the bottle is a bit wonky but it is very sweet and I can't bear to chuck it out!

I have a weakness for anything arranged in colour sequence - I think my OCD tendencies come to the fore when I'm sorting and storing ribbons!  I also have a weakness for sari silk and I like to have jars of certain colours on hand to grab when needed!

Focus On Life - Quiet Calm

This week over at the Studio Sublime we were given the challenge to focus on the quiet calm of the world as it re-energizes around us. 

 I rather liked the way the sun was shining through the leaf of this Senecio Greyi in my garden, showing that beautiful vibrant green surrounded by the heavy frost - actually the plant foliage is usually grey so I don't know where the green came from!

Focus On Life - Getting Outside

This week our challenge over at Focus on Life was to get outside and focus on the change cooler temperatures bring to our surroundings.

I took this photo this morning at our local beach - that's the Isle of Wight in the distance.  After what has felt like weeks of torrential rain today we finally saw a small window of opportunity to get out and enjoy some sunshine - it was cold and blowy but very refreshing - in fact I much prefer the beach in the winter rather than the summer! 

WOYWW - 241

   It has been quite a long time since I participated in WOYWW and to be honest I have an ulterior motive for joining in today.  For the last few months my desk has been pretty much the same each week - nothing but unfinished and ready to be started projects. 

 New Year - new resolutions - new me!  I have decided to shame myself into getting off my backside and completing some of these things!

The clock case was a bargain I couldn't resist - it's going to be sanded, painted, distressed, shelves added, spires replaced, plain glass in top and bottom of door (I don't think the hubs has realised the extent of his role in this project yet), and then it will become a delightful little cabinet for curios.  Well, that's the plan!

The pumpkins have been waiting since last October to be primed and painted in shades of  olive, grey and black.  The idea is to sit them on some lovely little candlestick holders in time for next Halloween, or the one after that!

  I actually completed the smaller Halloween banner (the larger one is only half done) and threaded it with a bright orange ribbon - all I have to do is re-thread it with a much nicer black ribbon - so far I've spent 10 weeks thinking about doing it!  

Why not take a wander over to WOYWW and see What's on other people's Work desks this Wednesday!

Focus on Life - Silhouettes

I don't quite know where the last week has gone but here we are again for the Focus on Life challenge!  The subject is silhouettes and although I'm not sure if it fully meets the criteria it is about as silhouette-like as I could manage!

I added sepia tones and resisted the strong temptation to lighten it!   

I have posted another two versions of the same image on my blog over at 

Velvet Moth Photography if you fancy a look - I'd love to know which you prefer!

Focus on Life - Week 1

Happy New Year to you all!

I have dusted off the camera and decided to take up the weekly Focus on Life challenges over at the wonderful Studio Sublime this year.  My commitment wavered greatly last year, although I really enjoyed taking part.  Confidence, mojo, inspiration, call it what you will, seemed to completely abandon me and I've had great difficulty trying to get it back!

Anyway, here is my offering for week 1 - the subject is minimalist.

I love shells and this one looked empty so it came indoors to be added to my collection - until I found the occupant slithering across my computer desk, slightly traumatised but still in one piece!  

Merry Christmas

Christmas is getting here faster than I anticipated and I still have a lot to do - however, the decorations are up, a lot of the presents are wrapped and I've just had a wonderful pre-Christmas meal with relatives  - real Christmas pud always makes me feel festive (and full!)

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In the mood for Autumn

Having had a few weeks since getting home from holiday where I completely lost my mojo I have gained a little enthusiasm for house decor and am fully in the mood for Autumn!  This is the mantlepiece - all decorated for Autumn - I found the tiny little ebony candle holders in a junk shop and couldn't resist them - they make a perfect stand for the little white pumpkins!