Bet you can tell I've got no job (at the moment)

Look at this, another blog for you - two in a week, you lucky buggers! But as you can tell from the title of this blog I've got a bit of time to spare. You may think 'a bit of time to spare' is meant in a sarcastic manner - but I promise you it isn't. Whilst I am hunting high and low for a job I am also volunteering (if you've never ever done any volunteering before, do it! So much fun!). Every Tuesday and Wednesday I'm out with BTCV (www.btcv.org) and then alternating my weekends between GVCV (www.gvcv.org.uk) and the Gloucestershire Arts and Crafts Centre (www.gloucestershireartsandcraftscentre.co.uk).
I am having such a good time - meeting new people and learning new skills (construction of post and barbed-wire fencing, for one example), so I am filling my weekly diary up nicely. It is also a form of relief from the constant drone of filling out application forms.
But on the days that I am not fixing fences, encouraging biodiversity or selling excellent pieces of local art and craftwork I find refuge in the backroom, in the mess of the craft room - and I mean mess - ask Tom, but it's my mess. Ask me where something is and I can (possibly) tell you where it is.
This week:


A brooch, mum.



Another brooch, mum

 Speak soon xxx

It's been a while

Many apologies to the lack of wittering over the last 2 weeks, been a bit busy - um, that doesn't really sound believable does it? Ok. Let's start again.

My lack of wittering is due to the fact that last Thursday we (Tom and myself) boarded a train that took us to the land of the Scots (and no, not a land full of little Scotts that have straggly long hair and like to cut up their own t-shirts (some people will understand that - but probably not a lot of you who actually read this will do)). We were off to Edinburgh for 4 days - it was great!

However, before we left I managed to catch up with a friend from Banburyshire - coffee and gossip - what a great mix, over which I showed her some pieces of my work (this being one of them).

Keyring (for a mother who isn't quite sure what it is)

Getting feedback from friends is a great way to get more ideas and also to get a confidence boost (cheers dude, check her out http://www.jennacartwright.com/).

I'll be back soon with some more stuff, who knows what - I surely don't! Let's wait and see. xx

This is the best of the photos of us at Arthur's Seat - you really don't want to see the others!

Look

something doesn't seem quite right here... hmmm...  It is Friday, I have had an art session, but I've drawn a clove of garlic, not the remnants of a cake!? Must be the heat, or was I prepared, or did I think 'arrghh I've forgotten to get something for this afternoon's session!' and just grabbed anything? I'll let you choose the correct answer (hint: it's not the second one, ooo no, no, no). Still working on the 'draw what you see' technique - I think it's getting better - or at least that's what I'm telling myself!



However, I just couldn't keep to the set task of still life and just using pencils; my friend Monsieur Fountain Pen (nickname - stylo) had an airing today. From a great book - can't remember what the title is but lent to me by Russell -pictures of lichen (one of my favourite things), a bit of seaweed and a rosehip.





           

I love working in ink. I think I'm scared to work in pencil, maybe because you can rub it out and correct mistakes (yeah, got work on that one too Emily). I will overcome this fear - let's keep going, but I'm going to have to do other things as well or I might go mad!