Merry Christmas

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

It's nearly Christmas friends and excitement in this house is reaching fever pitch. Tonight we had an exciting thought. As there is snow on the ground this year, will we be able to spot reindeer footprints on the lawn outside? Last year we found magic glitter left behind, but footprints would be an extra special treat. The snow doesn't look like melting just yet so we may well be in luck!

Tomorrow we'll be making up our gingerbread house. Both walls have already required repairing - must have been a dodgy batch of plaster. Small boy wants to go carol singing too, but I'm not sure the neighbours are quite ready for that sudden burst of talent on their doorsteps. I think we'll just wait for the Christingle service on Christmas Eve.

This little lady is already well into the second verse of God rest ye Merry Gentlemen. She's wrapped up warm and singing for three special ladies who reside in locations across the globe. The Three Muses have provided us with artistic challenges all year. Thank you my friends. This prompt 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy' drew this singer from my pencils just for you. Merry Christmas Ann, Bev and Marie.

And when Illustration Friday's prompt on Christmas Eve is Winter, well... let's face it... do I have time to do a fresh sketch?

Romantic fairytale endings....

I am awash with romance and sequins, music flows through my veins and my feet dance to the passion of the music....

Ah, twas the night of the Strictly Come Dancing final and a televisual feast. I am drunk on the romance of the winners Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev. I may have to wear a floaty dress and high heels for at least a week for jeans and trainers would somehow dampen the feathery quality of my heart. I want to float around a dancefloor in the arms of a handsome man...

My dreams lately seem to be taking on my televisual watching. There's been one two many zombies lurching their way around my subconscious lately but I'm hoping they will be banished for good and replaced with the magic of sequins and the ballroom. I can't believe it is over for another year. My favourites won; they are so romantic and beautiful together, I have come over all soft and tearful.

It was a joy to watch every contestant ... and special mentions should also go to my second and third favourties - the delightful SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSScoTT and the inspirational Pamela Stephenson, who made it to the final, scored a perfect 40 on, I think, three occasions and is older than the other two finalists put together. Pamela, we salute you!

I delayed posting this because I wanted to paint something, but time is not on my side so we'll just 'borrow' a picture from the BBC.

Believing

This post for Inspiration Avenue's Believe challenge is very much about the words. It was prompted by a comment left here last week by Crafty DVL where she mentions her toys coming to life.

Well, she really hit the nail on the head there didn't she? For of course, we all know that they come to life - why who wouldn't believe? They love and cherish us like every child loves a parent. I mean you've all seen Toy Story right? What more proof do you need?

I was going to draw Timmy for you. My most loyal and steadfast friend. He's had a few new faces sewn on over the years as his skin got a bit thin once or twice and he even had a hair transplant. His last trip to the cloth surgeon was a very tense time but I got to visit him in his hospital bed once or twice - just to make sure he was OK.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't do justice to Timmy's likeness. I felt it unfair to share with you a substandard rendition, so I reverted to an imaginary dolly who could shape her features under my pencil on her own. She does look like she could be related to my special friend though.

I did rush her a bit and failed to plan my composition well enough, so Molly is falling off the side of the paper. If I'd had enough room, then her legs would have been at a different angle, but at least this way you can see them - there's a lesson to you all children!

See how she is sitting so demurely against the wall; a lifeless cloth dolly... until your back is turned or you fall asleep.... Then, when, she's snuggled safely in your arms can't  you feel her hug and hear her whispering sharing secrets in your ear?

I think I might be posting this as an early Sunday Sketch - for there is much to be done around this house today (not least watching the final of Strictly Come Dancing)... My money's on Kara and Artem...

Getting cosy

I haven't been here for days... Have you missed me?

I've been busy my dear readers, so busy. Beavering away at words all day with such concentration that by the time night (and my blogging life) arrives, my mind is far too battered to join in any further prose combat. I have instead been getting snuggled and cosy on the sofa and indulging in some festive treats.

Naturally, one can't utter the word treat without the brown stickyness of chocolate being far behind. Today I won a whole delicious box of luxury chocs in a general knowledge quiz during our team Christmas lunch. It was very handy knowing that the King of the Mice was the Nutcracker's nemesis and Rudolf was nowhere to be seen in The Night before Christmas!

While we're on the subject of tasty treats that pile on the calories. I bought a bottle of Bailey's about two months ago 'for Christmas'. It was on special offer in Sainsbury's. We managed to studiously ignore it for weeks then one relaxed evening could no longer listen to its pitiful calls from the cupboard. We opened and had a large measure each... then another the next night... and the next... Hmm. Then I had to buy another bottle...

And don't get me started on Stollen...

This post was actually going to be more about getting cosy in front of the TV, so I had best get that switched on before you all switch off. This week, my evenings have been about potted pheasant, Argentine Tango, voices of angels and ambergris*. I've sat by crackling fires, learnt how to make pewter vases, decorate Christmas trees with dried fruit and witnessed the birth of business brains.

Even the names of the presenters (notably the two chefs!) are inviting... Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Heston Blumenthal melt like toffee in the mouth after first giving you something delightful to chew over...

Ah, it has been such bliss. I don't watch much television, so this week has been rather like dipping into that box of chocolates and over-indulging. Wickedly delicious and OK if you don't do it too often.

Still to come is Saturday's Final of Strictly Come Dancing - I really can't wait!

It was tough decision to find an image to illustrate this gastronomy of delights. Would it be Artem and Kara melting into their Rhumba? The remnants of a luxury box of chocolates? In the end Hugh and his buddy with the odd sideburns won out (though I am probably depriving you of an oggle at Artem, so maybe I'll stick him on the end...)

* if you don't know what it is, I'd probably advise not to google it (you certainly wouldn't want to consider eating it afterwards - expensive delicacy or not!)

Angel

How strange that this morning I am at a loss for words. I guess every so often we all need to just find some quiet time. Perhaps it was sketching this angel that soothed the chatter from me and encouraged a little peace.

She is another of my Christmas ornaments. This is the not-quite-finished version, for the glimmering shimmering holy shine that finishes her off may well take a few hours to dry. Will you come back later and see her sparkle?

In the meantime, pop along to Blue Chair Diary and see what the other Sunday Sketchers are up to...

I now present the finished version. The scan made my sparkles a bit pink - they are more muted in real life. Added a Kim Klassen texture for the final touch (appropriately, Silent Night).

An excuse to post about fairies

What is it with the fairy phenomenon that we so want to believe? OK, the handsome, yet cynical specimen of manhood sitting next to me might not, but I know you're out there - the believers.... I've even read recently an entire post devoted to fairy circles and a little googling found 'evidence' of their existence in a mysteriously named place called Ann Arbor (is it a town or the woman that works in the library?). Indeed, one of my favourite moments from the Antiques' Roadshow seemingly gives photographic evidence. (I've posted this clip before - see bottom of post, but if you've never seen it and a rather fond of the dainty winged poppets, then you really must watch - the whole thing mind, don't miss a moment...).

I have always loved drawing the little creatures. As wee lassie (I'm not Scottish, it just sounded kind of cute written down), I memorised the Flower Fairy poems of Cecily Mary Barker and painstakingly copied her illustrations.

Here is my grown up version who has a touch of the absinthe about her...

For Illustration Friday - Phenomenon.