Fishy on a dishy

Would the fiend that stole my energy and ran off with my Muse please return both at once. It really was most rude of you to just show up uninvited. Can you believe, one mention of the word dancing and the Muse was flicking her hair and prancing out the door. Before I could close the door in disgust, I realised she'd shoved the last of my oomph into my best handbag and taken that too. Ahh. I think that perhaps an early night is all I can hope for.

I hope she has a good time and returns refreshed. I tried creating without her this evening, but I miss her chatter. Three attempts at creating a fish painting (for the Inspiration Avenue challenge) later and I retire wounded.

Instead, I present a picture from last year. A homage to fishies wrapped in newspaper. I'm thinking Whitby on a blustery evening, hair blasted into your mouth - salt spray adding the final seasoning.

Delicious

I find it interesting that whenever I am prompted to write about television programmes, they usually tend to be related to food. I've just watched the third installment from the delicious Miss Dahl as she treated us to her take on nostalgic food - rose-tinted memories of childhoods spent in the kitchen with Granny (presumably while Grandad was knocking up another literary classic in the study?). I think my TV developed smell-o-vision tonight for I'm sure the whiff of caramelised apples and pears tickled my nostrils around the same time that the bubbling sugars titilated my ears and eyes. I can't stop thinking of Victoria sponge with a cup of tea served in a bone china tea cup with a delicate floral pattern. I could also quite happily munch through those jacket potatoes oozing with cheese and fluffy with egg - all washed down with home made tomato soup...

This programme is so ... English! It's lovely, a real delight to the senses, a kind of summer fruit pudding with clotted cream of a show. Tonight as she sat on a steam train for no reason it seemed other than to have the excuse to recite one of my favourite poems, I lay back on the sofa and relaxed into the rolling English landscape and felt very much at home.

I have to confess though that I am ever so slightly envious of Miss Dahl. She is incredibly beautiful in a natural and wholesome way - proving that supermodels do not necessarily have to resemble broom handles. She cooks and manages to turn the most mundane meal into a sensual experience, helped by the softest of voices. When it came to childhood stories at bedtime, she had a Grandfather who was the King of Storytellers. If that wasn't enough, she is also a published author and has her own TV series on the BBC. You can't help liking her though. I could just see us sitting at her kitchen table munching on cake and having a good old girlie chat...

Have a watch. Perhaps we could all go round one afternoon. I'm sure she'd love it! Oh and for the record, my Mum is also a great storyteller - thanks for all those wonderful tales that sent me to the land of Nod with a sack of wonderful stories to turn into cosy dreams!

Who would have thought it?

I used to hate drawing faces; avoided at all costs... But thanks to Suzi Blu and her amazing courses I am completely hooked. Yesterday, I wanted to knock out a quick sketch for Sophia's Sunday Sketches. All I could think to draw was a face! And once I got started, it didn't really stay 'sketch' for long. I can't help myself... graphite is just so boring... I just love layering up the colours and having large eyes suddenly appear from the paper to stare at you. What is this little lady thinking I wonder? Well, one for thing for certain is that she is PROUD to be GINGER! Oh yes, she loves her big mop of orange hair, she wouldn't have it any other way. Look at the way everyone stares when she walks in the room. She's like an irridescent light show. What you can't see is the stunning dress she's wearing in the coolest turquoise with layer upon layer of fabric fluttering in the breeze her dance makes as she moves across the room...

I love how a good quality shot or scan can be magnified in photoshop. You can really see just how many colours went into making this face - creams, peaches, pinks, greens, blues, yellows and of course rather a lot of orange. That's what I love about my faces. I'm not trying to make them real, just colouring their personalities. The enlargement also helps spot the areas for improvement next time - the slightly off centre pupil needs a bit more care, as does the squishy iris. The thing I find about art though, is that is half the fun. I mean Oh no! Do I really have to do another piece of art? What hardship!!

Now, all this talk of lessons leads me nicely onto my next point. I'm sure you all have wonderful creative tips to share - whether watercolours, writing, wrapping presents or a wonderful wasabi recipe! Inspiration Avenue are hosting a fun blog party on the weekend of May 1st/2nd where all the partygoers are asked not to bring a bottle or even a present. No, you just bring yourself and a tutorial to share. All the info you need is here. Do come along; it will be tremendous fun and we pretty much guarantee that you'll definitely learn something!

A stitch in time...

I don't do sewing. My Mum probably thinks I'm a changeling since she was born with a needle and thread sewn into her fingers. It's strange though because for a time, when I was about 12, I actually used to embroider - from patterns and everything. I could perform an array of intricate stitches and I made my Sindy doll clothes that didn't fall apart. Then one day I woke up and my fingers must have grown overnight and become too gangling for fine stitchery (I have long fingers - terribly hard to find gloves to fit). Suddenly I couldn't even thread a needle. Sew on a button? You must be joking!

Once I started secondary school and we were let loose with electronic sewing machinery, things went from bad to worse. Was there perhaps some form of curse upon me? Why did the needles constantly snap? What made the fabric buckle up and, worst of all, why did I only need to look at a piece of cotton for it to become irrevocably tangled? I think my teacher finally gave up with me the day I tacked my nightdress to my school skirt. Tacking, that most basic of abilities, was clearly past the limit of my skill.

Things never improved as I aged. I do own a sewing kit - though when my Mum saw it I think she nearly passed out in shock. I think I paid £1 for it, 20 years ago. It hasn't been used much. It's pretty basic compared to her shipping trunk of supplies. It's interesting that men in my life automatically assume that because of my gender (and ability to knock up a three course dinner from the most basic of rations) that I am good at sewing. Any requests for invisible mending (or even just button sewing) are met with the most incredulous look and sudden attack of amnesia (rather like when you ask them to take the rubbish out or wash the floor).

Eventually though the sewing pile builds (especially since I have a six-year-old son) and I have to dig the needle out. Last night I sewed back on a hood and zip from a coat, a button and popper thing from my cardigan, the hem on a pair of trousers and the hook from my dressing gown.
True to form, mysterious knots formed in the cotton through no reason leaving large loops sticking out to get tangled and snagged and I managed to spear myself and break the scissors.

We wait with baited breath to see how long before they need repairing anew!

PS: I once dreamt that I found the needle in a haystack. Do you think that has any significance?

I am

I am ...
Mother

Daughter

Lover

Friend

Writer

Artist

Dreamer

Flights of Fancy

Autumn's colours

Giggles

Flower

Spirit

Passion

Imagination

I am what was, what is and what will be

I am Me.

My journal page entry for Inspiration Avenue... "I" prompt. A 'sort of' self portrait in mixed media.

Good

Sharing my happy with Jamie Ridler and the crew.

I listened to a weather expert yesterday. He told me that wherever you go in the UK this weekend you will get rained on. Well, who cares? We need a bit of the old wet stuff to keep us going after all. It's Spring! It's Easter!

This weekend I intend to paint, love, cuddle, relax and think (and possibly eat chocolate). I've already managed to get covered in paint once already today (making Easter cards with my boy) and then we went on a magical adventure with the delightful Nanny McPhee (small c; big P). She's gone now to find some more naughty children who need her help but don't necessarily want it...

I've had a grand week. Nice and busy with work and some successes to show for it. Small boy brought home a football trophy yesterday - Player of the Month - perhaps he will be playing for the Mighty Arsenal in about 12 years and I can retire. (There is a very good reason why I have chosen this football team - eh Sweetheart?). He also won the prize for finding the most Easter Eggs. Really not too much of a surprise that one.

Oh yes, and the Easter Bunny came early. I was lying in bed last night when I heard this tap tapping at the window. The little furry fella was down on the lawn chucking stones. "Let me in", he whispered... Ordinarily, I would do no such thing. I mean everyone knows that you don't let strange rabbits in your house in the middle of the night and still expect to find carrots left in the morning. However, he did at least come with the right credentials (special Bunny ID and a large stash of chocolate). We are still finding little eggs now. He hid them under cushions, in car transporters and art boxes, on top of things, round the back of things and in so many unexpected places. He also left tiny muddy footprints all over the carpet... Hmm...

I booked a holiday this week... Yup, that picture up top is where I am a goin'.

My friends at Inspiration Avenue and I are planning a blog party - more on this next week. Hope you all can some. It will be so much fun.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to the dear friends I may have tricked with my post yesterday. You see it was April Fool's Day and well... I just couldn't resist... Please forgive me!

The Wright Stuff on The Wright Stuff

Wow, you'll never believe it. I'm in shock. Flabbergasted. Speechless (well, nearly!). Let me explain... If you're in the UK, you may know there's a TV show named after my blog. Well, some might argue that couldn't be the case since it has been on air since before I started my blog, but I beg to differ.

The show, on Channel 5 and hosted by Matthew Wright (no relation), is a newsy magazine format programme with a panel of celebrity guests. They like to discuss the key topics of the day as well as throw in a bit of off beat culture.

That's where I come in... I received what I at first believed to be a spoof email yesterday claiming to be from the show's producers. They had found my blog through google and wanted to invite me onto the show next week as part of a blogging feature.

Well, you could knock me down with a feather. Once I realised that they were being serious I couldn't say yes fast enough. They will be picking me up in a chauffeured car and whisking me to London where I'll receive the VIP treatment. I've been given a 10 minute slot where Matthew will interview me asking for tips on what makes a good blog and why I consider myself blog-obsessed. Also on the show that day are Take That who, having discovered that I have in the past promoted them on my blog, have invited me to join them on stage when they perform their new single - "What a fool am I". Jamie Oliver will also be there cooking up a little French fish dish called Poisson d'avril.

I can't wait to tell you more...